Unlearn Saris To Learn Skirt!!

India has come a long way. Religious democracy has played a major role to shape the destiny of the country. It is not very difficult to analyze the major causes of the change. It is not very difficult to find the reason for the growth of few individuals. It is simple but hard to discuss. It is equally hard to follow. But fortunately, recent changes have acted like serious catalytic affect.

A sincere observation reveals the cause of slow growth in society. The majority have remained obsessed with the old and conservative traditions at the cost of their own growth. These traditions have coolly kept them backward. These traditions have worked as a biggest obstacle in their ride to success. The leaders, rulers and intellectuals have always exploited these weaknesses of human nature to keep the majority in deprived and helpless condition. But, now they should not do anymore for the sake of their own achievements.

People in general have not been able to understand the hidden agenda of many of our well recognized leaders. People have fallen in their trap. People have remained deprived. Today, when information and opportunities have paved the way for commoners, the prospects of growth have become brighter. But, individuals who wants to grow has to understand the basic needs of growth.

One such need is to change the dress code. Long back when I was doing engineering college, I remember the dress code given for girl students. The dress code was pant-shirt, salwar-kurta or skirt-top etc. Sari, a traditional dress for majority of Indian ladies was not allowed. Shall we unlearn ‘Sari’?

Why talk about college, I have observed that even school children have dress code of skirt-top at most of the places. These girls use this dress code for years. They must be getting attached to these dresses. Psychologically, it must be difficult to change the dress at every stage. The girls are put in a situation where they are conditioned to encounter unlearning on regular basis. But, surprisingly, unlearning forced on these helpless girls make them deprived. The unlearning forced on them make dependent. Sari is one such example blatant enough to be seen by everyone but hardly ever sensed to be recognized its negative impact because of traditional attachments.

In contradictions, all these girls are always forced to wear sari in pretext of traditions. This is a big contradiction in society. Girls are always made a scapegoat for changes. Why should a grille be forced to so many changes in one life? Why?

If a simple survey is done on dress code, anybody can find that sari is the dress for deprived, dependent and conservative ladies. The ladies who are convinced to accept saris as dress will be mostly house-wives, generally semi-illiterate, highly conservatives, deprived and economically dependent on male counterparts. The independent and forward looking ladies can be found at working places like call centers, BPOs, banks, airplanes etc. or in five star hotels for parties, conferences etc or educational institutes as teachers, student etc and so on. All these forward looking ladies can be found in modern dresses.

Sari has lost its significance to exist in vibrant, dynamic and progressive society like Burqua. Recently, in one of the center page article in Times of India, Shashi Tharoor appealed to the women of India to save sari from a sorry fate. I am unable to understand the logic of these appeals. Why Shashi should appeal to women to remain backward and dependent? Why as an intellectual is he attaching modern dresses as western dress? Why do we attaché anything progress and good to western values? Are we have our birthright to born backward and die backward? Why Shashi should teach our ladies to be in conservative attire? It is a fatal aspiration.

If you have to grow, prosper and succeed, you have to unlearn sari, you have to accept modern dresses. You have to unlearn that Sari is Indian and modern dresses are western. Sari might be a good dress when you were in village without much external travel, work or pressure. Sari was good for women who used to be a display material for family. Sari is not good for women who are the bread earner, executives and person who drive progress and economy. Shashi must stop communicating responsibility to save sari on the shoulder of growing and struggling girls and ladies who want to grow. Shashi must stop convincing male to force their female to dress sari. Sari must go like Japanese kimono as he said in his own article.

The things which are vanishing in a slow manner, Indian intelligentsias should never preach general people to protect them. If villages have to go, why should farmers is preached not to leave villages? Why should menial and deprived people be preached not to march to the cities? Why should illiterate and deprived children be forced to study regional languages? All these questions are related to the drawback of Indian media, leaders and intelligentsias. They need to be conscious of what they preach others.

Sari must vanish to bring prosperity to this land. Women should not be unnecessarily taught wrong things. Women have also the privilege to be independent and growing.


Take Hard Decision in Lighter Moment!

Dedication To Hidden Millions

DEDICATION

Poverty is a gift for most human beings since the evolution of civilization. Success and achievement are the paradigm of the selected few in society. Reaching to the top has been a gifted asset from ancestors for people belonging to the most advanced and educated society of human history. People have become elected Presidents, Prime Ministers, Entrepreneurs, Heroes, Artists, Defence Chiefs, Professionals and many more because of the assets inherited from the ancestors. Millions of high calibres human remain untouched in the dark tunnel of sincerity and hard work. Nobody encourages them for the benefit of even themselves. Today when a vast area of civilization on earth is on the verge of tasting the fruit of becoming developed, it is very-very difficult to ignore them.

Will modern technologies create new opportunities for those hidden millions?

All my writings are dedicated to those hidden millions!

