2009-11-12

Learnings in democracy

I am returning to this space after a big time lag. Many developments have taken place ever since. One of them being that my professional colleagues have entrusted me with an important responsibility in our teachers' association.

Although this association which I inherited as its General Secretary is existing since last ten years something, but it has hardly to present its credit. Not even a agreed upon Constitution, upon which the association is supposed to function. Moreover, no one could tell who were its members or how many were there in number. So, what to talk about the official records and accounts of the association.

It was a start from scratch. From designing and creating of stationery to mobilizing finances for its functioning. Some members were kind enough to offer their co-operation while some even evaded. Reasons for such cold shoulders may be their low or even non existing confidence in the association. But then, that's the beauty of it. People don't complain to whom complains should have been addressed. I realized that I am a successor to a daunting task ahead, a task never done. The task of kindling a ray of hope and building a confidence in my constituency that should drive them out of shells.

The creating of the Constitution of the association was a learning in itself. As a member of the drafting group, I had the opportunity to further my learning in democracy. It was a feast to watch how different interest groups would like to pull a common association in different directions. Some would like to add, for furthering personal interests, but I would say that its a natural human tendency to establish ones supremacy in groups to which one belongs. Did they not follow Maslow? Yes. They did.

Once through with the draft, the intricacies of actually putting the whole thing in words and finally putting it for the consideration of the members at a General Body meeting. Each phase offered a new platform to enhance my paradigms of operating in a group which is also my constituency. Now I am through with the initial and basic technical work that are required to call an informal group a formal association. I am not only feeling relaxed but also happy that I have done my bit for the challenge, I had accepted on August 27, 2009.

I believe that even bigger tasks are now ahead. The task of managing people's ego. Infact, bloated egos. The egos which keep us divided and prevent from moving ahead towards a unified goal. During the ground work done so for, I have discovered that there are divergent views of people, not on how the affairs of the association should be conducted but on how his / her personal well being is not being catered to. Hardly, did I find people coming forward on how the association should function or what programmes should it take up. Each one of us is an intellectual and has a head above shoulder.

Even when some did voice their hearts out, they were hardly willing to say the same on a proper platform i.e. a general body meeting or over the internet group & mailing list that is just being hosted to facilitate people voice out amongst their own fellow members, from the comforts of their personal PCs. Some even expect the Office Bearers to be having some Jinie who would wash away all the issues in one go. Experiences are innumerable and possibly one post may even be a bad idea to put them all.

I return with more on my Learnigs in Democracy.


2009-05-19

शिमला डायरी: हिमाचल प्रदेश विश्वविद्यालय का जीवंत परिसर

हिमाचल प्रदेश विश्वविद्यालय के जीवंत परिसर के कुछ फोटो।
मेरे नोकिया 3110C मोबाइल कैमरे की नजर से

अगर प्रमुख बावर्ची का ही प्रवेश बंद कर देंगे तो सबकी पेट पूजा कैसे होगी ?


सत्ता पक्ष के पास भी हैं सवाल ? क्योंकि, लोकतंत्र में विचारों का द्वंद जारी रहना चाहिए


विशवविद्यालय के मुख्य द्वार पर ही स्थित कैंटीन की दीवार पर भगत सिंह के यह शब्द किसी भी उच्च शिक्षण संस्थान के लिए प्रेरणा श्रोत होने चाहिए


पुन: कैंटीन की दीवार से: गिरती राष्ट्रवाद की भावना के बीच एक सुखद अनुभूति

लोकतंत्र में विरोध के स्वर उठाने का रास्ता सीखते परिसर के प्रति-पक्षी छात्र

2009-05-16

शिमला डायरी : दिगंता दत्ता के कैमरे की नजर से

दिगंता दत्ता एक वन्य जी प्रेमी भी हैं !
किसी अन्य प्रमाण की आवश्यकता नहीं


शाम की चाय, दिन भर की बातें


बहु पढ़ लिया : फुर्सत के पल डा सुवर्णा बैंके के अंदाज में


प्रोफेसर पी के आहलुवालिया का अति प्रेरणा दाई व्याख्यान


क्या कंप्यूटर लैब सिर्फ़ प्रैक्टिकल करने के लिए होता है?


