ARJUN SHANDELIYA
MY GRANDSON
My youngest daughter Divya was blessed with a baby boy on November the Eleventh, Two thousand and Eleven at 09 : 43 A M, at Hyderabad, in Rainbow Hospital. The date being unique, as 11-11-11 !
My son-in-law Manoj was the first to see his son as he was permitted into the Labour room. He wore the doctor’s green gown and mask alongwith the green cap and looked like a Doctor himself.
On the traditional Naming Ceremony Day, we all waited in suspense and awe to hear the name selected for the baby boy by his proud parents.
Then Manoj, the happy father announced, “Arjun Shandilya Ravulapati ”, as he started writing the name in the uncooked Rice spread in a plate, by the priest, amidst chanting of vedic hymns. Their Gothram is Shaandilyasa.
The Ravulapati Family are the descendants of the Sage Shaandilya.
Arjun is the youngest of my 3 grand children. After Ananya, my grand daughter, ( daughter of Neetha and Avinash ), and Agraj my grand son,
( son of Yamini and Srikanth ).
Ananya made me a Daada, and Agraj made me a Naana ! And now Arjun made me a Naana again !! Daada and Naana are Hindi equivalents for paternal and maternal grandpa, respectively.
As days went by Arjun was growing up amidst celebrations,vaccinations, immunisation procedures, which involved seeing the young life cry in pain each time a needle is inserted into his tender,delicate thigh muscles. But it is “all for the good of the baby, you know”, the doctors would pacify me.
As Arjun became five to six weeks old, he would stare at me, give me a half smile, as if to say “Oh you are my Mom’s Pop, right ?”.
He was a tiny wonder in our hands, all of a human life, complete with emotions, feelings and astonishment at the folks around him.
Relatives would throng our house insisting that they should hold the baby in their hands and bless him. How so ever we tried to enforce hygienic discipline that they rub their hands with the liquid disinfectant, 9 out of 10 would lift him up with their normal ( dirty ) hands and make fun of our insisting on hygiene and infection theory.
Close relatives have the right of way. They can get away with anything.
Thank God, the child develops its own immunity plan and the tiny body protects itself. But on and off little Arjun would cry relentlessly after the crowd of relatives left. My wife would call it “Evil Eye “and do a ritual to ward off the Evil Eye Effect ! Mostly that used to work and Arjun would calm down and slowly sleep.
Arjun would look at me after waking up from sleep, and look at me, with another half smile as if to say, “Hey, Grandpa, what’s happening ?” and play around as if he is already used to this world and its idiosyncrasies !
Parsa V Ramachander Rao
December 26, 2011. Hyderabad.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Use Your Powers. Judiciously.
Political power comes not only with the Office you hold but also with the popularity you enjoy with your followers. For example the Power, KCR and Prof. Kodandaram have over the agitators is immense. But the Power Holders must use their Power judiciously and in a positive manner. Not in a destructive manner. Like encouraging Bus burnings, and harassing the common man with Rail Rokos and Rastha rokos.
If only KCR and Kodandaram use their Power to guide the Government Staff to work at least for 3 hours a day to attend to the common man’s needs and then be on Strike for the balance period of the working day, how much more civilised the agitation will appear.
Coal mines are the Life Line for the Thermal Power Sector. If Power generation drops how many hardships are being heaped on Farmers and Industrial workers? Is anyone bothered ?
Coal miners should be guided in their Strike by a responsible Union Leader, to first produce at least 50 % of the normal daily output and strike work thereafter. After all they are also responsible, as true citizens, to maintain essential Power Supply to Farmers and other essential services.
Students must be guided to attend classes, for at least 3 days in a week and be on strike the balance 3 days. They are after all the Future of this Nation. We can ill afford to train our Students in indiscipline and law breaking activities. How can we play with their careers and future lives ? Just to ensure KCR becomes Chief Minister of a future Telengana ?
The daily wage earner suffers the most, during the frequent Bandhs. Why harass the common man and deprive him of his daily meal, for the sake of your Political Goals ?
Why can’t the U P A Government use its Powers, and impose President’s Rule, when the Law & Order situation has totally vanished from the day to day Life ?
Would they not have imposed President’s Rule, by now, if TDP or BJP were in Power in Andhra Pradesh ?
Why can’t the Chief Minister use his Powers to maintain Law & Order ? When Section 144, is imposed, the District Magistrate / Collector has the Power to arrest the offender who violates the conditions of Sec. 144. Why does the Collector hesitate to use his Power ?
