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Relief for policymakers
Sachin’s new challenge |
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Prime time space
A close look at higher education
Matters of heart
High on action, low on emotion
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Relief for policymakers The forecast of a normal monsoon this year should come as a relief to people in general and the government in particular. Though it is only an initial indicator, the Meteorological Department had correctly predicted in April the amount of rainfall in three of the last five June-September monsoon seasons. About 80 per cent of the country’s total rainfall takes place during this period and its impact on the economy is more than what is usually appreciated.
Agriculture employs six of 10 Indian workers and their economic well-being largely depends on the monsoon. Even though farmers and farm labour barely survive on agriculture, a drought can severely hit their income. In Punjab, however, a drought does not lead to a crop failure because of assured groundwater irrigation but farmers’ input costs shoot up as they spend more on diesel to run tubewells but get no drought relief. Prices of fruits and vegetables tend to shoot up if the rainfall is less than normal. This has serious political implications as angry people usually vote out ruling parties. Adding to the government’s fiscal worries, food inflation jumped to 9.94 per cent in March from 6.07 per cent in February, which is a matter of serious concern for policymakers. High food inflation impacts the wholesale price index, which drives the RBI to cut money supply and raise interest rates. This pushes up the cost of borrowings for individuals as well as companies. A good monsoon lifts the fortunes of agro-based companies, resulting in higher profits, greater expansion and employment. Higher rural incomes expand the demand for manufactured products to the benefit of industries. Any drought, on the other hand, places an obligation on the government to help the victims and import scarce farm commodities to control their prices, unsettling its financial calculations. The future of the economy, therefore, depends heavily on a good monsoon, though policymakers tend to take credit for growth. Fortunately, the chances of a drought this year are “extremely minimal”.
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Sachin’s new challenge The nomination of cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar to the Rajya Sabha under the eminent citizens category leaves one with a mixed feeling. On the one hand, there is universal acceptance that Sachin has made an extremely solid contribution to the country by the exemplary manner in which he has broken world records in the sport, bringing glory to India and promoting cricket across the world.
His focus and concentration, his extraordinary skill and the dignified manner in which he has carried himself have left an indelible mark on millions of his fans in India and abroad.Yet, there are doubts over whether he is suited to be a parliamentarian and whether he would be able to make a meaningful contribution to the House of Elders. Clearly, Sachin has not been known to espouse national causes. Unlike a Shabana Azmi, who besides her contribution to the art of film acting, distinguished herself as a social crusader and champion of the poor, Sachin has no record of public service other than as an entertainer. Along with Sachin, another Presidential nominee to the Rajya Sabha is actress Rekha, who is known for her brilliant and emotional portrayals. In her case too, it is a moot point whether she has the substance to contribute meaningfully to public discourse on national and international issues or even to a rare debate on the entertainment industry. The third nominee in the nominated trio, industrialist Anu Agha, has better credentials as a successful leader of a Rs 3,246 crore energy and environment engineering major Thermax India and as the Head of Teach for India in the post-retirement period. By our reckoning, nomination to the Rajya Sabha should not merely be a recognition of outstanding work in a field. Such a purpose can be well served by conferment of prestigious civilian honours like the Bharat Ratna or the Padma Vibhushan. Nominees to the Upper House must also make a contribution to public discourse especially in the industry or field in which they have made an outstanding contribution. Given his extraordinary sense of focus, we would indeed not put it past a man like Sachin to make such a contribution.
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Prime time space The moral police is up and about again. Not that it had ever gone in hibernation. Actually, the moral Indian in India is always lurking close by, watching with due diligence what others are watching. Expectedly, the puritan gene is more pronounced in the babus.
