Are We Really Literate? Part I

As I ponder upon the topic of this post, a question arises in my mind, which I would like to ask hereby:

What do you define a Literate as?

As always we would like to give an answer from a well known dictionary ‘Oxford’ or from an online portal.

Definition: To be able to read and write.

Only change is the constant thing in this world. I think most of you must have read this quote somewhere or heard it from someone or experienced it in your lifetime for that matter. Do you think now the time has arrived to change this definition given above of being ‘Literate’?

Most of you might not agree, as we all are educated with this definition in mind.

To give an example of Change, I would like to go off the track.

A decade or two back, how we defined basic necessities of a human being? I think as famously depicted by Manoj Kumar in his super hit film ‘Roti, Kapda aur Makaan’. In a sophisticated language let us call it as and also defined in our education system as: Food; Clothing; and Shelter. But, with changing face of times, basic necessity of a person’s life was redefined as: Food; Clothing; Shelter; Education; and Health.

Thanks to the advent of Liberalization (By Dr. Manmohan Singh in India for that matter) and Globalization, if you give it a thought, then you might think of again redefining the indispensable requisite of life as: Food; Clothing; Shelter; Education; Health; Electricity; Entertainment (Thanks to Bollywood, Hollywood, IPL, TV Serials and Gossip Material provided by Newspaper and News Channel also); Transportation (Including Public and Private both); and Communication (It includes: Internet, Mobile, and many more such devices or technologies which have made extremely difficult task seem as a child’s play).

So, we have made changes in the definition of the basic necessity of a person’s life.

Go back to the period of 50’s or for that matter even 80’s and 90’s. What were the relations between two persons in India prevalent at that time?

An answer to this would be: Husband – Wife; Brother – Sister; Father/Mother – Son/Daughter; Brother in law – Sister in law; Uncle/Aunt – Nephew/Niece; Grandfather/Grandmother – Grandson/Granddaughter; Friends and many more such sacred relations were shared between two people.

With times we have come across various new relationships or have defined them with the changing face of an era. To name a few: Girl Friend; Boy Friend; Ex – Girl Friend; Ex – Boy Friend; One Night Stand; Live in Relationships; Gay; and Lesbian.

I do agree with a quote ‘Old is Gold’. So, still the basic necessity of a person’s life would never misplace: Food; Clothing; and Shelter as the priority. Or for that matter, still the sanctity of relationships defined by our ancestors would never be diluted. But, evolution of a mankind is necessary for betterment and living a good life.

Coming back to point, let me describe with few examples, why I feel there should be change in the definition of: Literate.

Before giving these examples, I would like to be sincere with few things:

1) Whatever I am writing here are my personalized views; and opinions;

2) It is not at all meant to point someone’s or the other’s behavior, in the person who is related to me by some or the other mean;

3) The writing here equally applies to me also, as I am applying to generalized population of this country or world for that matter;

4) You are always welcome to criticize upon or comment upon any of my views over here.

We are a country which is manufacturing Engineers; Doctors; MBAs; Graduates; Post – Graduates or for that matter ‘Gadhe’ (As famously said by: Aamir Khan in his all time favorite movie: 3 Idiots).

To start with, let us ponder upon some basic learning’s of life and what we really do with them:

1) Respect Elders.

We do Respect our Parents; Grandparents; and Relatives. But, what about an elderly person whom we meet in a Metro; Bus; and Train? Do we readily agree to offer him/her our seat? On the other hand, we would like to make a good laugh of a person who is kind enough to offer his/her seat to the person who is requiring it more than him/her.

2) Respect; and Tolerate all Religions and Castes.

Do we allow or accept as a society: Love Marriages; Inter Caste Marriages; and Inter Religion Marriages, with an open mind?

I don’t think that there is any other better way of understanding new Culture; Traditions; Philosophies; and Values.

A perfect relationship doesn’t exist between persons having great similarities; it exists between those having a better understanding about their differences.

Do we make it a try to stop violence or division created on the grounds of Religion; and Caste?

3) Don’t throw Garbage on the road.

Imagine a fine evening with your friend. You just feel like having a Dairy Milk for him or her. The best ever food stuff, you can ever have in this world (I feel it).

After enjoying its heavenly taste, do we make a sincere effort for looking out a dust bin somewhere near of the shop, from where we bought it, to throw the wrapper. Can we think of keeping the wrapper in our pocket and throw it in a dust bin after reaching home?