And he blames the Politician for his ineffectiveness. If you arrest the culprits before they gather strength, you have won half the battle. Let the Politician interfere and release the arrested persons later.
At least people will feel the fear of action by the district Authority. Easy escape route for the IAS / IPS Babus , is to blame the Local MLA or Party-in-Power functionary. Abandon your duty, play safe and be in the good books of the Politician. When will the IAS / IPS Cadre learn to do their job without fear or favour ?
So goes the Story, down the line, to the Tahsildar / Mandal First Class Magistrate.The Circle Inspector of Police and the Village Secretary. ( Earlier Karanam or Patwari, in Telangana region )
Play safe. Get your choice posting and be happy. Let the common man go to Hell. That is our attitude, our Psyche to-day. Search for excuses to be passive, nay, horribly indifferent to your actual duty and the well being of your fellow citizens.
If Democracy in its proper sense has to succeed, the Citizens, more so the Leader class citizens, must first learn to respect the Rule of Law, and the Rights of your Fellow Citizens to lead a normal Life, every day, irrespective of the Leaders’Political Goals.
When this basic requirement is not met, it breeds anarchy. And Dictators will spring up to grab the opportunity to bring Order and Stability to Life. Which is the most undesirable and unwanted development that should ever take place, anywhere.
Will wisdom dawn on our Politicians soon ? Will we become a civilised State again ?
When Telengana comes how will these Agitation Leaders ever bring Peace and Order in Life after having preached so much of Lawlessness and indiscipline ?
Do these Leaders have any foresight, at all ? God Save our Nation.
Parsa V Ramachander Rao.
Khara Nama Samvatsara , Ashwayuja Shukla Dasimi,
Vijaya Dasimi. October 6, 2011. Hyderabad.
Parsa V Ramachander Rao
Chief Operations Manager ( Retd. )
Indian Oil Corpn.Ltd.
The Cuckoos Nest, Plot # 418, Road # 22
Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad 500 033.
Mobile 9177380816. 040 23543338.
Political power comes not only with the Office you hold but also with the popularity you enjoy with your followers. For example the Power, KCR and Prof. Kodandaram have over the agitators is immense. But the Power Holders must use their Power judiciously and in a positive manner. Not in a destructive manner. Like encouraging Bus burnings, and harassing the common man with Rail Rokos and Rastha rokos.
If only KCR and Kodandaram use their Power to guide the Government Staff to work at least for 3 hours a day to attend to the common man’s needs and then be on Strike for the balance period of the working day, how much more civilised the agitation will appear.
Coal mines are the Life Line for the Thermal Power Sector. If Power generation drops how many hardships are being heaped on Farmers and Industrial workers? Is anyone bothered ?
Coal miners should be guided in their Strike by a responsible Union Leader, to first produce at least 50 % of the normal daily output and strike work thereafter. After all they are also responsible, as true citizens, to maintain essential Power Supply to Farmers and other essential services.
Students must be guided to attend classes, for at least 3 days in a week and be on strike the balance 3 days. They are after all the Future of this Nation. We can ill afford to train our Students in indiscipline and law breaking activities. How can we play with their careers and future lives ? Just to ensure KCR becomes Chief Minister of a future Telengana ?
The daily wage earner suffers the most, during the frequent Bandhs. Why harass the common man and deprive him of his daily meal, for the sake of your Political Goals ?
Why can’t the U P A Government use its Powers, and impose President’s Rule, when the Law & Order situation has totally vanished from the day to day Life ?
Would they not have imposed President’s Rule, by now, if TDP or BJP were in Power in Andhra Pradesh ?
Why can’t the Chief Minister use his Powers to maintain Law & Order ? When Section 144, is imposed, the District Magistrate / Collector has the Power to arrest the offender who violates the conditions of Sec. 144. Why does the Collector hesitate to use his Power ?
And he blames the Politician for his ineffectiveness. If you arrest the culprits before they gather strength, you have won half the battle. Let the Politician interfere and release the arrested persons later.
At least people will feel the fear of action by the district Authority. Easy escape route for the IAS / IPS Babus , is to blame the Local MLA or Party-in-Power functionary. Abandon your duty, play safe and be in the good books of the Politician. When will the IAS / IPS Cadre learn to do their job without fear or favour ?
So goes the Story, down the line, to the Tahsildar / Mandal First Class Magistrate.The Circle Inspector of Police and the Village Secretary. ( Earlier Karanam or Patwari, in Telangana region )
Play safe. Get your choice posting and be happy. Let the common man go to Hell. That is our attitude, our Psyche to-day. Search for excuses to be passive, nay, horribly indifferent to your actual duty and the well being of your fellow citizens.
