Academics Ex

Recently I got into a debate with an uncle of mine about the value of academics for this generation. He felt that the upcoming crop of talent show winners are very young and need to be encouraged to complete their studies before they enter any professional field. I have a different view from his.

I opine that the world of academics is not one that is necessarily the right one for all. That getting a degree need not guarantee one a better frame of mind and better tools of trade with which we can succeed in this world. Endorsing formal education is an outdated concept and the status we accord individuals with a long list of degrees only on the basis of the degrees is not the attitude I would like to be encouraged.

I am pursuing my M.Phil. I wonder if this should automatically accord me status. Do you really think that just because I am actively pursuing higher and higher studies I am noteworthy? We associate qualities of intelligence, hard work and determination with people successful in the world of academia. I know for a fact that this is not true in many cases. Often it is a case of not knowing anything better to do, a knack for rote learning and/or favourable circumstances that accompany such individuals. When I compare my own efforts to those who use their common sense to solve our problems, who use native intelligence to start flourishing businesses or those unqualified individuals who with kindness and empathy help others, my questionable accomplishments pale into insignificance.

Education is supposed to broaden one's horizons but all too often highly qualified individuals are too limited in their thinking. It is quite often a case of a big fish in a small pond versus a small fish in an ocean. I am not too sure that the big fish option is one that I would recommend, especially in this day and age of globalisation.

I work with a few others in helping those students who are termed weak because they are unable to cope with the medium of instruction - English. In the process I also come across students who are weak academically. These students are bright. They have solutions for problems that are practical. Their concepts are clearer and more grounded in realities and take into consideration the financial aspects. At TISS, these are the students who are often identified as the ones with true potential. But they might not make it into the academic limelight just because they often drop out due to the pressures of the narrow minded academia. But their strength of mind and their dedication is such that rise they will and help others in the process.

A number of my friends are in media (includes acting). I know that a number of business opportunities present themselves in this field and that quite a number of them venture into lesser heard avenues. Setting up or being involved in production houses, recording studios, security services, rental agencies, boutiques, restaurants, event management companies, PR agencies, etc are a few of the lanes that we hear of so often. We need to teach the upcoming winners of various talent shows to recognise such opportunities and to use them to their advantage.

In India, we have a dearth of continuing education classes that will cater to individuals who would like to broaden their horizons and venture into unconventional streams. Our business administration course are sadly lacking at the lower levels. How many of us would really want to do an MBA in finance? But how many of us do wish to know more about the world of finance so that we are better equipped safeguard our interests? How many courses do you know of that can cater to this need? If we are lucky enough to know someone who will share their knowledge fine, otherwise we are left to find our way through the wilderness of the Internet and that is even more confusing than not knowing anything. I know that the academic world feels that such courses are not very necessary as they are not 'professional' courses. Eclectic learning is something they cannot fathom. Gaining basic knowledge in various practical courses is something our society does not respect. We would rather have professional specialists to look up to.

There is a popular saying that experience is the best teacher. Obviously, IT companies go by this maxim. The number of non engineering, indeed non science students they induct is increasing day by day. In fact, arts and commerce students are seen to be outshining the traditionally looked up to individuals from the science field in this industry. A glaring example of a degree not being so important in this world is the number of hackers being invited to be on the pay roll of so many programme developing companies. Many of these hackers who defeat the programmes of academically qualified professionals are mere students. What use academia then?

I don't think it is right that we are still promoting conventional academics as the right path to adopt. If students who are not academically inclined are forced to continue in this line we are losing valuable talent. Let us not be so bowled over by academic qualifications that we forget that some of the most notable achievements have been accomplished by people that the academia spurned initially. I name Einstein and Bill Gates as oft quoted examples but there are so many more success stories.

We value academics so much. But does academics really contribute so much to the world? We rush to a specialist for snake bite when a 6 year old tribal can easily prescribe an antidotal remedy with more chances of success. We have a blot like Gujarat politics on our conscience in spite of the fact that we have an eminently qualified Prime Minister and a very highly qualified President! We cry foul against the Indian label being tagged on to the London Bomb blast suspects and conveniently forget the acts of terrorism being perpetuated in our country. The aiding and abetting of terror by the Government of Gujarat is one example. It has become so easy to hold to ransom the public. What use academia when an award winning student is dismissed because his painting is such that narrow minded bigots cannot envision? For making token protests?

