Why we need English language training at BPOs

Remember that famous line from Bollywood, “TO is ‘tu’ but GO is ‘go’! Why not ‘gu’?” 

This is exactly why we need ELT or English Language Training in BPOs. Deny it all you want, but we all have influences of our mother tongue in the way we speak English. And no one, definitely not our humble English teacher from primary and middle schools, is to be blamed.

So here’s the truth.

It takes more than just few hours a day to adapt to and actually learn a secondary language. Yes, whether we like it or not, today English does seem to have become a primary language, more so outside the walls of our own homes. Inside our homes we continue to chatter in one of the numerous languages that India is proud to host. Changing gear as soon as we step out of our home is not always easy and comes with its share of pitfalls, the primary one being incorrect pronunciation.

BPOs by its very nature are work outsourced to a different geographical region while still catering to the needs of customers from the original country. Now the customer may be the end user of the product, or a middleman in the production-to-consumption network, but he is definitely based in the origin country and therefore used to speaking and understanding English, probably even English spoken in a certain accent.

And here comes the great UK versus US English divide.

You probably think that it’s more of hype than reality, after all how different can it get? But you may not notice it so much in written English, but the difference is prominent while speaking.

Think about it; have you ever noticed a difference in the way Ricky Ponting, Oprah Winfrey or BBC newsreaders speak English? That’s what I’m talking about.

So what are we supposed to do?

Well, first and foremost be proud of knowing and understanding a second language – English.

Secondly, stop trying to be a Ricky, an Oprah or a BBC newsreader, unless you think you can get into a new avatar every time you change a job or change your country of location!

Thirdly, try and become as neutral as possible when you speak English, it may take a little effort, and that’s where ELT helps you, but at least the Ricky’s and Oprah’s of this world will not have to try too hard to understand you!

And last but not the least do not worry too much about MTI (mother tongue influence) rearing it’s head once in a while; after all Ricky and Oprah don’t worry about it and it’s not even their secondary language!!

Akanksha Jain

Image Source [http://i/pix/2012/08/15/article-2188584-0E67959A00000578-230_634x446.jpg]

Definitions attempt to settle boundaries of the subject which is almost impossible in this changing world. Many renowned economists have attempted to define the discipline of economics.  Every definition, so meticulously prepared and presented, soon become inadequate to fast-expanding field of this all-encompassing subject covering almost every activity of human society, undertaken either individually or collectively.

To me, a beginner who has just begun to study alphabets of this vast discipline, defining it is a tall order. I think that economics is essentially a study of money and resources.

It attempts to study how a person uses the available resources to convert them into a commodity which has the capability to fulfill some of the human needs and wants. Simultaneously, it also attempts to understand how and why a person is willing to spend the money that he has on those commodities.

Interpreting data and making economic models, principles and theories are not the only reasons that make the study of economics necessary. The study of economics makes a huge difference in one’s perspective over the developments that continuously take place in the society. Understanding of economics unravels the puzzles that take place around us,  at the national and the global levels. For example, it not only helps one understand the reason behind more money spent or invested by the government in one sector in comparison to the other, but it may also help us figure out the reasons behind one country invading another, which primarily looks like a political decision.

Economics is everywhere. In fact even one of the main reasons that affect the decisions one makes, most of the times subconsciously. For example, when a person involved in the production of goods, uses inputs like land, labor and capital for its production. Even the person who buys the good, chooses it from among the many options available. The second best option which the buyer forgoes is the “opportunity cost” of the option availed.

However, the discipline of economics is not only about the individuals and their choices,  there is a lot more to it. The economy is not only about the working of an individual’s firms and household, but also studies the functioning of economy as a whole. And to facilitate this study, it has been broadly divided into two branches: Microeconomics and Macroeconomics.

Microeconomics is the study of economics that works on the individual decision making units like firms and households. And macroeconomics deals with the functioning of the economy as a whole. In simple words, it may be said that microeconomics looks at the picture and macroeconomics looks at the video which is made of those pictures.

However, the above mentioned broad division is not the only division that has been made for the study of this vast discipline. It also deals with topics like international economics, public economics, finance, monetary and fiscal policy, etc.

Further, economics has also been divided in terms of the outcome of the conduct and processes. The division is on the basis of judgment, while one may see the outcome “as it is”, the other may see it as what it ought to be. Positive Economics looks at the outcome as it is without stating what it ought to be while Normative Economics deals with the problem of what it ought to be. However, in practical terms, a normative economist would have to analyse the economic parameters as they exist. For example, if minimizing poverty is a goal, then development of the policies essential to accomplish this goal involves positive economics.

Economic policies are formulated for achieving a certain result by analyzing the data in light of economic models and theories. Thus, a successful economic policy is one which does what it is expected to and that is  being fair to people help in the growth of economy and provide stability. However, this is easier said than done.