शायद हाँ ! ख़ास कर जब डाकटर टी अफसर भाषा खडें हो

अकादमिक स्टाफ कालेज, शिमला में रेफ्रेषर कोर्स के दौरान खीचें कुछ फोटो बहुत दिनों बाद ब्लॉग पर होस्ट कर पाया हूँ। देरी के लिए क्षमा। यह उन दिनों की खट्टी - मीठी यादों को संजोने का प्रयास है। किसी के लिए भी फिर से विद्यार्थी बनना एक अभूतपूर्व उनुभव होगा!

आशा करता हूँ आप लोगों की प्रतिक्रिया जरुर मिलेगी

शिमला डायरी: जैसा दिगन्ता दत्ता के कैमरे ने देखा

गेस्ट हाउस के कमरे में अपने लैपटॉप के साथ


हमारा दोपहर का खाना यहीं होता था


हमारा आशियाना : 'सिटी इन' जहाँ हम 21 दि तक रुके


हिमाचल प्रदेश विश्वाविद्यालय का मुख्य द्वार


अकादमिक स्टाफ कालेज शिमला का भवन | (इसी भवन में पुस्तकालय भी है )

2008-12-19

Shimla Diary: The Mystical Co-incidences at Tara Devi

Tara Devi Railway Station
Sunday the 14th December, the first holiday in the 21 day long course was eagerly awaited. The ardent traveler in me did awake early to catch the 8:15 toy train from Summer Hill station. This journey on toy train may not have been possible due to the packed schedule. The ASC was also reported to be in a practice of organising official tours of the course on Sundays. That made it all the more mandatory to experience this ride at the first available opportunity. Thanks to Joginder Singh, the Station Master at Summer Hill station for advising a workable plan. Recommendations of colleagues back at workplace, who had been attending courses at Shimla also, had their share in motivation for this solitary sojourn. With an investment of two rupee on ticket, Indian Railways did allow the pleasure of this legendry ride for half an hour to Tara Devi railway station. Final leg of this would be memorable trip was completed by bus that leaves right at the temple.

Tara Devi Monkey Sanctuary

Located around 12 Km from Shimla is Tara Devi Temple a famous religious attraction. Sitting at atop is this deity whose temple is constructed in graceful ambience. Shyam Lal Sharma, an ardent devotee of the deity enlightened the seeker in me on the history of this temple. The temple was made by Bhependra Sen, the King of Kuanthal Estate, Junga here. Sen had to move his empire from Calcutta to Shimla and was asked by Tara his ‘Kul Devi’ – family deity, to establish her temple. Later, a saint Taradhi Nath visited this place and collectively the name Tara Devi was coined. The sanctum sanctorum here is also the place of Maha Kaali, Maha Laxmi and Maha Saraswati. Sharma is quick to add that this is a rare sight in entire India . Other temples of Tara Devi as Neel Tara being in Calcutta and Ugra Tara in Maharashtra .

Scenic View from Tara Devi Temple


Warm winter sun accentuated this experience and made it more memorable. Pollution free clear warm air energized not only the physical body but also touched upon invisible mystical cords hard to express in words. In the temple a rare scene occurred. An elderly person sat before the deity, made his prayers and suddenly started making noises some of which were uncomprehendable. Seated next to him was another person who asked some questions to him. The first man answers them and offers some rice grains to the second man. As the questioner moves away after getting answers to his questions the security guard there takes his place and takes his turn in questioning. The guard was cautioned that he had not done what he had promised to do as some religious duty which he should have done. The guard apologised for his fault and promised to obey soon. Then the man answering questions distributes rice grains to all present in the sanctum sanctorum. Even the Chief Priest at the temple receives his share of this distribution with due respect to the deity. The exercise comes to an end.



For a temple of ShaktiThe power as it is referred to in the Hindu mythology this may have been a common sight. Shyam Lal Sharma was the man answering questions. In fact he was the ‘medium’ – the person who connects human beings to the deity. When the ‘medium’ answers the questions, it is as if the deity herself is answering. It was a co-incidence that I became witness to this sight and moreover, as a recipient of share of the holy rice grains, like any believer feel blessed.