Don't get me wrong. As a student and as a teacher I value education a lot. It is only that we get too easily awestruck by people who hold high degrees. We attribute to them qualities and powers that they might never possess. We look down on those with lesser qualifications, though they might be more talented. We show off the names of the colleges we attended like we were given admittance to the pearly gates of heaven. I admit that heaven would be easier to get into than some of our colleges, but let us not overdo the importance. Shining in academics need not translate into shining in the day-to-day grind we call life or vice versa. Academics is not always the right option for all.

When intelligent youngsters of this generation rebel against a system of rote learning of outdated concepts and impractical fields how can I not applaud them? When they go about blazing trails for the next generation to follow how can I not encourage them? Sure there are failures. But hey! After seeing so many suicide cases when academic results are announced we sure can't deride the attempts of trail blazers. I understand that a high standard of living and fame is what motivates a lot of the talent show contestants but isn't that exactly why we harp about getting a good education? Are our motives in encouraging children to shine in academia concerned with their mental growth alone? We guide them to 'professional' disciplines and then dare criticise the children who are so honest about their dreams! As for emotional maturity, sure there are participants who reak down because they can't hack it, but then the 10th and 12th Std. results also lead to so many depressed individuals that we cannot state that academia is the better option or even a safer one.

I wish our society can move beyond the conventional. I wish our education system could better cater to individuals with wider interests than the previous generation. But as long as these wishes are not fulfilled I can only applaud those with the courage to dream and go after their dreams without worrying about society's expectations. Society, they well know, will applaud success be it accompanied by a degree or not. After all we have our Laloo Prasad Yadav.

-Written on 7 July 2007

- Would love to hear from you guys. This one too just wrote itself out. will have to read it later to gain perspective.

- As for the title it is play on work ex as in experience vs. ex - as in out

Water logging in Mumbai

In the face of all the damage that the rain gods are wrecking in Gujarat this article is blatantly self centered. I am a Mumbaite/Mimbaikar and I am affected more immediately by the problems faced here.

News channels have inundated us with images of the water logged state of Mumbai - India's answer to Shangai. Well, I don't think the situation is going to improve much in the future. Today's edition of TOI had good articles on water logging measures that can be taken in the immediate future.

I think it is time citizens woke up to their duty as well. We merrily use plastic bags and Bisleri bottles like there is no tomorrow and when tomorrow comes, we crib. Newspapers start blaming BMC when the rain water doesn't drain away due to clogged systems and then publish pictures, but why don't they wake up, as well, from November or whenever they expect BMC to be on its toes? Why do we persist in throwing garbage out of train and bus windows and not complain vociferously when the kachra overflows outdated garbage dumps on our street corners? Till we improve there is going to be no improvement.

I remember a Mumbai where people like Nana Patekar would clean the place outside their homes and ensure that the nullahs around were clean. He would clean the nullah outside his house before and after Ganesh Chaturthi. How many us do that still? We wait for BMC workers to do such work. Of course, Preity Zinta does her annual drive.

It is pathetic. I know I have not cleaned my street in more than 10 years. I was in school when last I did some brooming and then too it was just pretty street brooming. That meant we swept the dirt into the side gutter. I can't blame the BMC then. There are these cleaning drives that we join josh mein and then forget hosh mein. Then accurse others with dosh. Not fair.

I know that BMC workers have a job to do that they have not even begun but let us please not forget that it was the people of Mumbai who eraned it its reputation not the BMC. Everyone pitched in as required to build a better place. We have, I think, grown too complacent in our middle class values and in our aspirations to white collar work.

Before we ask that the Government give us our Shangai let us honestly answer the question of whether we are worthy of it. Are we? We who can't be bothered to even segregate our garbage in our homes, use CFC instead of bulbs, continue to use plastic, continue to throw garbage on the streets, and continue to turn a blind eye to incompetent authorities till we suffer the consequences.

Sorry, got on too high and long a soap box.

-Written on 3rd july 2007

In response to a casual comment by Deba in a mail.