Why it’s a good idea to deliver babies in September?

“Ever wondered why so many babies are born in September?”, read the tag line of an ad in Chicago’s O’Hare Airport that I’d seen numerous times a few years ago; yet, every time I’d stop by to see the glittering diamond gifted by the husband to his wife on New Year’s eve.  Too late to make a wish for that diamond or LG being a September born.

You’ll know very soon what the fuss about being born in Sept. is all about? But before that, a little history on my schooling. 1st Std. to 12th Std. in 13 schools across 3 states and 2 countries. That should give some insight into my primary and secondary education. I did not do kindergarten because the schools at the places we lived in then did not have one, so I was enrolled into 1 st Std at 3.5 years only to move after a few months; the next place we moved to had a school with KG and I did 3 months of LKG before being sent home indefinitely as I was suffering from the contagious whopping cough. At 6 years, in 1st Std I did not know how to recite the letters of the alphabet in order even in 1st std. though always stood within the first three ranks until the school found out about the “ABC”s and concluded there was something fishy. I didn’t know any rhyme beyond “Twinkle Tiwnkle Little Star” until a year back when I learned  excitedly “Humpty Dumpty” and “Ring a Ring a Roses” while teaching LG. And, I actually did the first 3 months of my 10th Std. with Matriculation syllabus in Tamil Nadu, India before moving on to a CBSE board Indian School in Bahrain. That sets the record straight giving some perspective on my schooling days. Despite so many moves, never once did my parents lose sleep over getting my brother and I admissions in the school, usually only one in the vicinity. Those were simpler days.

I’ve been losing my sanity over finding a school that would accept LG for nursery. Yes, nursery. He turns two-and-a-half next June. Admissions begin as a early as August with the entire process getting over by November, I’ve come to know from my interactions with the schools. Hadn’t it been for a casual statement from a visiting friend about the admission process, I would have slept over it waking up sometime next May to get LG admitted in a nursery. I do live in an Utopian world of my own, don’t I?

Not familiar with the schools around the locality I live in, I sought help from a few people I knew in the apartment of the names of schools kids went to here; then turned to the faithful Google for further info on feedback of schools, distance, phone numbers, admission process etc. It’s been a vicious circle ever since. If the location and medium of education (preferably Montessori) is conducive, then not LG’s age. If LG’s age by some stroke of luck is right, then the admission process is already over in the school.  In short, I got tired of working out the combinations in my head and turned to a spreadsheet like an organised mom listing schools, addresses, age criteria, other requirements, how to apply,  last date, fees, so on and so forth. The query sheets and traceability matrix of most projects I’ve worked on were way simpler and concise than this one.

It is expected of a parent to go to lengths for a child. Right? So I went with the flow until I blew my top while filling the application form for this G*** International School. It read : “A brief about the child’s strengths and problem areas. Please post a write-up about your child.” I worked hard on this one than I have on my resume during my working years. Totally exhausted from racking my brain on the strengths and weaknesses part, I outsourced the write-up part to LG’s dad. What can you say about the strengths of a 1 year, 9 month old kid? Hardworking - works all day pouring sand into his plastic bucket with a spade and climbs up and down tirelessly in the mid-day sun on the slides. Or should it be “a great team player” -believes in sharing his toys with other kids. Or go a step further and say, “believes in learning hands-on” - even if it means keeping a finger at other toddler’s eyes to demonstrate where their eyes are located. Folks, I’m at a loss for word because damn it, the kid is barely a two years old and you expect a write-up and laundry list of strengths and weaknesses. What is this - a shrink session to assess the child on before admitting him/her?

Most schools that I have called have this rule: “As of June 1, the kid should be between 2yr 9 months and 3 years old for Montessori M-0 or (s)he should be between 1 yr 10 months and 2 yr 9 mo to be admitted in toddler session or (s)he should be above 3 years for nursery.”  One school with good feedback, when I prodded on about the right age for LG after they refused to admit him for the next session, said ,”Ma’am, you can consider applying for 1st std when he is 6 years old.” Felt like replying, “Thank you very much. I’ll keep that in mind four years from now and home school my child until then.”This child-planning in all likelihood will beat India’s five-year plans.