In another such coincidence it was found that Sundays are the days of ‘Langar’ – the community kitchen. Being recipient of the Prasad that day was another mystical coincidence added to the long standing series. Had it been for any other day of the week, Langar would not have been there, or like fellow participants in the course had I made it to some other place? Such thoughts flooded within and obviously with no certain answers. A distinct feature of the Langar was the protocol followed in serving. Small quantities of rice was being served with different dishes – sweet, kadhi, chana – paneer and rajmah – masoor dal, taking their turns in that order. The staff in service confirmed that this protocol is never breached.


Road to Shiv Temple down hill Tara Devi

Road to Shiv Temple down hill Tara Devi

Downhill Tara Devi in the Tarab Forest , an old Shiva Temple is situated. The path to which is cast in concrete. Small videos shot on Nokia 3110c are hosted with this post which should help facilitating the situation there. Localities informed that a short cut existed from Shiv Temple to Tara Devi railway station. It would be an hour’s walk through the forest on a pedestrian strip spread on the hill. After understanding the broad roadmap on this unexplored hill terrain I ventured out on a lonely, but one of the most memorable walks ever. Sure it shall be a walk down the memory lane for years after.


Notice Board outside Shiv Temple

Shiv Temple Gate

History of Shiv Temple

The ringing bells of Shiv Temple lost their audibility within no time. The pedestrian strip got thinner. Each passing minute brought a new thought that also flew away in no time. What started as a possible award winning Discovery Traveller kind of walk had threads of uncertainty emerging soon. All alone in the forest with steep valley of hundreds of feet on one side and high rise hills on other, I continued to move ahead. Eerie silence of the forest made my own swift breathing sound more resounding. Sound of own lonely footsteps added to the first thoughts of reconsidering the decision within five minutes of the start. It was around 12:45 PM when I discovered that the Atoot Bandhan of Airtel was no more binding me to the rest of the world. Another mobile phone of BSNL was known for its unique feature: Bhagwaan Se Bhi Nahi Lagega, even in normal conditions.


View of Tarab forest

Discovery Traveller was now thinking of the BST (Basic Survival Training) of the armed forces and even worse what if, if I am not able to come out from this forest. I wondered how could have I ventured on such an expedition of treading an unknown path.



View of Tarab forest

I continued my walk on the pedestrian strip assuming that atleast it is a path used by human beings and would to lead to somewhere, if not the railway station. Empty cold drink bottles, torn packets of Kurkure, chips, cigarette packs and even heaps of dung lying on the path offered the reassurance to this thought. It was a realization in itself that even the ability to associate animal dung with the right animal could keep survival instincts alive. And so the walk down the road less travelled continued. It was by now becoming a battle of thoughts within. The reprieve came in form of group of humans coming from the opposite direction. One of the members in that group reassured that I was moving on the right path. Soon after the group became inaudible a water pipe line emerged to add to reassurance. It was later that I realised that there was no other way that could have been followed in that jungle.


View of Tarab forest

Almost halfway the way stood a Hawa Ghar (Rain Shelter), a human construct, as the final reassurance. It is here at this rain shelter a group of boys in late teens or early twenties were enjoying. They asked me the way to Tara Devi temple. From here there were two paths visible and I was in doubt on which path to take. I sought their help in selecting the path but they referred me to a ‘local’ couple which was seated behind the rain shelter. The couple, deeply engrossed in themselves took my question as an intrusion in their privacy, possibly in whose search they had chose to come to this dense forest and spent time in solitude.


View of Tarab forest

Brief examination of the place revealed that there was a highway running on one side of the hill. The other path went down in the jungle. I moved towards the highway assuming that it is the highway leading towards Shimla. Sounds of vehicles moving on the highway were now clearly audible. As I rested on an iron bench the person who explained the broad route map at the Shiv Temple emerged. The rest of the walk to the railway station was completed with this HP Public Works Department employee by my side to chat with. Numerous thanks due to Tara Devi were being offered over a tea, this guy bought at a highway shop outside Tara Devi railway station.



(Photos shot on my Nokia 3110C)

शिमला में मौसम..

