The Lonesome Road

In the old, old days of Indian history, there were four classes into which almost all the people were compartmentalized into. From highest to lowest - status wise, they were

1) Brahmins (Priests)
2) Kshatriyas (Warriors)
3) Vaishyas (Traders)
4) Shudras (Cleaners)

These four divisions, in the earlier days at least, acted more as a marker. They defined the type of work that a person did. When the Aryan civilization came to India, the caste system became a far more rigid entity. There remained no scope for a person from one of the “lower classes” to become a member of the “upper class”. Of course - the Brahmins and the Kshatriyas had no problem with the more inflexible caste system.

The Shudras were then reduced to the status of untouchables. Literally. They had separate wells, dwellings, food. It was considered a sin for even the shadow of these people to touch an upper caste person. This along with the increasing ritualization of Hinduism alienated the Shudras from the religion. Many of them left hinduism to follow the message of equality proposed by Buddhism and Jainism.

Even after India won her independence, the lot of the shudras hadn’t changed much across India. Old habits seem to die hard. Even today, in many parts of India (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh) the old ways are followed. While framing the new constutution, De.Babasaheb Ambedkar put in a clause to allow reservation for the scheduled castes and tribes (SC/ST) in all government institutions. This implied that all government/government aided schools and offices had to hire a certain number of SC/ST.

In his wisdom, Dr.Ambedkar also noted that the reservation system should continue for a period of ten years, after which it should be discontinued. In their wisdom, the politicians of the country realized that they had a vote bank in their hands. Every year, the amount of reservation was increased. There was no government that wanted to be the one to remove reservation. It came to a head in the days of P.V.Narhasimha Rao, the then Prime Minister of India. His proposal was to make reservation official to a figure of 70%. Students all over India rose in protest and the movement was quietly dropped.

However, as all things go in India, the reservation policy failed to help the very people it was supposed to. The poor are still denied low cost education and the system ultimately benefits the SC/STs who have actually come up in life and no longer need the reservation system. In all this there is a bustling system of fake caste certificate systems. The risks are high - but so are the rewards. What frustrates most open category students is that even after slogging for two years and obtaining a high percentage in Grade 12 (which is, by far the most important exam in this country), they see a reservation student take a seat in a prestigious government college after securing a measly 50%.

Why all this background? Last night there was a major national interest story on the news that the government is pushing for reservation in private/unaided colleges as well. Fortunately, the Supreme court seems to think it’s not required and has ruled against the decision.

In the same news report, they covered the MBBS entrance exam in Rajhastan and Punjab. The results were declared, and in the interest of transparency and openness, the answers to the paper were published in the local papers. That’s when the storm broke. Quite a few answers that were published were found to be wrong. This was verified by authors and doctors who were called to investigate the matter. In a similar vein, it was found that 16 questions in the MBBS entrance exam were ambiguous or plain wrong.

In both cases, the respective High Courts have ordered investigations into the matter. I’ll tell you what will happen the next time - the results will not be published and everything will go back to square one. I just feel bad for the students who slogged for three years to do well on this paper - and then not make the merit list due to no fault of their own. Also just imagine that the next “doctor” you go to may have passed a wrong paper. Scared yet?

I wonder where this country is headed sometimes. Until next time….

Abhiruchi 07, originally uploaded by shadowfall.

We had a major family reunion over this long weekend - and it was a blast. It’s always fun to hang out with relatives - and it’s been a long time since we’ve all been together.

As part of the Pune program, all thirteen of us went to Abhiruchi [abhiruchivillage.com] for lunch last afternoon.

If you are in/ planning to visit Pune, I’d seriously recommend a visit to this farm/restaurant. It’s a sprawling place where the owners grow fruits and vegetables without the use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides. The fertilizer used is organic and includes the use of vermiculture (earthworms).

The produce grown on the farm is used to make the meals that are served. Believe me - it’s piping hot and fresh food - and as much as you can eat. Once the meal is done, there are a lot of trails where you can simply wander all over the farm. Hammocks, cots and swings are also provided for the siesta most people need after their lunch . On a personal note, I’d recommend a walk. The area has a lot of green cover and a very peaceful hour can be spent ambling along the trails.

I took a bunch of photos - they can be seen here. [flickr.com]. As usual, most of them are of flowers and plants

On a different note, today is India’s Independence day. But from what I have noticed, people seem to be missing the point of it all. Here’s a quick refresher course.