No wonder the pure and puritan hearts of our babus in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry often enough take it in their hands to maintain the innocence of our children. So in all its innocence, the I&B Ministry decided that the Vidya Balan starrer “The Dirty Picture” was too risqué to be telecast at prime time. Indeed, the U/A certification given to the otherwise adult film after 59 cuts does mean that the TV viewers below 12 years of age need parental guidance. Television content has been a bone of contention for quite some time. The hackles of moralists are raised at the slightest provocation. Of course, the provocation often has one name, the three letter forbidden word called sex. Our hypocrisy over sexual matters finds its match in its obsessive fixation over it. Where the political class is often caught in porngate and other sex-related scandals, rules change for the aam aadmi. The common man of India’s ability and intelligence to sift obscene and vulgar from bold and sexy and shift channels to suit his or her sensibilities is never given due deference. So, in the age of technological advancement where the entire world is a click away, strangely enough pornstar Sunny Leone’s presence on “Bigg Boss” is given the “credit” for pushing our youth towards porn sites. Without doubt impressionable minds need to be monitored. A free-for- all is nobody’s case. That the film won National Award for its lead heroine Vidya Balan also cannot be used as an argument in favour of its telecast. But in times when lines between, what is suitable and what is not are blurring fast, playing watchdogs would not help. Command and control strictures are no answer to a fast changing country. Let there be a debate and let people and society discard what they find reprehensible, both for themselves and their children.
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Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. — Oscar Wilde
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A close look at higher education
Today
we are moving from a mass production system to a new era where the principal source of value creation and productivity is knowledge. In the knowledge-driven economy of the 21st century, talent is the scarcest of scarce resources. The economy requires quality and higher levels of education, including high-tech skills, and open-mindedness for lifelong learning to meet the constantly evolving demands of the knowledge age. India aspires to be the next knowledge capital, but the dismal state of the country’s higher education system is at odds with the ambition. In the opinion of Mr V. Balakrishna of Infosys, “People think that infrastructure is the biggest problem. It’s not. It is education. The quality of students who come out of our institutes isn’t that great.” Today, universities should see the changes in the country and respond to them by opening new departments. It is essential that we focus on knowledge as India’s future; as our prime advantage in an increasingly competitive world. As stated by Nobel Laureate V.S.Naipaul, a country becomes great only when it is the repository of knowledge, learning, art, theatre and literature. We must build new institutions as Nehru did in the 1950’s. Only then can we be sure to have an Indian century. India was a leading economy in 1 AD contributing to around 33 per cent of the world’s GDP. Until 19 AD, China and India accounted for about half of the global GDP. Also, till 1450 AD China and India were technologically more advanced than Europe. In the olden times, the universities such as Nalanda, Taxila and Alexandria were the hotspots and renowned seats of higher learning, and played a major role in the prosperity of this region. The decline of India and China in the 18th century is attributed to the Industrial Revolution in Europe, the expansion of the US and British rule. Then came the colonial education model of the 19th century which laid down a new syllabi, and rules for regulating affiliated colleges. Universities were essentially about managing and disseminating knowledge. Since Independence various committees on higher education have been constituted for improving the quality of higher education in India, but with no substantial outcome. The Radhakrishna Commission (1948) emphasised on making higher education accessible to all sections of society, whereas the Kothari Commission (1966) focused on educational development and creating integration among various institutions. The National Policy on Education, (1986) enunciated a comprehensive framework to guide the development of the education sector and the National Knowledge Commission (2004) deliberated transforming India into a knowledge society and submitted 300 recommendations in 27 focus areas. The Yash Pal Committee (2008) emphasised the need to provide more autonomy to the universities and make them accountable. In 1947, there were around 25 universities, 700 colleges, and around 1, 05,000 students, but since then there has been mindless proliferation. The number of universities has increased manifold and around 16 million students are there in the country. A country like India, where more than 70 per cent of the work force languishes in the under- skilled and poorly regulated informal sector, has every reason to give serious thought to the idea of self- governing interdisciplinary institutions. But the education system continus to perpetuate its colonial legacy, and treats a university like a government department, meant more to administer knowledge than to produce it. Knowledge is, therefore, constricted and universities are cut off from the concerns of society and the economy. As the Ramamurthy Committee Report (1990) stated, the system of higher education encourages memorisation of facts and regurgitation rather than creativity. We cannot ignore the fact that today we do not have many colleges which we can mention with pride for imparting education of high quality, comparable to some of the well-known institutions of the world. Education as we understand today is all about nurturing and developing the mind. Education involves cultivating the mind, and our educational system strives to accomplish this purpose by filling the mind with information and knowledge. Higher education must focus primarily on constantly expanding the frontiers of knowledge, not forcing the students to cram. It has been observed that knowledge which is not applicable is as useless as the bath of an elephant, which soon after showering itself with good water proceeds to shower itself with mud and sand. The responsibility of higher education system is to educate people and make them learn to solve their problems. A graduate should be a chiselled individual who, while being able to compete with the best in the world, should also be a responsible corporate citizen. The universities need to develop well-groomed leaders by providing infrastructure on a par with the best in the world; a faculty that is an eclectic mix of the best academicians; research and training facilities that could be the envy of any top business conglomerate; best incubation facilities and arrangements for the protection of IPRs to promote innovative thinking. We need to create a different kind of environment, not only in our educational institutions but also in industry that encourages innovation and creativity. If higher education and research infrastructure built by the universities collapses for lack of funds, Indian industry too will suffer. We need financially healthy universities that can carry out world class research and produce skilled manpower to raise and maintain India’s profile in the global economy. There is need for providing incentives for pursuing research and making teaching a more attractive profession. In this knowledge era, intellectual capital —everything from patents and trademarks to software and ideas — has become a greater source of value. The availability of quality teachers is a pressing concern. The situation can change only when universities become the centres of excellence where there is a genuinely critical spirit of inquiry and experimentation. New paradigms of progress, governance and leadership are required, as blind progress cannot show the way. We have to find our own solutions by learning from the successes as well as mistakes of the
West. The writer is a senior professor at the University Business School, Panjab University.
