It's Not Trending

In the era of digitalization and when everything is moving so fast, being a citizen in tier-III city of Bihar, I hardly find anything that is trending for the development of the citizen of Bihar.

Bihar has Malls, Huge buildings, great infrastructure, and society which are waiting to embrace the change. You can find all these but the most crucial thing that helps in developing the lifestyle of the society is corporate culture. This is missing.

We do have investors who are investing in real estate, into huge projects which are growing leaps and bounds in other states than in Bihar.

Why is the government of Bihar so adamant to get Bihar under the category of Special state? Why is it not thinking of converting the state Bihar as a Smart State?

I may not be the right person to comment on the policies drafted and implemented by the state government, but as the citizen of Bihar, I feel my state is not trending. There is a tendency in the youth to move out of the state in search of jobs. The one who is living is struggling to get placed only in government job keeping in consideration growth and security.

In India, in many states, the private companies, as well as the MNC's, are providing numerous opportunities to its citizen, here is a state where there is hardly any reach of private players. We hardly have any MNC.

The condition of different states like Telangana, Uttarakhand wasn't better two-three decades ago but when we see the current situation, these states have attracted not only the national investors but also there are many international companies that are investing in these states making them rich in employment and a wonderful place for living.

We need a 360-degree change in the outlook and the way we present our state to the nation. Bihar is not trending due to two major reasons:

1.    The government which is insensitive towards many major issues

2.    The citizen, in particular, the well-educated youth which hardly demands its basic right of employment in its own domicile.

The stern action is to be taken by the corporate players and should think of considering Bihar state as the right option for setting up their branch. I wish this could happen.

Who is responsible?

We, the Indians present India as the Incredible country. In fact, it is incredible for many reasons. To make it incredible, every state and union territory plays a crucial role. The varied culture, art, artifacts, monuments, folklore and the unsung stories in the bosom of history make it truly adventurous and attractive to millions of tourist who visit India every year.

I belong to Bihar, the state which is known the great historians, philosophers, personalities and education. Being a teacher when I compare the present system of education in Bihar with its stupendous and glorified past, I feel, with the passage of time, the glory of Bihar got blurred. Right from the schools to the higher educational institutes, every single person involved in this education system is thinking about the making profits. No doubt that education is emerging as an industry and it is one of the profit making industries. 

The problem is not with the process of money making, the real problem is the way the knowledge is imparted to the students. From 20 February 2017 to 29 March 2017, I interacted with at least 1000 plus students of one of the well-established engineering colleges in Bihar. The students who have appeared for their end-term examination seemed to be confused. They hardly looked confident and were seemed to be unprepared. But these students who are tech savvy and keep good know-how of latest technologies, have used it in different ways. 

Mobile watch phone which is hardly known to general public acted as a savior. Micro photocopy of the documents saved the life of the students who have made up their mindset to pass the examination by cheating and using unfair means. On questioning the students, they had one simple answer, the things that are taught in the class differs totally from what is asked in the examination.

As a teacher, I disagree with the statement given by the students. On one hand, they were prepared with illegal resources in the examination hall to attempt the asked questions and contrary to this they say that their teachers are at fault.

With the youth of this incredible nation, I can only plea and wish that they need to understand the significance of knowledge skills. How important these skills are in building and developing the career. They need to work hard in obtaining knowledge which can shun the ignorance and can help them in gaining valuable information. 

Why these students who are pretty matured by age fail to understand the importance of education in life?

Only with true knowledge skills, one can become confident, can improve other skills which can create employable skills. 

RIP Examination Process

I still get goose bears when I think of examination and the process that used to happen related to the examination. The strict invigilation did by the invigilators forced us to prepare well.

2017, February at Patna got an opportunity to conduct university exam in one of the colleges. The students were from B.Tech stream of the seventh and fifth semester. They walked with confidence and entered the examination hall to give their exams.

I recalled my days. The pin drop silence that we used to maintain. Murmurs were not allowed. We were not allowed to do any kind of communication with any other fellow mates in the examination hall. The invigilator was considered as the lord of the day.

