Our education system has always been considered as one that encourages what is colloquially known as "mugging". To those not familiar with this term, it means to learn up as much as possible by rote just in time for an examination.
Yet, there were some exams in my days, most notably the entrance exam for the IITs, that required more application and "mugging" was not an option.
I recently read a report on the Indian education sector that really gave me a perspective on how farcical our education system has become. There is a small town called Kota, in Rajasthan, which is not particularly on the map for any major achievements or contributions (although I believe it is famous for its saris). This town has now suddenly achieved prominence because of several coaching classes that have been established there. These classes help students prepare for the famous IIT entrance exam I referred to ealier.
This surprised me, but here's the clincher - the most famous coaching class there (no names) has an entrance exam of its own...and there are now coaching classes that prepare students for the entrance exam for the coaching class that prepares students for the IIT entrance exam.
WHAT???
I admire the entrepreneurship spirit of these folks out in Kota and they deserve the rewards. Also I believe the economy in Kota is booming! Wonderful for them.
What does this say of our education system? Go figure.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Cognitive Dissonance
There is a complex sounding scientific word or phrase for every conceivable feeling, emotion or state that I have ever experienced. Have you felt out of place, out of your skin, someplace else? Congratulations, you suffer from cognitive dissonance.
These days I have been bitten by a socialism bug. It's hard to survive in the corporate world today with this bug. It's not like I don't want, need or like money - I do. But I'd like to make my money the old-fashioned way - build something, share your unique knowledge with someone, do some manual labour, grow something. And I like it coming in even doses. Earn it slow, enjoy it well. Want something you can't afford today and be able to afford it tomorrow. Don't buy it on credit.
And, most importantly spread it fairly.
I work around the financial services industry. Not in, but around. And more specifically, the Capital Markets industry - that's Wall Street or Dalal Street for you. I find it strange that this is the profession with probably the highest compensation when all they do is move money around.
They don't build anything, they do not have any unique knowledge - they just make money moving my money to you and around.
In my mind that is not a sustainable economy and is bound to collapse one day. Give me an economy based on a product I can see, feel, taste, smell, hear - something real.
And I make my living writing software for these people. Cognitive Dissonance?
Well, maybe if I get the million dollar bonuses that these folks do, that will cure my CD.
These days I have been bitten by a socialism bug. It's hard to survive in the corporate world today with this bug. It's not like I don't want, need or like money - I do. But I'd like to make my money the old-fashioned way - build something, share your unique knowledge with someone, do some manual labour, grow something. And I like it coming in even doses. Earn it slow, enjoy it well. Want something you can't afford today and be able to afford it tomorrow. Don't buy it on credit.
And, most importantly spread it fairly.
I work around the financial services industry. Not in, but around. And more specifically, the Capital Markets industry - that's Wall Street or Dalal Street for you. I find it strange that this is the profession with probably the highest compensation when all they do is move money around.
They don't build anything, they do not have any unique knowledge - they just make money moving my money to you and around.
In my mind that is not a sustainable economy and is bound to collapse one day. Give me an economy based on a product I can see, feel, taste, smell, hear - something real.
And I make my living writing software for these people. Cognitive Dissonance?
Well, maybe if I get the million dollar bonuses that these folks do, that will cure my CD.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
The Mutual Admiration Society
Law # 1 of social living (from the Asocial's Guide to Social Living)
How are people icons created? It is possible but rare that one individual touches many, many people meaningfully. It happened with the saints and gods, and maybe kings and leaders to some extent. But how can it happen with individuals in this day and age who do not really touch our lives in a meaningful way? Cricketers, movie stars, musicians - they are all entertainers who make our lives happy for a while but do not really add value or meaning, do not provide us with any guidance for the future.
Funnier still is icons in your small individual communities - the school captain, the team leader, a CEO of a corporation. I can understand if share holders continually praise a CEO who has made many of them great wealth, but that still does not make him or her an icon.