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Matters of heart Chunni Lal did not come for duty today. He had not come yesterday and day before that also. He was the most simpleton and funny domestic help I ever had. With his right eye damaged since birth, he appeared ugly at first look.
The moment he smiled, he looked quite cute, and even the yellowish cream eye shined. He came to my house on his own after knowing that my previous cook 'Rambo' had gone to his native village on two months’ leave. I took him in and thanked for God's benevolence. Little did I know that my miseries had just started. Chunni Lal was a night watchman, who claimed to double up as a cook-cum-domestic help. "Barre ghar mein kaam kiya hai. ( I have worked in big houses)," he announced himself. I asked him to buy and cook green peas and potatoes in the evening and do the dusting. As I set myself to eat that evening, I got the first shock. He had taken about 10 big-sized potatoes, cut those into half and taken about 20 green peas only. I had to virtually set the potato pieces, equal to the size of a mutton piece, aside to find a pea. Exasperated, I asked, “Chunni Lal ji, what is this? So less peas?” " Arre saheb, peas and potatoes have to be the same quantity and I counted them also." he said with a grin. Next morning, on his own, he cooked yellow daal. When I asked him what happend to peas? He went back and after a few minutes pushed in a bowl full of raw green peas into my plate! "What is this ? "Saheb g, you said green peas, so I brought those." "Gosh, I was asking about the ones you cooked last night," "So say directly. How would I know? I already told you my brain is weak. My wife even says I don’t have a brain or it functions improperly," the simpleton said while walking briskly towards the kitchen, swaying his hands helplessly. More shocks were in store. I asked him as he had worked in big houses he must be knowing how to operate a washing machine. He nodded “yes” but still I gave him a demo. That evening I saw a stack of washed clothes on the bed. I was happy he did the work properly and thought of getting those ironed next morning. My pleasure was short-lived. The clothes were still wet and had spoiled the bed-sheet and the mattress. I asked him the reason, "Arre saheb , I saw this in barre ghar ( big rich house)." "But dear Chunni Lal, you need to hang them for drying also even if the machine dries them to some extent," I explained. He turned away briskly towards the kitchen, saying another gem that left me speechless, "I told you I have a weak brain. But what use is the machine if you have to still dry them under the sun?" Every minute was fun with him. The other day I asked him to plug in a liquid mosquito repellent. He plugged it in upside down with a simple logic: “How would liquid come out if it is plugged straight? I had no patience to teach him science that made the liquid heat up. Once he was told to keep the power supply bill at a safe place. I suggested him to put it in a wall hanging outside the bathroom door. He put it behind the tap on the sink reasoning he saw only the sink hanging out from the wall ! But for last two days he hadn't turn up. I remembered I had scolded him pretty harsh when he was cleaning the bed with a broom! I lost my temper at the sight of the broom touching the bed-sheet and the pillows just after he cleaned the floors with it! I spotted him on duty at the entrance of the colony near my house. I confronted him. "I won’t work," he said in his Bihari Hindi. “You scolded me,” he added. “Chunni Lal, if you have to leave the job when I scold you, why don't you work for free on the day when I praise you or give you clothes or something. And I scold for your betterment only. To teach you work." “I don't know what you say. I told you my brain is weak or it functions improperly, as my wife says, but certain matters are of the heart, Saheb. When the heart is hurt, then it doesn’t listen to anything, even the brain. Then it does what it wants. Nothing is good or bad, profit or loss. Such is the working of the heart, and my heart works properly," he said walking
away.
