ಉಳಿಮೆ ಅಳಿಮೆಗಳ ಗೊಜಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ!

     ಹಲವು ದಿನಗಳಿಂದ ನನ್ನ ಮನದಾಳದಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ಷೀಣವಾಗಿ ಕೊರೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಗೊಂದಲ ಇವತ್ತು ಧುತ್ ಎಂದು ಪುಟಿದೇಳಿತು. ನನ್ನ ಗೆಳೆಯ ಶಶಿಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಗ, "ಕನ್ನಡ ಉಳಿಸುವ, ಬೆಳೆಸುವ" ವಿಷಯ ಬಂತು. "ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷೆಯ ಅಗತ್ಯವೇನು?ಇವತ್ತಿನ ಆರ್ಥಿಕತೆಗೆ ಎಳ್ಳಷ್ಟೂ ಪ್ರಯೋಜನಬಾರದ ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷೆಯತ್ತ ನಾವು ಎಷ್ಟು ಗಮನನೀಡಬೇಕು? ಇಲ್ಲ, ನಮ್ಮ ಅಭಿಮಾನದಿಂದಾಗಿ ಕನ್ನಡವನ್ನು ಬದುಕಿನ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಆಯಾಮಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಆವಿಷ್ಕರಿಸುವ ದಾರಿಯನ್ನು ಕೊರೆಯಬೇಕೆ?" ಹೀಗೆ ಅವಲೋಕಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಗ, ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ವಿಚಾರಗಳು ತೇಲಿಬಂದು, ಮನತಾಕಿಸಿ, ತರುಚಿ ಮಾಯವಾದವು. ಚರ್ಚೆಯ ಅಂತ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾವು ತಾಳಿದ ನಿಲುವಿಗೆ ಮಾರ್ಗಸೂಚಿಯಾದ ಆ ವಿಚಾರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಖ್ಯವಾದದ್ದು, "ಕನ್ನಡದ ಶಕ್ತಿಯೇನು?ನ್ಯೂನತೆಯೇನು?" ಎಂಬುದು. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡವೆಂದಾಗ ನಾನು, ಬರಿಯ ಭಾಷೆಯನ್ನಷ್ಟೆ ಸಂಭೋಧಿಸದೆ ಇಡಿಯ ಕನ್ನಡ ಜನಪದವನ್ನು ಉದ್ಧೇಶಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ.  

     ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರಕಾರ, ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಯಾವುದೇ ಭಾಷೆಗಿರುವ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆ ಮಾರ್ಗಗಳು ಮೂರು. ರಾಜಕೀಯ, ಜಾನಪದ ಹಾಗೂ ಸ್ಪಂದನ. ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಮಾರ್ಗವು, ನಿರ್ಧಿಷ್ಟ ನುಡಿಪ್ರಧಾನ ಆಳ್ವಿಕೆಯ ಆಳ ಮತ್ತು ವಿಸ್ತಾರವನ್ನು ಅರಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಜಾನಪದವು, ಆ ನುಡಿಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಬುಡಕಟ್ಟುಗಳ ಸಂಕೀರ್ಣ ಸಂವೇದನೆಯ ಸ್ವರೂಪವನ್ನು ಪಸರುತ್ತದೆ. ಸ್ಪಂದನವು, ಆ ದೇಶಕಾಲದ, ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಆಗುಹೋಗುಗಳನ್ನು, ಪ್ರಜ್ಞಪಲ್ಲಟಗಳನ್ನು ಹೀರಿ, ಹೊಸಬಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ತನ್ನ ನುಡಿಗಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಸವಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.

       ಕನ್ನಡಕ್ಕೆ ಬರುವುದಾದರೆ, ತನ್ನ ಎರಡು ಸಾವಿರ ವರುಷಕ್ಕೂ ಮಿಕ್ಕ ಆಗಿರುವಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ (ಇತಿಹಾಸದಲ್ಲಿ), ಎಂದಿಗೂ ಈ ನುಡಿಯು ರಾಜಕೀಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾಬಲ್ಯ ಮೆರೆಯಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಕದಂಬ, ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಕೂಟ, ಬಾದಾಮಿ ಚಾಲುಕ್ಯರ ಕಾಲದ ಆಳ್ವಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡಕ್ಕೆ ಹಿರಿಮೆ ದೊರೆತಿದ್ದರೂ, ಇದೊಂದೇ ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಭಾಷೆಯಾಗಿ ಪೋಷಿಸಲ್ಪಡಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಕನ್ನಡದ ರಾಜರು ಕನ್ನಡದಷ್ಟೇ ಅಥವಾ ಮಿಗಿಲಾಗಿ, ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತ, ಪ್ರಾಕೃತ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಿಗೆ, ತದನಂತರ ಆಳಿದವರು ಉರ್ದು, ಪರ್ಷಿಯನ್ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಾಧಾನ್ಯತೆ ನೀಡಿದರು. ಇನ್ನು ಇಂತಾ ರಾಜರ ಆಳ್ವಿಕೆಯೂ, ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಕಾಲ ಉಳಿಯದೆ, ಉಳಿದ ಅರಸರ ಸೀಮೆಯು ಗಣನೀಯವಾಗಿ ಕುಗ್ಗುತ್ತಾ, ನುಡಿಯಾಶ್ರಯದ ಗಟ್ಟಿತನವೂ ಕುಗ್ಗಿತು. ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರೋತ್ತರ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲೂ, ಗೋಕಾಕ್ ಚಳವಳಿ ಬಿಟ್ಟರೆ, ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಮಸ್ತ ಲೋಕವನ್ನು, ರಾಜಕೀಯವಾಗಿ ಯಾವ ವಿಷಯವೂ ಉದ್ದೀಪಿಸಿಲ್ಲ. ಈಗಿನ ಕನ್ನಡಮಾನಸವು ಇದರ ಅಗತ್ಯವೇ ಬೇಡವೆಂಬಂತೆ, ವಿಶ್ವರಾಜಕೀಯದ ಗೋಜಲುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಗಣನೀಯವಾಗಿ ಕರಗಿದೆ. ಇವೆಲ್ಲದರ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅರ್ಥೈಸುವುದಾದರೆ, ಕನ್ನಡಕ್ಕೆ ಪ್ರಬುದ್ಧ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಶಕ್ತಿಯೇ ಇಲ್ಲವೆನ್ನಬೇಕು. ಅಗತ್ಯವೂ ಇಲ್ಲವೆನ್ನಬೇಕು.

