building on dreams...

When we declare ourselves the number one university in the country and be proud about our achievements, it is depressing that there is a small section which is not even considered a part of us and yet very much a part of us.

Universities like ours create a base to build the future of the nation. Ironically, it is the very same educational hub, where childhood gets lost in the debacles of daily livelihood.

We are talking about the 400 odd labourers who are part of the construction activities on our campus. The contracted workers are denied basic requirements of a decent living, and are forced to live in conditions which are not better than slums. Their settlements in deserted regions of our campus, and lives in asbestos and tarpaulin sheds with no proper water and sanitation is a major concern.

A student of social sciences shares his views and expresses that gross violation of child rights is one example which is visible through our naked eyes. Child labour is only a by-product of a larger domain of problems faced by these people back home and here on campus. Other issues such as wage differentials, working condition, social security, malnutrition, health and education etc need to found out.

These migratory workers, who have left their homes behind and have been a part of the campus over the past few years, engaging themselves in various developmental activities, have been highly neglected. Since they are migratory and obviously not well educated, they are unaware of the benefits they could claim through governmental policies and schemes. It should be understood that they are also human beings. They deserve a better living. Their children are also the future of our nation, just like we consider ourselves to be are.

Any normal human being can understand by looking at their living that they are not being provided with basic health, nutrition, and sanitation or living conditions. Their children need education and not engage in the work their parents do. There could be serious questions about human rights raised in this matter.

It is not a rare sight to see small children loitering around at popular places of our campus pleading for food and money. Some of them used to go to school and most of them don’t. It has been noticed that most of these workers come from states like Orissa, AP, Bihar, Karnataka and West Bengal.

It is still unclear about the actual situation of these workers, and hence a strong student movement is mandatory for the education of these kids. Problems unnoticed shall never come into discussion and it is the responsibility of the university students as messengers, well wishers and socially responsible citizens to create vibrant waves demanding Change, at least in our own backyard. The times have passed when slaves could be made use of by masters for their own profits’ sake. The intention must be to do an in-depth study to create a platform which is vocal about the existing situation and it should be brought to the attention of the authorities so that their conditions could be bettered.

I'm God !!! so are u. . .

i remember my grandma telling me “God is everywhere,” but that was a really long time ago. But very recently, i quote saying, “God is nowhere” struck me. But the same could be also read as “God is now here”. Okay, i understood i need to realise that there is a lot about one’s attitude and personal opinion regarding the whole concept.

Whenever i was low in my spirits, my mother used to come and console me saying everything is pre-written and nothing can be re-written. And one just needs to live the life the best and leave the rest to God. I find it very philosophical and yet true. They say the ultimate aim of your life is to find who you are and you start that process by trying to know who God is. More than the spiritual aspect, there is a lot of philosophy and psychology involved in it.

To my small thought and understanding, God meant different things to different people. To some, God was the supreme father who is watching them from above and taking care of them. To some, God was their own conscience which they could never cheat on. To some, God is hope, a hope for a better tomorrow. To some, God is someone who is unreal and hinders development of intellect. God is also faith for some. To some God is destiny and to some God means love. Instead of taking others definitions, i was trying to find out who is God for me.

It wasn’t that difficult at all, one deep thought that had stuck to me for a long time had finally such a simple answer, God to me was my best friend i always wanted. One who always listens to me, with whom i share all my worries, pain, problems and uncertainties. With whom, i can demand and complain with no worry of losing a friend. He is the one who gives a boost and confidence to face challenges and the one on whom i have full faith.

May be because of the culture my parents and my grandmom imparted on me, i trust God. I leave all my troubles on him with a hope that i would successfully overcome all the issues with my efforts. And i have a real life experiences to prove it, which could be called by myself as a miracle (me ending up in University of Hyderabad was absolutely a miracle). Throughout my life, i have felt the presence of such a force with me. In fact i find myself so lucky to have him, my imaginary best friend.

God is again you yourself. From whatever i have heard, if you really help the needy, they find God in you. As the progressive groups say its all stupid and there is nothing called God and it’s just a superstition. I am absolutely perfect in having an imaginary best friend called God, who is actually Me, Myself.

A Tribute

the elders at home used to have a tough time when my elder sister came anywhere close to the television,which was my area of control. the sports channels and cartoon networks were horrible for her and always ended up in ear-drilling screams. and even then, i never accepted my defeat and never passed over the remote control. to my surprise, this scene became rare at home and soon, i realised that she spends most of her time inside her room reading newspapers, magazines, adventures to romance. i consider this to be the very reason why i never was interested in reading. i can say, i never had time at all to think beyond the television channels. but things are different now-a-days, when you have to write a lot. i realised, to write an editorial piece ,a feature, travalogue or a simple blog, you got to read first. its difficult to put thoughts in to action and equally difficult to put into black and white.

going back to a general conception or misconception, a malayali is well versed in writing n equally worse in speaking english. for a boy from a small town in kerala, who never bothered about the language of the British, the so called Global language, things werent different.

its well said, to take the first step, the push is important. i lately found that push in the first year of college in coimbatore in the form of a fellow senior Barath, who turned out to be a friend, guide, teacher, a big brother n much more. the same sister, Rajitha, has been equally encouraging and inspiring me to learn more.

Knowledge, intelligence or most of the things could not be inherited, it has to be acquired.

here i am with my new blog.- being parallel.