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High on action, low on emotion
Yet there is no denying that as he moves into a different terrain that of an action thriller the influence of Hollywood is all too evident if not all pervasive. Despite the lead protagonist, Ajay Devgun, playing the wronged man Akash (deported from UK) out to seek revenge but without wanting to actually harm anyone, one feels little sympathy for him. The perceived injustice of his predicament actually rings hollow. Ditto for the plight of his accomplices Sameera Reddy as Megha and Zayed Khan as Adil Khan who too are lost in the maze of action and more action. And the real pity is a fine actor like Mohan Lal as the policeman on train is completely wasted. Surprisingly Kangna Ranaut is not bad, not bad at all and carries herself well despite the small length of her role. Actually the film belongs to Anil Kapoor and Ajay Devgn and not to miss the ever dependable Boman Irani. And the good actors they are, all three of them have done a fairly credible job. Where the film does emerge a resounding winner is in the department of technical brilliance, editing and of course cinematography. As far as production values go, Tezz matches Hollywood frame to frame. Without a doubt Tezz lives up to its name and is a thriller that unfolds at supersonic speed. Yet in its bid to become another Hollywood flick, it forsakes its Bollywood soul. For, at the end of the day what is a Hindi film sans emotional quotient? And this one does not touch an emotional chord. However, the film is a one time watch. Just in case you are curious whether the film retains the item song Laila picturised on Mallika
Sherawat, it sure is a part of the film. Only it neither adds to the flow, nor takes away anything. The same could be said about the music on the whole.
Aliens, spaceships and a near disaster So, the Hollywood juggernaut rolls on. Marvel Studios, which created Captain Marvel Sr and Jr in our 1940-50s school days fame and in recent times put together Iron Man and The Hulk bring on The Avengers, a 220-minute-long extravaganza replete with aliens, huge spaceships and reptilian monsters wreaking havoc on the Big Apple and the world at large. Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson), director of the peace-keeping body SHIELD, summons the services of the Avengers, a group of super heroes beginning with Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey
Jr), genius, billionaire, playboy and philanthropist, Steve Rogers/Capt America (Chris Evans), Dr Bruce Banner (Mark
Ruffalo) who when enraged becomes The Hulk, and Thor with his hammer and a somewhat low-key Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy
Landall). To add to the confusion is Natasha Romanoff/ Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), a Russian spy and perennial enemy. More feminine relief comes in the shape of martial arts expert Maria Hill (Cobie
Smulders). What follows is FX-heavy and quite likely to numb the senses. Cinematographer Seamus McGarvy has a field day with a good deal of aerial shots and Alan Silvestri's music score provides soothing relief. The screenplay by Joss Wheddon and Zack Penn is littered with some witty lines like "the ant has no quarrel with the boot" or the hilarious sequence where the Hulk goes to town with the so-called deity. But director Wheddon could surely have exercised more restraint. Entertainment must be qualitative and more often than not "less is more." To plod on for 220 minutes is a major blemish and this is not the only time Hollywood has fallen victim to it. Robert Downey Jr looks tired and seems to drag through the motions and Samuel L Jackson is not much better having played similar roles earlier but Mark Ruffalo is more enthusiastic and Chris Evans adequate. Scarlett Johansson is her usual effusive self and Cobie Smulders at best, promising. See it only if you are prepared to sit through 220 minutes.