If Democracy in its proper sense has to succeed, the Citizens, more so the Leader class citizens, must first learn to respect the Rule of Law, and the Rights of your Fellow Citizens to lead a normal Life, every day, irrespective of the Leaders’Political Goals.
When this basic requirement is not met, it breeds anarchy. And Dictators will spring up to grab the opportunity to bring Order and Stability to Life. Which is the most undesirable and unwanted development that should ever take place, anywhere.
Will wisdom dawn on our Politicians soon ? Will we become a civilised State again ?
When Telengana comes how will these Agitation Leaders ever bring Peace and Order in Life after having preached so much of Lawlessness and indiscipline ?
Do these Leaders have any foresight, at all ? God Save our Nation.
Parsa V Ramachander Rao.
Khara Nama Samvatsara , Ashwayuja Shukla Dasimi,
Vijaya Dasimi. October 6, 2011. Hyderabad.
Parsa V Ramachander Rao
Chief Operations Manager ( Retd. )
Indian Oil Corpn.Ltd.
The Cuckoos Nest, Plot # 418, Road # 22
Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad 500 033.
Mobile 9177380816. 040 23543338.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
When Rome was burning, Nero was Fiddling.
Nero the last Roman Emperor was said to have been fiddling as Rome was in flames.
Our very own Nero, The Heir Apparent, the Prince Of Wales of the ruling Congress party, their inevitable Prime Ministerial Candidate, Rahul Baba is no where to be seen or heard as Telengana is burning. Life in Hyderabad and the entire Telangana is totally out of gear. Pandemonium rules the entire troubled Region.
Yet the High Command plays for Time. Plans to send yet another emissary in Ghulam Nabi Azaad on 25th to study the situation. And of course to suggest a solution.
The CM is ineffective. Law & Order has gone to dogs. A truly comical announcement of One Rupee a Kg. Rice to BPL families from October 2nd is made. To satisfy whom ? No one knows.
The Congress in A P is in splinter groups, with YSR Congress, Telengana Congress, Kiran Kumar Congress and Botsa Congress. Every group is involved in drawing more Legislators into their own group, promising The Moon.
Poor Legislators are groping in the dark, like a blind man searching for a black cat on a Amavasya Night. Whom to believe, whom not to believe, who is close to Soniaji / Rahul Baba, and who is not.
Really it’s a tough game. To survive in such Political Circumstances.
Rahul Baba, the future Secretary General of Congress Party in Delhi, our next PM in 2014, must tour Telengana. Assure the strife torn region that justice will be done to them by granting the much needed Statehood. Bring together all the warring groups in the State Congress. Lead them from the Front and make them truly loyal to himself, that is the Congress party in Delhi. Is he capable of doing this ? We must ask only Soniaji !
The one major factor that has aggravated, nay added fuel to fire, is the Procastrination.
In coming to a decision on the burning issue of a separate Statehood, for Telengana.
If only the Central Government had been firm in their dealing with the issue, instead of making that disastrous Decmber 9th announcement, seemingly to save KCR’s Life, the Central Govt. would not have lost their grip on the troubled state of A P.
Now, its too late for any retreat for the Central Government. They must announce their Final Decision and follow it up with the appropriate Bill in the Winter session of Parliament.
Hyderabad has to be in Telengana. There can be no two opinions on this. In the past such quarrels for the Capital City were ultimately settled by conceding the disputed city to its natural geographic region.
When Gujarat and Maharashtra were bifurcated, in 1960, the then Bombay ( now Mumbai ) was given to Maharashtra, inspite of a very strong case put up by Gujarat for Bombay. The Gujarathies had argued that the entire Business in Bombay was built by Gujarathies and controlled by them.
Similarly when Andhra State was carved out of the erstwhile Madras Presidency, in 1952 / 53, Andhras argued that it was Andhra Money that built Madras. In fact the Film Industry in Madras in those days was dominated by the Coastal Andhra Rich Farmers.
Yet Madras City, went to Tamil Nadu.
So also, Hyderabad must be with Telengana as and when the State is formed. Yes, if mutually agreed, it can be a Common Capital for Andhra and Telengana.
Andhra can develop their own Capital in Visakhapatnam. It has all the makings of a Capital City.
Or between Vijayawada and Guntur, as recommended by Justice Wanchoo, who was the One Man Commision appointed by Nehru in 1952 / 53, to suggest a suitable site for Andhra State Capital.
