I am sometimes, forced to watch soap-operas in the regional language in so called prime channels. The show, strangely deal with characters – especially the women protagonist – very regressive in their thought process. It was quite shocking to watch an episode where the women protagonist in a prime-time show frets over not marrying the person – she was supposed to marry and goes on to talk about how marrying the X , Y or Z was the sole purpose of her existence.

In an era, when we encourage people to think big, highlight women achievers in social media and emphasis on women empowerment – how is it that these soap-operas are regressive? How is it that women’s welfare association or National Commission for women – fail to layout guidelines about the portrayal of women characters on television.

How do millions of viewers find such shows engaging? And, how are lead actors of such regressive shows popular?

This pandemic is confusing and interesting. I have had relatives who are sick and who cannot be paid a visit. I was wondering how things are working for them and what they are going through?

At the same time, I have been teaching online, attending professional classes online, holding parents-teacher’s meeting online – these online meets – save time and energy which I would have wasted traveling up and down to different venues across the city for different tasks.

So Should I treat this as a blessing or …….. Very confusing times.

I am diabetic – not supposed to eat sweets and pasteurized. But, I do once a while, chalega yaar. I like tea cake – soft and spongy – and no cream. I like to visit bakery . I like the icing on the cakes – white, brown, yellow – curled up with a jerry beautifully perched on it – tutti fruity sprinkled on it, Chico stick jutting out invitingly – a thin slice of no plate sticking out seductively. Creams – strawberry, buttersotch, Vanilla and chocolate ……hmmmm! Enticing you from different layers. Small pastries – triangular in shape and melting in our mouths. Somehow, the thrill of looking at it does not force me to extend my hand and buy one – it’s pasteries after all – small and cut geometrically in shapes – meant for just one – me, you or whoever.

What I can never resist is the birthday cakes – tastefully done – an architectural marvel is what I feel, gingerly packed and opened. Everyone craning their necks to look at it – the ooh’s and the haa’s that accompany their entry, rushing for another helping, claiming ownership of the chocolate slices and choco sticks, taking photos of an uncut birthday cake from different angles as if it is a bride to be.

The thrill of the b’day baby – taking the first bite, the joy that erupts in our heart when the knife sinks softly into the cake cutting it – lovely. A memory that never gets erased – a memory of one food that brings families together, couples happier, children excited. A memory that brings smiles on everyone’s face years later.

A full – blown b’day cake that lights up our face in an otherwise monotonous life. Even the thought of it triggers happy moments – lovely ! The cake that teaches us the valuable lesson of sharing, caring and smiling – It’s the b’day cake……. I love…..not the pastries.

I did not enjoy online classes, initially. I did not want to meet students over a video or a camera.

Now with almost 3 months of online classes, I seem to like it. It’s far better than face-to-face classes. I do not have to waste my time disciplining students.

I do not have homeworks and assignments pending for correction. The classes are based on discussion. There are no weekly tests, monthly tests and other fancy tests as the management demands.

I am left with a lot of teaching time. Been enjoying it.

The new National Education Policy (NEP) that has been published has garnered enough attention. There are many supporters to the policy just as we have few criticisms.

Concerns have been raised about the multi-language learning at the primary level. But research has proved that learning multiple languages improves the cognitive development of the child.

The multiple exit points at the under graduation level is something to be applauded.

The worry is not about the curriculum but the implementation of the programme.

The divide among rural-urban schools relating to infrastructure and teacher efficiency and the appropriate student-teacher ratio remains a major concern. The curriculum should not widen the gap.

There are primary schools in remote parts of India that lack basic infrastructure – how will resource materials relating to activity-based learning reach such schools? How effective will a single teacher in some rural schools, cater to the learning needs of different learners in varied age-groups?

The curriculum provides for students in high-school to choose subjects of their choice – high school is still a dream in most villages of India.

Revamping of a report-card based on skills and profiles is a warm welcome. The teacher, the student, the management and most importantly the mind-set of the parents needs to be open-minded to embrace such a perspective towards the report card.