These days, the moment the question paper is distributed, instead of murmurs, you care sure to hear the buzz. As the strict invigilator, when you stop the examinee from turning back, talking or doing any unfair things, you are considered as inhumane. They wish you to empathize with them.

I thought and realized that I was actually empathizing with the examinees. I wanted them to understand the significance of the process of examination and how this can affect their future. Being a career adviser, I certainly believe that the grades and scores do have lots of value. Even when you appear for any interview process, the very first criteria of good companies is to shortlist the candidates with good scores and grades. But are they not trying to cheat the organization?

The grades and scores are not the true reflections of what they know and what they actually deserve. They are indirectly ruining their career. Some may not agree with what I have stated but in the long run, these things will surely leave a strong imprint on your knowledge skills.

Due to lack of proper examination process, there is one more problem which is generally faced by those candidates who seriously work hard day and night and put their best foot front to achieve success and build their career. They are usually compared with other students. The one who have used illegal means or any unfair means during the examination, their score as well as the scores of the student who had given the examination honestly are compared on the same platform. It may happen that the one who had used unfair means might have scored better than the deserving and sincere candidate. Whom should we blame in such situation?

Well, I believe the process of examination should get revised. Or if we follow the same old pattern then, let us think of the concrete ideas through which the unfair means can get stopped.

I request the readers to read this article and share their opinion and suggestions for the betterment of our future employees.

Sense of Ownership

The sense of ownership is missing among the citizens of India. When a person purchases any product by paying money, he gets its physical possession. He can utilize it, feel it and can add its worth of his property.

India is my country. The very beginning of our pledge which every fortunate citizen of India who had attended school has definitely taken. But hardly people consider India as their country. If they consider it as their motherland, they would certainly think twice while spitting on the road, passing urine at the corner of the streets and throwing litter here and there.

The moment Swach Bharat Abhiyaan by the present central government is a movement to create the similar kind of awareness among the citizen of India. Again the catch is, instead of an act to be done by every citizen of India, it has become a kind of activity to become popular either politically or socially. Very few could understand the real spirit behind the movement started by the Prime minister of India.

Right from metropolitan city to any newly developed city, in towns and in villages, people now need to understand that India is our country and we are the true owners of this beautiful nation. It is our responsibility to keep it neat and clean for our healthy present and for better tomorrow. When we realize this, when we accept our ownership, we tend to follow our responsibility with more efficiency. 

We certainly require people who can train people and can create awareness towards social ownership and public responsibility.

Without the sense of ownership, people may keep practicing wrong acts and they may hardly realize that they are in fact, part of the massive crime of killing the serenity of the environment.

Common Man at Fault

Yesterday I was returning from Danapur to Patna after finishing Soft Skills session at ISM Patna, I met Raghu, a boy who was hardly ten years old. He was pulling a rickshaw. He works at Pulwari Sharif. His job is to move from gate to gate of each house and collect the rubbish, even sometimes he is forced to take away the filth from houses.

On inquiring, he proudly said that for this job, he is being paid rupees hundred per day. He is a bread earner for his family. He lost his father couple of year ago when he was too young.He said proudly that he used to go to school. Now he and his mother as a maid work hard to fulfill the amenities of the family which consists of Grandfather, Grandmother, two sisters of age eight and six. 

The job that he is performing is assigned to an outsourcing company by the Bihar Nagar Nigam to keep the city neat and clean. To chit chat for a while with Raghu, I asked him, if he would like to have a glass of Bournvita, he immediately asked for a cup of tea. He brought his rickshaw and had parked it by the side of the tea stall where we both sipped a hot cup of tea. 

I asked him if he had faced any problem while performing his everyday task, he smiled and said, "Didi, now I am well accustomed. A year ago, to pull the rickshaw and paddle the cycle, was very difficult as the handle used to slip away. But now, you can challenge me. I have become an expert."

Were you questioned by police anytime? Did they see you pulling the rickshaw? Have they stopped you anytime? 

His answer was spontaneous and said, "I always salute the policewala's whenever I see them. They are good. They never stopped me. Also, I follow the traffic rules, strictly.

He then thanked me for the cup of tea, with a bright smile, he said bye to me. He pulled his rickshaw and moved off to reach his destination. 

