Life = Phases + Free advises

Life is full of phases and advises. There are two types of phases one goes through- 1) Some of them arrive unannounced and mostly surprise us. 2) The second type the ones which we know will be heading our way but leaves us wondering as to what it will have in store for us. I will be going by the second type, that I can broadly divide into various phases of life, which are funny, pleasant and even intimidating at times that ones goes through. I am sure most of us have encoutered these situations in life. And the best part is that each of us is made to believe that every such phase at that moment is the most critical junction of life. Advises can be best defined as ‘unwanted piece of mind/suggestion which on most occasions comes from people who indulge in advicing with out any pragmatsim. The best advices come from people who are practical and speak from experience.

Phase 1- is when a child starts going to school. I believe it’s from this point that a human’s problem starts and comes to an end only on his/her demise. The moment you pick up your books to go to school; it’s the beginning of the real world.

Phase 2- This stage comes when one writes his/her 10th class exam. There is nothing unusual about this class. The spelling and the literal meaning of the word ‘Exam’ also remains the same. But the only problem is that it’s not like any other class exam but the child’s first ‘board’ exam. And board in our country means ‘War for life’. The hype that’s build around this exam is like one has to score well if you in order to ensure a bright future. If a child fails to score above 85%( Or even more in some cases), his life is over. There is no purpose to live and his/her career is over for eternity.

Phase -Once the results are out then the child has to make the next ‘critical’ decision of choosing a stream (Science, Commerce, Arts) that would decide the track for the life ahead. I vividly remember choosing science with the enthusiasm of becoming a computer engineer. I guess even I got entised by the most so called cool profession of that time which was ‘computer enginnering’. I managed to score a distinction is science, which was not outstanding, but not bad enough to continue with science.

Scenario 1- If your results are good, the pressure starts building up for your next big ‘Exam’ that’s the 12th board which is another 20 months away. The 10th board exam becomes irrelevent, because the version now changes. The new version is that the 10th exam was like a warm up, the real battle or rather war is the 12th board exam, which would determine one’s destiny. If you had scored well in your 10th exam after all the pressure, it is unfortunetely forgotten very soon. As if all the lectures and advices one got from almost every second person one met was in last century, and times have changed, where 10th exam doesn’t matter anymore. That leaves ones wondering, ‘Wel all the hard work I did for those marks really don’t matter, but if I don’t score in the next big one (12th board exams), all the merits and achievements in school becomes immaterial.
Scenario 2- If you end up scoring less than 85%, meaning you don’t fall in the ‘bright students’ category. This marks the beginning of the ‘You are good for nothing’ period. People around you give a look as if you have commited a huge crime, which makes you feel like you have failed in the ultimate purpose of life for which you were born And after a few days by the time everyone around assimilates the reality, of the person not scoring enough to make their parents proud to make them walk with their heads high in society. The series of lectures and advices starts yet again, but the objective remains the same but yes the repuccusions get severe. ‘Score 85% in your 12th exam’, but the slogan changes.This time around its ‘Do or Die’ or ‘Make or Break’. This is your last chance to have a bright and stable future, otherwise it’s all over. Life has given you a second and the last chance to do well. The ironly remains that the last time around also the message decoded was the same, but it seems people tend to forget what they said the last time rather quickly. And finally one start’s on the mission of his/her life, to score the magic marks, which would ensure a dignified life and above all a secure future. Along with that keep preparing for the entrance exams. So the presssure is doubled, not only score well in exams, but also give an impeccable performance in all the entrance tests. Specially the one’s sitting for professional courses like engineering or medical, have only IIT, AIIMS resonating in their mind.

Phase 3- This one starts in college. And more importantly the course one chooses. If you have cracked IIT or a medical college than your problems for the time being are settled. If not than the new issues emanate. Two things matter a lot, the college and the course. In many houses or societies the course one chooses is instrumental in predicting the future. If one belongs to a small town, and has not chosen any thing other than Enginnering, Medical, than one is really considered insignificant. The next question that follows ‘So you have plans to do MBA after the course you are doing’. One barely starts going to college and if it is not a profesional course one is doing than people either start lecturing you to start preparing for MBA or remain quite, thinking that he/she is like anyother mediocre student. By the time the final year of college starts, even more questions start poping up ‘So how is your prepartion for CAT going’? And if by chance you are not interested in doing your MBA, than most people have a disillusioned expression on their face, as if you have decided to take sanyaas from life or you are not serious about your future. Till one enrolls for graduation, he/she is bound to go through this turmoil

Phase 4- This phase again has two scenarios
Scenarios 1- If you have enrolled yourself for a post graduation, than people look at you with a different perspective all together. Here again though the college from where you are pursuing really matters. If it happens to be from any other institute then IIM, then the next question that follows is’ How are the placements’. But on the whole the next two years are not that bad. One would encounter questions like every 2nd day, ‘When are you finishing your course’? When will I be seeing you working??’ You must have barely completed 2 months in the new course, but yeah you can’t evade this question. Till you don’t get a job, one is beset by the same question again and again.

