Open it up.

There have been few movies with a message as strong as the one in Bollywood flick 3 Idiots. Excellent thing to talk about in an out and out commercial movie : Education. A long neglected issue in India and by far the most important. In order to pull India out of it's fallacies, it needs it's people to grow out of their ignorance and finally grow by education. Can a movie such as 3 idiots bring about some change in the way indians perceive education?

There are really 2 major tasks here : One, to get the masses educated, to attend a school in the least. Two, educate every child such that he/she goes out there not just to find a means for his living but to find his passions and the courage to pursue them.

The general middle class in India, succeeds in the first task. But miserably fails in the second. Yes in spite of the lakhs of engineers and doctors that it produces, I think our education system has been a miserable failure. Because I am convinced that not all those one lakh minds (per year) really wanted to be engineers and doctors. They all didn't really have the same interests and aspirations. They anyway chose this path. There are several reasons why they would do so: lack of options; it's easy to join in the rat race; parental pressure;cowardice;monetary issues. Lack of inspiration and most importantly the lack of an open, free mind. Yes, because our education fails to create open, free minds.

i pity those who are unable to open it still. For i know that in spite of having enjoyed the 3 hours of 3 idiots there will be a father and a mother who would want their son to be an engineer and daughter to be a doctor, only. There will be many such idiots. No movie can change a generation of idiots. Or can it?

I say this because even after 70 odd years of Indian cinema portraying the idea that love has no barriers, i know of many real love stories seeing no such luck. We love love songs and romantic sagas on the screen but when they turn out to be true, our problems of social acceptance exist. In spite of knowing that love happens and there is nothing wrong with it, there are still people who stand to question it and sometimes kill it. Movies are a 3 hour miracle, where lovers meet and idiots follow their passion. Life is not.

But being an optimist, I think change can come by. We just have to break the mould. We have to act by example. We have to motivate those who have taken a step ahead and tell our elders that tradition is not always correct. We have to open up cluttered, narrowed minds. A movie, a message, a blog, a speech, a book .. any means of doing so is great.

The purpose of education should be to create minds which can think for themselves and act towards a better world. We kinda desperately need this sort of an education. Because 3 Idiots is good, but many idiots.. are not!

Naguva Nayana (Smiling eyes)

This is a English translation of one of my favorite songs, originally in Kannada. It is from a Kannada movie, Pallavi Anupallavi. The movie stands out for it's unusual story line and offbeat look. It also marks itself as the directorial debut of Mani Ratnam , and the debut of actor Anil Kapoor. But what also stands out in this movie is it's incredibly soulful music , by the legendary Illaiyaraja. Penned by RN Jayagopal the lyrics stand out to be simple, adding it's meaning subtly to the melody of the tune. This song is sung by none other than SPB and S Janaki. A get together of great artists!

The song when literally translated looks like this:

Naguva Nayana Madhura Mauna
Midiva Hrudaya Kiremaateke
Amongst our smiling eyes, sweet silences
and yearning heart beats
is there any need to talk it out?

Hosa Bhaashe Idu Rasa Kavyavidu
Ida Haadalu Kavi Beeke
There endures a new language between us,
a passionate poem.

Is there need for a poet to sing it for us?

Ninagaagi Heluve Kathe Nooranu
Naa Ninna Nagisuve Ee Dindanu

I will share a hundred stories with you,

I will make you laugh today and every day.

Erulalli Kaanuve kirunageyu
Kannali huchchatta Honganasanu

Even in the dark, I will be able to see your shy smile

and the multitude of dreams in your eyes.

Jotheyaagi Nadeve Naa Maleyalu
Bididante Hiduve Ee Kaiyanu

I will walk with you in the rain

and will never let go of your hand now in mine.

Geleya Jothege Haari Baruve
Baana Elle Daati Naleve

With you friend, I want to fly

Beyond the horizon and the skies.

Naguva Nayana Madhura Mauna
Midiva Hrudaya Kiremaateke

Ee Ratri Haadu Kisimaatale
Na Kande Inidaada Saviraagavu

In the whispers of this night

I can hear a beautiful song of love

Neenalli Naanilli Eekantade
Naa Kande Nannade Hosa Lokava

Sometimes in our seperation,

I have dreamt of a whole new world with you.

Ee Sneha Tantide Yedeyalli
Yendendu Alisuva Rangoli

Your love has brought to my heart

Colors that are never to fade

Aase Huve Haasi Kaade
Nadene Kanasaa Hosagee Bidade

These are blooming buds of hope

Don't let them wither away, in vain.

Naguva Nayana Madhura Mauna
Midiva Hrudaya Kiremaateke
Hosa Bhaashe Idu Rasa Kavyavidu
Ida Haadalu Kavi Beeke

Enjoy the song anyway :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzMgMepKSko

The Letter

Mohan decided to take the first step this time. They had had a fight numerous times before and each time it was Rashmi who would talk her way back to him. She would dis-solve their misunderstandings, each time. This time though she had made no such efforts, yet. Mohan felt responsible for their present dispute and so resolved to make the first move. He decided that a letter would be a powerful and romantic way to go about this. Feeling good about his idea, he plucked out a sheet from his note pad and started writing.

