A Man's World?

Let me begin with a confession. When on March 08 each year, the world (or a part of it) pays lip-service to women and their rights, I ponder on it too. But that’s not my confession- the confession follows.

I wonder with childish amazement at the words of wise people who say that it’s a man’s world.

I have faint memories of a man’s world, when in my childhood, my formidable father decided for everyone in the house, including my mother, then the epitome of composure, and no one dared to even think of the situation differently. It was silently understood that no one else was capable of decision-making.

Even at college, when I gave my heart away to the love of my life (my wife now), I didn’t see what lay in store for me, and raised my voice in public platforms supporting the feminist movement with firm conviction. My friends wouldn’t dare make politically-incorrect, male-chauvinistic utterances in my presence.

But today, I stand a sobered man. The two slices of life- work and home- that make up my sandwich existence today are ruled by formidable women. I am now fully resigned to the fact that men don’t deserve power, because they have no inkling how to handle it, and by definition, power and decision-making are words synonymous with women. If ever there is or was a situation otherwise, it is an aberration that has to be rectified. Straddled between a sharp, decisive wife at home and a formidable, firm boss at work (who is well, a lady too) I stand comfortably on firm ground, with the glow of satisfaction at the situation of not having to make decisions at all.

Not having to carry the onerous burden of having to decide, I have smugly settled down to the more crucial area of implementation, and have learnt all the nitty-gritty of this very important task. I must admit though, that my two bosses (at home and at work) have very graciously simplified the implementation process for me, by letting me know, each time a decision has been made by their esteemed selves, the step-by-step method of carrying out the task. I have been conditioned (without placing any blame on the ‘conditioners’) to never deviate from the laid out path. I merely need to walk down.

It has been an enriching learning experience. I have learnt the nuances of meaning that each rise of the eyebrow, each wry smile and each clearing of throat indicate. I have understood that my life’s mission is to replicate what has been instructed to me by my two bosses.

And added to my personal privilege, is the fact that my employer has accommodated my wife and me in a portion of a villa among three villas, otherwise wholly allotted to our lady colleagues. These villas are christened ‘ladies villas’ collectively. I carry the additional burden of guilt for being the lone intruder in an otherwise orderly part of the world. I really know that I live in a woman’s world today.

Nonetheless, a smile often slips out of my mouth, both when I think of my college days or see television footage of people fighting for women rights.

Happy Women’s Day!

IPL- RESURGENT INDIA'S COLONIAL REVENGE

I have been 'watching' cricket these days like all the cricket-crazy Indians, and there are a few things that strike me- can't resist putting them down:
1) Fabulous tournament-the CB series; some great cricket and a 'David' team beating the Goliaths of cricket at their home despite the habitual sledging and the like. Kudos to Dhoni for spearheading from the front, for placing trust on the freshers and for also being a thinking captain- tough call, for example, to continue with Sreesanth at the end and to give the ball to Praveen at all the right times. Moral victory for Harbhajan- humbling Hayden and Symonds on the cricket field instead of in the 'ring' in both the final matches. Tendulkar's great hits in the two matches when India needed them the most (for a change!). I would like to check though, if Tendul (without taking away any credit from his undisputed greatness) currently holds the record for the greatest 'nineties jinx' in the world- looks like he has as many nineties in ODIs as he has centuries.
2) There is much noise about the IPL, resurgent India's colonial revenge. And honestly I can't understand it. Yes, there is a lot of money involved in it that some would rather, goes to balance the great socio-economic divide we are infested with. Yes, there is a threat that a lot of this money from Indians goes into the coffers of 'outsiders'. And yes, of course, there are a few lucky young guys getting much more than the seasoned senior record-breakers. So, what is the big deal?
Firstly, I am all for a socialistic society, at least as far as the ideal is concerned. But the sad fact is we live in a society which is market-driven. As T.S. Eliot says, "Between the idea and the reality, between the motion and the act, falls the shadow". You can't suddenly expect Shahrukh Khan to start donating his money to do public good just because he is the highest paid Indian actor and make him feel guilty for not doing such social service. I really believe that a lot of this money that is doing the rounds will settle at various places and in a few years, if the IPL succeeds, things will improve on the lessening-the-gap socialistic ideal. Ditto for the money-going-outside cribbers. It is a global village- you can't expect to take everything from the world outside and fret and fume when it is time to give back to the world. Wait guys!
And as for the 'unfair' pricing of players, it is a MARKET- those who are perceived to be good on the field and off it (for glamour) will be paid more even if the whiners think that some highest paid budding players are merely 'flavours of the month'. With time, things will settle and wherever there is lack of reason- things will be rationalised. Things (oops- that makes three 'things' in two lines!) take time- to make noise even as a great experiment is being made is to be a crybaby. We need to grow up, don't we?

Glad to be back!

It has been more than a year since I scribbled here... To be busy is the worst excuse- no one can be too busy to do what she/he loves.
One of the things that kept me busy these days was writing testimonials.
Let me note down some quick tips on writing Testimonials or recommendation letters for students applying for admission to university programs:
1) Begin by using the student's name and say how long she/he has been known to you and how.
2) Try to summarize the student's positive qualities such as those in academics, extra-curricular activities or sports.
3) Bring out personal qualities such as honesty, integrity, cooperation and inter-personal skills that you think the student has.
4) Say how you came to the conclusions made above (from personal experience).
5) Say in as clear a manner as possible whether the said student is eligible for admission to particular universities or if she/he needs to focus more or requires more guidance etc.
6) End the letter with a line saying you strongly recommend (if the student is very deserving) or recommend (if it is a reasonably good student) the student for admission.
7) Mention clearly your name and designation at the end after your signature.
Colleges and Universities prefer these on organisation letterheads.

I have had the pleasure of writing a variety of such letters nuancing words to suggest whether the student is deserving or not.

And there is no joy comparable to that when the ones you strongly recommended have secured admission in prestigious institutions.