Common man cannot be made the scapegoat by these Cunning Politicians for any longer. All Govt. Offices are closed to any work. Gates of Collectorates and Mandal Offices are locked by the agitators. Reliable sources say, secret instructions to Police are not to aggravate the situation by confronting the agitators.
Schools and Colleges are closed. Students have stopped studying and are playing Cricket. Till Telengana comes. Those are the instuctions from the Agitator Leaders to the masses.
How long can this go on ? No one has the answers. Till Telengana comes is the cryptic snide comment of the Professor turned Politician who heads the so called People’s Movement organization.
And Delhi feels fully justified in following the good old and famous saying of the Late Kamaraj Nadar, “Parkalam”, meaning lets see.
So, what does the so highly celebrated Aam Aadmi do ? Bear the rot with perseverance ?
Parsa V Ramachander Rao, Chief Operations Manager (Retd.)
Indian Oil Corpn.Ltd. Hyderabad.
The Cuckoos Nest, Plot # 418, Road # 22, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad 500 033.
Mobile 09177380816.
Sept. 24, 2011.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Agraj, The Elder. My Grand Son.
We were all waiting for my daughter / son-in-law, Yamini / Srikanth’s First Child. Since 2007, at least.
They were married in 2005 and after giving them the desired Grace period of 2 years, we were rather becoming impatient for the Happy Event to happen. Grand parents-to-be, on both sides, were anxiously expecting the announcement of all announcements !
In the mean time my son / daughter-in-law, Avinash / Neetha’s daughter arrived. Ananya was born on September 23, 2009. First Grand Child in the Family on both sides ; our side and daughter-in-law’s side. Great Celebrations all over. For weeks there were events after events to welcome Ananya into our families..
Then one fine morning we got a call from Singapore ! The Great News ! Yamini is in the Family Way !! Would it be a grand son, this time or a grand daughter ? Suspense continued all through the pregnancy. We all decided to wait for the thrill ; and not make efforts to know.
And in February 2011, on a sunny Sunday, 20th. Feb., at 1 past 37 minutes in the afternoon, our beloved grand son arrived. Yamini’s wishes were fulfilled. Son-in-law Srikanth was in Singapore and was getting ready to fly in to Hyderabad that night. He was elated and drowned in Happiness when told of the Arrival of his Son !
Agraj, was named thus, as he happened to be the eldest for Yamini / Srikanth. Also he became the first grand son for his paternal grand parents. And, generally it was felt that the name was unique in its own way. An uncommon name at that.
As Agraj started growing up, he started displaying the uniqueness of being a boy. His looks, smiles and sounds he started making from the 3rd month onwards, all, unmistakeably sent out clear signals that he was a BOY !
The mischievous male twinkle in his tiny eyes and the shrill loud shrieks he makes in his playing time, are to be seen to be believed. His face displays a sober, dignified, “male member of the family”, look !!
The greatest joy is when we see our grand daughter ANANYA, now 19 months old and just uttering her first words, play with her cousin AGRAJ, in a very affectionately sweet manner, calling him “Aggajoo “, singing a lullaby and talking to him in her own childish language.
The astonishing part is the response of Agraj to Ananya, in sounds , characteristic of a 3 month old baby ! They discover their own world of children as compared to our world of adults. Their responses to each other are just spontaneous, sans any frills or unnatural imitations of a child’s way of talking. We adults are adept at making unsuccessful attempts to ape their behaviour or language. Whereas they do it naturally. And that sounds really sweet because its genuine.
Parsa V Ramachander Rao. Hyderabad. 24th May 2011.
We were all waiting for my daughter / son-in-law, Yamini / Srikanth’s First Child. Since 2007, at least.
They were married in 2005 and after giving them the desired Grace period of 2 years, we were rather becoming impatient for the Happy Event to happen. Grand parents-to-be, on both sides, were anxiously expecting the announcement of all announcements !
In the mean time my son / daughter-in-law, Avinash / Neetha’s daughter arrived. Ananya was born on September 23, 2009. First Grand Child in the Family on both sides ; our side and daughter-in-law’s side. Great Celebrations all over. For weeks there were events after events to welcome Ananya into our families..
Then one fine morning we got a call from Singapore ! The Great News ! Yamini is in the Family Way !! Would it be a grand son, this time or a grand daughter ? Suspense continued all through the pregnancy. We all decided to wait for the thrill ; and not make efforts to know.