 

Learning English - A Global Necessity

Wisdom is a scarce material. I am of the firm belief that there is only one language which can provide you a taste of wisdom in today’s world. Especially in 21st century, if even a part of Ray Kurzweil’s law which claims to be generalized version of Moor’s law becomes true then every educated person irrespective of his or her profession has problem without English.

By 2010, this world will be forced to unlearn what have been pretty good till 20th century. At the same time, people will have to learn things which will not be available in regional languages. The updated knowledge and wisdom will not be available in any language other than English. This is a caution to all the non-English speaking people across the world.

The governments of almost all the developing countries are suffering from ego and power politics. They fear to lose their chair to go against the comfort zone of the people. As life has its own hardship; there is hardly any growth or success in comfort zone. People have to come out of that comfort zone and march into new domain to enjoy the pleasure of development. Why governments fail to react in right direction?

Recently, just last month, I wrote a blog regarding extinctions of regional languages titled “Politics of Regional Languages” on 8 Jan 2007. I understand that people are very emotional and sentimental about their regional language that too in India. They can not believe the fact that it can ever extinct easily. Wherever, they go, they always look for regional people to satisfy ego. And then they shamelessly do regionalism to keep themselves in comfort zone. They still feel proud to talk in regional languages even in the international conventions with global people. Regional language is the biggest sentimental issue of almost every rising individual.

The emotions work well for those who have already built the empire to enjoy life. But think of many ever energetic and dynamic courageous youth who have capability to do miracles but unable to find knowledge and wisdom in the regional language. I always feel handicap of my loss of initial 20-25 years of my life. What is the benefit of cursing life at the age of 30s or 40s if you are unable to take corrective action during teenage? Above 40s, life already becomes a sad story.

Coming to the rescue of millions of children deprived of studying English in schools, the Knowledge Commission has recommended teaching of the language as a compulsory subject from class I across the country. Will country implement these bold but necessary steps to reduce digital divide?

As I have always pointed out the integrity factor of Sam Pitroda to ensure few of the forced unlearning process in society. He had been to US for long time. Today, Indians are reaping the benefits of the brain drain of 60s and 70s through Pitroda’s recommendations. We must be thankful to US that such brains were preserved to be useful at later age. Can we forget the development of Bangalore or Hydrabad? Common Indians are reaping the benefits.

There is a need to enforce unlearning to fetch the benefit of growth for all. The entrepreneur, executives and managers working in BPOs, Call Centers and IT industry will immediately appreciate the necessity of this step. Sam Pitroda rightly says, “Starting now, English would help us build an inclusive society and transform India into a knowledge society.”

Presently, only nine of the 28 states and three Union territories in India have introduced English as compulsory subject from Class I. This kind of severe discrimination to divide the people exists in Indian sub-continent without a protest from any social activist. Is there any surprise if poor remains deprived and Indian entrepreneurs are unable to get educated English speaking youth to run their outsourcing companies? How people get time to fight for unnecessary issue like racial discrimination not for learning English?

Sam Pitroda said, “Even now, no more than 1% of our people use English as a second language, let alone a first language.” This statement means that the country economy is booming only on less than 1% people. Rest of the population is electing conservative leaders and parties to rule them. What a tremendous potential to this sleeping country? Racial discrimination is being done here in India with the less privileged people.

I get surprised when people do business just by teaching English language. The books on learning English become famous. All these happen in a country which has been ruled by British for more than 400 years. Is it such a big problem to understand wisdom?
Now, the problems emerge for all those who are successfully running Institute just for teaching English. They will have to look for alternative professions. The people who are doing good business in regional languages will have to close their shops. The poor and deprived can not be easily fooled by the mediocre on the name of foreign language.

“English should also be used to teach some non-language, content subjects, starting from Class III in schools,” the Commission has said. What a forced unlearning to a civilized society? But it is mandatory to bring prosperity. It is a government responsibility to force on people to unlearn things which are not required through such steps. Now, India should take some steps to implement these changes suggested by the Commission.

Since last few years, one crucial comparative advantage enjoyed by India as opposed to its rising neighbour China has been relatively widespread presence of English-speaking people. This advantage will not be there for long unless Indian government takes some drastic steps. The recommendations of knowledge commission provide wisdom to Indian government. But, let us see how far government reacts on wisdom? In the absence of English, India will be at disadvantage and Indians will be at loss.

Now, the latest craze is American English. India must move towards American English for wide acceptance. 'Gotcha! So you gonna chicken out, brotha? I ain’t know nothin’. These are common talk in Malls across Metro cities. I receive from friends – Yup dude, you’re bang on! D’oh…” These are the American way and Indians of Gen Y loving it. With Indian students going to the US in bulk, the American accent will surely plague India. All modern equipments and job assignments along with latest technologies, websites and wisdom come from US only. There is no other way.