Scenario 2- And if by chance you happen to work after your graduation, people will appreciate you, but at the same time keep asking you (Unless you are a engineer or doctor) ‘ So when will you do your post graduation’. No matter if the person is doing well and enjoying the job, the same question will be repeated in different voices and tones.

Phase 5- This phase begins the day you start working.And I have recently entered this phase. Well, in my case since I happen to be a journalist working for a news channel (which is yet to go on air). People keep asking me ‘So when will we be seeing you on Tv’. Yeah that’s right the day you appear on a TV channel, all those people who kept lecturing you in the form of the free unwanted advice and gave you a startled look when you expressed your desire to become a journalist, would now be telling everyone else around, that this boy is my x, y, z etc. Yes, for them coming on TV means fame and celebrityhood. Well, if coming on TV was such an easy task, I guess then majority of us would have been doing that till now. There is a lot one has to learn before you go on air. It’s a process which encompasses various stages. Now the next question that will keep emanating again and again would be’ When will I c you on TV’ till I make it. And if I don’t, than I rather change my profession, because for many, news channel means you have to be on air.

Well I don’t know whether this career move would be good or bad. But the advises will be keep flowing, come what may. The only difference this time would be that it would come from proffesional and senior people. And thank god atleast these can be taken seriously as they come from experience people, unlike those who themseleves might have failed utterly, but leave no chance to lecture others how to succeed.Advising is not the problem, but imposing it is wrong. And undermining the other person’s decision making ability is even more annoying. I think all individuals are wise enough to take critical decisions on their own as long as they are given the space and freedom to take them on their own. Thinking the other person is directionless and knows nothing is the biggest stupidity.

These are phases I have gone through. I am sure there are many more such phases waiting to arrive along with the advices. But in retrospect I have learned one thing, no one stage decides the course of our life, it’s a series of small decsions and steps that go on to shape our destiny. Life will go on full of phases and advises well one can’t stop them come what may….

My blog, My freedom

Little was i aware til a few days bak, that blogging epitomises the absolute 'freedom' of a individual. We, Indians brought up in a nation that celebrates freedom as a birth right have often failed to define 'absolute freedom'. Yes, we are a indepenedent country where we are allowed to practice any religion, speak any language, subscribe to any ideology, campaign for any political outfit and not to forget excercise the right to vote from the age of 18. The various points mentioned are some of the key ingrdients of freedom. No doubt India ranks high across the world when compared on a democratic scale even against some of the biggest super powers of the world ( e.g. Russia, China). But is this really absolute freedom... have to rethink about it.



If the above mentioned factors were enough to consider ourselves as absolutely free society than what would one say about the millions of ppl suffering due to poverty and wit no one to hear them, or the innocent youngsters who r sufferin for being alleged to be involved in terrorist activities without any proof, or the millions ragging a clamour in east India but all falling on deaf years with the media also not paying much heed, or thousands of domestic workers suffering without making a single noise, or the thousands of helpless gals been sexually molested across the country with no idea who to turn for help as most of the culprits r within the families, or the thousands who get slaughtered in riots which have taken place after regular intervals of time, or the Men in khakhi the so called protectors of the society- the police who themselves commit the most horrendous crimes which has appalled the country...The list can just go on...One thing common in the above mentioned list is that none of these ppl have a medium to fall upon and express themselves. For them the only way to express is through police, family, society etc unfortunately all these are a part and parcel of the whole crime cycle that runs in full circle...Media which is considered the fourth estate or referred as the watch dog of the society also has some blood on its hand.Its selective reporting and sensational driven brand of journalism has further distanced the actual victims to be heard Not only has it distanced from them but even vitimized ppl ( Khurana case- victim of a sting operation).

Blogging is one such medium which restricts no individual from expressing anything...The space is completely yrs with no one to censor or curb you from writing yr thoughts, pain, happiness, sufferings etc...there is no family, police, media, court, etc to scritunized as to wat one wants to say....I know the idea of blogging as the ideal form of absolute freedom is highly remote as hardly a few millions have access to the internet and a fraction of them actively blogs...but atleast a beginning has been made....it might take time...but one day hopefully every individual irrespective of his/ her religion,caste, gender, sexual orientation, financial status wil be able to excercise absolute freedom and be heard genuinely thro blogging...

I have realized that freedom was a notion for me till now , but blogging might just break that.
My blog is my freedom, my blog is me...