And in February 2011, on a sunny Sunday, 20th. Feb., at 1 past 37 minutes in the afternoon, our beloved grand son arrived. Yamini’s wishes were fulfilled. Son-in-law Srikanth was in Singapore and was getting ready to fly in to Hyderabad that night. He was elated and drowned in Happiness when told of the Arrival of his Son !
Agraj, was named thus, as he happened to be the eldest for Yamini / Srikanth. Also he became the first grand son for his paternal grand parents. And, generally it was felt that the name was unique in its own way. An uncommon name at that.
As Agraj started growing up, he started displaying the uniqueness of being a boy. His looks, smiles and sounds he started making from the 3rd month onwards, all, unmistakeably sent out clear signals that he was a BOY !
The mischievous male twinkle in his tiny eyes and the shrill loud shrieks he makes in his playing time, are to be seen to be believed. His face displays a sober, dignified, “male member of the family”, look !!
The greatest joy is when we see our grand daughter ANANYA, now 19 months old and just uttering her first words, play with her cousin AGRAJ, in a very affectionately sweet manner, calling him “Aggajoo “, singing a lullaby and talking to him in her own childish language.
The astonishing part is the response of Agraj to Ananya, in sounds , characteristic of a 3 month old baby ! They discover their own world of children as compared to our world of adults. Their responses to each other are just spontaneous, sans any frills or unnatural imitations of a child’s way of talking. We adults are adept at making unsuccessful attempts to ape their behaviour or language. Whereas they do it naturally. And that sounds really sweet because its genuine.
Parsa V Ramachander Rao. Hyderabad. 24th May 2011.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Chandragiri Paathashaala
A Finishing School Concept
There are ever so many Schools, in this country. Residential Schools, Day Scholar Schools, English Medium Schools, so on and so forth. There are separate Schools for Boys and Girls. There are International Schools for the Foreigners in India. There are Schools which claim to impart Cultural and Traditional Real Education (Bharathiya Vidya) to its Pupils.
There is no dearth of Schools in India. For the Rich and Neo-Rich there are Hi-Tech Classy Schools which boast of Air-Conditioned Class Rooms and Air-Conditioned Buses for the children to commute to and from the School.
There are Govt. Schools for the Aam Aadmi’s children. There are EAMCET (Engineering and Medical Common Entrance Test, in A P ) Oriented Schools of the Corporate Commercial Education Selling Merchants, who claim to prepare the child for a degree in Engineering / Medicine, by coaching them from Class 8 onwards.
Finally, Education is a Finished Product kept for Sale on the Shelf of the Education Super Market. You just go and buy the Education you decide for your Children.
Meaning Of Education
This is totally against the very idea and concept of educating a Child to face this World, make a living, and learn the Values of Good Living. Good Ethical Living, respecting the Elders, respecting the Other Person’s Freedom, way of Life and the other person’s Religion. That the world is for every one and not just for you and your Comfort, is never taught in our Schools, these days.
Present Interpretation
By hook or Crook, move forward. Score the Highest Marks and for that make all efforts with a no – holds - barred concept. Push the other person aside and go forward. Live for yourself, not for the Society or the Community in which you live. In short, they teach a Child to be Selfish to achieve his / her Goals. Forget about every thing. Just look after yourself.
This attitude has been developed in the Entire Younger Generation of to-day, by our misguided Education System. Children born in the 90s and early 2000s are shaping up on these Lines.
A Dangerous Trend
This is a dangerous trend. It has to be corrected. The Younger Generation that will flower in the decade 2010 – 2020 have to nurtured carefully and shaped as Human Beings. Above everything. They must shape up as Good Human Beings first and everything else, next.
What Is To Be Done ?
It is possible if a few good Schools appreciate the above Ideals and re-engineer their Curriculums and approach to Education. With this ideal in mind, an attempt is being made to start a Traditional Paathaashaala.
Venue / Location.
It would be at Chandragiri, on the other side of Tirupathi, on the Chittoor / Bangalore Road. It’s a beautiful valley surrounded by Hills all around, one of the Hills being the Sacred Venkatadri Hill of Lord Venkateswara. In fact from this side there is a pathway to Tirumala with steps and is used by Hawkers and Suppliers of Vegetables and other necessities for Tirumala Town. The proposed Location will be somewhere close to the Holy Venkatadri Hill. Site location to be finalized depending on availability of adequate ground water.
It will be a Finishing School.