Now thanks to ex-IBM professional Jean Paul Nerrihre advised us to try “Globish” instead of tough English. His famous book “Don’t Speak English” already became famous and advises us to learn language called Globish meaning global English. This involves a vocabulary limited to 1500 words, short sentences, basic syntax and extensive hand gestures to get the point across. What a different way to become global. Try it!

So there are plenty of opportunities. No society can prosper on old traditions, ethos and even languages. Government which is busy in opening schools based on religion and region to ensure discriminations to fulfill its desire to rule on deprived people will find difficult to accept the recommendation by Knowledge Commission. How far can you ban the integrated networked people across the world by banning on AXN or issuing warning to TV channels? People have the power to reach to the real knowledge and wisdom. Networked people sitting in front of their screen will make a difference.

Government may not generate courage to implement such policy immediately but certainly conscious people should understand this. That is what I always emphasize.

So let us unlearn regional language and regional feeling. Let us get detached from regional attachments. Learn the language which keeps you ahead for the years to come. Select a book which talks about future rather than glorify the past. Read the blogs which keeps you ahead. Learn the language in which tomorrow’s wisdom will be typed and printed.

Be global, learn global language and act global. 

Why Are We Rich and Unhappy?

Becoming rich is one thing but getting happiness is entirely different ball game. World economy is growing but not happiness. People are becoming better off but feeling worse. This is a very common problem. It has always been a challenge to find the exact reason. The reasons are being searched in this article.

Once upon a time, the results of market capitalism was generally agreed to make people better off. Nowadays that is not clear. A number of economists and politicians think that it ought to be doing something else: making people happy, says The Economist in an article titled Happiness (and how to measure it).

I as a technocrat feel that the reasons of happiness can not be easily traced by economist, politicians or other professionals. Earlier technologies and inventions were not impacting the society in a big way at one time. But, the inventions of last few decades have changed these old beliefs. The changes which have taken place around the world in last few decades are mainly due to electronics and Information Technology. So, the reasons of happiness can only be found by some technocrats who have seen the growth of electronics and IT. The world will have to accept this new dimension.

Growth Charts

With an annual growth rate of 3.2% per head since 2000, the world economy is heading towards notching its best decade ever. So, in this situation, 6 billion people of the world will have to face a different world order. The changes are new. The resources available are different. The accessibility is different. The connectivity is different. The borders, languages and regions are becoming irrelevant. The quests and means to find job, earning money and making social circles are changing.

Now David Cameron, the latest leader of Britain’s once rather materialistic Conservative Party, has espoused the notion of general well-being (GWB) as an alternative to GDP. In the US, meanwhile, inequality, over-work and other hidden costs of prosperity were discussed in mid-term elections. In India on the name of common man, government tries to find the reasons why prosperity not spreading widely. The developing world is struggling to provide basic amenities. The reasons of finding happiness amidst prosperity remain a burning issue.

There has always been a good discussion among the people of developing world to talk about the unhappiness of the people of developed world. People again got a point when a survey data reveals that affluent countries have not got much happier as they have grown richer. The same thing may happen or is already happening even in developing countries. Luxuries have become the necessity. Management of richness remains a challenge. In addition, it remains a challenge to bring the masses what elites have always enjoyed. Once, you get the most starved things take for granted. The process is unending. In all these different situations, the questions remain that how to achieve happiness?

In Search of Happiness

In my point of view, happiness becomes very complex in the midst of growth. As growth becomes exponential, the situation becomes explosive. In these circumstances, there is a need to look at things differently. That is what I am going to do here in this article.

There are various books on human psychology and managerial philosophy. There are plenty of write-ups on how to learn the important characteristics which all successful people possess or are supposed to possess. There are books on thinking, dreaming, meditation, yoga and so on ….there are volumes written on these aspects of human activities and personalities. But are there any books written on what you need not do. What you should not learn? What you should not work on? There is hardly any research on these aspects of human complexities to understand what you are supposed to UNLEARN if you want to belong to the category of successful and happy people?

Everybody talks about one or other trait to be developed. How to acquire characteristics of successful people? How to learn lessons from the success? People join various institutes to learn these traits. There are many teachers or so-called preachers who are willing to enhance your capabilities to learn more and learn fast. They are ready to teach you some more human traits besides what you already have. They are also ready to tell you what are the most necessary qualities that you lack. They teach you how to develop positive attitudes. They do not feel shy in telling that the only thing you ever lacked in life is a positive attitude. She becomes a big failure in spite of her great learning. How the happiness will emerge amidst lacking?