यह मेरा पहला हिन्दी पोस्ट है। अभी अभी हम सब चाय के बाद कंप्यूटर लैब में आयें हैं। बाहर का मौसम बहुत अच्छा है। बादल छाये हुए हैं। हलकी सी बरसात भी हो रही है। ऐसे में अब सिर्फ बर्फ गिरने का इंतजार है। शिमला का मौसम देखकर मन में बैठी हुए हिन्दी की भावनाओं ने जोर मारा। इसमें कुछ हिन्दी के ब्लोग्स पर बेबाक कमेंट्स ने भी मदद करी और यह एक्सपेरिमेंट कर बैठा।

उम्मीद करता हूँ की आगे भी यह मौका मिलता रहेगा। अब लोग खाने के लिए जाने वालें हैं और में भी लंच मिस नहीं करना चाहता इसलिए अब कलम को विराम।

2008-12-13

Shimla Diary: Arriving at Shimla

Summer Hill railway station

The foothills started after an hour’s journey from Chandigarh and the first thing noticed upon entering the hill terrain is that it is in the process of being converted into a hub of concrete. A feature one commonly attributes with the hazards of urbanization especially in the plains. All thanks are due to Brahspati Tripathi, a former student, for his efforts in making things smooth during the short stay at Chandigarh. Meeting Tripathi was somewhat due and apart from reminiscences we were quick to grab the opportunity to discuss future too.

I woke up to find that the HP State Road Transport Corporation bus had stopped for a tea break at Parwanoo, the foothills. As I disembarked the bus I realized that the tea joint was of HP Tourism Development Corporation and not a private venture. So, the government is atleast working in this part of the nation. A talk over the cup of tea, with the staff at this joint revealed that all the staff was on government roles and that they were completely HP government run outlets. Although the incharge was quick to voice the shortage of staff but also did not forget to emphasize that their good service was due to being a government owned outlet. The franchise mode has not caught up here.

Soon after recommencing the journey and getting engrossed with the scenic environment of the place, a phone call from an old University class mate Amber Raj, now a Major with the Indian Army, breaks my awakened slumber as he required me to attend to some of his personal financial work. The remaining journey to Shimla was also not free from disturbances in the form of phone calls being attended on and off.

As I arrived at Shimla’s Victory Tunnel and searched for some transport to take me to Summer Hill, the destination where the HP University is located, the sun was signing off its daily routine and dusk settled with cold rapidly engulfing the environment. The first unforgettable sight at Shimla was that of an old man carrying a plastic water tank of 5000 liter on his back. I would never stop cursing myself for not being able to click a photo of this spectacular sight.

Perhaps, years of association with the academic community has made Narendra Narwal apt at handling this clientele. This Manger of City Inn acted as my route guide over the phone ever since I started from Jaunpur to attend this Refresher Course at the Academic Staff College at Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. He did send Yashpal to receive me at Summer Hill bus stand. It was almost half past six and the hilly cold was drifting down soon and certain, as I reached the reception of this preferred dwelling of participants. An hour’s wait also introduced me to Dr. Diganta Dutta a statistician from DDR College, Chabua, Dibrugarh, Assam. Starting 10th December, we were lodged by Narendra to spend three nights at the retiring rooms at the Summer Hill railway station.


Retiring Room at Summer Hill

Staff at Summer Hill station

Railway tracks at Summer Hill

The first sight of the railway station did bring faint memories of some bollywood movie where this station was featured. As night sets in and I ventured out of the retiring room, the hill terrain made it evidently clear that the romance of the wintry hills would not be the same for me as for the characters in the movie, whose name I have not been able to recall till now. The sensation of something dripping down the right ear was haunting at regular intervals, and the next toll of cold was felt in the morning when a molar reported pain.

(Photos credit Dr. Diganta Dutta, on his Nokia 6060. Photo of Retiring Room, Summer Hill credit my Nokia 3110C)

2008-11-09

RTI effect: Examinee shown answer scripts

The Telegraph :
Sunday : February 04, 2007
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070205/asp/jamshedpur/story_7350648.asp


The Board of Secondary Education (BSE) has for the first time provided photocopies of answer scripts of the high school certificate examination to an examinee.

Toshalina of Kendrapara has been given photocopied answer scripts of all nine subjects following a directive from the state information commission. The girl, who wrote the examination in 2002, had moved the panel invoking the Right to Information Act after the BSE turned down her plea.