Children who have passed 6th Class will be admitted in Class 7. They will be nurtured, shaped and educated upto Class 12,where they will take the Secondary School Leaving Exam of the CBSE Board. A period of 6 years the child will spend in this School. A sincere attempt will be made to give the Child meaningful Education and shaped as a Responsible Citizen who cares for the Higher Values of Life.
It will be a Residential School. It will be a Co-Education School for both Boys and Girls.
Boys will learn to respect, understand and care for the opposite sex. A boy should know how to speak, deal and respect a Girl’s Feelings and her aspirations. Similarly Vice-Versa. Girls should understand, respect and appreciate the Male Point of View .
Ideal Strength of Class
Every Class will have a Maximum of 15 students. Both Boys and Girls. Stretchable to 20 at the utmost requirement. But never more than 20. No additional Sections. Only one section for one class. It should not be an over crowded School at any given point of time. Each Class will be under the Expert Care of a trained Teacher both in Class and in the Hostel.
Faculty.
Retired Teachers from Central Schools only, will be recruited. The age group being 60 to 65 years. Experience, and not Modern Degrees, will be the Main Criterion for selection of Teachers.
Complete Training
The Child’s entire Psyche will be trained. The Child will be given adequate opportunity to discover his / her latent Talents, and develop that Talent. Be it Music, or Dance, or Theatre Work, or Art, like Painting or Literary traits hidden inside them.
Hostel
Airy, roomy Living / Bed Rooms to accommodate a maximum of 8 persons will be constructed, with attached Bath / Toilets. In each block there will be 4 such Bed Rooms with amenities.
Kitchen and Dining Hall Block will be a separate block.
A Common Hall for debates, seminars and small Fine Arts Performances, Rehearsals, on the ground floor ; and an Indoor Games Hall on the First Floor. This will be another separate block.
A pleasant garden will surround all these Blocks.
Sports
Adequate Sports Facilities under Trained Coaches in each major Sporting Activity, like Athletics, Cricket, Hockey, Foot Ball, Volley Ball, Badminton and Tennis, will be made available in the School.
Languages
Children will be taught a minimum of 3 Languages, as English, Hindi and Mother Tongue, whatever it may be. Additional languages to be taught will be Sanskrit, Persian, French, German and Latin depending on the Child’s Choice. Every Child will be encouraged to learn at least One Language other than the 3 Compulsory languages taught in the regular course.
Computer Literacy
State-Of-The-Art Computer Education will be imparted with the latest Languages in vogue in the Software Industry. A well equipped Computer Lab will be available in the School.
Finer Aspects Of Life
Etiquette, both Indian and Western will be taught as a Special Subject, to all Students as a Compulsory Subject.
Religion
Religious Training on the Child’s Choice and desire will be imparted by Experts in the Subject. The child’s aptitude and desire will decide this training. There shall be no compulsion or suggestion to the Child to choose any particular Religious Training.
But the Child will be guided to understand the Existence of a Supreme Power in this Universe and the need for every Human Being to understand and Respect and Pray to that Supreme Power. All the guidance the Child requires will be provided, without rubbing any Doctrine on the Child’s Psyche.
The type of worship, chosen by the child , either in a Mosque or in a Temple or in a Church or in a Gurudwara will be made available for the child ; to continue practising his / her Religion. All help and assistance will be given to go to the place of worship in School Transport and return to the School, once in a week.
Fee Structure
The Fee structure will be such as to meet the Expenses of each Child in the School, for both Education and Hostel Facility and Food. Wholesome, nutritious Food will be given and the Cost only will be recovered in the Fee.
Admission Fee to cover cost of Infrastructure
Over and above the Cost, a minimum 15 % Margin Money, on the capital employed for infrastructure, will be collected as a One Time Admission Fee to meet the Capital Expenditure of the School Infrastructure and Assets.
A very Careful Costing Exercise will be undertaken and Fee fixed with utmost care to avoid unreasonable profit / Margin Money for the Promoter because the whole Project is designed to be low profit enterprise for a Noble Cause. It should be within Reach of an average upper middle class family whose Annual Income is in the range of 8 lakhs to 12 lakhs.
Selection Procedure
Selection of Students will be absolutely stringent and aptitude oriented. Not on the basis of the Parents’ ability to pay the Fees. Deserving Students will get Scholarships and Deferred Payment Options.
A child reaches Class 7 at an average age of 11 years. That will be the intake age.
Screening of students for admission will be meticulous. Only potentially amenable children will be selected.
A child who can be moulded , only, will be selected., irrespective of caste, creed, or religion, or Region whatsoever. No recommendations or Pressures.