      ಇನ್ನು ಸ್ಪಂದನಕ್ಕೆ ಬರುವುದಾದರೆ, ಸುಮಾರು ಕ್ರಿ.ಶ.೧೬ನೇ ಶತಮಾನದವರೆಗೂ ಜಾಗೃತವಾಗಿದ್ದ ನುಡಿಸಂವೇದನೆ, ತದನಂತರ ಹೇಳುಹೆಸರಿಲ್ಲದಂತೆ ನಶಿಸಿತು. ೨೦ನೇ ಶತಮಾನದ ಆದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆಯು ಮರುಹುಟ್ಟು ಪಡೆದರೂ, ಇದು ಒಂದು ಮಹತ್ತರವಾದ ಮಜಲನ್ನು ಕಡೆಗಣಿಸಿತು. ಅದು, ವಿಜ್ಞಾನ. ೨೧ನೇ ಶತಮಾನದ ನುಡಿಶಕ್ತಿಕೇಂದ್ರಗಳಾಗಿರುವ  ಅರಿಮೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಚಳಕಸೀಮೆಯಲ್ಲಿ, ಕನ್ನಡದ ಉಳಿಮೆಯಾಗಲೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಇದು ಎಲ್ಲ ಭಾರತೀಯ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಿಗೂ ಅನ್ವಯಿಸುವಂತದ್ದು. ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲೇ ವೈಜ್ಞಾನಿಕ ತತ್ವರಚನೆ, ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತ ಮಂಡನೆ, ಸಂಶೋಧನೆ, ಪ್ರಯೋಗಗಳು ಇವ್ಯಾವುವೂ ನಡೆಯಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಈಗ, ಈ ಜಾಗವನ್ನು ಇಂಗ್ಲೀಷು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ಆವರಿಸಿಬಿಟ್ಟಿದೆ. ಕನ್ನಡದ ಸರ್ವಾಂಗಿಕ  ಬೆಳಮೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಜಾಗದ ಬಳಕೆ ಅವಶ್ಯಕವಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ, ಈಗ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಕೈಮೀರಿದೆ. ಈ ಬದಲಾವಣೆಗೆ ಕೈಹಾಕುವುದು ವ್ಯರ್ಥ ದುಡಿಮೆಯಾದೀತು.

      ಈ ನಿಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ, ಕನ್ನಡದ ನ್ಯೂನತೆ, ದುರ್ಬಲ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಸೀಮಿತ ಸ್ಪಂದನವಲಯಗಳೆಂದು ನಿರ್ವಿವಾದದಿಂದ ಒಸರಬಹುದು. ಇನ್ನು, ಕನ್ನಡ ಜಾನಪದ? ಇದೂ ಮೇಲೆರಡರಂತೆ ದುರ್ಬಲವೇ?

        ಶತಶತಮಾನಗಳಿಂದ, ಆಳ್ವಿಕರ ಹಂಗುಗಳಿಂದ ಹೊರತಾಗಿ, ಸಮಕಾಲೀನ ನೆರೆಯ ಜಾನಪದಗಳ ಮಿಳಿತಗಳಿಂದಲೂ ಅಭಾದಿತವಾಗಿ, ಗಟ್ಟಿಯಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆದದ್ದು ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ, ಕನ್ನಡ ಜಾನಪದ ಮಾತ್ರ. ಆದಿಕವಿ ಪಂಪರಂತಹವರು ಈ ಜಾನಪದದ ಒಂದು ತುದಿಯಾದರೆ, ಯಕ್ಷಗಾನ, ದೊಡ್ಡಾಟಗಳಂತಹ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನ ಕಲೆಗಳು ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ತುದಿ. ಅರಸು ನೃಪತುಂಗನ "ಕವಿರಾಜಮಾರ್ಗ"ದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಿರುವ ಹಾಗೆ ಕನ್ನಡನಾಡಿನ ಜನ "ಚದುರರ್ ನಿಜದಿಂ ಕುರಿತೋದದೆಯುಂ ಕಾವ್ಯಪ್ರಯೋಗ ಪರಿಣತಮತಿಗಳ್"! ಎಂದರೆ ಕುಳಿತು ಓದದೆಯೂ, ಪಂಡಿತನಲ್ಲದೆಯೂ ಕಾವ್ಯಪ್ರಯೋಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪರಿಣತಿಯನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿದ್ದಾರೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಕನ್ನಡ ಜನರು! ಕನ್ನಡ ನುಡಿವಿನ್ಯಾಸವೂ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯಿಕ ಅಭಿವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗೆ ಅನುಗುಣವಾಗಿದೆಯಂತೆ! ೨೦ನೇ ಶತಮಾನದ ಆದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮರುಹುಟ್ಟು ಪಡೆದ ಕನ್ನಡ ಬರಹ ಲೋಕ, ಇಂದು ಭಾರತೀಯ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯರಂಗದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಸ್ಥಾನವನ್ನು ಅಲಂಕರಿಸಿದೆ. ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಜಾನಪದವು, ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ ವಿಶೇಷವಾಗಿ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಕಲೆಯು ಕನ್ನಡ ಲೋಕದ ಶಕ್ತಿಯೇ.