Finally, compulsory appointment of Special Education Counselors in Schools is also a welcome move. However, effective utilization of such a full-time resource person by the schools and the management also needs to be seen.

Overall, the policy is extremely interesting and what we need to wait and watch is the loopholes in the implementation, which this policy has not addressed.

Since the spread of COVID, schools have switched to online tutoring at war footing. Highly appreciated. This also makes us wonder about the future of schooling?
There are a lot of unanswered questions in my head . What would be the future of residential schools? Will they collapse? Will they have the same amount of admissions and demand like they use to before COVID?  Now, that most teachers have been forced to techno-teach, will they really love going back to green board or black board or chalk and talk method of teaching? 
 Will there be a steady growth of home schooling? 

thinking………

This covid lockdown was a period of reflection as far as I am concerned. One of the household chores I dislike very much is cooking. My dislike has nothing to do with gender. But, it has everything to do with my limited fondness for food. I am not a foodie – so minimal food that satisfies my hunger is fine with me. 

So when moved in with my father – who loves tasty food – it was quite a challenge for both of us to see eye-to-eye on the issue. To put the matter at rest, we chose to hire a cook who cooked as per my Dad’s demands. Life went on smoothly – till COVID broke out and the lockdown started.

Not an avid cook, I had to surrender myself in the kitchen. I love my study and honestly, dislike cooking and kitchen. I have no regrets and no qualms about it. Anyways, coming back to where I left – I had to cook. Initially, I felt I should master everything and get accolades for my culinary skills. Eventually, I had to admit that whatever I tried I didn’t love the job. It was burdensome. So I sought to seek help from my family.

I left the job of cutting veggies to my Dad. He gladly obliged. When it came to getting my son to engage in cooking – I found a strange, unwanted resistance – not from my son but my father. Flummoxed at first, I put my foot down. I made it clear that he better quip himself with some basic cooking skills – which he did with least resistance.

He cooks one dish everyday with clear and elaborate instructions from me. I do not supervise his cooking, which he is fine with. I still find my father subtly discouraging him from entering the kitchen, which I chose to ignore and so does my son.

Probably, my father comes from a time period when women took care of the family and men worked. He graduated into an era where he had seen my mother work outside and take care of the family too. He probably wants me to replicate the same. Well, my thinking does not agree with him. I believe, when hunger is a universal issues, then cooking and maintaining kitchen is an essential life-skill to be learnt by everyone. Kitchen is never a woman’s bastion alone.

• G.Meena

Economics Faculty

Are we getting lost – spending too much time on technology and its variety of options- rather

                                than focusing on getting the content across?

I love teaching – I love the humane touch it brings with it. In this COVID season, I miss the fun. I believe technology aids in teaching – I prefer keeping it that way. In the thick of COVID; technology has become the only source available to connect to students or the taught.

As a tutor, though I find new teaching tools through technology interesting and fun to learn – I sometimes, feel I am drifting away learning the numerous aspects of using an application than focusing on the appropriate tools that go with the subject and the topics.

The approach used by schools, I feel is quite not right. We tend to get lost trying different aspects – rather fine-tuning on a few relevant ones. Do you feel the same?

I went out as young girl

Hoping and jumping,

Full of life; full of joy and laughter;

Hope and love.

I went to school;

Full of life.

I stayed, hoped, jumped and played.

I went to college;

Full of chatter and dreams.

I stayed, hoped, jumped and played.

Hidden behind cubicles,

In-between desk phones;

Ears plugged to calls, no time for food

In the thick of corporate rat race.

Once did I find you – today of all day?

Away from. Oblivious to us;

You hoped, jumped and played.

I sat down looking at you;

You chatted and laughed aloud.

You skipped, hoped, jumped and played.

I craned my neck later.

Busy day it was, though.

I still found you

You hoped jumped and played.

Last to leave that day,

With lights switching off

Footsteps dying;

I still found you,

Not planning to move

You hoped, jumped and played.

I went home.

I lay in bed.

I looked around.

Did not find you then.

Found you now,

With the click of my mail.

I quit. Resigned.

I lay down, closed my eyes

I heard you,

In me,

You hoped, jumped and played.