In the First Year,only 15 students,both girls and boys put together will be selected for Class 7. Every year the same principle will hold good and by the time the School enters its 6th year of functioning, all classes would have students from Class 6 to Class 12.
Is one School sufficient for a Nation of our size ?
Once one School starts functioning and its effects on Society and the young children are seen, various cities and towns will come forward for starting such Schools in their places.
Franchisee Schools can be started. The new Schools will be started by our Trained Staff and Teachers, who will train the local Staff and Teachers, start the School and return to our School.
One step, the First Step, has to be taken. Then the journey will roll on. It will not stop. Hundreds of Finishing Schools will come up all over.
The new generation will be a Generation that will do India Proud, in every sphere of Life.
Parsa V Ramachander Rao, Hyderabad.
December 18, 2008.
A Finishing School Concept
There are ever so many Schools, in this country. Residential Schools, Day Scholar Schools, English Medium Schools, so on and so forth. There are separate Schools for Boys and Girls. There are International Schools for the Foreigners in India. There are Schools which claim to impart Cultural and Traditional Real Education (Bharathiya Vidya) to its Pupils.
There is no dearth of Schools in India. For the Rich and Neo-Rich there are Hi-Tech Classy Schools which boast of Air-Conditioned Class Rooms and Air-Conditioned Buses for the children to commute to and from the School.
There are Govt. Schools for the Aam Aadmi’s children. There are EAMCET (Engineering and Medical Common Entrance Test, in A P ) Oriented Schools of the Corporate Commercial Education Selling Merchants, who claim to prepare the child for a degree in Engineering / Medicine, by coaching them from Class 8 onwards.
Finally, Education is a Finished Product kept for Sale on the Shelf of the Education Super Market. You just go and buy the Education you decide for your Children.
Meaning Of Education
This is totally against the very idea and concept of educating a Child to face this World, make a living, and learn the Values of Good Living. Good Ethical Living, respecting the Elders, respecting the Other Person’s Freedom, way of Life and the other person’s Religion. That the world is for every one and not just for you and your Comfort, is never taught in our Schools, these days.
Present Interpretation
By hook or Crook, move forward. Score the Highest Marks and for that make all efforts with a no – holds - barred concept. Push the other person aside and go forward. Live for yourself, not for the Society or the Community in which you live. In short, they teach a Child to be Selfish to achieve his / her Goals. Forget about every thing. Just look after yourself.
This attitude has been developed in the Entire Younger Generation of to-day, by our misguided Education System. Children born in the 90s and early 2000s are shaping up on these Lines.
A Dangerous Trend
This is a dangerous trend. It has to be corrected. The Younger Generation that will flower in the decade 2010 – 2020 have to nurtured carefully and shaped as Human Beings. Above everything. They must shape up as Good Human Beings first and everything else, next.
What Is To Be Done ?
It is possible if a few good Schools appreciate the above Ideals and re-engineer their Curriculums and approach to Education. With this ideal in mind, an attempt is being made to start a Traditional Paathaashaala.
Venue / Location.
It would be at Chandragiri, on the other side of Tirupathi, on the Chittoor / Bangalore Road. It’s a beautiful valley surrounded by Hills all around, one of the Hills being the Sacred Venkatadri Hill of Lord Venkateswara. In fact from this side there is a pathway to Tirumala with steps and is used by Hawkers and Suppliers of Vegetables and other necessities for Tirumala Town. The proposed Location will be somewhere close to the Holy Venkatadri Hill. Site location to be finalized depending on availability of adequate ground water.
It will be a Finishing School.
Children who have passed 6th Class will be admitted in Class 7. They will be nurtured, shaped and educated upto Class 12,where they will take the Secondary School Leaving Exam of the CBSE Board. A period of 6 years the child will spend in this School. A sincere attempt will be made to give the Child meaningful Education and shaped as a Responsible Citizen who cares for the Higher Values of Life.
It will be a Residential School. It will be a Co-Education School for both Boys and Girls.
Boys will learn to respect, understand and care for the opposite sex. A boy should know how to speak, deal and respect a Girl’s Feelings and her aspirations. Similarly Vice-Versa. Girls should understand, respect and appreciate the Male Point of View .
Ideal Strength of Class
Every Class will have a Maximum of 15 students. Both Boys and Girls. Stretchable to 20 at the utmost requirement. But never more than 20. No additional Sections. Only one section for one class. It should not be an over crowded School at any given point of time. Each Class will be under the Expert Care of a trained Teacher both in Class and in the Hostel.