       ಈಗ, ಮರಳಿ ಮೊದಲ ಜಿಜ್ಞಾಸೆಯತ್ತ ಬರೋಣ. ಕನ್ನಡವ ಉಳಿಸಿ, ಬೆಳೆಸುವುದು ಹೇಗೆ? ಈ ಯುಗದಲ್ಲಿ, ಒಂದು ನುಡಿಯು ನಿಶ್ಚಿಂತೆಯಿಂದ ನಡೆಯಿಡಬೇಕಾದಲ್ಲಿ, ಸಮಕಾಲೀನ ಅರಿಮೆ, ಚಳಕ, ವ್ಯವಹಾರ ತಂತ್ರಗಳ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿ, ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಹಣ, ಹೆಸರು ಗಳಿಸುವ ದಾರಿಗಳ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿ, ಆ ನುಡಿಯಲ್ಲೇ ಆಗಬೇಕ್ಕಾದ್ದು ಅಗತ್ಯ. ಈ ಅನುಕೂಲ ನಮ್ಮ ಕನ್ನಡ ನುಡಿಗೆ ಒದಗಿಬಂದಿಲ್ಲ. ಒದಗಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಇನ್ನು, ನಾವೆಂದೂ ಆಂಗ್ಲರು, ಸ್ಪಾನಿಶರ ಹಾಗೆ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಪ್ರಭುತ್ವವನ್ನು ಜಗತ್ತಿನಾದ್ಯಂತ ವಿಸ್ತರಿಸಿದವರೂ ಅಲ್ಲ. ಇದರಿಂದಾಗಿ, ಕನ್ನಡದ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆ ಸಂಕುಚಿತ ಭೌಗೋಳಿಕ ಪರಿಧಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಶಿಥಿಲರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂಧಿತವಾಗಿದೆ. ಕನ್ನಡದ ಸ್ಪಂದನೆಯ ವಿಸ್ತಾರ ಹಾಗೂ ಆಳ್ವಿಕೆಯ ಆಳ, ಬಹಳ ಸೀಮಿತವಾದುದು. ನಮ್ಮ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಒಂದೇ. ಅದುವೇ, ಜಾನಪದ. ಇದನ್ನು ಉಳಿಸುವ ಕೆಲಸವನ್ನಷ್ಟೇ ಸದ್ಯದ ತುರ್ತಿನಿಂದ ನಾವು ಮಾಡಬೇಕಾದುದು. ಶಶಿ ಹೇಳಿದ ಹಾಗೆ,"ಕನ್ನಡಿಗನ ಸಂಪಾದನೆ, ಆರ್ಥಿಕಪ್ರಗತಿವಲಯದಿಂದಾಚೆಗಾದರೂ, ಅವನು/ಅವಳು ಕನ್ನಡವನ್ನು ಆದಷ್ಟು ಕೇಳುವ, ಆಡುವ, ಬಳಸುವ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿಯನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸುವುದಷ್ಟೇ ನಮ್ಮಿಂದ ಮಾಡಬಹುದಾಗಿರುವ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸೇವೆ. ಇದರಿಂದಾಚೆಗೆ, ನಾವು ಏನೇ ಮಾಡಹೊರಟರೂ, ಅದು ಕೆಂಡವಿಲ್ಲದೆಡೆಗೆ ತುಪ್ಪ ಸುರಿದಂತೆ. ಬೆಂಕಿಯ ಒಂದಿನಿತು ಕಿಡಿಯೂ ಮೂಡದು." ಇದು ನನಗೂ ಸರಿಯೆನಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ. ನನ್ನ ಅಂತರ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಬೇಲಿಯು ಮುಳ್ಳುತಂತಿಯಂತೆ ಚುಚ್ಚುತ್ತಿದ್ದರೂ, ವಾಸ್ತವದ ತಳವು ನನ್ನನ್ನು ನಿಸ್ತೇಜನನ್ನಾಗಿಸಿದೆ.

  

       ಇನ್ನು ನೂರು ವರುಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡವು ಭೂಪಟಲದಿಂದ ನಶಿಸಿದರೂ, ಅದರಿಂದ, ಈಗಿನ ಆರ್ಥಿಕ ನಿಲುವು, ಹಿಡಿತ, ನಿಲುಕುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರಿಗೂ, ಯಾವರೀತಿಯೂ ಆರ್ಥಿಕ, ವ್ಯಾವಹಾರಿಕ ನಷ್ಟವಾಗಲಾರದು. ಅಲ್ಲವೇ?

- ಅಮರ್ ಕಾರಂತ ಹೊಳೆಗದ್ದೆ

Nazar nahi hatti

Superstition- It is supposedly a blindly accepted belief or notion. This belief in ‘supernatural’ which is nothing but the occurrence of an event caused by another through astrology, religion, omens etc defy natural science! 

Personally, I am not much of a believer in superstitions. However, we are forced to follow certain custom based instructions at home such as do not cut the nails after sunset, do not leave the slippers toppled over, do not step on the lemons on road, consider twitching of eyes as a bad omen, so on and so forth.  As I mentioned, I follow these customs not out of belief but out of respect for my mother and her beliefs.

Despite of this, there is one particular superstition which fascinates me and makes me question the truth behind these beliefs. It is none other than the Evil Eye. The evil eye is supposedly a malevolent look that many cultures believe to cause injury or misfortune for the person at whom it is directed for reasons of envy or dislike.

I am not sure about other superstitions, but I tend towards believing in this particular superstition- Evil Eye. When one of our distant relatives comes to our home, we all hurry to put ‘kaala teeka’ to ward off her evil look. This ritual is because whenever she visits our home, my mom would invariably fall sick and my irked mother used to quip ‘whatever I have in my life which she doesn’t’. Mother elaborates further ‘The intensity of an evil eye is so much that it can even melt a rock’.

At times when I am back from an event or function and fall sick for no particular reason, my mom decides that it is because someone must have cast an evil eye on me. This is followed by the customary puja to remove the evil eye. A few strips of the broom stick are put on fire and circled in front of my face while chanting a mantra to remove the evil eye. What is even more interesting is that after the puja, we actually feel better. I am not trying to exaggerate here and I know it can be reasoned as a psychological effect. It is just that, considering the number of times it has happened, I am unable to overlook this phenomenon.

At a recent occasion, someone said to me ‘You are so hale and healthy, you do not have any/many serious health issues like me’. All I could reply to that was nod and smile. No need to mention this was followed by several medical visits on my part. 

What I am trying to comprehend is why does this happen? Is it really true that if someone looks at you and your happiness and overcomes with jealousy wondering ‘I do not have that’ and boom! You are cursed and have high chances of suffering in one way or the other. Is it really possible for one human being to have so much power to inflict trauma on someone else either as revenge or for simple jealousy, using witchcraft and voodoo as well for that matter. Although I keep searching for an unequivocal answer for these questions, I know the answer for one question; ‘Is it necessary to go to such lengths to hurt somebody? Even if they had hurt you before’. I figure no, I’d rather spend my precious moments in improving my life than waste it on ruining somebody else’s. In the end we are all going to die and we all go through pain, heartbreaks, loss of a loved one and more in one life, it is not worth that I spend my time in harboring hatred for years and seeking revenge against whoever it is.

Interestingly though, Indian subcontinent is not the only place where we have superstitions. These are present around the world in the most bizarre ways possible. One superstition held in Germany is that if someone has difficulty dying, one may ease the process by lifting up three tiles on the roof. In South Korea, it is believed that if you leave a fan running overnight you will die, either of hypothermia or asphyxiation. This misconception is so prevalent that fans are often sold with timers that turn the fan off after a set period of time, allowing you to sleep easy and, you know, not die!

Are superstitions just made up things? Or is there any logic to them? The reasoning with which our ancestors declared these do’s and don’ts may not have been understood by the subsequent generations, but obviously they have been religiously carried forward.

Whatever the case maybe, if the description of evil eye is considered to be the negative thoughts and actions directed towards us, then I believe the only way to defend yourself is by making yourself stronger. Let the world grudge upon you and try their best to be the worst. You know it says nothing about you and a lot about themselves.