I also felt bad and was ashamed of myself because people like me every day meet children like Raghu. When they come to the home to collect the rubbish, we treat them as an employee instead of showing any empathy towards them. Common man blames the government for different evil practices, but when he is the part of such evil practice, hardly bothers to correct self. We, at least the educated members of the society, are aware of labor laws. Why should we not employee a child for his services?

At such a tender age, Raghu is pretty aware of his responsibilities. To work for the family and to look after their needs, he takes it up as his duty. Though the government has different policies, but in India, we have many such Raghu everywhere, in every city and village. For them, providing free school facilities, books and midday meal, can not suffice their need.

Just by knowing the norms will not help in eradicating the evil practices. What I believe is, people who are blessed like us, should share our blessings with at least children like Raghu. I am keenly waiting for my next meeting with Raghu, so that I can be of some help, to him and for his family.

How to Improve? A Big Question

To fulfill my childhood days dream, I left Delhi and moved to Patna three months ago. In these three months, I traveled to different districts, remote villages plus the developed parts of Patna and Greater Patna. My interest was into meetings students of schools and colleges. In last 90 days, I met more than 3000 students and I noticed that the students of Bihar are running in a race without knowing their end destination.

Be it a renowned school like St.Karen Secondary which is duly affiliated with CBSE or the so called government schools affiliated with BSEB, students lack confidence and there is a lack of clarity related to future, in particular, their career goals. 

The present generation is blessed with the fast changing technology. They are well equipped with smart gadgets and what not, still the level of general awareness is below average.

The situation is pathetic when we talk about the students who have studied in rural areas. For their graduation when they choose courses like BBA, BCA or B.Tech, life tends to become miserable. The complete course is in the English language, which these students have hardly studied. Few might have taken the subject for granted as there are chances that in their school, they may not be facilitated with good teachers.

A student named Ankit Raj, the resident of Sitamarhi says, "I am very scared when I open the books of my BBA course. I find it difficult to read and understand the subject as the complete course material is in the English language. I am worried about my future. I am worried because, for my higher education, my father has borrowed a loan worth 100000 INR. Will I be able to complete my course and fulfill my father's dream? I am doubtful."

Such instances are not in few but the number is large. I certainly moved to Patna with a motto to help students like Ankit Raj. The biggest challenge which I am facing is of the schools. Principals and Headmasters/headmistress hardly think about the future of its school students. When I proposed to meet and forward my proposal, they denied to even meet.

Only through regular interaction, the students can get benefitted. If the educators ignore the significance of the English language and fail to impart right knowledge, the state like Bihar will remain in dark age, when India is growing technically by embracing advanced technology to envision bright future

It's not so easy

After spending 36 years of my life in developed India, through one of the training projects, got to move to one of the developing states of India, i.e. Bihar. During my stay, I understood that life here was totally different from that of Hyderabad and Delhi. It was slow. Its outlook varies seriously from the other states.

I am talking in particular about the youth of this state. My audience were the students of class 11th & 12th and those who were pursuing graduation. They were zealous, bubbling with energy, keen to learn new techniques and processes of development. But when I speak about the language skills, per say communication, I personally feel that they need to improve a lot.

In over 12 districts, the situation remained the same. When I asked them about their future goals, 60 out of 100 wanted to try his or her luck and clear either IIT-JEE or PMT exams. Rest after their graduation wanted to appear for competitive exams to secure government jobs.

Being a Soft-skill trainer, through basic interaction, I could sense the problem that these students may face in near future. Communication gap was never bridged either by education system or through their upbringing. The art of communication needs to be imbibed.

Luckily, I had certain data that I collected for my research which emphasizes the importance of Soft skills & communication skills in professional life both in public and private jobs. It was an eye-opener for the students. They wished to empower themselves with these skills, but as the education system hardly pays any heed on these major issues, students remain backward.

Who should I blame? Whom should I approach?

The knowledge bearers are denying to get aware of the fact. They have made education as a source of income. Lack of vision and right information, are the two reasons which can be considered as major problem areas, in the process of development of the youth.