Freedom is not the right to :
Insult the Flag
Break a traffic light
Litter the road
Bribe a cop
Spit where you feel like
Drive like a maniac

The list can simply go on. The sad part of the matter is that we are all one day patriots. I wrote about this last year - and I’ll say it again. We guys should not be allowed to display the flag on private property. Invariably, the next day finds all the flags bought in the fervor of patriotism lying muddied on the road. A lot of people died to achieve and preserve our independence. Let’s not let it all go in waste. Remember, Freedom is understood best only when it is lost.

Anyway, shifting gears again - you can find a more upbeat article about today here [yavin4.blogspot.com]. It’s a nice article - and makes me happy to be Indian.

Jai Hind!

I read this little piece in a book on meditation

Where thought ends, philosophy begins.
Where philosophy ends, religion beguns.
Where religion ends, spirituality begins.
Where spirituality ends, Truth begins.
Where Truth ends, Bliss begins.
When you have found Bliss, you have reached Singularity with the Universe.

Any thoughts?

Well, the monsoon has made the roads of this city resemble a lunar landscape - no, not that of Titan - that’s dry. Here the roads are paved with potholes and filled with the purest water of them all - rain water.

With no more delay, let’s get to the games:

1) The 100/200m signal dash

Open to: All (2/3/4 wheelers)

Rules: None

Description: The vehicles are 100/200m away from a traffic signal that is about to go from green to red. Of course, the road to victory is not that simple. There are potholes all over the road, filled with water - thus giving absoluely no indication of the depth of the crater. Oh yeah - the person across the line first “wins”.

Special Notes:
a) Bonus points for those who time the finish in the time the signal goes from amber to red
b) All cars with an intact rear axle will also get bonus points

2) The pothole cross slow race
Open to: 2/4 wheelers

Rules: Couple Entry only (for 2 wheelers)

Description: Between the start and finish lines lies a road that’s full of potholes - though there are safe routes through the maze where a bike or car (?) can get through without trouble. Points are docked every time the pillion rider feels the need to hang on to the driver - fearing that (s)he will fall from the vehicle. For 4 wheelers, the criteria is different. The angle at which the car lists while crossing the area will decide the numer of points earned. For the slow crowd - a smaller list means more points.

Special Notes:
a) No points awarded if the pillion rider falls of (duh!)

3) Avoid the splash
Open to: All (PMT buses are a special category in this event)

Rules: Don’t get wet

Description: Two lanes, two drivers, two missions. Oh ok , it’s what the event says. There are ares on the road - low lying areas where water collects. The vehicles race parallely along the lanes. The splasher tries to keep up with and drench the splasee. The splashee, of course, tries to race away.

Special Notes:
a)PMT buses get only half points for this event.

4) The Speed breaker reflex test
Open to: 2 wheelers

Rules: One person per bike - Stay on the bike.

Description: The speed breakers in Pune are of three different types.
a) Low and small
b) Medium
c)High and wide

Event is only for speed breakers of type (c). There are many speed breakers such that just as you come down the speed breaker, there’s a big gaping pothole in front. And it need not be small. Drivers get points based on the skill of the driver in avoiding the pothole and the size of the obstacle avoided.

5) The traffic lane cut-n-dash
Open to: All (But 2 wheelers are best at it)

Rules: Yeah, right!

Description: Simple. Do whatever you want to. This is the free for all. No signals, no lanes, no rules. Points awarded for the number of abrupt lane changes, the number of vehicles sent into nearby potholes and the number of curses and horn blasts earned. All you bad boys - this is your event. Burn rubber!

Special Notes:
a) Bonus points for bikes during moderate-heavy showers
b) Extra bonus points for those 2 wheeler drivers not wearing a helmet when Rule (a) is applicable

Disclaimer: We are not responsible for the clenched hands, broken backs and sprained necks that are common during this events. Also, all damage (especially suspension) done on the vehicles will not be reimbursed by us. By participating in these games, you basically relieve us of all responsibility to your life and limb. Thank you, and have a nice day

The Bulwer-Lytton contest is an annual contest that gives awards to those people who pen the worst opening lines to a novel.

There are two problems with this :

a) You have to write a complete novel

b) It has to beat a bunch of guys who are really good at penning bad lines

So, as I was trawling through the web, I came across this site - The Lyttle Lytton Contest. You don’t have to pen a novel - just the first line. Of course, there are a few guidelines to the matter - but those are mere semantics.

So come on all you closet writers out there - show the world what you’ve got in you!

I leave you with an opening line from the winner of the 2005 contest:

John, surfing, said to his mother, surfing beside him, “How do you like surfing?”

E. Davis

Write on!