Here’s an excerpt from a Mother Theresa quote, which exemplifies all I want to say..

“If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. 

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. 

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. 

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” 

- Madhushree Lakshman

(About the Author - Madhushree is not just another young Bangalorean who passes-by without notice. Change is a way of life she believes, driven by her will to solve the problems around her. Co-founder of 'Volunteer For a Cause (VFC)' a registered non-profit, she knows from experience what it takes to tackle a real world problem and is on the path towards solving it)

Unite 'em Soldiers!

It is great that we are all concerned and working to put a smile on those underprivileged, isn’t it? Considering the children in orphanages, we volunteer to see them happy, we teach to help them get good grades, and for that period of time we sacrifice all other needs of ours and just concentrate on the cause. It is very kind of us to be doing that. When you zoom out and have a bird’s eye view of the whole situation, you see that you are doing good work; driven by good intentions and motivated to bring a change in the way we live. Ok, that’s a Check. We are doing good to the society, exactly what we intended to do upfront. But, are we effective enough in doing what we are doing. We are volunteering for a cause. It clearly means, there is a problem. And by our actions the problem should get a solution. What is the point otherwise. Volunteering in an orphanage is just an example, it applies to all fields of volunteering. So the big question of the day that all of us volunteers should address is – Are our actions giving us the intended results?

If you look at it, we are all investing our resources and time thinking that good intentions will lead us to good results. Unless we don’t know what results do our actions produce we really are wasting time. Unless those results are measured and put in line with our vision or intentions we are wasting time. There are so many of us doing the same thing at different places. Some of us just volunteer on the ground, some of us get aligned to the objectives of any organization which will help them define and measure their actions to an extent, some of us do philanthropy without objective as most of us want to help. There are volunteers and people associated with voluntary organizations everywhere. Leave apart the global scenario, considering a small community we will get hundreds of such kind people coming together. It is clear that similar problems persists everywhere. One can easily define a common problem statement, just to put things into perspective.

Just to have our analysis clear going forward lets restrict our focus to communities. First task would be to define a community, may be based on geography (this can be discussed). And bring on the table all problems in that community for discussion and define it. And now bring all volunteers and various voluntary organizations to that place and discuss ways to target this problem. Now we have a directed approach. The efforts are concentrated and focused towards one common goal. Well, ego issues might be the one to counter. But what can be greater than the cause itself. This idea can be too idealistic. But coming together and sharing resources will be the change that would be required. What is the point in trying to re-invent the wheel.

The good intentions that we all carry will be put to test here. It’s a big challenge to develop harmony when we all unite for a cause. It’s a greater challenge to develop a synergy between all of us trying to re-invent the wheel of different sizes. The objectives are individual. The scope is limited to these objectives. And that is the biggest problem. The good news is, it has a solution. It is just the way we look at the problems in front of us which will eventually lead us to define our objectives. It is upto us to decide whether our only intention is to provide food for 10,000 people or reduce hunger by 5%. It is upto us to decide whether our main objective is to open 500 schools or improve literacy rate by 10 points. It is upto us to decide whether are we defining the objectives based on impact that our actions create or just based on some numbers that will not give an idea of how it is really contributing to the end result.

Just imagine the situation where all of those working for the education of the kids in orphanages are working towards one common goal – Improve literacy rate by 3 points in one year time. Wouldn’t this approach put lot of things into place? To teach English for one set of volunteers would be the need of the hour and others might think life skills would bring them on par with those who have a normal life, some might think science would be the thing that would fetch them a job easily later and so on and so forth. All these energies are diverted and spread. We are lost in our own objectives, without knowing the kind of impact it is doing. We can only understand and measure the impact of our individual actions only when we come together attacking a single problem. Similar energies should come together. There will be no conflict of interests. We are not business corporations to survive amidst competition. As competition does not exist in the first place. If there is a genuine voluntary organization, it is there because it is highly motivated by the cause. So coming together to improve literacy rate by 3 points should not be a problem, except that it is a big logistics challenge; unless we are still going behind details without having a look at the big picture. Exploiting technology will be of great help.

Its time we all come together. To attack the problem around us as one single force is the way forward and this is our standpoint!

ಇರುವಿಕೆ ಆಗುವಿಕೆ

ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಕಡಿಮೆ ದಿನದ ೨೪ ಗಂಟೆಯೂ ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ ಪೂರೈಕೆ ಇರುವ ನಮ್ಮ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ, ಅಪರೂಪಕ್ಕೊಮ್ಮೆ ಕೆಲ ನಿಮಿಷಗಳ ಕಾಲ, ಅದೂ ರಾತ್ರಿಯ ವೇಳೆಯಲ್ಲಿ, ಪೂರೈಕೆ ಸ್ಥಗಿತಗೊಂಡ ಕ್ಷಣಗಳು ಅಪೂರ್ವ. ಅದೇ ದಿನ ಮನೆಯ ಇನ್ವರ್ಟರ್ ಕೆಟ್ಟು ಹೋಗಿದ್ದರೆ, ಆ ದಿನ ಸುದಿನ! ನೂರಾರು ಲೆಕ್ಕಾಚಾರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ, ಗೊಂದಲಗಳಲ್ಲಿ, ಕರ್ತವ್ಯಗಳು ಎಂಬ ಭ್ರಮೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಕಾರ್ಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಳುಗಿರುವ ನಮ್ಮ ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ, ಆ ಕಿರು ಕತ್ತಲ ಜಗತ್ತು ಕ್ಷಣಿಕ ಧಿಗ್ಭ್ರಮೆ ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. "ಕರೆಂಟ್ ಇಲ್ಲದೆ ಏನಪ್ಪ ಮಾಡುವುದು ಇವಾಗ?" ಎಂದು ಹಲುಬುತ್ತ ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆನೆತ್ತಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಕೂತರೆ, ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಆ ದಿನದ ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ ಅಭಾವ ಸಾರ್ಥಕತೆ ಹೊಂದಿದಂತೆಯೆ! ಸುತ್ತಲಿನ ಕತ್ತಲಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲಿಂದಲೋ ಮೋಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಮೋಟಾರಿನ ಸದ್ದು, ಪೀ ಪೀ ಹಾರ್ನು, ಯಾರೋ ಮೊಬೈಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಅರಚುತ್ತಿರುವ ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕ ಗುಪ್ತ ವಿಚಾರಗಳು, ಬೇಕರಿಯ ಎದುರು ಪಾನಮತ್ತ, ಧೂಮಚಿತ್ತ ನಶೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವ ರಾಜಕೀಯ, ಸಾಂವಿಧಾನಿಕ ಚರ್ಚೆಗಳು. "ಈ ರಗಳೆಗಳೆಲ್ಲ ದಿನಾ ಇದ್ದಿದ್ದೇ" ಎಂದು ಕತ್ತೆತ್ತಿ ನೋಡಿದರೆ, ಮೊಡಕವಿದ ವಾತಾವರಣ ಇಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೆ, ನಾವೂ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಆನುಷಂಗಿಕ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವಗಳು ಎಂದು ಮಿಂಚಿ ಸೆಳೆಯುವ ನೂರಾರು ನಕ್ಷತ್ರಗಳು, ಶನಿವರೆಗಿನ ಗ್ರಹಗಳು, ತದೇಕಚಕ್ಷುವಿನಿಂದ ಗುರಾಯಿಸಿದರೆ ಕಾಣುವ ಆಂಡ್ರೊಮೇಡ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರಪುಂಜ, ನಮ್ಮದೇ ಮಿಲ್ಕಿವೇ ಆಕಾಶಗಂಗೆ, ಇವೆಲ್ಲದರ ಹಿಂದಿನ ಬಿಲಿಯಾಂತರ ವರುಷಗಳ ರೋಚಕ ಇತಿಹಾಸ; ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಸಂಕುಚಿತ ಸ್ಮೃತಿಪಟಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ಷಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾದು ಹೋಗುತ್ತವೆ. ಈ ಅನುಭವವು ವರ್ಣಿಸಲಸದಳ.