Nevertheless, the central question that every economy, irrespective of its size or health, faces is: “What to produce, how to produce, and, for whom to produce?”

The main reason for these questions is the scarcity of resources.  Scarcity of resources brings in the concept of opportunity cost. Relatively lower opportunity cost provides advantageous position in the production of goods or services.

Goods, in simple terms, are of two types, consumer goods and capital goods. Consumer goods are the one that are produced for present consumption, while the goods which are used for production of consumer goods are called capital goods. This gives rise to another important, question that an economic system faces whether to use a resource to fulfill current needs and desires or to use it as a capital which helps them reap benefit in future?

Economies have been classified on the basis of the roles the governments play in addressing these problems of the economy. The economy where the basic economic questions are addressed by the government is called the command economy. Good government policies improve efficiency and fairness in an economy whereas a poor government intervention can lead to waste of resources and manpower.

On the other hand, an economy that allows addressing these questions by interplay of market forces is called free market economy. In such an economy, the market forces decide what is to be produced, how should it be produced and for whom to produce. Such economy is also called the laissez-faire economy. Such an economy is the complete opposite of the command economy. However, none of these economies exist in a pure form.

Coming back to the basics, it needs to be appreciated that the households and firms are the building blocks of an economy. Whatever decision these building blocks make are reflected in the economy.

The interaction of households and firms occur in two vital markets: the input market and the output market. There is a circular relationship between households, firms, input markets and output markets. Economic activities flow in this circle.

Firms buy resources from input or factor markets and households supply resources to input markets. Firms supply the products they make in the output markets and households buy those products from the output markets. The decision that the households take, govern the output markets.

This takes us to the law of demand.  Though the other conditions remain the same, the law of demand postulates that there is an inverse relationship between the price and the demand of good.  In other words, when the price of a good increases its demand decreases and vice versa.

Availability of different goods, which a household would buy at different prices, is also a factor.  Depicted in a tabular form, it is called the demand schedule. Its graphical form is called the demand curve. The demand curve has a negative slope since there is a negative relationship between price and demand. The income, wealth, tastes and the presence of alternatives also determine household demand.

Another important aspect is supply.  The law of supply has a positive relationship between the price and the quantity of the good supplied.  When the market price of good increases, its supply increases, and vice versa.  Similar to the demand schedule, there exists a supply schedule which is a table of a product that firms will sell at different prices. The supply curve is a graphical illustration of the supply schedule. The cost of production and alternatives present in the market are the factors that determine the supply of good.

Therefore, in theoretical terms, the market price regulates supply and demand. Further, at any point of time, three conditions prevail in the market: equilibrium, shortage, and surplus.  Market equilibrium exists when supply is equal to the demand. In such a situation, there is no inclination for  towards the change in price.

Free market system has its way of dealing with shortage and surplus. When shortage occurs, price rises until the quantity demanded is equal to the quantity supplied. When surplus happens, price falls until the quantity supplied equals the quantity demanded and equilibrium is attained in the price. Price of the commodity determines the demand and supply which in turn determines the allocation of resources. There is no interference by the government. The distribution of resources and the output is solely dependent on the willingness to pay and the income of the household. This is how this system works as a “price rationing device”.

This system seems smooth in operation as it does not require any planning. However, it has a flipside. The forces of demand and supply can be manipulated as equity and justice, for all is not considered a virtue in laissez-faire.   

Aliya Khan

Image Source [http://justdan93.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/136.jpg]

“For the two of us, home isn’t a place. It is a person. And we are finally home.” ― Stephanie Perkins, Anna and the French Kiss
My four-year-old came back from school and asked me a question yesterday, she asked, “Aap ghar par saara din kya karte ho Mummy?” (what do you do the whole day at home?). I was totally taken by surprise. Shell shocked. And frankly it took me a couple of seconds to know what exactly would constitute an appropriate answer.

Eventually, I said “I tidy up the house, cook for you.” Couldn’t think of anything beyond this instantly. But that set me thinking.
The same night came another shot, as she said “My father is a surgeon, my mother is a……. aap kya ho mumma?” (What is your “occupation”?). The ever supportive and appreciative husband was quick to jump to my rescue as he said, “Mommie is a soldier, for one who has been a soldier, is a soldier for a lifetime”. Some respite? Not really.

A couple of years back, when I was very pregnant and still working with the army, I was blessed to have an extremely encouraging senior. While I was all set to hang my uniform and glowing with the idea of being a full time mommie to my soon to arrive bundle of joy, he kept advising me to hang on. I remember he had once said that even toddlers barely in school resent the idea of a “housewife mom”. That memory came rushing back last night. Wonder what was on the little ones mind yesterday, as for me the two questions had really freaked me out.

