"My Voice"

"You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test." George W. Bush.

A friend of my mine asked me, "Why are you concerned regarding the recent developments of Maharashtra government although you are not a residence of Maharashtra?" Obviously, my friend have his own opinions and I respect that. However, Maharashtra is equally a part of India and I am a citizen of India. My reply to his honest question was, my blog is my voice in social network and even if a single person can hear me, it is worth writing the policy of governments which clearly are not in the interest of people who are sweating everyday and then to suffer the consequences of the policy which seemed to benefits only the interested parties. The ban of beef in Maharashtra highlights the government apathy towards minorities and promoting communal disharmony. In addition, the plan to shut down 4000 government school in Maharashtra clearly portrays the attitude of an autocratic capitalist.

Does it not make more sense if the governments invest in quality education system rather than closing down the 4000 schools? At anytime, I'd prefer the government school if it is in league with the private schools. But then, the government has other plan when millions of children in India are missing out in education. According the 2011 census report, 82.91 percent is the literacy rate of Maharashtra. What about the 17 percent population who are illiterate? The problem with illiteracy rate in India is not fault of rural people who do not understand the value of education or the poor people who cannot afford the private institution. It is basically the lack of education awareness in rural India where certain politicians intent to let it the way it has been since India's independence. For the poor people, it definitely the lack of adequate number of government schools providing quality education.

After all, it is not only Maharashtra but almost every states of India. The latest 2011 census reported 74.04 percent of Indians are literate. And it really appalled me to know that the literacy rate of India has increased only 12 percent after India's independence from British in 1947. It means, for the last 68 years and so on, the governments in states and central doesn't care and still do not care. Even if there are only two students in a classroom of government school, it is way better than not having a single student at all. Like the saying, where there is free food, everyone comes forward to have their own share. So, why close down the 4000 government schools rather invest more in quality and infrastructure? The government schools tragedy is not only with Maharashtra but with every states of India. More schools will only help us improve the literacy rate in India, and the outcome will help us improve our country economy, skilled manpower, standard of living, self-dependent, etc.

Maybe I'm just a blogger from a small room in Delhi but I shall not let my silence be misunderstood. This is my platform where I felt my opinions can be heard louder than from a megaphone. I also hope to write about my state Manipur as well. But I need some more time to research and analyse. Anyway, we shouldn't marginalize ourselves by saying 'that's not my state and therefore it is not my concern'. After all, we belong to the same race, i.e., human beings.

Thank you. Have a blessed Sunday!

"Genesis"

Good evening!

“There are two great days in a person's life - the day we are born and the day we discover why.” William Barclay.

I’m not feeling anything emotionally as well as mentally although I’m getting one year older again. But I have to thank God for the countless blessings since the day I was conceived in my mother’s womb. Obviously, today is my birthday and coincidentally, so is my youngest brother. We both share the same date and month except the year and the day. I wish him the best like I have always. And I hope he is ready and excited to be joining the next steps of adults. It is not that he is turning 18 rather he is no longer a teenager but joining the club of 20's. Both of us sharing the same date and month seemed to benefits my family. They don’t need to buy two birthday cake… :)

I can still remember very clearly celebrating my 13th birthday and becoming a teenager. The birthday was special because we usually do not celebrate birthday as part of our tradition before then. And I cannot recall attending any birthday party as a kid hosted by close family or relatives from my own community. Now, it has changed with time and I'm sure most family from my community are celebrating birthday. However, I'm still not sure why the celebration of birthday is not part of our tradition. It is not that my traditions do not allow birthday celebration. Maybe, those days we were not aware or greatly influenced by popular culture of western countries or maybe we felt it is not that important to observe our date of birth. I think the influence of western popular culture make more sense. And also, our conversions to Christianity in the late 1960’s and 70’s have more to do with the outcome of our tradition we follow presently.

Here in our country India, the origin of birthday celebration has more to do with the shaving of head on a child’s first birthday. It is believed shaving head cleanses any evil from past life and renewing of soul. Male children of Hindu especially the Brahmins celebrate the 12th or 13th birthday with a grand thread ceremony. The child takes the blessed thread and wears it, symbolizing his coming of age. I feel the celebration of birthday is also important as it is with marriage. Besides the singing, cake cutting, dancing, dinner, etc., in a birthday celebration, it is always good to be reminded of our age every year. Especially, when boy or girl turns 18, he/she is an adult legally and is granted the universal suffrage, the right to vote. It means as an adult, we are all equally responsible for our actions and we will be accounted for it. And the right to vote is one we should be exercising in coherent with the future we plan for ourselves and live a better life. Note that, this is one great weapon we have and be able to pull the trigger to shape our future.

The saddest thing about becoming an adult citizen is that some of us still hold on to the childish behaviors and some of us still think like a child. It is very uneasy and nauseous to see an adult not being adult in news, T.V, etc. And it doesn't make sense at all. Either the person has to be in mental hospital or deported to a place where civilization is out of reach. But the proposition I've mentioned is impossible because we do know and understand we are not mentally incapable yet we behave like one.

Therefore, in a lighter way with sarcasm… :), it is always good to be reminded of our age every year with birthday celebration. And gradually, we can start seeing the thing we'd close our eyes before and face the thing we'd avoided rather than not to experience at all. Think about the Jewish tradition, they considered a 13 year old boy as coming of age and celebrate the moment in the form of Bar Mitzvah. And here in our country itself, a 12 or 13 year Hindu boy is considered coming of age yet for some people, even after turning 18 or 19 or 30 or 40, and that too legally. Honestly, what’s wrong with us? Our rich Indian culture and tradition can be interpreted in a way to back us up and to move forward but not the other way around.

This is purely my interpretation of us being not an adult enough. I believed our life in fast track lane, constraint of jobs and primarily our state of economy can also be factors not helping us in identifying ourselves rather making us live our life in dystopian age even though we live in the present. But sometimes, it is also good to start living an ordinary life so we can reboot and reborn ourselves with new roots keeping in touch with our culture and tradition. And I'm no preacher rather an 'idealist.'

I’d like to conclude this blog with the wishful thoughts of Voltaire, “God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well."

Thank you. And have a good night!