           ಈ "ಗ್ಯಾಪಿ"ನಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲವು ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳು ಏಳುತ್ತವೆ. ಕೋಟ್ಯಾಂತರ ಜ್ಯೋತಿರ್ವರ್ಷಗಳ ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಿ, ಬಿಲಿಯಾಂತರ ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ,ಲಯಗಳಿರುವ ಈ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾಂಡದಲ್ಲಿ, ನಗಣ್ಯವೆಂಬಂತಿರುವ ಸೌರಮಂಡಲದ, ಅತಿಪುಟ್ಟ ಗ್ರಹಗಳಲ್ಲೊಂದಾದ ಭೂಮಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ಜನನವಾಗಿದೆ. ಇಂತಹಾ ಅಗಾಧ ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಿ, ಇತಿಹಾಸಗಳ ಗೋಲದಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ದಿನನಿತ್ಯದ ಬದುಕೇ ಈ ಗೋಲದ ಕೇಂದ್ರಬಿಂದುವಿನಂತೆ ನಾವು ಬದುಕುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವಲ್ಲಾ! ಇವೆಕ್ಕೆಲ್ಲಾ ಒಂದು ನಿರ್ದಿಷ್ಟ ಅರ್ಥವಿದೆಯೇ? ನಾವು ಬದುಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಇದಮಿತ್ತಂ ಎನ್ನುವಂತಹ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟ ಗುರಿ ಹೊಂದಬೇಕೆ? ಕ್ವಚಿತ್ತಾದ ತತ್ವಗಳನ್ನು ನಂಬಿ ಅವುಗಳ ನೆರಳಿನಲ್ಲೇ ನಮ್ಮ ಜೀವನ ಸಾಗಿಸಬೇಕೆ? ಇವುಗಳೆಲ್ಲದರ ಸಮ್ಮಿಳಿತದಿಂದ ಹುಟ್ಟುವ ಸಾರ್ಥಕತೆಯ ಸೋಗಿಗೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಜೀವ ಹಪಹಪಿಸಬೇಕೆ?

         ಈ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ತರಲೆ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಧನಾತ್ಮಕ ಉತ್ತರಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡುವ ಜನರೇ ನಮ್ಮ ಜಗತ್ತಿನ "ಸಾಧಕ"ರಲ್ಲಿ ಅಗ್ರಗಣ್ಯರು! "ಮರುಜನ್ಮ ಇದೆಯೋ ಇಲ್ಲವೋ ತಿಳಿದಿಲ್ಲ. ಮನುಷ್ಯನಾಗಿ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಏನಾದರೊಂದು ಸಾಧಿಸಿ, ಬದುಕು ಸಾರ್ಥಕಗೊಳಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು" ಎಂದು ಒಳದನಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅರಹುವವರಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನವರು "ಸಾಧಕ"ರಾಗಿ ಕುಲಾಂತರಗೊಂಡು, ಜನರ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮೇಲ್ವರ್ಗದ "ಜಾತಿ"ಗೆ ಸೇರುತ್ತಾರೆ! ತಮ್ಮ ಜೀವನಾನುಭವ, ಒಲುಮೆ, ಆಸಕ್ತಿ, ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವಗಳ ಸಮ್ಮಿಲನದಿಂದ ಒಂದು ನಿರ್ದಿಷ್ಟ ಗುರಿಯನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಿ, ಅಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ತಲುಪಲು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟ ಮಾರ್ಗಸೂಚಿಗಳನ್ನು ಹಾಳೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊರೆದು, ಜೀವನದ ಯಾವ ತಿರುವಿನಲ್ಲೂ ಗುರಿಯು ಸಂಚಲನಗೊಳ್ಳದಂತೆ ಖಾತರಿವಹಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅನೂಹ್ಯ ಅನುಭವಗಳಿಂದಲೋ, ಸೂಚ್ಯ ಪ್ರಯೋಗಳಿಂದಲೋ ಕೆಲವು ತತ್ವಗಳನ್ನು ನಂಬಿ, ಅವುಗಳು ತೋರುವ ದಿಕ್ಸೂಚಿಯಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಪಯಣ ಸಾಗಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಇದು, ಕಷ್ಟದ ಮಾರ್ಗವೇ ಸೈ! ಕಣ್ಣುಮುಚ್ಚುವ ಮೊದಲು ಆಂತರಿಕ ತೃಪ್ತಿ, ಮುಚ್ಚಿದನಂತರ ಲೋಕದ ಹೊಗಳಿಕೆ (ಕೇಳಲು ಕಿವಿಗಳು ಆಗ ಮಣ್ಣಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ!) ಪ್ರಯಾಸದಿಂದಲೇ ದೊರಕುತ್ತದೆ.