Seemed like yesterday when I was living a dream, with stars on my shoulders to match those in my eyes; living with the honor and pride of being a part of the third largest army of the world. No other thrill could match it. But then I decided to give it all up to, be a mom. Four years later for the first time I was wondering if I had done the right thing. I was thinking so for a lot of reasons. I was left wondering if I was setting the right example for my daughter to follow aside from the frustration of having the capability and yet not chase and live the dream of being a corporate icon!!

I also remember another officer narrating his better half’s tales of repentance post quitting her job to take care of their daughter duo. His words were “Yeh ek phase hai, nikal jaata hai, bachche pal jaate hain bade ho jaate hain (This is a phase, it will pass too, children grow up). You should not leave your job, my wife repents doing it!!”

Lots of friends turned to me for advice after I hung my uniform for good to take care of my daughter and my husband. All these years and even now I always maintained that my daughter would grow up anyhow, she would learn to fend for herself and the years would go by. I considered it more important for me as a mother to experience motherhood. I have seen my little blessing grow up each day, each hour, all because I was a Mom and not a “Working Mom”. That was a gift I gave myself. I was there to bathe my princess, to make her smell good, make her look great and was many, many times a reason for that priceless smile on her pretty face. I was always there at her disposal to make her feel good, to feed her, play with her, be silly, giggle, laugh and make precious memories. I did it all, not for her but for myself. I was there to see it all rather than hear of it from someone else. Two years down the lane I can still pick up a job, but if these years were lost, they would be gone forever. I would never be a part of her growing up in my arms and in my moments.
I was there to witness all her “firsts” and there to revel in and celebrate her “maiden accomplishments”. Her very first wobbly steps, her first dance in the rain, her first day at school, her first fancy dress and so many more. I experienced how preparing for the next day at school was fun and not a chore, how we were never tired of dressing up to go out and have fun.

As for the officer I mentioned earlier. He was right. “Bachche pal jaate hain, bade ho jaate hain” (Children grow up anyway!). True, the baby is going to grow up anyway. But I didn’t want her to just grow up; I wanted to bring her up, myself. I did not want to lose out on being a part of the memories my child was making in her wonder years. I dont repent a single moment of the fact that I am in all of them (her memories)!

Being a mother is an unendingly tiring job but at the end of the day itswonderful being a devoted, doting mom and it shows. It shows in her smile, her grades, her mannerisms and her talk. It shows in HER!

I was also worried if I was setting a wrong example for my daughter by subconsciously and unintentionally etching into her that a woman’s place is within the confines of a house and her role is that of a “home-maker”. But contrary to my fear, I was in fact teaching her that happiness is actually a state of mind. One can either choose to be happy or choose to seek to be happy.

We are happy as a family and don’t need to look anywhere else for it, don’t need to go chasing it. I am a fiercely independent woman and wouldn’t be wrong to say that contrarily it is my husband who is dependent on me for the well creased life that he lives. To be who I am today is a choice I made and I hope my daughter learns from it that “material is immaterial”, it is the people that matter and it is in the cheer of the family, that solace lies.

I have fought with the thoughts and I guess a day later I am better equipped with an answer to my daughter’s innocent questions. I call myself a “Familypreneur” and as for what do I do the entire day? I help my little treasure and my darling husband make happy memories of us together. I have a life and am so high on it. I am at the door to bid short farewells, and glad to see them light up to see me again. We don’t need to plan holidays. I am available for all escapades, and we paint the town golden so often. We eat all our meals together, don’t have many deadlines to cut out our fun. We pray together and snuggle and weave dreams together. Together we move towards realizing them!

That brings me back to where I had started. “For the three of us, home isn’t a place. It is a person. And WE TOGETHER are finally home!”

Shubhani Pathak

Shubhani Pathak is very high on life. An avid traveller, obsessive writer for the past 20 yrs, compulsive learner and an absolute perfectionist. An alumni of IIMA, a graduate in Bachelor of Physiotherapy and a fourth generation officer with the forces with 8 yrs of experience in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and Human Resource Management . Currently on a self imposed sabbatical but very busy writing about her frequent escapades and her take on life!

Image Source [http://teachingkidsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Family_Portrait_.jpg]

That I keep the tags intact on my luggage even months after my flight.

That a trip to another city or a country is a major event in my life.

That except my house and my office, there are very few places to go.

That I don’t throw away the price tags of branded stuff for days.

That I spend hours deciding the budget for a gift for someone’s wedding or birthday.

That I keep save cardboard boxes just because they are of Adidas, Nike or Sony.

That I don’t have an authorized version of any software.

That I think I can get around anywhere in the world with my English.

That I think I’m intelligent because I’m bilingual or trilingual.

That I think my college degree is my best leverage to rise up in life.

That I think my children’s future depends on how much they score in their 10^th and 12^th standard board exams.

That I think parents know what’s best for their children.

That I think teachers can be role models.

Plastic covers play a big role in my day to day life, from seats of cars to anything remotely expensive.