Even with the sharp rise in social and economic growth in the poorest parts of civilization, the growth has never been homogeneous; rather, a huge benefit has gone to few individuals or families and meager benefits to the remaining individuals and societies. Is it any surprise if the world’s 500 richest people have as much wealth as the poorest three billion put together? Even in the developed nations, if the changes are not monitored on a regular and constructive basis, the society or even the country could suffer and would suffer more in future. Such suffering has occurred at the individual level. This has been witnessed in the life of an organization. This is being observed in the nation build-up. Fast changes taking place in various aspects around the world have to be integrated into our policymaking process to harness the benefit for the human being, organization and nation. That is what Microsoft did. In the 1997, in the first CEO summit, they declared the objective for the next ten years as ‘friction free-capitalism’, in the 2006; they changed to ‘friction free-innovation’. Individual, society, organization or even nations have to keep ‘unlearning on a regular basis’ to reap the benefit of civilization.

Unlearning Past to Achieve Happiness in Present

Learning is not at all a solution but many a time, these are the big problems, because you will have to unlearn, whatever you have learnt, if it is not good for your future. Unlearning will be more difficult than learning. But you do not have any choice. You will be forced to Unlearn. So Stop Learning, Rather UNLEARN or LEARN TO UNLEARN before it is too late to unlearn. It is time to concentrate and know more about your Unlearn Quotient (UQ). (UQ is based on the critical factors. These factors work as a theory of human growth.)

Your UQ will take you ahead more than others. Your UQ will pave the way for your better future. Your UQ will reduce the contradictions and ambiguities of your life. Your UQ will show you the path to achieve next generation of time management. Your UQ will be the measurement of your happiness.

The beginning of the 20th century was the year when the major emphasis was on learning, while by the end of the century, the year could be defined as ‘How fast and how much can you learn’. But the 21st century has started with the critical need of unlearning. The years could well be defined as ‘How fast can you unlearn’. Unlearn was not found in earlier dictionaries, however in the recent ones, it has been explained and elaborated on in detail. As per Encarta, Unlearn means discard something previously learnt like an old habits, try to forget, put out of one’s memory or knowledge. Oxford English Dictionary writes, Unlearn - verb - aim to discard (something learned) from one’s memory. Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines it very suitably to meet the present day requirement of understanding unlearn. It says that unlearn is to make an effort to forget your usual way of doing something so that you can learn a new and something better way.

19th century - Limited Learning
20th century - More Learning
21st century - Unlearning

Learning and Unlearning Dilemmas!

I define unlearning as an extension of learning. Unlearning means to remove, discard, forget, and leave undesirable things from minds. Unlearning means keeping mind free from unwanted information, deleting irrelevant data from memory and having more free space in minds for future thinking. Unlearn is the process of removing something from your priority list of doing things. Unlearn is the way or path to move from self-defeating methods of performing something to different methods, leading to the road of success. Unlearn is the method to prepare a list of parameters to discard from life for a better life. Unlearn is the preparation of futurist steps for a successful life. Unlearn is the challenging age old traditions and customs which are keeping a human being away from even basic amenities. Like you put up efforts to learn something good, you need to put efforts to unlearn something bad. Learning can be done through various methods, similarly unlearning can also be done through some other methods. It is important for all of us to learn more about unlearn to live a better life in the 21st century.
Irrespective of the country or place, individuals will have to unlearn to have more happiness in life. There are few factors which are essential to achieve the tough task of happiness.

Theory of Human Happiness

The necessity of unlearning is basically to satisfy the various needs of human beings. However it is necessary to know seven critical factors (SCF) to achieve the objectives. I have personally experienced and implemented these factors since the last thirty years. With critical observation of self, family, developing society, reading and seeing the developed and developed world, I have concluded that these seven critical factors as ‘theory of human happiness’. In the first instance, the factors may not appear as critical as any postulate in the development of scientific theory, but once critical analysis is done then the importance and effectiveness can be understood and appreciated. The seven critical factors are -

1. Thinking and Action – In search of truth. How could you think and act correctly? Is it easy to find truth?
2. Aspirations – Goal of life! Are you capable enough to decide about your goal?
3. Sex – Human Relationship. Relationships are the most complicated aspects of human growth. Sex is at the core of all the human relationships.
4. God – Ethics and Behaviour. God makes you a gentleman or gentlewoman otherwise you remain a demon. Understanding God is essential for human growth.
5. Parents – As you sow so you reap. Parents are responsible to sow a seed of growth. Are you sure of your correct seed for growth?
6. God Father – Sense of security. Th human is a fearful creature. Always look for a godfather for your growth.
7. Wisdom Domain – Knowledge Source! Life without knowledge is hell. Create wisdom domain (WD) in this world of Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO).

The details of all these seven critical factors have to be monitored on regular basis. It is important to know that how these are keeping the human progress restricted. Once these critical issues are clear, we would be in a better position to understand and analyze happiness.

No amount of money or position can make us happy. Life needs few basic things for smooth journey. Unlearning has potential to bring normalcy and contentment back to anybody’s life.