        ಆದರೆ, ಈ ಮಾರ್ಗವನ್ನನುಸರಿಸುವ ಜನರು ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಜನಸಂಖ್ಯೆಯ ಶೇಕಡ ೧ರಷ್ಟು ಮಾತ್ರ. ಹಾಗಾದರೆ, ಇನ್ನುಳಿದ ೯೯ ಪ್ರತಿಶತ ಜನರು? ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಲಿಖಿತ, ಮೌಕಿಕ, ಸ್ಮರಿಪ ಇತಿಹಾಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಅನಾಮಧೇಯರಾಗೇ ಉಳಿಯುವವರು ಇವರು. ಲೋಕದ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ "ಸಾಧನಾ"ಶೂನ್ಯರು. ನಿರರ್ಥಕ ಬದುಕ ಬದುಕಿದವರು. ಹೌದೇ? ಹೌದಾದರೆ, ಲೋಕದ ಎಷ್ಟೋ ತಾಯಂದಿರು, ಗುರುಗಳು, ಸ್ನೇಹಿತರು ಮನುಷ್ಯ ಸಮಾಜದ ಆಂತರಿಕ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯ ಶಕ್ತಿಕೇಂದ್ರಗಳಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ, ಅವರು ಐತಿಹಾಸಿಕವಾಗಿ, ಲೋಕದ ಸ್ಮೃತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ "ಸಾಧನಾ"ಶೂನ್ಯರೇ! ದಿನಬೆಳಗಾದರೆ ಹಕ್ಕಿಗಳಿರುವಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದು, ಆಲಿಸಿ, ಮುದಗೊಳ್ಳುವ ನಾಲಾಯಕರು; ಜೀವನಪರ್ಯಂತ ಸೋಜಿಗದಲ್ಲೇ ಅನ್ವೇಷಣೆಕೈಗೊಂಡ "ಬಿರುದು"ಶೂನ್ಯ ಸಹಸ್ರ "ವೇಸ್ಟ್" ವಿಜ್ಞಾನಿಗಳು; ಮೈಕೈ ಕೆಸರುಮೆತ್ತಿಕೊಂಡು ಗದ್ದೆ ಊಳುವುದರಲ್ಲೇ ಬದುಕಿನ "ಸಾರ್ಥಕತೆ" ಕಂಡುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಲಕ್ಷಾಂತರ ಕ್ಷುದ್ರ ರೈತರು; ಇವರೆಲ್ಲರೂ ಕಡಲಿನ ಅಗಣಿತ ಮರಳುಮಣಿಗಳೇ!

         ಇಷ್ಟೆಲ್ಲಾ ಹರಟಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದು ಕಾರಣವಿದೆ. ಮಾನವರೆಂದಮೇಲೆ ನಮಗೆ ಇಂತಹ ಸೈದ್ಧಾಂತಿಕ ಮಂಥನಗಳು ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವೇ. ಕೆಲವರಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರ್ಥಕವೂ, ಸ್ಥೂಲವೂ ಆಗಿರುತ್ತವೆ. ಇನ್ನುಳಿದವರಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳೆಲ್ಲಾ ಗಹನವಾಗಿ ಯೋಚನಾರ್ಹ, ತಕ್ಕಂತೆ ಯೋಜನಾರ್ಹವಾಗಿ ಕಂಡುಬರುತ್ತದೆ. ಇವೇನೇಇದ್ದರೂ, ಈ ತಾತ್ವಿಕ ತಿಕ್ಕಾಟಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮಾಧಾನಕರ ನೆಲೆ ಕಂಡುಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದು ಅತ್ಯವಶ್ಯಕವೆಂದೇ ನನ್ನ ಅಭಿಮತ. ನಿರ್ದಿಷ್ಟ ಗುರಿ,ತತ್ವ ಹೊಂದಿದ, ಅವುಗಳ ಫಲವತ್ತತೆಗಾಗಿ ದುಡಿಯುವ "ಸಾಧಕ" ಪಂಗಡ ಒಂದೆಡೆ. ಇವ್ಯಾವುದರ ಪರಿವೇ ಇಲ್ಲದೆ, ಇದ್ದರೂ ಹಲವು ಶಕ್ತವೋ, ನಿಶ್ಯಕ್ತವೋ ಕಾರಣಗಳಿಂದ ಈ ನಿರ್ದಿಷ್ಟತೆಗಳನ್ನು ಬದಿಗೊತ್ತಿ, ಅ-ಐತಿಹಾಸಿಕ, ಅತಿಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ, ಆದರೂ ಅತಿಮುಖ್ಯದ ಜೀವನ ನೆಡೆಸುವವರ ವರ್ಗ ಇನ್ನೊಂದೆಡೆ. ಈ ಎರಡು ವರ್ಗಗಳ ಸಮನ್ವಯತೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಸಮಾಜದ ಸಾರ್ವಕಾಲಿಕ ಅವಶ್ಯಕತೆಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಆದರೆ, ಯಾವ ಮಾರ್ಗದಲ್ಲಿ ನೀವು ನಡೆಯ ಬಯಸುವಿರಿ ಎಂಬುದು ನಿಮಗೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟದ್ದು. ನಿಮ್ಮ ಇರುವಿಕೆಯ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಗೆ, ಆಗುವಿಕೆಯ ಬಯಕೆಗೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟದ್ದು.

        ಮುಗಿಸುವ ಮುನ್ನ ಒಂದು ಮಾತು. ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದೇ ಅಚಲ ಗುರಿಯಿಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೂ, ಲೋಕದ ಅಂಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ "ಸಾಧಕ"ರು ಎನಿಸಿಕೊಂಡವರು ಕೆಲವರಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಈ ಕೆಲವರಲ್ಲಿ ಅತ್ಯುನ್ನತ ಉದಾಹರಣೆ ನಮ್ಮ ನಾಡಿನ ಕೆ.ಪಿ.ಪೂರ್ಣಚಂದ್ರ ತೇಜಸ್ವಿ. ಕೋವಿ ಹಿಡಿದು ಸ್ವಚ್ಚಂದವಾಗಿ ಕಾಡು ಸುತ್ತುವುದನ್ನೇ ಪ್ರಾಯದ ಅಪ್ರತಿಮ ಆದರ್ಶವೆಂದು ತಿಳಿದಿದ್ದ ಅವರು, ಆ ಸುತ್ತಾಟದ ಅನುಭವದಿಂದಲೇ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊಸ ಭಾವವುಳ್ಳ, ಶೈಲಿಯುಳ್ಳ, ಅರ್ಥಗಳುಳ್ಳ ಕೃತಿಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡಿದರು. ಅವರ ಸುತ್ತುವ, ಅರಿಯುವ, ಅಚ್ಚರಿಪಡುವ, ಸಂಶೋಧಿಸುವ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವ ಹೇಗಿತ್ತೆಂದರೆ, ಅವರ ಕೃತಿಗಳನ್ನೂ ಮೀರಿ ಅವರ ದೈನಂದಿನ ಚಟುವಟಿಕೆಗಳೇ ಅವರಿಗೆ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಅಭಿಮಾನಿವರ್ಗ ದೊರಕಿಸಿದವು. ಅವರು ಕೂತದ್ದು, ನಿಂತದ್ದು, ಕುಡಿದದ್ದು, ತಿಂದದ್ದು ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ದಂತಕತೆಗಳಾದವು! ಇವೆಲ್ಲಾ ಸ್ವತಃ ತೇಜಸ್ವಿಯವರಿಗೇ ಇಷ್ಟವಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. 