That I stitch and alter my clothes a million times before throwing them away.

That I instantly convert the price of anything in pounds, euros or dollars to rupees before buying it.

That half the dialed calls from my cell phone are missed calls.

That my yearly increment is barely enough to get me an extra month’s groceries, but enough to get me to a higher tax bracket.

That I feel guilty when I buy a new garment or a gadget.

That a television or a computer lasts as long as furniture in my house.

That vehicles are family heirlooms, passed from parents to children.

That an empty 1.5 litre soft drink bottle serves as my water bottle for a couple of years.

That empty ice cream tubs serve as storage for cooked vegetables for a couple of years.

That I think God is going to be angry with me for drinking liquor or eating meat on an auspicious day.

That finding ten rupees in the back pocket of a washed pair of trousers makes my day.

That a three bedroom flat and a sedan is my ultimate goal in life.

That I cannot disregard anything that my parents say.

That my dinner and lunch is at times the lunch and dinner leftovers, respectively.

That I read the restaurant menu from right to left.

That I never order appetizers in a restaurant.

That after a meal, I make sure to take some paper napkins and toothpicks.

That instead of going on a real date, I spend that time watching porn websites.

That I can get sex only via marriage.

That the sorrow of being single is instantly wiped away when I realize that as a result I’m saving a lot money.

That I fancy a starlet thinking that she is and looks as cute as she is in her films/serials.

That my favourite poem is “roses are red, violets are blue, vodka is cheaper than dinner for  two.”

That I make sure to have some souvenirs from my stay at the hotel.

That I think everyone around the world knows Bollywood and Cricket.

That Kingfisher strong and Royal Stag mean premium liquor for me.

That I think only hard work is the way to riches.

That at a fuel station, the amount of petrol or diesel in my vehicle is not counted in litres but in rupees.

That I think a person’s intellect depends on how well he speaks English and how many degrees he holds.

That when I’m in front of the television, I think I have the solutions to all of my country’s problems.

That I think that there is a girl out there who will love me for what I am and the way I am.

That I have too much month at the end of my salary.

That a serious illness is all that will take to make me dirt poor.

That I have no idea how to avoid tax.

That looking into my wallet is nothing less than an introspection.

That electricity and telephone bills make me sad.

That I have no means of passing the inflation to someone else.

That a promotion makes me feel like the richest man in the world.

That I think if I respect people, they are obliged to do the same.

That at the end of the month my passbook resembles a sad novel.

That I think that the police are there to protect me, courts are there to give me justice and hospitals are there to cure me.

That I think whatever the media tells me is true.

That I still stick to my values even though they have proved disadvantageous to me.

That I think schools and colleges can instill values and morals in students.

That I’m afraid of the law.

That I’m too dignified to beg, too righteous to steal and too much of a simpleton to make a fortune.

That I cannot be shameless.

That a lot of my decisions involve “what will people say?”

That I’m oblivious to the larger picture that there is no one to protect my interests, that everything is already bought and distributed to a very large group, and I’m never going to be in it.

That I think votes win elections and good work wins promotions.

That I think the common man is good. All the fault lies solely with the politicians.

That I think I’m somehow insulated from all the evil happening out there and nothing bad can ever happen to my family.

That I forget that I won’t get what I deserve but only what I negotiate.

That I forget that my child will learn by what I am, not what I teach him.

That I forget how everything I have strived to build is fragile.

That I think if I prevent my child from watching certain channels or reading certain books, he or she will not get corrupted.

That I think will is more important than skill.

That I think all I need to do to achieve something is put my heart into it.

That I think honesty is the best policy and that slow and steady wins the race.

That I still think there is some decency left in society.

That I think my government is mine.

That I believe in live and let live.

That I think being content with what I have is the secret to a happy life.

That somehow, even in this hopeless situation, I think life is good.

Ankur Jayawant

Image Source [http://blog.cheapoair.com/image.axd?picture=2010%2F3%2Fluggage.jpg]

What if you could win an award for clicking photographs and examining every meal you have eaten for all the years you remember to have lived? Or creating artificial testicles for dogs? Bizzare right?

Not so much.

A scientific journal (yes, a legitimate one), The Annals of Improbable Research does just that. It celebrates what is wacky, funny and scientific by handing out “Ig Noble” prizes every year, since the year, 1991. The ceremony is held at Harvard University, in collaboration with their Physics, Computer and Science Fiction society.

While the award is a parody of the well-known Nobel prizes, Ig Nobel works quite differently. For one, spectators throw paper planes at the winners. Clapping isn’t all that dorktastic after all. Other than that, panellists for the ten Ig Nobel awards comprise of real Nobel prize winners, a bunch of science writers, sportspeople and a random person.

And nominations?

Well, anybody can send in their entries. You too!

Self-nominations hover between ten to twenty percent of the total. But beware! The competition is insane and according to the co-founder, Marc Abrahams, these nominations hardly win the prizes.

