The other day I was reading an article in the newspaper which very soon appeared in rediff.com. (http://www.rediff.com/money/2006/nov/10ab.htm). I would like to candidly admit that I was rattled after reading the article.
The write-up was about the last days of a professor who 
taught in the ‘esteemed’ IIM Calcutta in the late 60’s. Prof. Ramu Iyer taught computer science at IIM Calcutta in 1969, at a time when the internet technology was in its nascent stages and computer as a revolution was on its ascent. Teaching computer science in the late 60’s at the country’s leading institution shows the visionary Prof Iyer was. But it was his last days which the article talks about, days which were spent in distress.
Prof. Ramu was suffering from cancer and in the last days of his life he did not have money to support his treatment. This was the aspect that stirred me and this is the harsh reality that confronts India and Indians.
We had Gurukul system in the past in our country where 
teachers were revered and placed at a pedestal next to God. It was the teacher who introduced the student standing at the threshold of adolescence the ways of life. Apart from the gurukul system too, teachers have been respected over the years by students and the society.
Ironically, if you ask a teacher what he / she craves for in his 
life, the most imminent answer would be- the respect and gratitude of a student. But dealing with the more realistic aspects of life, aspects which many teachers like the ones Prof. Iyer faced during his last days, the question that arises is- What are the incentives that are offered to a teacher in this country?
This is the sad part of reality which gets lost in a host of issues which the nation faces. The issue of pay structure and incentives for teachers is something that worries me because in a way it is a reflection of the society’s treatment of its teaching fraternity. In other words, what the teachers are being given for their effort is not justified and is not enough.
This sort of a unjust treatment towards those in this profession (particularly in the Government schools and colleges) acts as a demotivating factor too. This forces many a people to take up jobs with private educational institutions. As a result, esteemed Government institutions find it difficult to pay and retain worthy individuals as they face a stiff competition from private institutions. This leads to worthy, erudite and highly qualifies section of teachers move in search of greener pastures.
This is a point of concern which the Government needs to address. The yardstick to measure and decide the salary structures of different government heads and institutions should be different. As of now, a pay commission revision is all that comes for salary and incentive hikes and that too once in five years. Even this hike does not match the industry standards and lacks in a big way. Once the Government understands this, a number of institutions will be ‘redeemed’.
Just think about the packages which students receive after passing out from IIM’s. Although it would be unfair to 
compare, a look at the salaries drawn by teachers who make these students to that of the students would reflect the grim reality! It is understandable that teachers cannot receive the same salaries as that of the students but at least give them the due monetary credit based on the global and industry standards.
It is time that we realise that teachers cannot survive on mere respect and reverence, the time has come to give them their due credit as responsible citizens!
The Indian cricket team will be touring
South Africa and will play a series of one day international and test matches. The team which had a mediocre performance in the recently concluded Champions Trophy has its own share of worries before leaving for South Africa.
A string of players such as Suresh Raina, Mohd Kaif and the captain Rahul Dravid himself are running out of form. This is not great news as batting is the strength of the present Indian cricket team. To add to this ‘mound of worries’, Yuvraj Singh one of the batting order’s mainstay has been ruled out for four to five months owing to an injury he suffered in his knee.
A few batsmen have failed to apply themselves to the situation of the game in the recent past. An example of this is opener Virender Sehwag. The flamboyant batsman had a forgettable outing in the Champions Trophy. He gets a chance to make ammends although this is not the easiest of the tours to do so. Conditions in South Africa will be averse to Sehwag’s kind of batting and it will require a great deal of application and resolve to make a big score. He will have to leave balls outside his off stump and refrain from flashing his razor like blade of his bat! The other issue he would have to sort out is his feet movement for that would be primal and crucial in countering the swing and movement of the ball through the air. If he continues with his wood like feet movement then nine out of ten times he would be caught leg before to Pollock and his likes.
seam bowlers who show discipline. It won’t be a rewarding experience for those who would look to bowl fast but for those bowlers who bowl with discipline and aggression. A word of caution for Pathan and R. P Singh. In case they repeat the same errors and fail to learn from their mistakes then they would be taken to task by the likes of Kallis and Gibbs.
Two new movies Don and Umraoo Jaan hit theatres in these two months, the latter released last week. The box office collection of Don, which is a remake of the superhit movie by Don (1978, screenplay Javed Akhtar) has not shown too much promise much to the dismay of the director who visualised the movie in a different tone and color! Shahrukh wears ties inside his shirt, looks sophisticated and trendy in his suits and the movie on the whole has a glossy look!
The Don of the 70’s was portrayed by the legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan whose dialogue rendition, acting and the story made the movie a blockbuster. In the remake it is Shah Rukh Khan who dawns this role of Don. It would be unfair to compare the two as the remake is a directors take on the old movie, in other words his visualization of the old movie.
These kinds of remakes open door to some new sort of experimentation where in people get to see a new movie on the lines of an old one. With a star cast comprising heroes and heroines from the present generation, such remakes intrigues the viewers to see & feel the new look of the movies!
And guess what, another remake is in the pipeline. And it is the turn of Sholay to be recast into a new mould, the potter/ director this time being Ram Gopal Varma. The movie is dear to many, for some the dialogues made it unforgettable, for some it was the songs and for some it was the well knit story and the superb performance of the actors.
A new star cast and new setting, Sholay (remake) has Amitabh Bachchan playing the role of dacoit gabbar this time. That is indeed a real change to say the least! From a reticent Jay whose romance with Jaya Bhaduri was immortalized by Sippy last time, Amitabhs new role as gabbar does intrigue the masses! This could be one reason which could make people watch this remake and get good box office earnings for the movie! Finally one would have to watch the way Ram Gopal Varma makes his version of Sholay to see Kitne aadmi the theatre mein!!