Movies on tv
Saturday April 28 The third film in the Twilight series explores a love triangle between Bella (Kristen Stewart), Edward (Robert
Pattinson), and Jacob (Taylor Lautner) as the werewolf pack and the Cullen clan join together to fight a new breed of vampires. Bryce Dallas Howard joins the cast as Victoria and the villain in the film. ZEE CINEMA 7:15AM Main Tera
Dushman, 2:25PM Veeraana, 5:30PM Phool Bane Angarey 9:00PM My Friend Pinto, STAR MOVIES 7:46AM Dracula: Dead and Loving It, 9:51AM The Transporter, 11:51AM Hollywood Premieres (In Time), 12:21PM The Grudge 3, 1:57PM Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, 4:25PM From Hell, 6:46PM Legion, 9:00PM STAR PLUS 1:00PM Krrish, 4:30PM Meri Taaqat FILMY 9:00AM Aur Pyaar Ho
Gaya, 12:00PM Skystar, 12:30PM Malamaal Weekly, 4:00PM Ghar Ghar Ki
Kahani, 7:30PM Meri Bhains Ko Anda Kyon Maara?, 8:00PM World's Greatest Magicians , 8:30PM Golmaal Returns HBO 8:00AM The Wannabes (Season 1) : Guys Rock, Girls Rule, 8:30AM The Wannabes (Season 1) : Tough Cookies, 9:00AM The Land Before Time, 10:25AM Liar Liar, 12:15PM No Strings Attached, 2:20PM The Mummy, 4:55PM Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, 6:55PM She's Out of My League, 11:00PM Torque Sunday April 29 Ra.One: STAR PLUS 1PM STAR GOLD 10:00AM Chain Kulii Ki Main
Kulii, 12:00PM Dil Hai Tumhaara, 3:30PM Barood: Man on A Mission, 5:50PM
Bajrang: The He Man, 9:00PM Dhamkee, 11:00PM Dhamkee ZEE CINEMA 7:20AM Aa Ab Laut
Chalen, 10:50AM Nayak, 2:15PM Hum Saath Saath Hain, 6:00PM Kasam Paida Karne Wale
Kii, 9:00PM Ram Lakhan STAR MOVIES 7:45AM Hollywood Premieres (In Time), 8:15AM Oscar, 10:28AM The Chronicles of
Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, 12:43PM Die Hard: With a Vengeance, 3:11PM Die Hard 4.0, 5:43PM Missing (Season 1), 7:01PM Salvation Boulevard, 9:00PM Rambo III, 11:03PM Night at the Museum STAR PLUS 6:00PM Singham FILMY 9:00AM Dharma, 12:00PM
Skystar, 12:30PM Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa, 4:00PM Main Hoon Rakhwala, 7:30PM Meri Bhains Ko Anda Kyon
Maara?, 8:00PM World's Greatest Magicians, 8:30PM Vishwanath HBO 8:00AM The Wannabes (Season 1) : Mall Beasts, 8:30AM The Wannabes (Season 1) : Earth Day, 9:00AM The Making of : Cop Out, 9:15AM Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, 11:15AM Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, 2:30PM Torque, 4:20PM Sanctum, 6:40PM The Scorpion King: Rise of a Warrior, 9:00PM The Twilight Saga: New Moon, 11:45PM My Soul to Take
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In
The cat and mouse game between Anil Kapoor playing Arjun Khanna policeman extraordinaire and Ajay Devgn as Akash is truly absorbing and keeps you engrossed till the very end. Mercifully, the film also refrains from overt melodrama, tearjerkers and knocks down clichés. So there is no minority angle, no Pakistani involvement no jehadis fighting a battle for religion. Racial profiling is hinted at but doesn't become an overkill. Actually come to think of it, the bomber and his accomplices are not exactly terrorists. So how do they have the wherewithal to blow up a goods train and to plant bombs in an express one? And this is where the film treads shaky ground. 
Manhattan, whom some Americans consider the centre of the earth, takes a major drubbing with probably only the classy Chrysler building surviving. This is because Loki (Tom Huddleston), the evil brother of Thor (Chris Hammersmith) and his band of aliens have decided to wage war on the humans and threaten major global catastrophe with a hole in the sky providing the opening and gravity doing the rest.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse: STAR MOVIES 10:59PM
The film follows Shekhar Subramanium (Shah Rukh Khan), a game designer in London living with his wife (Kareena Kapoor) and son (Armaan Verma). He designs a motion sensor-based game in which the villain is more powerful than the hero. The villain escapes from the game into the real world, and begins to track down Lucifer (the gaming ID of Verma), the only player to have defeated him. The film also features Shahana Goswami, Dalip Tahil and Tom Wu in supporting roles. Rajinikanth, Sanjay Dutt and Priyanka Chopra appear in cameo roles.