Past winners seem to be an eclectic bunch : a Nobel laureate, a business service provider and an entire community in Nigeria. Ten years before he won the Nobel, Andre Gein was recognised by the Ig Nobel committee for levitating a frog using magnets. The British Standard Institution has been lauded for creating a six-page specification that arduously describes the appropriate way of making tea. Another year, one of the prizes went to “internet entrepreneurs of Nigeria”. These starlings have, through e-mail, made available to millions the rich literature of Nigerian people who require a little sum of money to acquire the huge fortune they have.

A couple of lucky Indians have made it to the list too; Atal Bihari Vajpayee, being the first Indian recipient of this award. In the year 1998, he was given the “Ig Nobel Peace” award for “aggressively peaceful explosions of atomic bombs”. It was a prize he shared with then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan.

The next Ig Nobel Peace laureate was Lal Bihari, a dead man from Uttar Pradesh. He had accomplished three amazing feats: trounced death (as stated in his death certificate) and continued to function like a mortal being, kicked off a campaign (posthumously) against the corrupt ministers and greedy relatives, and formed the Association of Dead People. Sometimes dead bodies just have a life of their own.

Other Indian awardees include Deepak Chopra, for applying quantum physics to life; Gauri Nanda for creating an alarm that hides once it starts ringing; to Chittaranjan Andrade and B.S. Srihari of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, for studying the prevalence of nose-picking in adolescents. Only adolescents? Naah. Nose-picking is India’s national pastime.

However, this is not what truly distinguishes Ig Nobel from the award it lampoons. It is the attention to the little things that sparks curiosity. In the big world of Hubble telescopes and CERN accelerator, a research finding about female malaria mosquitos’ attraction to limburger cheese, or why a woodpecker doesn’t have headaches, makes just as much – if not more – sense. While limburger cheese traps are employed to combat malaria, the study on woodpeckers hasn’t yet led to a cure for nasty head injuries in humans. Yet, the Ig Nobel finds each one equally worthy of attention and respect.

The prize committee’s philosophy can be explained through Richard Feynman’s words – “science is like sex: sometimes something useful comes out it but that is not why we are doing it.”

Ruchi Roy

Image Source [http://abcnews.go.com/images/Technology/ap_harvard_ig_nobel_awards_ll_120921_wblog.jpg]

“You’ll seldom experience regret for anything that you’ve done. It is what you haven’t done that will torment you.” -Wayne Dayer

Now that might not hold for our daily actions, but it makes sense when looking at the bigger picture. On a daily basis, we just regret what we said or did, rather than what we didn’t do or say.

“Live life with no regrets”- you read about it in books, on TV and on the internet and it sounds beautiful, but it’s a lie. We can’t undo things, and we can’t help think back about them either. Think about it- I have mine, you must have yours- some tiny, some much bigger.

This emotion of remorse and sorrow keeps us trapped in our pasts, holds us back from taking any risks and even becomes a tool for self- loathing. But the root cause of regrets are disappointments or having unmet expectations.

Now you can’t guarantee disappointments, can you? Things didn’t pan out the way we’d hoped they would or we feel bad about hurting someone. The raw emotions range from guilt and disappointment to fits of rage and resentment, based on the severity of the situation. To protect ourselves from pain by numbing that regret and pretending it never happened- basic instinct, right?

Ideally we could live without them, but rationally, you can’t have any regrets. We think we don’t have any, but with one tiny trigger, it can all come back, in a matter of seconds. And it’s true that it means that you’re not really over it and I do admit I have my own. But what can I do but learn to live with them?

We all make mistakes. And if we just keep rewinding and wondering what we would have done the second time, won’t eradicate that hurt. Regret’s just a part of that pain, plain and simple. Now the best thing I can think of is to accept our regrets and reflect on them as a part of our experiences.

When I look back at my mistakes and I see what I was trying to get out of that experience, I now see the cause of my disappointing actions. I think if there were any signs of bad things coming along and there were, but I voluntarily chose to ignore them. I could’ve stopped sooner, but I didn’t. The worst thing I could’ve done after that was to beat myself up about it.

It takes longer to even realise that you’ve already paid for your slip-ups. What’s done is done, there’s no point judging yourself for your actions and getting emotionally drained for days or months or years- just realising those signs is vital.

We’re usually as clueless to the signs as we are to the reasons we acted in the first place. And when we do see them, we don’t act on them because they’d end the current plusses of our actions. And it’s really hard to even admit that we were so naïve and ignorant and took such slack action. But admission leads to awareness, which brings about change. If we can’t change the past, we can surely take to act differently in the future.

Looking at my actions and my motivations feels like poking at an open cut wound that hasn’t quite been mended. I’ve started to realise that I never intended to hurt anyone, I meant well and I can learn from all these mistakes.