Let’s not get started on the fee structure. I feel ashamed at saying that we would be required to spend nearly 70% of what my parents spent for 4 years of my engineering in 1 year for LG’s nursery which is a whopping Rs.70,000. Isn’t this crazy? I did my 4 years of engineering (tuition, hostel, photocopies, stationery, commute and other miscellaneous expenses) in Rs.91,537 or so. Yes, I kept a daily account then. Even factoring in an average of 6% annual inflation should get the nursery fees so high assuming nursery today is equivalent to a regular degree a decade back :) ? And, more than enough reason for me to get back to mainstream work?

My afternoons are fruitfully spent visiting schools and taking a tour of their facilities. On some occasions, I do forget for a minute where I am seeing all those splash pools, swimming pools, gyms, aerobics classes, skating rink if it weren’t for a sudden cry from the day care center or students racing to the buses at the end of the day.  The schools I’ve studied at, even the most sophisticated ones, are a far cry from the ones I’ve seen in the last few days. Individual chairs and tables - not those long wooden benches that I’ve seen all my life, flashy classrooms with colorful posters on the walls - no wonder these schools universally carry the “international” tag. Honestly, I didn’t come back with a good feeling. My stomach churned at the thought of sending my to be 2.5 year old son to BIG schools as these. I was looking for something small and cosy to start his 15 years of basic education; one  that he would look forward to go to every day and not something intimidating with its sheer size and sophistication. The hunt continues.

So, it’s after all not such a bad idea to get that diamond for a New Year gift and start the baby making process in Jan just in time for school admissions?

The Future of Education in India

Two pieces on education I read this morning inspired this post. The first one by Reuters features how technology is reshaping America’s classrooms, a big deal in itself and a dream if one were to hang onto every word in there. The second, an editorial piece in today’s Times,  aptly titled “Igniting Minds” is a stark opposite focusing on what’s crippling Indian education which gets further ugly when backed by statistics of how many of India’s under-25 population go onto complete their 12th Std.

The East-West Divide

The Reuters piece sang praises of how introduction of Apple’s Mac Laptops in classrooms for everyday class and home work in 7th and 8th grades is transforming education eliminating the need for textbooks and excuses of not completing homework. The point that caught my eye was the increase in percentage of daily attendance. On some levels, this is equivalent to the introduction of mid-day meals at all Primary schools across India which was a good incentive for kids to attend school. Laptops and other technology driven classrooms is a far-fetched cry in India. When the basic needs such as a full stomach is not met, it is irrational to expect children to attend school.

The case cited by the Reuters article is not a widespread practice in America just as it would be foolish to conclude that there are no schools in India which are equipped with such facilities and much more - only that they are meant for the few privileged. The facilities in schools abroad, their approach to education are literally worlds apart to what we have at home. Education is the most debated topic and will continue to be one for many years to come with little done about it. If only our policy makers pay some attention to reforming the highly skewed system and aim at 75% of children completing their secondary education, imagine how powerful India will be. To begin with quantity for rural India and quality for urban India is a realistic dream to dream of.

Read more

Education in India : a test of memory or knowledge?

It’s that time of the year when many parents complain either of high BP or the healthier ones dash to the bathroom at an alarming frequency. It’s results time folks! More than the students, results are stressful on the parents with a whole bunch of them declared in quick succession starting early May well through July. IIT-JEE results followed by HSC, CET (for the academically challenged as IITians would call, not me) , SSC, University cut-off lists and ohh let’s not forget the most important of all - kindergarten admissions!Throw in the combination of numerous boards - CBSE, ICSE, State and you have a packed summer calendar.

Read more

Tuitions : India’s parallel education system

Spot a dozen bicycles all day everyday of the year outside a house in your street? That’s the one of the indicators a tuition is going on. My neighbor’s daughters study in the 10th Std and 5th Std at one of the most reputed institutions of this city. The school is renowned for producing state rank holders consistently, has a general perception of being very strict with the kids and parents too; has a good range of extra-curricular activities, different color school uniforms/ribbons on different days of the week with the style changing in winter and all the other things that go with convent education. I was not convent educated and all that was different about our school uniform was the canvas shoes on Saturdays for PT; so I’m completely at dark on that one. Infact, I think what a pain it must be for parents and the kids these days to get all those uniforms ready and remember which day of the week is for what color. And I’m told points are deducted if you don’t tie your hair with the white ribbon on Wednesdays. Phew..am I glad to have passed a decade and half earlier.

Read more

REC, Trichy to NIT, Trichy

August 2005, Vivek and I (from the Class of ‘99) went on a maiden trip to REC, Trichy. It took a lot of convincing on my part to ask Vivek to be a guest blogger and post this entry. For I could have never done justice to this entry. Over to the RECTian..