ಯಾವ ಗುರಿ, ತತ್ವಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ಹೋಗದಿದ್ದರೂ, ಅವರ ಘನೀಕೃತ, ಸಹಜ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವದಿಂದಲೇ ಅಪ್ರಜ್ಞಾಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿ ಹೆಸರು ಮಾಡಿದವರು. ನಿಮ್ಮ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವವೂ ಇಷ್ಟೇ ಘನವಾಗಿದ್ದಲ್ಲಿ, ಬದುಕಲು, "ಸಾಧಿಸ"ಲು ಈ ಯಾವ ಸೈದ್ಧಾಂತಿಕ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳ ಗೋಜು ನಿಮಗೆ ಬೇಕಾಗಿಲ್ಲ. ಅಲ್ಲವೇ?

ಅಮರ ಕಾರಂತ ಹೊಳೆಗದ್ದೆ

(೨೫ ವಯಸ್ಸಿನ ಇವ ಜೀವನದ ಎಳೆತ ಸೆಳೆತಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿ ಈಜಾಡಿ ಜಯಸಿದವ. ಒಂದು ಸಿಗರೇಟು, ಒಂದು ಪೆನ್ನು ಮತ್ತೆ ಒಂದು ಹಾಳೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕರೆ ಇವನಿಗೆ ಅಷ್ಟೇ ಹಿತ. )

Education- For the sake of Learning

Education system in India- Although there have been several severe criticisms against the education system in India, the progress level still remains dismal. The recently introduced Right To Education (RTE) act which makes education a fundamental right of every child in the country between 6 and 14 years of age that includes the right to free, compulsory primary education for all and the obligation to develop secondary education accessible to all, has still a long way to go due to several  constraints. To explain further, the RTE act has a selection process through which children are selected for admission to pre-nursery or Class 1, based on the availability of seats in a particular school. If the applications are more than the number of seats, lots are drawn in the presence of education officials and the selected children will be allowed to pursue free education. This may not ensure free education to all underprivileged children since a lot of them may not even be aware of this opportunity; they could be migrants who do not understand the local language and changed laws, well-off families may try to make use of the act, business-minded schools may not implement the act in a fair manner or simply because they weren't lucky enough to be selected.

But the more important question is; does this so called ‘basic education’ prepare our kids to life in any way? 

Whenever I see the pictures of 10^th standard, 12^th standard kids who are the toppers in their schools or in the state, I wonder do they even have an idea of what life is beyond exams and high scores. And that academic excellence does not imply excellence in life. I do not think that scoring high is bad, but scoring a mark without understanding the concept is meaningless. Here is my personal experience that I would like to share which would help illustrate the above point better.

I had a Mathematics teacher in high school; his name Panchakshari sir or SBP sir, as we used to call him. He was my teacher for only one year-10^th standard. Until high school, everyone had only one thing to say about my academics” she is good in all subjects-languages, science and social, but her ‘weakness’ is Mathematics and she just can’t understand it.” So in the final year of our school life, we were introduced to this great teacher who was a simple man with amazing teaching abilities. He taught Mathematics in such a way that I began to really understand the subject and feel that it is an easy, fun subject which is relevant everywhere. He used to teach us Geometry by explaining the shapes of the objects around us, he used to make us read timings using a clock which does not have numbers marked on it, and also to measure on the scale not always beginning from zero. Stuff like these fascinated me and got me involved in his classes. 

If we made a mistake, we were never cornered, instead he would behave as if he expected better from us. This amazed me and for the first time in my life, I actually wanted to learn and I wanted his approval that I did well. This pushed me to study harder and harder and finally in the board exams I got a 99/100. I still remember how he congratulated me and asked me where I lost that one mark. Nothing else was a happier and satisfying moment for me as a student. The final result is that now, I am not afraid of mathematics anymore and even today I can pick up any text book of it till engineering and teach it to kids.

Incidentally, I had another teacher in school who taught Kannada for us. I had just joined high school and since my parents had always encouraged me to write my own answers, I was completely confident about myself and did not exactly follow the notes word-by-word, as given by my Kannada teacher. That was until I scored less in the first unit test. When I asked my teacher about the low score despite of me answering all the questions well, she told me that I would be given full marks only if I followed her notes and wrote exactly the same answer as given by her. As I had been a good student and then scoring less would unnecessarily complicate things at home, I decided to do as she suggested. I did not think too much and started following the prescribed route.

Even though we had 2-3 pages answers written in a long note book, I could easily remember them after revision. Since my visual memory is dominant, with practice, I can remember which word comes after what and hence I could replicate all answers into the test paper. Not only did I score well in her classes throughout the three years she was my teacher, but I even got a 114/125 in my board exams. All was well, I had scored well and my parents were happy with the results. But, what I did not realize at that time was that this process killed my ability to write and express in Kannada. Today I find myself searching for words to talk in my own mother tongue. All I learnt in this class was to mug up and throw it on the answer sheet.

The reason I gave the above examples is just to show that high scores do not mean learning. No, it simply means high score and it certainly is not a measure of the student’s capabilities. In my case, two different teachers with two different approaches had the same intention of their students scoring well. But one’s approach of inspiring, liberating teaching methods made me let go of my fears and gain knowledge while the other’s confining approach stubbed my growth. Sadly, in today’s world, we have more number of the second category teachers who push the children only to score “95% and above” to become ideal machines for the demanding career they will join and not the first category of teachers who encourage them to learn, have fun in the process and grow to their complete selves. All we are doing through this kind of an education system is develop shallow, materialistic, sad human beings. Is that what we want of our future generation? 

To allow kids to learn and accumulate useful knowledge in all creative ways possible so that education is not just a namesake but is one which teaches them life skills is the intention and this is our standpoint.