“Make the most of your regrets; never smother your sorrow, but tend and cherish it till it comes to have a separate and integral interest. To regret deeply is to live afresh.” -Henry David Thoreau

Again, the whole notion of “live life with no regrets” is a little flawed- you can’t just run away from them, they’re a part of your life experiences. After all, mistakes make experiences and all mistakes include regrets.

Rather than acting like a superhuman believing you don’t have any regrets, just accept that you’ll have some and you’ll learn from them. Sure, some will fade away and some will linger on like scars, but wouldn’t you rather want to wear those metaphorical scars like badges than sulk about them forever?

Reflecting on those scars surely won’t be easy and it’ll take some time and commitment but nothing worthwhile ever is, is it?

Akhil Thakur

Image Source [http://singledadhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/marrieage-and-divorce-regrets.png]

I’ve never really openly discussed these things with anyone, but I’ve always thought that there are certain flashes of memory that you remember and so many other moments that you just don’t. You’ve experienced them, but you just can’t bring them back into mind. The funny thing is that you can’t decide which one to remember. There’s probably a genuine term around for this; but I’m not sure.

Sure, you can think, “I won’t ever forget this moment or this memory”. But, I’m not talking about those memories- I mean those instantaneous, irrelevant involuntary millisecond flashes that leave an imprint on our minds. I don’t mean Déjà vu- that’s something you see or experience again. Also, this isn’t about remembering things like “what you had for breakfast the day before yesterday” either.

They just hang on, be it anything like falling from some tree, laughing at a funny joke or just looking out of a window. They’re all beautiful in their own ways, even the bad ones – you’re going through a tough time, you know things can only get worse and out of nowhere, but somewhere in between your brain flickers and captures a moment just like a camera phone. I might sound a bit delusional right now, but it doesn’t bother me.

My friends have told me that they remember stuff from when they were three or four years old, but I was never that fortunate or gifted. The first memory I remember was when I was six years old and I was dancing to the Jungle Book soundtrack; I remember walking alone up the mountain above my village and finding an abandoned house when I was seven; I remember dancing with a girl at my tenth birthday party; I remember my aunt taking a picture of my broken nose when I was eight; I remember listening to “Aaj Mausam” on those old-school radios on the terrace of my village house. I was around twelve at that time. I remember…ugh.

But when I think about these flashes, I start to wonder about how much of my childhood I just forgot, so many years of memories – just like that. All I remember are these bits- I might’ve had better or worse days, but I can’t recall them. What’s even frustrating is that when my parents tell me about it, I still don’t remember them. But still, as I write this, I’m still trying to recall what else I remember.

I don’t remember most of the kids and the people I met as a kid; not their names or faces. Like anyone, I’ve made friends but somehow I’ve lost touch with most them and when I think about say, a close friend, I just have one or two memories of him. I had coffee with him or did a jam session with him- and all the other more or less significant memories just have disappeared.

Now, of course we have the ability to choose which moments to bury in our heads, but there are some which we can’t control. If you look back at your own life, you’ll have only a handful of memories- the ones you consciously chose to remember and the involuntarily reminisced bits.

Everyone has their memoirs of hardship- break-ups, ending friendships or even the death of a loved one. Someone told me that “people come and people go” but that’s not what I’m getting at exactly. Letting someone go isn’t like one day you’re feeling morose and the other day you’ll suddenly hear the birds chirp in the morning and life will be great again. You gradually forget the loss and after an immeasurable period of time, stop caring- but that’s probably because you’re occupied with other thoughts.

This is where it gets tricky- to let someone (or that pain) completely go, you’ve got to let everything go. In the future, you can recall a few good memories but you can’t simply just handpick recollections of you two talking all night and exploring the city. You can’t just isolate one particular memory for the sake of nostalgia, because that memory will also bring forth the rotten ones.

When we choose to somehow “move on” with our lives by thinking that life is just as beautiful without them, we stop caring about them. And after some myriad amount of time, when we realise we don’t care about someone and have to let go of everything, even the feeling of what they meant to us- that what they’re doing in life doesn’t matter to you- it feels like a little death. For your own sake, you forget what you were or what you had with them. And whatever irrelevant memory you do have, makes you feel worse.

The fact that I have so little (or no) memory of someone who was so close to me up until a few months or years ago, is what really frustrates me. That frustration eventually turns into guilt and self-hatred. If those memories have bad moments as well, I’d rather remember all of them than trivial ones or worse, none.

I recently ran into someone I was once very close to. I hadn’t seen her in close to four years, and I barely recognized her when I crossed her on the sidewalk. I had forgotten that she used to live there and forgotten we used to hang out a lot at a gaming arcade nearby. We had a small conversation, but it was a more of a confirmation that we had forgotten the people we used to be around. Of course, you never really forget anyone, you just liberate them. That person you knew exists in your head somewhere, but only by a bunch of memories.