Trichy Central Bus Stand.

“REC Trichy nikkuma?” (read: will you stop at REC Trichy?). I asked the conductor, with a knapsack hanging over my shoulders, dressed in an attire befitting a RECTian. Purani jeans, fati chappal and well, 6 years of work experience :)
The same old dirty harry look, frown on his face and finally a statement “last la eru”. (read:”Board in the end”). Well, what were you expecting!

But things have changed. The dinchuk dinchuk music is now complemented with the tall dark fat hero gyrating to an equally plump heroine. Now, was it my lucky day! I just felt transported to midnight 12 ‘o clock SUN TV. Rain rain don’t go away. Come again tomorrow night ;)

Sure, you must be wondering 6 years out of college, making a trip AGAAAIN? Ok, before you all jump, I cleared all my exams long back :) Bigger and better things have happened. I went to get a DAMNED reco and transcripts (and the priceless look on my HOD’s face). Yeah yeah my next leap to fame.

Tanjore Road. Take me Home. To the place I belong…
Crossing the “grass-y” patches of Thiruverumbur, training centre of BHEL (reminiscent of the Ice Cream), 1st year’s escape route of TREC-STEP,
Association of Genius And Talented Engineers, standing magnificently in the distance reminding me of the golden years, alas! which have passed by…and lo! there stood the “chathurmukhi” ..ClockTower..


The tolling of the iron bells
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic( yeah sure) spells of the great RECTian illuminati (read: my profs)

An event has passed, I have managed a “ceremonious” exit from the already hurrying bus and the conductor and well, THE TIME HAS COME to enter the MAGICAL KINGDOM.
BUT…OH MY LORD


What have they done Maggie(in this case my wife Lakshmi) what have they done
What have they done to RECT
Should I shout should I scream

A Kingdom has been lost. Once where stood the mighty REC, with all its ruggedness, non-chalance and a no-care attitude, now stands a spic and span NIT - smooth, polished and almost feminine.

I stood there glued with half a mind to cross the road, grab a quick tea from Sam Fox (boys, she is still out there getting her young, but more nubile and enchanting) and waive down a passing 128 to get out and get away. I AM STONED IMMACULATE !!!

With lead for my feet, a lump in my throat I chose to take the steps that open up to the infamous A23 Exam Hall. Oh come on! We all have been there. But I am sure you couldn’t have even dreamt of this …”CELL PHONES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THIS EXAM HALL”.


People are crazy and times are strange
I’m locked in tight, I’m out of range
I used to care but - things have changed.

Almost like a man on fire, I finished the paper work that would get me the coveted transcripts. Now, started the journey to my bete noir - a walk to the Instrumentation and Control Engineering Department. To lay my hands on the piece of paper, for which men and women have toiled and burnt the midnight oil studying - the recommendation letter.

Spent 4 years getting out of this place and his gaze, 6 years later back to where it all started. He was a genius who said, “beta, life is a full circle”. Wish, this wise man existed jab main chota bachcha tha, badi shararat kartha tha…

Time to meet the man himself, KK AK(nothing short than the head of KKK for me), who always encouraged me to “stop wasting my dad’s money”. And here I stood all humbled to ask him to sign my recommendation letter. With a soft knock on his door, I entered where the angels fear to tread. The look on his face, admitting recognition, but his grey cells forcing “Do I know you?”.


The ensuing conversation —-

“Sir, Vivek Nath. Roll No. IC…38. Batch of ‘99″.
(Man O Man. It was a KODAK moment.)

The first words ..”Have you still not cleared REC?”
Sure..learnt one thing today…”Old fame dies hard”.

“Sirrr, I have cleared it all and I am here for something else.”

His next words, “Are you gainfully employed?”

Coming from the world of CTCs, Incentives and Performance Bonuses, it sure was a shocker when he asked “What is your scale?”

Trying to make sense of the question, it took a few seconds to process what he meant. Seeing the puzzled look on my face, he muttered hesitantly, “How much do you earn?”

“Sir, enough to sustain myself.” (though I felt like saing I’ve stopped wasting my dad’s money. I waste my own)

<>>

Not to break your hearts..REC still exists.

This was more than a mere name change from REC to NIT. On a closing note,

The sun is the same in a relative way, but you’re older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death

The time is gone
The song is over
Thought I’d something more to say