Like this there are many things, for which we can make a sincere effort to throw them in a dust bin itself: Chocolate Wrapper; Use and Throw Paper materials; Plastic Bags; Use and Throw Plastic Bottles; etc.

Can we think of making mess in our home like this, I am sure we would not dare to.

4) Don’t Bribe.

Arey, bhaiya dekh lo na jara woh. File aage badha do, aapka kaam karta hoon na main.

Arey, parchi kyun phad rahe ho de raha hoon na main, kitne main ho jayega bolo.

These are the common tone of language we hear in Government Offices; Court Cases; Traffic Police; and many such other places.

5) Conserve Electricity and Water.

Do we really make an effort to even think about this?

To switch off light and fan at the place where it is not required at all.

I have personally seen many people, leaving the tap of water running wide open, while shaving beard or brushing teeth.

For this an excuse is given:

Arey, jitna use kar rahe hain, uska paise de rahe hain na toh kya problem hain. But, is it not wise to implement this quote over here: A penny saved is a penny gained.

(A post on this: A Question to be asked, 2nd June, 2010).

6) Be Patient.

Every day we are surrounded with worries; time bounded results; and many more such things which take our health to an extreme condition.

But, are we tolerant enough to understand one’s Emotions; and Feelings. To at least give it a try to listen to one’s Happiness or Sorrow’s of life.

Are we enduring enough today, to make others realize or get ourselves an understanding of the: Good and Bad things of the world.

We always feel it proud to quote to ourselves and others about: Thomas Alva Edison, who was successful in the invention of a bulb only after making 999 mistakes. But, are we patient enough to listen to our near and dear ones problems for a few second on that note.

7) Be Punctual.

This is the best learning which we do get at the right time of our molding years in childhood, and we are always late to adhere to this one. Kehte hain bhagwan ke ghar der hain andher nahi.

We always feel it proud to keep waiting someone for our arrival as if we are some celebrity who can never be on time because of his/her other priorities of life. But, if we are on the waiting side, we expect the other party to be on time.

This has become our habit to not to follow this learning of life and now the time has come in which our MBA classes teach about cultural aspects of various communities and countries, in which they write about INDIA as:

Indians are never on time.

Aren’t we ashamed of this, can’t we give it a try on our own personal front to write off this bad conception about us from the minds of the people around the world.

Are We Really Literate? Part II

8) Gender Equality.

As I am writing about this, most of the male readers might get annoyed with me, but, female readers, I can think of them becoming my fan.

Jokes apart, are we really interested even to know or think about this? I do agree with the fact, girls are now making out their way in a globalized world to work along with boys on every professional front possible.

A person is educated, so that he/she should be able to take own decisions of his/her life.

But, do they still have become an integral part in taking decisions on family matters? Are they even free enough today, to take their own decisions of life?

Why a girl after marriage has to bind herself with the customs, traditions, ways and rituals performed at her husband’s place? Why can’t we think of, to give her a chance to teach us a different and a better manner in which a ritual or an occasion is celebrated, which she has learnt for past around 24 – 25 years at her place? Why she has to leave her family name, only to get attached with our one?

I always feel proud then about a girl, who has that strength enough to leave behind her a surrounding in which she has been brought up. She has to part ways with her parents; friends; relatives only for a cause of marriage.

I don’t say ‘Ghar Jamai’ ban jao, but, can we for that matter show some support; respect; and love for a girl who has left behind her own family to make ours an integral part of her life.

Also, what about the aspirations of a girl, after her education? I don’t think today also there are people around who will allow their daughter – in – law or for that matter a husband would support a wife, to aspire for her dreams after marriage. Or is the education of a girl child limited only to get her married in a well settled family.

This trend is moving south in direction, but, that too only because of high standard of living conditions; and to manage the household expenses in metropolitan cities. Still a girl only has to live up to her in laws expectations, along with a job. Why can’t a guy think of helping out a girl in daily chores of a married life, to make it a perfect one?

Sacrifice of a career is always due on a girl, can a guy ever think of it, if a wife is having better career prospects than a husband. Killing of someone’s aspiration is a sin and it should not happen in anyone’s case, be it a girl or a guy.

9) Blind follow up of Traditions and Rituals.

This is not meant at all to hurt anyone’s emotions or feelings, which people have for their customs and traditions, around which a person’s life revolve from the day he/she starts to breath, till the end of journey on earth.

A person is pure in its form only at the instance he/she arrives in the world, making its way out of the womb of a mother. After that a name is attached to the person.