So the answer lies in our own human need to be compliant, non-controversial, with-it, part of the inner circle. Two people say they like some individual, the next person seeks acceptance with the first two hence agrees, and from then on it is a cascade. The challenger who seeks to disagree is promptly branded as a mutant and discarded. Soon the mutant too falls in line simply to satisfy his basic need for acceptance in a social group.
An icon has been created.
Do not stop admiring people. But admire them for yourself and not for others. Do not justify your admiration. Do not challenge someone else's admiration. It is not a topic for debate.
Like charity, do not advertise your admiration, except maybe to the target of the admiration, and then too discreetly.
How are people icons created? It is possible but rare that one individual touches many, many people meaningfully. It happened with the saints and gods, and maybe kings and leaders to some extent. But how can it happen with individuals in this day and age who do not really touch our lives in a meaningful way? Cricketers, movie stars, musicians - they are all entertainers who make our lives happy for a while but do not really add value or meaning, do not provide us with any guidance for the future.
Funnier still is icons in your small individual communities - the school captain, the team leader, a CEO of a corporation. I can understand if share holders continually praise a CEO who has made many of them great wealth, but that still does not make him or her an icon.
So the answer lies in our own human need to be compliant, non-controversial, with-it, part of the inner circle. Two people say they like some individual, the next person seeks acceptance with the first two hence agrees, and from then on it is a cascade. The challenger who seeks to disagree is promptly branded as a mutant and discarded. Soon the mutant too falls in line simply to satisfy his basic need for acceptance in a social group.
An icon has been created.
Do not stop admiring people. But admire them for yourself and not for others. Do not justify your admiration. Do not challenge someone else's admiration. It is not a topic for debate.
Like charity, do not advertise your admiration, except maybe to the target of the admiration, and then too discreetly.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
A New Beginning
Everyone blogs, just like everyone does everything. It's getting hard to find your place in the Sun. If you are a fan of Mr. Bean (The Animated Series), you will recall the episode where he is driving around the beach to find a spot in the sun. Everytime he finds a spot a crowd appears from nowhere. One time, he finds his spot, only to be over shadowed (literally) by a rich mean bloke with better access to the Sun.
Yet, one cannot stop going to the beach and one cannot stop searching for that elusive sunny spot. So I start my blog.
What's the title mean? I could leave it to you to derive your own interpretation, but let me explain my take. I realize now, after years of looking out for instant gratification, that it's the wrong approach. A better approach would be to engage in activities that will yield me returns days, months or even years down the line. These returns will be steadier but sweeter.
It's like trying to lose weight - you could just give up eating or staple your stomach or some such horrible thing. And you would fit into your wedding suit soon enough. Only to pop a button or tear a seam after a good meal six months down. On the other hand, if you start regular exercise, you will see no results for a long time, but when you do see them they will be spectacular and with you to stay.
And you will look good and attract members of whichever gender you wish to attract.
That's your Downstream Upside.
With that introduction, I launch my blog.
By the way, I realize, thanks to technology, that I have done at least one thing that nobody has done before - selected this name on this blogging site!
A small place in the sun.
Yet, one cannot stop going to the beach and one cannot stop searching for that elusive sunny spot. So I start my blog.
What's the title mean? I could leave it to you to derive your own interpretation, but let me explain my take. I realize now, after years of looking out for instant gratification, that it's the wrong approach. A better approach would be to engage in activities that will yield me returns days, months or even years down the line. These returns will be steadier but sweeter.
It's like trying to lose weight - you could just give up eating or staple your stomach or some such horrible thing. And you would fit into your wedding suit soon enough. Only to pop a button or tear a seam after a good meal six months down. On the other hand, if you start regular exercise, you will see no results for a long time, but when you do see them they will be spectacular and with you to stay.
And you will look good and attract members of whichever gender you wish to attract.
That's your Downstream Upside.
With that introduction, I launch my blog.
By the way, I realize, thanks to technology, that I have done at least one thing that nobody has done before - selected this name on this blogging site!
A small place in the sun.
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