The board, meanwhile has taken a policy decision on the matter. “We have decided in principle to provide photocopies of answer scripts to examinees on request,” BSE secretary Minaketan Pani told The Telegraph. Examinees can get answer scripts for a period of eight months on payment of a nominal fee.

Student allowed to see re-check process

Times of India : Ahemdabd
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Source: http://indiarti.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html

For the first time in Gujarat, a student from Patan, Kuntilal Parmar, who had taken his Primary Teacher College (PTC) exams, has been granted permission to remain present while his answer sheets are being re-checked. Parmar had sought permission under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to remain present during the re-checking of his answer papers.

He was allowed to do so by state information commissioner (SIC) RN Das on Friday. Relevant oral orders were passed by SIC to GEB. The GEB holds certificate and diploma exams in subjects such as home science, PTC, physical education and a number of vocational courses.

However, to inject transparency in the entire process Das ordered that Parmar be allowed to be present while his answer sheets were being rechecked. The decision comes with a rider: SIC's orders were limited to re-checking, which involves only re-totalling of marks. The other aspect of exam rescrutiny - which is re-assessment of all answers provided by the examinee - has not been allowed.

2008-11-06

INVITATION : RTI Seminar at LUCKNOW

INVITATION : RTI Seminar at LUCKNOW
Action Group for Right to Information cordially invites you to participate in the
Two day NATIONAL SEMINAR & WORKSHOP on people’s right to information
on Nov. 22 & 23, 2008 TENTATIVE PROGRAMME

VENUE : NBRI Auditorium, Sikandar Bagh, Ashok Marg, Lucknow.
Presided by : Mr. Justice Kamleshwar Nath (Retd.)
President Transparency International, UP Chapter

Chief Guest : Mr. Wajahat Habibullah
Hon’ble Chief Information Commissioner
Central Information Commission,New Delhi

Experts : Mr. Prashant Bhushan, Senior Advocate Supreme Court of India
Dr. Sandeep Pandey
Afzal Ansari, President CSHR
Prof. Balraj Chauhan, Director RML National Law University
Shri C.B. Pandey, Senior Advocate High Court
Dr. Niraj Kumar (Author of Treatise on RTI ACT,2005}
Shri Divya Jyoti, Advocate High Court, Delhi (RTI Specialist)
Shri Vaibhav, RTI Activist, Delhi
Shri Manish Sisodia, RTI Activist

TOPICS
(i) An overview of the implementation and administration of the RTI Act.
(ii) Performance of Central and State Information Commissioner.
(iii) Media & RTI
(iv) Open public hearing
(v) Role of public Information Officers Problems & Solutions
(vi) Workshop : How to use RTI Act. (Specially Sec. 6 & 7 of the ACT)

NOTE : Please send your confirmation so that we can make your stay arrangement at Lucknow.
Contact person: Izhar Ansari
Mob. : 09935382406, 09415763426, 0522-2325607
E-mail : rtiactiongroup@gmail.com, rti.lucknow@rediffmail.com,
PROGRAMME
Day One : Saturday, November 22, 2008
NBRI Auditorium, Sikandar Bagh, Ashok Marg, Lucknow
Inaugural Session 10.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.
Lunch : 1.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m.
1st Business Session 2.30 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.
2nd Business Session 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. (Open public hearing)
Tea Break 6.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Cultural Programme 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Dinner 8.30 p.m.
Day Two : Sunday, November 23, 2008
NBRI Auditorium, Sikandar Bagh,, Ashok Marg, Lucknow
1st Session : 9.30 to 12.30
2nd Session : 12.30 p.m. to 1.30 p.m.
Lunch : 1.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m.
Valedictory Session : 2.30 p.m to 5.30.
Tea 5.30 p.m.

Pl. Confirm your programme. If any organisation wishes to SPONSOR any event they are cordially welcome. For Sponsorship details kindly contact:
IZHAR AHMAD ANSARI, Convener
Mob. : 09935382406, 09415763426, 0522-2325607
E-mail : rtiactiongroup@gmail.com, rti.lucknow@rediffmail.com
---------

Dr. NIRAJ KUMAR
C-4/8, RIVER BANK COLONY
LUCKNOW-226 018, INDIA
Mob: + 91 9415787095

 

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