A name of a: Country; Region; Religion; Caste; Sub Caste; Family. A child who is not even aware of his/her existence, is bound to all the Traditions; Rituals; and Customs attached to the name with which it has to start life only to end with the same given name.

Every coin has two sides attached to it, goes a very old proverb. So, every given name must be having something Good and something Bad as an integral part of it. Do we then give an enough freedom to our highly qualified children to praise the Good and at the same time criticize the Bad things attached to the name, with which they are living?

It is said that: An education is imparted to a child for enabling him/her to think and understand the Good and Bad things of life. Do we really give that chance even, to a child for him/her to take the decision upon accepting the Excellent and discarding the Appalling attached to the given name of him/her (Then be it, Name of: Family; Sub Caste; Caste; Religion; Region; and Country)?

I would like to share herewith 2 instances of my life regarding this heading I am writing about:

1st Instance:

I was in 1st year of engineering, and my cousin’s wedding was scheduled in the same year.

Everything was going around smoothly in the marriage. When I saw a ritual, which really perturbed me and still it gives me a shiver in my body; about how can one think about it also, though it being a tradition.

It was about: Girl’s parents have to wash the feet of to be Son – in – Law.

I asked my Dad about this, when he told me, it being part of some ritual. I was plainly taken aback by this. I asked him a very simple question to which, I think every person in this world will be unanswerable if he/she agrees with this tradition or any such similar kind of custom happening in their Caste; Religion; likewise same happened with my Dad:

Can you ever in your weirdest dream also think of: Allowing your parents to wash your feet? Then how can in the name of tradition alone, a person can think of allowing someone else’s parents to wash one’s feet?

I had once a very good debate on this with one of my friend, who told me something like this:

Aisi kuch manyata (Belief) hain ke, aisa kuch karne se Swarag ki prapti hoti hain.

And that too, alone Girl’s parents are bound to abide this tradition. I am not here to play ‘Tit for Tat’, but, then Boy’s parents are not supposed to behave the same with to be Daughter – in – Law. Kya ladke ke Maa Baap ko swarag ki prapti nahi chahiye hoti hain kya? Then I will always pray for a Girl child, as I don’t want myself to land up into hell.

Aur shayad isi ko kehte hain: 100 chuhe khakar billi chali Haj ko.

By doing this alone we are assured of going to Heaven after end of our breath. Let alone then whatever might be the number of Sin we perform, which assures our entry to Hell.

2nd Instance:

I had a good discussion with a very great friend cum elder brother of mine, Rajesh Hendge. He explained me the blind follow up of traditions, in a very simple and subtle manner with a help of a story, which I would like to narrate hereby (In Hindi):

Ek gaon main, ek pujari raha karta tha. Uska naam tha: Harkishan. Harkishan ka kaam gaon ke Mandir main roj shaam ko havan karvana hota tha. Uske paas ek pyari billi bhi thi, jo usne bade laad pyaar se apne saath rakhi hui thi. Par uske saath ek dikat hua karti, woh jab bhi havan par baith ne jata, uski billi uske aas paas mandarane lagti. Pujari ko darr tha, ki kahi billi uchlte kudte hue kisi din havan main na gir jaye. Isliye usne is par upay dhundha aur us din ke baad se woh har roj havan ke samay billi ko rassi se ek kone main bandhkar, bade sukun se puja karne laga.

Din mahine saal bite, pujari ka ek din swarg waas ho gaya. Uske baad gaon ke mandir main havan karne ki jimedari, uske shishya: Raghu, par aa gayi. Raghu ko bhi pujari ki billi se bada lagav tha, aur woh uska har samay khayal rakhta. Par billi ke nathkat svabhav ke chalte, woh bhi use rassi se ek kone main bandhkar, sukun se puja karta.

Aise hi phir aur din mahine saal bite, billi ka bhi dehant ho gaya. Raghu ke budhepan ke chalte uski jagah ab uske bete: Chandan, ne le li.

Jab pehli baar Chandan mandir main havan karne baitha toh aas paas khade logon ne usse kaha: ‘Arey, tumne havan ko shuruvat kaise ki, pehle kisi billi ko rassi se toh bandhkar ek kone main khada karo, phir hi havan ho payega sahi dhang se’.

I think this story tells a lot about the topic I am discussing herewith, and no further explanation would be needed on.

To name a few more, prevalent in Indian society:

1) Manglik

A concept beautifully presented in: Munna Bhai Lage Raho.