Then again, I might just be overthinking all this or I might just have too much spare time. It’s not like I hate change, nor do I want to go back in time, I just want to remember more of it.

Akhil Thakur

Image Source [http://blogs.thenews.com.pk/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/memories2.jpg]

The rage of Harlem Shake costs a librarian her job!

Harlem Shake: a crazy internet meme started by five Australian boys dancing on the song called “Harlem Shake” by Baauer. It has nothing to do with the original form of dance and now is a rage among the youth, especially You Tubers. The song starts with a 15 seconds long intro with a person in a weird costume or mask, dancing alone and unnoticed. The beat drops and there is an entire group doing random actions to the song with props and costumes.

A silly little trend that had people around the world making videos with their own twists, this trend was harmless fun. The same trend would cost someone her job; this twist was unexpected and shocking.

One of the videos was made in the Oxford University library with one student dancing with a football helmet and about 30 students doing random things on the music. The act was strange but harmless because it was planned at 11.30 p.m. on a Sunday and was 7 minutes long. When you watch the video, you see that this video is comparatively mild than the other clips you’ve seen. There are people just doing repetitive actions and no disturbance to the people or damage to property is visible.

Oxford University’s St. Hilda’s College fined the students identified in the video for 60 pounds. The fine itself was a little extreme but the college also fired the librarian Calypso Nash for the act. The librarian had no idea about the video shoot and in no way could stop 30 students from entering the library. The decision caused an outrage amongst the students who said the librarian had no hand in the act and the college sacking her was an unjust decision.

The Junior Common Room President Esther Gosling had her views on the subject and defended the “innocent” librarian. Two motions were passed: (as told to TOI)

“St Hilda’s librarian was fired for failing to prevent a Harlem Shake in the library on 17th February. JCR believes that this decision was hugely unjust as she knew nothing of the event beforehand and it is difficult to see what she could have done to prevent 30 legitimate St Hilda’s students from entering the library.

The JCR resolves to mandate the president to ask for a written reason from the head librarian and also bring the matter to the attention of the governing body calling in the strongest terms for the librarian to be re-instated. The Harlem shake did not cause a disturbance as was at 11:30 pm on a Sunday evening and only lasted roughly 7 minutes. People involved in the event have been fined by the Dean which were excessive.”

The student who organized the whole thing, Alexander Fisken with his friends and girlfriend, was shocked with the turn of events. (As told to PolicyMic)

“Despite what the video may convey, a term at Oxford University can be quite stressful, so it was lovely to do something completely different … There was always the nagging doubt that the college would not appreciate such a stunt. However we were confident that, were we to be called up on the matter, the college would appreciate the harmless and friendly spirit in which the video was intended.

For the first time, we felt awful about what we had done … Calypso had absolutely nothing to do with our stunt, it just so happened that her shift coincided with the time that we judged to be the library’s least busy.”

Fisken also wrote a whole blog regarding the whole incident and protested against sacking the librarian and took full responsibility for the video.

To read the blog, visit:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/mar/20/oxford-st-hilda-harlem-shake-librarian-reinstated

Respected MP George Galloway supports the students and tabled a motion to the university to reinstate the librarian. The early day motion was tabled in the House of Commons on Wednesday. Galloway believes that the college has lost their sense of humor and victimized a woman who shared no responsibility in the act. (Told to the Huffingpost)

The whole controversy resulted in a wave of disbelief and anger among the students.

(Huffingtonpost comments)

The Harlem Shake videos are meant for entertainment, humor, and plain crazy fun. People of all ages have participated in these videos. Many families have made their own versions of this. From grandparents to little kids, nobody seems to mind the insanity. Serious institutions like offices and colleges have participated in this craze. There is even a video where army men go berserk with the song and are all over the base.

When others don’t seem to mind or take it seriously, the severe reaction by Oxford shocks the world. Not only putting a fine on students who participated but actually firing someone who wasn’t involved in the whole gig is quite over the top. Not only the youth but people of all ages including seniors are surprised at the unfair act.

With powerful names like Galloway on their side, students of Oxford might be able to change the fate of the innocent, respected, and loved librarian. Protests are still on but the college still refuses to comment on the situation.

With bigger things to worry about, prestigious institutions sacking reliable and loyal employees just show how out of line the most honorable authorities can be.

We just hope that the librarian is reinstated quickly and her reputation isn’t tarnished any further.

Ambika Chauhan

Image Source [http://oxfordstudent.com/wp-content/themes/advanced-newspaper/timthumb.php?src=http://oxfordstudent.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/2013-02-17-Harlem-Shake-0002.jpg&q=90&w=634&zc=1]

With the Indian heat rolling in quick, be mentally prepared for other problems, too

Dust, dust everywhere, nothing to save your face,

Like a letch the sun will stare, making sweat-droplets race.