Faculty.
Retired Teachers from Central Schools only, will be recruited. The age group being 60 to 65 years. Experience, and not Modern Degrees, will be the Main Criterion for selection of Teachers.
Complete Training
The Child’s entire Psyche will be trained. The Child will be given adequate opportunity to discover his / her latent Talents, and develop that Talent. Be it Music, or Dance, or Theatre Work, or Art, like Painting or Literary traits hidden inside them.
Hostel
Airy, roomy Living / Bed Rooms to accommodate a maximum of 8 persons will be constructed, with attached Bath / Toilets. In each block there will be 4 such Bed Rooms with amenities.
Kitchen and Dining Hall Block will be a separate block.
A Common Hall for debates, seminars and small Fine Arts Performances, Rehearsals, on the ground floor ; and an Indoor Games Hall on the First Floor. This will be another separate block.
A pleasant garden will surround all these Blocks.
Sports
Adequate Sports Facilities under Trained Coaches in each major Sporting Activity, like Athletics, Cricket, Hockey, Foot Ball, Volley Ball, Badminton and Tennis, will be made available in the School.
Languages
Children will be taught a minimum of 3 Languages, as English, Hindi and Mother Tongue, whatever it may be. Additional languages to be taught will be Sanskrit, Persian, French, German and Latin depending on the Child’s Choice. Every Child will be encouraged to learn at least One Language other than the 3 Compulsory languages taught in the regular course.
Computer Literacy
State-Of-The-Art Computer Education will be imparted with the latest Languages in vogue in the Software Industry. A well equipped Computer Lab will be available in the School.
Finer Aspects Of Life
Etiquette, both Indian and Western will be taught as a Special Subject, to all Students as a Compulsory Subject.
Religion
Religious Training on the Child’s Choice and desire will be imparted by Experts in the Subject. The child’s aptitude and desire will decide this training. There shall be no compulsion or suggestion to the Child to choose any particular Religious Training.
But the Child will be guided to understand the Existence of a Supreme Power in this Universe and the need for every Human Being to understand and Respect and Pray to that Supreme Power. All the guidance the Child requires will be provided, without rubbing any Doctrine on the Child’s Psyche.
The type of worship, chosen by the child , either in a Mosque or in a Temple or in a Church or in a Gurudwara will be made available for the child ; to continue practising his / her Religion. All help and assistance will be given to go to the place of worship in School Transport and return to the School, once in a week.
Fee Structure
The Fee structure will be such as to meet the Expenses of each Child in the School, for both Education and Hostel Facility and Food. Wholesome, nutritious Food will be given and the Cost only will be recovered in the Fee.
Admission Fee to cover cost of Infrastructure
Over and above the Cost, a minimum 15 % Margin Money, on the capital employed for infrastructure, will be collected as a One Time Admission Fee to meet the Capital Expenditure of the School Infrastructure and Assets.
A very Careful Costing Exercise will be undertaken and Fee fixed with utmost care to avoid unreasonable profit / Margin Money for the Promoter because the whole Project is designed to be low profit enterprise for a Noble Cause. It should be within Reach of an average upper middle class family whose Annual Income is in the range of 8 lakhs to 12 lakhs.
Selection Procedure
Selection of Students will be absolutely stringent and aptitude oriented. Not on the basis of the Parents’ ability to pay the Fees. Deserving Students will get Scholarships and Deferred Payment Options.
A child reaches Class 7 at an average age of 11 years. That will be the intake age.
Screening of students for admission will be meticulous. Only potentially amenable children will be selected.
A child who can be moulded , only, will be selected., irrespective of caste, creed, or religion, or Region whatsoever. No recommendations or Pressures.
In the First Year,only 15 students,both girls and boys put together will be selected for Class 7. Every year the same principle will hold good and by the time the School enters its 6th year of functioning, all classes would have students from Class 6 to Class 12.
Is one School sufficient for a Nation of our size ?
Once one School starts functioning and its effects on Society and the young children are seen, various cities and towns will come forward for starting such Schools in their places.
Franchisee Schools can be started. The new Schools will be started by our Trained Staff and Teachers, who will train the local Staff and Teachers, start the School and return to our School.
One step, the First Step, has to be taken. Then the journey will roll on. It will not stop. Hundreds of Finishing Schools will come up all over.
The new generation will be a Generation that will do India Proud, in every sphere of Life.
Parsa V Ramachander Rao, Hyderabad.
December 18, 2008.
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