2) Dowry

Today also, in Indian Matrimony Market, dissimilar degree holders are having different price tags.

Engineer: Rs. 10, 00,000;

MBA: Rs. 25 to 30, 00,000;

Doctor: Rs. 30 to 50, 00,000.

Again these degrees fetch more if you are an IIT/IIM/AIIMS pass out.

Parents of to be husband takes pride in these issues, but, my sincere opinion in this regard goes like this: A guy is getting sold in the market and I think a human value is always much more than this, right? So, the amount of Dowry you take will fix up a husband’s cost in the marriage market and will a husband get resold if any other daughter’s parent offers more than the initial investment cost or the valuation should be based upon depreciation cost analysis?

Like this there are many beliefs which are always in queue to arrive at specific time in a person’s life. Do we give enough freedom to a person, to use his/her reasoning power to accept or deny the practice?

Or is our analytical power now limited to only:

Writing Software Programs? Or

Making Business Deals? Or

Designing and Running a Machine with a 100% Efficiency? Or

Operating on a Bed Ridden Person?

Now a very basic question:

Were you able to read the matter written over here? I am very much sure; it would have taken less than 10 minutes of your very precious life. If I ask you to write the same stuff again (Don’t copy paste), I am pretty sure, many great thinkers would be living out there, who can script this in a more graceful approach.

So, by a very basic definition defined earlier, everyone is a Literate.

Now, just give it a reflection: Is really the reading and writing which matters to be called as Literate? Or is it the implementation of our learning with a sincere effort makes us a Literate in real sense?

It is not Reading and Writing of a Computer Manual which makes a person Computer Literate. It is only after he/she can practically work on Microsoft Office or for that matter at least can start and run computer for this or the other work.

A mere Reading and Writing of Examination papers won’t allow an engineer to be a Technical Literate about his/her subject. It is only when he/she is able to Read; Write; Design and; Understand the logic behind the structure built.

I personally feel then to define ‘Literate’ in a fresh approach as:

A person who is able to: Read; Write; Understand and Implement.

So, if next time you see someone or feel yourself disrespecting any basic learning of life, do ask yourself a question:

Are we really Literate?

A Question to be Asked

Saturday, 31st March, 2007: 7.30 PM to 8.30 PM;

Saturday, 29th March, 2008: 8 PM to 9 PM;

Saturday, 28th March, 2009: 8.30 PM to 9.30 PM;

Saturday, 27th March, 2010: 8.30 PM to 9.30 PM;

Saturday, 26th March, 2011: 8.30 PM to 9.30 PM (A Futuristic View).

Can you search out any similarity between these dates? You can find out one, if you’re good enough in analytical reasoning. These dates are similar in a kind of being on last Saturday of every March.

You can find out a relationship if you are an ardent environmentalist.

From 2007 onwards, on every last Saturday of March, every year an occasion is celebrated for the cause of global community. The concept idealized by WWF Australia and Leo Burnett Sydney, an advertising agency, spread out its wings to promote and unite world community for a common purpose, by providing a global platform and a cause.

It was named ‘The Big Flick’ earlier, but, thanks to Leo Burnett for renaming it to a simple one, for the world to grace its appearance every year and remember the celebration till its arrival the next time:

An Earth Hour.

Before coming to MBA, I was aware of this concept, but, how it gives the very cause of ‘Saving Earth’ a real time effect every year was an unknown fact to me.

I witnessed it for the 1st time on, 27th March, 2010, from 8.30 PM to 9.30 PM. I was staying in ‘GN Hostel’ the one provided for accommodation during 1st year tenure by my MBA institution ‘Birla Institute of Management Technology, Greater Noida’.

Lot of enthusiasm for this was instilled in us by a very invigorating message on mail by our Institute’s Deputy Director regarding:

Effects of Global Warming;

Event Earth Hour;

How our college will also be supporting this cause of ‘Saving Mother Earth’.

We were instructed to switch off all the lights and fans during the 1 hour period. We were encouraged to use as much minimum electricity as possible during this episode.

Every single mind living in the hostel or for that matter you can say every other person living on this planet was ready to relive this dream episode conceptualized by WWF and Leo Burnett.

A formality of just switching off the lights and fans was carried out at exact 8.30 PM and suddenly the world around me seemed to be in darkness which I never before witnessed. It was really a great feeling to be a part of a global cause and reliving the dream with tens of thousands of people across the 5 continents.