Dear Rashmi,

I am extremely sorry if I hurt you with my words that day. The situation was such, that I totally lost control over what I was saying. But you know I didn't mean any of it. You know I love you with all my love. You know we belong to each other, only. Please come back to me. You are my world.

It might be that you and I sometimes stray and lose sight.
But at the end of day there seems no light, unless you are by my side.
Believe me my dear one, when i say my love for you is Infinite.

Forever your's,
Mohan

The room had become extremely warm. Mohan was drenched in sweat by the time he finished writing the letter. He planned to go over to Rashmi's within the next hour and flip the letter by her door. Just then he heard his doorbell ring. He turned on his table fan, opened the window by his table and went to see who was visiting him.

It was Rashmi. She flung into his arms. Cried her heart out and buried her face in his chest.He cajoled her and kissed her back, he had missed her just as much. And then she vented out her anger.
"Couldn't you for once get back to me Mohan? I think you don't love me enough. I am the one who always comes back to you. Why does it always have to be me??" She posed her question with blazing anger and childish love at the same time.
"Ofcourse not dear" said Mohan, "look, I just wrote you a letter.." and he looked back at his table to point towards the letter. But there seemed to be nothing there now to point at. There was no letter on the table. His beloved piece of proof was missing.

Her ranting continued it's way to his ears while his eyes sweeped the floor and around in the room. He then noticed the open window and beside it, the fan running "high".

Afar

There is nothing here,
No Time. No Tear.
Smiles happen,
By Practice I fear.

Often from home
Stories I hear..
Of festive joys
& deaths O'dear!

I know of two worlds.
A day there, is an endless night here.
I dream in both,
asleep in neither.

Sometimes in thrill,
I measure the distance,
in miles and metres.
Either way,
From Home I stay
Afar.
Away.

The Mortenson Way

Some people are meant to do some amazing things for this world, making it a much better place for us. Greg Mortenson is doing it his way.
"Three Cups Of Tea" which is essentially a biography of this phenomenal personality had given me all the chronological details of his life. But actually listening to his story from the man himself, told me that this guy was for real! I got this opportunity to listen to him at a lecture in the premises of the Colorado State University, Fort Collins. It struck to me that people could actually do such things: they can survive the worst, come out stronger and forge effective changes for the human good.

"Failure", which is also the name of the first chapter in his book, has literally been his stepping stone to success. In 1993, devastated by the death of his sister, he decided to summit the K2 , the world's second highest peak, in her honor. He failed to complete this mission. Barely surviving the ordeal he reached the village of Korphe, in Baltistan. (Baltistan is located in Northern Pakistan in the disputed PoK or Pakistan occupied Kashmir and is situated in the mountainous Karakoram range to the south of K2). He was moved by the hospitality effortlessly endowed on him by these people in spite of their impoverished living conditions. He saw that the children there made a challenging trek each day to their only school. They wanted to learn but didn't have enough resources to be taught well. They desperately needed better infrastructure and means of basic education. He then decided to come back with the necessary resources to build a school.

Many of us think of doing such things, but how many of us really "come back" to do them? This is where Greg's story changes.

He came back, despite the challenges the task proposed. It was one thing to raise the money he needed and another to raise people's trust in him. People who would give him money, people who would build his school and people who would send their children to these schools. He had to gain their trust while he himself was unsure of what would eventually turn out of this. I particularly laud his efforts to build relationships with the people of Pakistan. It must have taken him a while to be led into their community, to be accepted as part of them. And not be looked upon as a foreigner, a spy or a crook. Mortenson details how he learnt of their language, attire and daily customs including performing the roza which could ease his acceptance amongst them. Of course, he also survived a kidnapping bid by the Taliban and peacefully tackled two fatwas issued against him. At the end of each of these trials, he was declared to be a person whose sole purpose of being in Pakistan was to educate children by building schools. He eventually gained immense support from the local people who contributed heartily to his mission.

In 1996, the Korphe school was completed. So far he has built 78 schools. He co-founded the Central Asia Institute which has grown to be a big organization promoting education in the remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. By providing education, these schools are becoming the messiahs of peace. The children in these disputed lands are now getting an unbiased understanding of their current situation and are able to empower themselves fruitfully. This would eventually propel them towards resisting radical forces and opting a peaceful life. He believes that educating girls would take us a big step ahead in overcoming problems of infant mortality, over population, basic hygiene amongst other issues. He also formulated the 'pennies for peace' ideology which enables children in many schools of the United States to fund the education of their many underprivileged counterparts.

Greg is all about positivity, energy and hope. His ever smiling countenance and humility speak for him. As a true American , he is generous and humane. His global outlook has sent out a very important message to the world : One can bring about peace, by reaching out to the underprivileged. By eradicating ignorance and brightening the darkest parts of this world with the light of education.. His humanitarian work has yet again proven that compassion and love know no borders.

I find it extraordinary that his one unsuccessful journey led him to a series of successful ones. But what on earth made him "come back" to a place he would rather avoid while in the luxury of America? Well, Greg ended his speech with these words: "When the heart speaks, take good notes! "

Learn and do more for Greg's cause. Visit these websites:
http://www.threecupsoftea.com/
https://www.ikat.org/
http://www.penniesforpeace.org/

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This post also appeared as a guest blog at http://thoughtsunparalleled.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/the-mortenson-way/. Check it out to find other interesting articles !