- Madhushree Lakshman

(About the Author - Madhushree is not just another young Bangalorean who passes-by without notice. Change is a way of life she believes, driven by her will to solve the problems around her. Co-founder of 'Volunteer For a Cause (VFC)' a registered non-profit, she knows from experience what it takes to tackle a real world problem and is on the path towards solving it)

Belaku Annual Day - A Candid Expression of a True Spirit!

“To serve is beautiful, but only if it is done with joy and a whole heart and a free mind.”

Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973);
Writer, Nobel And Pulitzer Prize Winner

This comes at a time when we have just finsihed successfully executing our flagship project, Belaku Annual day. The amount of energy that just sprung up from nowhere was simply amazing. There was a focus. It was a challenge. The motivation levels were beyound measurable limits. Although it was a bit lethargic upfront, the way the spirits rose was amazing. Ego free volunteering at its best. 

This is was what one of our volunteers Archana (Archies) who choreographed a beautiful dance had to say about her overall experience:

Until I came to Belaku on the first day for choreography, focus was only on choreography. However I had never thought it would open up to new bindings that would make me come back to it again and again.  

The spirit of team Kaleido is awesome!!! I appreciate the dedication and every bit of support and encouragement that was provided all through the practice and event. Team is so comforting and very much inclusive in a way it works, makes even the first timer gel up well with the team. 

The one and a half months of sweat was unlimited fun. We have been working with these kids from 2011. Going back to belaku is like going back to a friends place. Well, you know when you are carrying this feeling that the purpose is served well. They are no different. Just that they have to live with an inevitable compromise in life. And that we have to deal with, together. What are friends for?

You learn from the kids, more than what you teach them. Their innocence surely breaks your ego and brings out the child in you. Thats the best part in the whole process. You are not affected by opinions, you do not carry any obligations and you simply are free. One of the volunteers Sathya Pramodha (Saty) who possibly was the best choreo this year was greatly satisfied with her involvement in the whole event. She is not new to Belaku and has time and again produced some of the best shows pushing the kids' capabilities to the next level everytime. This is what she had to say:

practice sessions -> fun
event -> soooper fun
Totally awesome experience to meet such talents and nurturing it

The whole showcase was filled with energy. It was bright and as Gautam says It was Colourfull!!

If the event was a success, the major share also goes to those who encouraged by playing a wonderful audience. They saw the whole thing through a different eye. We got lots of feedback. It was all positive. Some had to comment on the technical issues that we faced while managing shows. We accepted it. But we knew at the end of it all that we had done a good job. Some of them had a different opinion though. Our own volunteers had a different mood viewing, like the one below. 

We realy hope that he was lost enjoying the beautiful songs that our kids sung. The actual reaction however was as Madhuri put it:

Kaleido volunteers great Job guys... Loved the way it was organised. Yello Jhinugiruva, Paper Paper, Remix song, Roudra (Narasimha avatara), Remix dance, Mono acting by sri raksha and eerakka, Nidhi skit, Kavana by bhagya..everything was too good. All together it was a treat to watch kids performing. Super talented kids and Mentors [Kaleido volunteers] :):) Cheers..keep up the good work.. :):)

At the end of it all, it was a great team effort. Amazing dedication by all the volunteers, tremendous perseverence shown from the kids and great support from the Belaku Board. The whole spirit behind the event motivated all of us to push our capabilities to the limits to ensure a successful showcase. As Archies remarked later:

In short Kaleido is a set of right things fallen in right place! I 'm happy that I was part of it and would like to continue to be.

Awesome. Really Awesome.

Little Stint Volunteerism

The urban youth like us are becoming conscious of the need for support in the society more these days. We want to do something, be a part of something that is good for the society and be of some help. It is a good sign one must accept that as a society we are becoming conscious and responsible to solve the problems outside. Just that the word ‘ Societal Problem’ is an extremely generic one and has a lot of layers to it, so let us freeze on the problems that we are very well exposed to; children deprived of parental guidance. So in a quest to understand how volunteerism can effect a positive change towards solving this problem, we have come across a bigger problem. This bigger problem is not visible to the world outside. This bigger problem pushes us to think on the viability of the corporate volunteers and one time volunteers. (Please Note: Here corporate volunteers refers to those who are volunteering as a part of their big corporate’s social responsibility. And our focus here is on the time spent by the volunteers and not on the financial charity).

We get the urge inside to do something good for the society. We understand the concern that, the one time a person spends with the kids in shelter homes, he/she wants to see them happy. Now seeing them happy and working towards keeping them happy is two different things altogether. If someone comes to a conclusion that a kid inside a shelter home is happy just by seeing the kid happy, then it is false. Well, for most of the corporate volunteers, there are funds at their expense, there are required resources at their liberty and there is that one day to spend it all on the kids at a shelter home. Its fun, we agree. That day, that one day is the most happiest day for the kids one can think. An outsider just walks in, plays a clown, makes the kids laugh and dance their heart out, feels satisfied for doing all this and then leaves. The volunteer leaves for never to be seen again by the kid. That volunteer might feel a sense of contentment as he/she was able to develop that connect with the kids there and make them happy for a day. In essence, for two to three hours of that day. Please note that these kids are growing in an institutional framework and are clearly deprived of a home with a parental guidance. So, they are more open towards strangers with donors walking in and out of their place regularly. The connect that is assumed to have been developed with the kids might therefore be false.

You celebrate the New Years’ in one shelter home. Get all the stage ready, order some brilliant food from a 3 star hotel for the kids and the staff of the shelter home, play some popular music, dance away to glory, take some mind blowing pictures of the event and leave satisfied. But what is the effect of this little stint on the kids nobody thinks. It is surely fun for the kids to spend a day grooving to the music and forget everything else. Imagine, this little stints happening with the kids every now and then. Just think whether your parents would have allowed you to enjoy all this as a  kid so frequently, or will you allow your kids to enjoy the same so regularly. The impact this kind of volunteerism leaves on the kids is definitely curbing the holistic development of the kid in the long run. The kids in the shelter homes require a replacement of a parent. We are sure parents are never these little stints, they are available 24 hours a day everyday. Although none of us volunteers can make up to this, what is required is a follow up of your visit. You might not teach anything to the kid, you might just visit them once and that is good. But what actually creates impact is when you can visit them regularly. 

Visit the same set of kids regularly. Make friends with them. Get to know them. Share your interests and passions with them. They will be very much interested to know all these. Do not write it off as a Geek Material and start concentrating only on raw entertainment. Although the kids show their clear bent of mind towards that, it is not the need of the hour. We need to think on our approach and understanding of volunteerism and effecting change through volunteerism, right now. You don’t need to have fun for a day with the kids and escape for never ever to be seen again thinking that something good has been done to the society, and this is our standpoint.