For an hour or so, it was really an amazing mood to be back into the days which our ancestors lived: No Electricity. An hour episode, in true sense made me realize the value of electricity in our life. I was getting impatient to switch on the TV set to watch IPL match, being a great fan of it, but, was not allowed to do so.

At 9.30 PM exact, the much awaited IPL match was set on along with the lights and fans all over the hostel. It took some minute to realize that we have been back from a really beautiful experience, which was shared across the world.

But, a thing perturbed me after around half an hour of this chapter, as I was walking alone with my thoughts in the garden:

For that much celebrated 1 hour, we were very much aware of the causes of: Global Warming and Its Consequences. We were very much passionate about: Proper utilization of Electricity and No Wastage of it. We were a part of a celebration and a cause of global community without even being related to WWF or Leo Burnett.

But, what happened after 1 hour: We were again into our usual mode of switching on lights and fans in the premises of where it is not even required. It happened in our hostel and I think it must have all over the world. Lights and Fans were switched on in the common rooms of our hostel where the presence of a human being would have been a question mark. We were in the period of our 3rd Trimester exams at that time; TV sets were just switched on in the common rooms with full volume, so as to make the commentary reach in the nearby rooms, to get the glimpse of an ever exciting cricket match conceptualized by Lalit Modi.

This wastage of electricity made me to think on some points, which I would like to present here:

1) Is it really the Earth Hour, which will save our Mother Earth, from the basic consequences of Global Warming?

Or is it the sustained efforts of each one of us for the every other second we are living on this beautiful planet, which will save it from ill effects of Global Warming?

2) Then this episode is just like: Zindgai bhar jitne chahe paap chadha lo, baad main toh pavitra Ganga nadi hain hi apne paapon ko dhone ke liye.

It is not that Sachin Tendulkar played only 1 One Day inning every year in his 20 years of illustrious career, to make 20 innings in the whole career, and score 500+ runs in each inning so as to reach the mark of 10,000+ runs. It is the consistency for every single second of those 20 years which is now paying him a lot in terms of: Money; Recognition; and Respect.

We as a human being require constant: Love to care for us; Food to energize us for our works; Respect to stand with pride in the crowd; and Recognition to praise the work beautifully crafted by us.

Or are we satisfied if:

We are loved by our parents and near and dear ones only once a week and for rest of the time they hate us;

We get food to energize ourselves once a week and for rest of the coming 7 days we keep ourselves starving;

We are respected only once in a month from someone and then we are torn apart from the world till the next coming period of respect for us and meanwhile we are disrespected;

We are recognized for our work done only once in a year and that too for the single recent that has happened and rest all are forgotten.

I do bet, if this would happen with anyone of us, it would be unbearable and we won’t be able to survive.

Then how can we think of surviving our Mother Earth only through a 1 hour period along the year.

It is not at all about criticizing the event: An Earth Hour. I do respect in a passionate manner, the whole reasoning with which it was started.

We love and respect our parents’ whole round the year, or do we really need a special occasion only to show our affection and admiration for them. But, just to mark the occasion and show our gratitude to them (which no one can ever show), we celebrate ‘Mother’s Day’; ‘Father’s Day’.

We are fond of our friends and are waiting to meet them the every other day at: School; College; Office, or do we really need an extraordinary event to meet them. But, a celebration is always due on: ‘Friendship Day’ itself.

We love ourselves a lot and it is the same from our parents and friends for us, but, we are always special on our: Birthday. We are the same ones on this day, nothing changes expect the age of ours, but, the birth of ours in a mankind is celebrated in the most perfect manner, we can.

Like this there are many such occasions we celebrate all round the year to mark the exquisiteness of the day. But, our Love; Respect; and Recognition for these relations remain the same or it grows inside us with every other passing day, spent with our loved one and we don’t really need a day to: Care for someone; Value someone; or for that matter to Distinguish someone’s work done for us.

So, why can’t it be the same in our relationship with: Mother Earth?

We can always give from our side a sustained and a passionate attempt to: Save Electricity and Water, which now serves as the basic necessities of the mankind. As we celebrate our occasion, we can always be a part of and celebrate the cause of: An Earth Hour, every year. But, can we love our Earth whole round the year in the cause which is given by this episode.

To achieve Perfection is a task, which is not accomplished by a day or two. It a result of: Consistency; Perseverance; and Hard work day after day; hour after hour; and seconds after seconds of our breath.

But, this would be really achieved only after we start perplexing ourselves with a basic question:

‘Do we really need An Earth Hour to Save Our Planet Earth?’