Skin-peeling sun rays and hair-singing winds, the mention of summertime makes you want to take out your handkerchief and fan yourselves. The only time you can step out is either early morning or after 6 p.m. Girls’ hair are automatically tied up, boys’ hair are cut short, and the world of hats emerges. Ice cream vendors and juice sellers become the most popular people in the area and air-conditioned spots are jam packed. You want to shed clothes, but that will only burn your skin.

Ah yes, the summer time. The time that makes us hate being near the equator. A time that has us rushing to Shimla, Goa, or a place abroad. No one wants to be in this country when the mercury goes above 40. Especially in a place like Delhi, people run the other direction.

But it’s not just the heat that makes us cry.

It’s not just the scorching heat that makes summer the most unbearable season. It’s the lack of other necessities. Be it water or electricity, everything goes missing when it’s needed the most and drives everyone up the wall.

First of all the electricity, the god of all appliances including the refrigerators, air conditioners, and fans decides to do the vanishing act. As everyone knows, Delhi and Gurgaon have a major electricity problem. Out for hours and at regular intervals, light nahi aayi (there’s still no electricity) is a common line. There is only so much generators and inverters can do for us. They run out quick and force us to use our grandmother’s hand-held fans.

Another resource that goes scarce is water, an element that goes hand in hand with electricity. No electricity, no water pumps. Even if there is electricity, the fresh water reaches our homes through pipelines for a short span of time and that too at odd hours. Either 3 a.m. or 8 p.m., the timings keep betraying us. The whole neighborhood ends up on the streets with big buckets begging for water in their pajamas. Drinking water can still be purchased from shops, but for other purposes there’s none.

As if that weren’t enough, water politics and mind games begin. Many claim that government approved tube wells that are placed at the heart of the community are filled with the fresh water. To fill the wells up, water-flow to houses are interrupted. At times, when the fresh water flow’s schedule is announced, the people start playing with politics, too. Competing for water, they don’t inform their neighbors and fill up their own tanks. Another form of water politics are private tankers that are paid for. These people get private trucks to deliver water for their household and do not let the others use the water tanks.

Blame politics, construction, or the “evil-rich”, bottom line is that you are going to face many inconveniences this season. It was chaotic last year with water woes and electricity issues. Some used their gyms or offices to take showers; some ran to malls to sit in air-conditioned cafes. Even basement parking was torture for those who drive and going out before the sun went down was pretty much impossible.

Every safe place is going to packed, what strategy do we work with this year?

Where do you plan to run?

With the temperature already touching early thirties, there’s no hope for a cooler summer this year. Load up on water, cold treats, and sun-block, things are going to get hot, and not in a good way.

Better safe than sorry, brace yourselves now.

Better stock up or become a mastermind to tackle the 2013 summer bummer!

Ambika Chauhan

Image Source [http://www.4to40.com/images/photo_gallery/delhi_summer_season.jpg]

With the world raising funds through Comic Relief, especially Red Nose Day, why is India behind?

On 15^th March Red Nose Day is celebrated. This is a day was first introduced in 1988 by Comic Relief, a British charity. This day is celebrated by people wearing red clothes or uniforms and foam red noses in exchange for donations. People engage in funny or entertaining acts to raise money.

The funds are given to the people who need it UK and Africa like victims of abuse, young alcoholics, women in need, slum people, elders, trade, and people suffering from AIDS.

Celebrities like Jessie J shaved her head for this event, musicians perform, comedians host telethons, schools have children participating in this noble cause.

Everyone is ready to participate in an event that is both fun and helpful.

When will such events take place in India?

When it comes to donations many people in India do not want to part with their money. Many don’t have it, the ones who have it are skeptical in spending it. Even when famous celebrities donate time, money, and any other resource for the ones who need it more.

Why are we hesitant?

Many of the people are afraid that most of the people knocking at our doors and asking for donations are scammers. We believe that is money will go in wrong hands. Little kids carrying a tattered piece of paper with signatures come up to you in public places and ask for donations. When you are willing to donate they corner you into fishing out more notes from your wallet. Half the places that these people name are not legit centers.

Who to trust?

When foundations like Being Human have names like Salman Khan, people are still ready to donate their money and time. When a celebrity is involved the foundation and organization seems more legit. When a person with any form of power follows something, we tend to follow them too.

So why don’t more celebrities open such foundations and non-profit organizations to involve the people of India?

There are many celebrities who can afford to start even a small fundraising organization that people will be willing to join. People need trust and guarantee when it comes to donating money. We always want to know exactly where this money is going.

A fundraiser like Red Nose Day can easily be conducted in India. What we need is a strong base and name associated with it.

It’s high time our country starts taking quick actions for the ones in need!

Ambika Chauhan

Image Source [http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/3800000/Red-Nose-Day-the-saturdays-3846698-1500-1000.jpg]