YELL- Resounding success in 2007

The year 2007 was a historic year for YELL club. In fact i would go a step further and say it was the turning point for the club. The club which was found in September 2006 had a rough run in the initial semester. But then again there were various factors for that. Firstly it was a group of 9 people to be precise who started the club. The idea was very new and students in the college weren't sure whether it would work out or not. We organized two discussion forums in the beginning (which now goes by the name of 'Shout Out') which got a descent response. By the end of 2006 we realized that we will have to market this club in a better manner in order to reach out to the students. We were firm about one thing from the beginning that the core of the club would be "expression" and for the club"quality matters more then quantity" . The club would act as a forum for all students to come and express themselves. Obviously music and dance wouldn't fit in this category as we already had a cultural committee in place to organize that. We started the year 2007 on a different note. In Feb we organized a 'public speaking' workshop which was conducted by Dr. George Mclemore, Rtd prof University of Texas Pan America. The workshop was for MIC students and had a free entry. The aim of the workshop was to make students to come forward and drop their inhibitions to become better expressers through public speaking. And to our surprise we had a turn out of 30 students. Whats important to note here is that we were asked to take only 25 students but due to the huge demand for participation we had to close the intake of the students at 30. The workshop was instrumental in making the students aware about the club and its objectives. The workshop was followed by a inter MIC debate competition which was held in the month of March. The debate competition saw 8 of the best debaters coming forward and voicing their opinions in an hour long fierce debate which saw a huge response from the audience. We went a step ahead in the month of April by organizing the University level photography certified workshop. This workshop was again conducted by Dr. George Mclemore who is also a known photographer and has just finished writing a book on photography. 30 participants from 10 different colleges of Manipal University participated in this workshop which was conducted on two days over a period of one week. This workshop was a resounding success which bolstered the image of the club. YELL was now not only known in MIC but also in different colleges of Manipal University thanks to this workshop. In fact there were a few people who wanted to join the club at that time but we weren't ready to take members yet. The semester saw the club organizing three major events which saw a encouraging response and the club got the much needed publicity. But this was not the end. The academic year ended on a all time high when the club was issued the ISO 9001 certificate. We couldn't have asked for a better ending to the academic year. As we headed in the new academic year by now the club was stable enough and clear about its objectives it was time to start enrolling members. We enrolled members from the existing batches which were the 2nd BAJC, 3rd BAJC and MS 2nd year. We decided not to register members from the fresh batches that included 1st BAJC and 1st MS. But instead we organized an exclusive 2 day literary event by the name of "Expload" for the freshers. The 2 day event included debate,dumb charades, creative writing and extempore. This event was organized to give the freshers a platform to come forward and exhibit their talent. The event got a good response and day 2 ended with the prize distribution. Expload gave the freshers an idea and feel about the club. Once the event got over we started registering the freshers in the club. September 5th was the last date and to our surprise 55 students joined the club. It was heartening to see that in it's very first year the club was able to register so many members. We had to select 4 news members for the core committee from the new batches to expand it to 10 members. After a 3 hour long rigourous interview session we finally selected 4 new freshers out of the 26 candidates The subtle message was that people started believing in the club and its activities. The other events organized were "Shout out" and Bibliomania which was the brain child of the UG 1st years. They organized the event which saw the book lovers of MIC come together. The mother of all events was organized in October- The first ever Intra MIC literary Events... "The YELL WEEK". The event was organized for 5 days that included 8 literary events... The objective of the event was to infuse enthusiasm among students for literary activities and also at the same time build a good literary team for the college. YELL was delegated the responsibility to build a good literary team for the college....so we decided to raise the bar and made the events a bit tough...this way we would expose the participants to the tough competition that awaits them in inter college events. Its a gradual process and if we keep organizing events like this on a regular basis and keep raising the bar then we will surely start winning events in tough inter college events. This is a long term strategy which will surely prove fruitful in the years to come. The YELL week saw 56 participant from all the the 5 batches. The best part was that people who are shy in classes not only participated but also won events. This underlines one fact that everyone has talent, it just needs to be nurtured.
In retrospect the last semester was the most happening semester for YELL club. We have taken not a single penny from the college and university but still have ensured that we give away quality mementos and certificates to encourage more participation. But the key of the last semester i would say was the cohesiveness which with the whole club worked..the team work displayed in all the major and small events was the key behind the club's success. There are a few freshers who have shown a lot of enthusiasm and i believe they are the future of this club
But i believe this is just the beginning and it is time for us to raise the bar even higher.We are now firm within the college and now its time to prove ourselves outside. In November YELL also tied up with 'India First' a Bangalore based youth NGO. The vision both the organizations share is to help each other grow across India and build a umbrella of all the youth based clubs and organization to come together and emanate mass social campaigns across the nation. The coming semester is going to be even more challenging as we gear ourselves up to organize the first ever Student Media Convention by the name of 'Manipal Student Media Convention'. The idea is to bring media students, students interested in media and experts from the industry for a direct interaction. The Convention would serve as a interface between the experts and the fiture of media. The theme for the convention would be "New Media". The biggest challenge is to get sponsors. I am sure the way we have worked in the last semester we will surely be able to execute this event on a large scale and make it a grand spectacle. I would like to end by stating that this is just the beginning. We still have a long long way to go and have to set newer goals for the club. If we work cohesively and with the same enthusiasm then sky is the limit. Looking forward to the next semester with a hope that we will pull out some more pleasant surprises. Till then keep YELLING......