“Reliance” will enter the education sector to provide quality higher education as it emerges as the next profitable opportunity.
A range of private enterprise has already set up international schools and they are doing well. And some fly-by-night operators have entered too rather they were always there!
The state has a role to play in order to modulate this enthusiasm amongst the eligible ones so as to maximize the social cause. Let’s face it…Population and education have always been the most sought after sectors that need correction. In countries like US, UK and other developed , private enterprise have always played a role to better education standards as well to provide scholarships to the ‘worthy’ students aspiring for higher education. Of course, the scene is far better in India when compared to 20 years back. PSU banks and other institutions have started disbursing educational loans that were not available earlier.
We should allow companies to run educational institutions as well-run businesses that have transparent accounts and declare dividends. But a word of caution…entry of private funds into higher education is not a case for the state to withdraw from the sector. Rather the state should deepen their involvement and give it a different shape. Higher education is expensive, many will agree. A good part of the cost in providing higher education should be recovered from ‘realistic fees’ from the students. At the same time, it must be ensured that lack of funds does not kill the dreams of attending college by well deserving students coming from poor families. A large part of government funding should be in form of scholarships which are liberal.
Securitized loans by government undertaking banks is already happening as mentioned earlier in this passage. That is a good step taken by the PSU banks.Hence there is mix of private enterprise and modulation (read control) by the government required to uplift the standards of education in this country.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
A Sublime (read uplifting) feeling…review of the movie ‘Nishabd’
Recently, i saw the most talked about movie ‘Nishabd’ which I am sure was made for viewing by the special class and not the mass.
As usual, Amitabh Bachchan does complete justice to the role given to him in this film too. I can never understand why and how people fall in love and aspire to give it a name. I am quite sure that everyone is in love with ‘self’ all the time. So nobody falls in love with anyone other than themselves. All relationships are need- based...simple metaphysics. An old man of 60 years wants to be young or wants to go back to his youth and seeks a relationship with an 18 year old girl when approached by her first. So, that at least speaks of his maturity as he does not initiate. All he wants to do…is avail an opportunity to be ‘young’ again’. But, he is already married for past 27 years and his daughter is as old as this girl. Love cannot be divided (thank god!) otherwise there would be chaos as many people will keep falling in and out love all the time. The movie revolves around the feelings of a 60 year old man and is basically a narration of his experience that also serves as a 'lesson' to others who wish to live like him.
I found the movie very touching especially at the end.
With tears in his eyes, Amitabh explains how his other relations got messed up because he could not control his feelings for this girl.The movie shows finally, how the 'old man' wants to end his life because his life gets in to a state of disorder because of his unwarranted feelings.
The movie is thought provoking and refreshing.
As usual, Amitabh Bachchan does complete justice to the role given to him in this film too. I can never understand why and how people fall in love and aspire to give it a name. I am quite sure that everyone is in love with ‘self’ all the time. So nobody falls in love with anyone other than themselves. All relationships are need- based...simple metaphysics. An old man of 60 years wants to be young or wants to go back to his youth and seeks a relationship with an 18 year old girl when approached by her first. So, that at least speaks of his maturity as he does not initiate. All he wants to do…is avail an opportunity to be ‘young’ again’. But, he is already married for past 27 years and his daughter is as old as this girl. Love cannot be divided (thank god!) otherwise there would be chaos as many people will keep falling in and out love all the time. The movie revolves around the feelings of a 60 year old man and is basically a narration of his experience that also serves as a 'lesson' to others who wish to live like him.
I found the movie very touching especially at the end.
With tears in his eyes, Amitabh explains how his other relations got messed up because he could not control his feelings for this girl.The movie shows finally, how the 'old man' wants to end his life because his life gets in to a state of disorder because of his unwarranted feelings.
The movie is thought provoking and refreshing.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Should we allow M F Hussain into Mumbai again?
It was purely co incidental that I could get an opportunity to meet the bare footed painter of international acclaim, M F Hussain, at a restaurant I frequented often, close to K C College, near church gate. The year was 1990 when I was working with a franchising company with its regional office situated opposite K C College.
Today, since past 4 years, he is in exile in Dubai in fear of his life resultant of his infamous nude paintings which desecrated the Hindu god Saraswathi. Probably it was unintentional but the damage was done and no art gallery is willing to take the risk of displaying any of his paintings. He is afraid to step in to Mumbai, a city where he use to walk bare-footed all over. MF Hussein was born in Pandharpur, close to Nashik, but he embraced Mumbai as his home long back, nearly 8 decades back. (Hussein is 94 years old now!) He does not know or fails to acknowledge the fact that the political parties rule the aam aadmi psyche now. Opportunism and sheer competition among political class has got the city defrayed on unconstitutional practices with growing intolerance. No, it is not acceptable any longer to condone free speech or freedom of expression through paintings. What, M F Hussein? Definitely he cannot gallop in to the city on his ‘horses’!
MF Hussein came to Mumbai city as ‘absolutely very broke’ young…very young painter to paint film hoardings to earn a livelihood. Neither he believed nor did we that one day he would become so famous with his paintings on Galloping Horses. But the city embraced him just like it did with every citizen who is dropped in the ‘melting pot’ called ‘aamchi’ Mumbai now. MF Hussein should know that he has to come back (if allowed) to a city that is no longer as resilient as it was and there are many shiv sena variants of different colors and names! Even, if the congress in power at the center and the state, the least the political heavyweights can do is just sympathies with him. When they cannot display his paintings, can they give security to him?
But the 94 year old painter wants to come home to Mumbai. Can we welcome him?
Today, since past 4 years, he is in exile in Dubai in fear of his life resultant of his infamous nude paintings which desecrated the Hindu god Saraswathi. Probably it was unintentional but the damage was done and no art gallery is willing to take the risk of displaying any of his paintings. He is afraid to step in to Mumbai, a city where he use to walk bare-footed all over. MF Hussein was born in Pandharpur, close to Nashik, but he embraced Mumbai as his home long back, nearly 8 decades back. (Hussein is 94 years old now!) He does not know or fails to acknowledge the fact that the political parties rule the aam aadmi psyche now. Opportunism and sheer competition among political class has got the city defrayed on unconstitutional practices with growing intolerance. No, it is not acceptable any longer to condone free speech or freedom of expression through paintings. What, M F Hussein? Definitely he cannot gallop in to the city on his ‘horses’!
MF Hussein came to Mumbai city as ‘absolutely very broke’ young…very young painter to paint film hoardings to earn a livelihood. Neither he believed nor did we that one day he would become so famous with his paintings on Galloping Horses. But the city embraced him just like it did with every citizen who is dropped in the ‘melting pot’ called ‘aamchi’ Mumbai now. MF Hussein should know that he has to come back (if allowed) to a city that is no longer as resilient as it was and there are many shiv sena variants of different colors and names! Even, if the congress in power at the center and the state, the least the political heavyweights can do is just sympathies with him. When they cannot display his paintings, can they give security to him?
But the 94 year old painter wants to come home to Mumbai. Can we welcome him?
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