Merlin Franco's Blog, page 2

Say No to Reservations !!!

The approval of the bill that provides reservation to SCs and STs in government job promotions by the Union Cabinet of India has triggered a lot of debates. The Hindu’s online page that reports this news is flooded with comments, most of them deploring the bill labeling it as anti-meritorious, vote bank gimmick or a bill that promotes inequality. The Indian mainstream media largely seem to agree with these commentators that it is time for reservations to go.

Is reservation a recent phenomenon?

Contrary to the popular belief, reservation in job is not a recent phenomenon that had sprouted after India’s Independence. It is an ancient Indian phenomenon which was always discriminatory and caste based. It existed in all professional spheres- be it education, medicine or priesthood. The blacksmith job was ‘reserved’ for castes such as the ‘Lohars’ or the ‘Kamars’ just as toddy tapping was reserved for the ‘Nadars, Thiyyas and Ezhavas’. We even had crime as a profession reserved for castes labelled as ‘criminal castes’. However, not all were condemned to practice menial jobs ‘reserved’ for the castes into which they were born. For hundreds of years, the right to enter the sanctum sanctorum of Hindu temples and perform rituals has been ‘reserved’ for certain communities. This is the oldest form of reservation seen in India; any ‘untouchable’ who dared to trespass into this reserved profession was doomed. One classic example is the case of the saint Nandanar who was burnt alive for trying to enter the Chidambaram temple. Even today in 2012, we find communities waging long struggles to gain the right to enter temples.

Ayurvedha, the mainstream Indian system of medicine rooted in the Vedhic philosophy was an exclusive domain of the caste Hindus until recent times; the ‘untouchables’ were forced to rely on the Folk system of medicine practiced by members of their own caste. It is impossible to believe that the ‘upper caste’ vaidhyas had touched and served the ‘untouchables’ given the communally charged atmosphere prevailing in the pre-independence era. In a way, Siddha- the Dravidian system of medicine patronised by the Tamil Jain saints was a rebellion against the Vedhic system of medical care that was accessible only to the elite castes. The Siddha system of medicine was not exclusive to any community and any ‘untouchable’ was permitted to become an Asan or a teacher.

Most communities from the BC, SC & ST strata are recent entrants into the field of education. Traditionally, these communities were entitled to receive only informal education related to the profession of their castes. There was no place for merit here and studious students such as the bright Eklavaya who managed to acquire the skills reserved for the upper caste were forced to surrender their skills or lose their thumbs.

 Learning is very much influenced by the environment in which an individual is born into. The situation of somebody born into a blacksmith’s family is not the same as somebody born into a temple priest’s family. A blacksmith’s son will have to face all odds including the need to put up with illiterate parents who might not be able to provide him an environment conducive for learning. I would personally consider the 70% of marks acquired by a blacksmith’s son as equivalent to the 90% of marks acquired by the son of a temple priest.

A few decades of reservation is not enough to undo the historical injustice done to the less privileged castes of India. It is painful to notice that it is the members of the same communities who once enjoyed the benefits of reservation now raise their voice in favour of merit and equality. It is equally painful to notice that their philosophy of equality and merit based recruitment doesn’t apply to the profession of temple priesthood.

I am ready to fight along with all my friends protesting against inequality and caste based reservations. Let us begin with the oldest form of reservation!

p.s. This article was initially submitted to The Hindu's open page and was rejected (because it was against the reservation system existing within the premises of The Hindu ?)

My Videocon Ducati V6200 Phone..

                                        (Photo source: www.theconsumerism.com)

Let me introduce myself- I am the proud owner of a Videocon Ducati V6200. It is an awesome, unfathomable feeling that I own a Ducati for a mere Rs. 8000. The phone sounds like Ducati and even performs like one (unless you have ever driven a real Ducati). This no ordinary phone comes loaded with quite a lot of unusual features..here are they along with my humble feedback

• Rugged and sporty design Anti Slip Grip

       - Real big deal because all other phones come with an oily surface!!

• Screw frame body chassis

      -your phone is screwed!!

• dust resistant keys

       -Definitely a need as your phone will never be used and hence should not gather dust

• E-Compass

      -It did work!!

• Thermometer

      -It worked too, but always a +15 degree than the real temperature

• Barometer

     -Doesn’t measure how much mental pressure this phone exerts on you

• Pedometer

       -use this heavy phone to train your biceps, and simultaneously count your steps

• GPS System

     -It dint work for me, except on occasions where I used the phone as weight over a paper map

• UV Sensor

      -Trust me, I am going to try it out someday under the mid day sun

• 2 MP Camera

     - Videocon markets it as though it is most advanced camera on phone. I agree, you….?

• Dual Led Torch

     -It makes a real sense because LED torches otherwise cost more than one lakh rupees, phew..

• TFT Screen

     -Advanced than Samsung’s OLED screens..or the HD,3D screens

• 4GB Memory Card with pre-loaded life time validity GPS navigation system from MAPMYINDIA

     -It is only pre-loaded, not ready to function

• Customizable LED Pulse Indicator

     - for that 90’s vintage feeling

• Mobile tracker

      -you will never need it as nobody will dare to steal it from you

• FM Radio with FM recorder

    -Great, incredibly great!! I have just realised that FM is one thing that I missed in my life.

• sunset & sunrise meter

     -for those who can’t say by looking at the sun whether it is going to set or not..



In addition to all the above features, there is one important feature that is never mentioned in the catalogue of advertisements- the V6200 CAN ALSO HELP IN SELF DEFENCE!!!! Yes, try throwing the phone on a poor hapless robber, or that cursed eve teasing fella..



Why is Videocon marketing such phones..? The only answer to this question lies in their name- Video (con).



There is also rumours of a Videocon anthem in the production..



                                                  WE WILL, WE WILL CON YOU!!!

ISRO EARNS THE WRATH OF LORD THIRUPATHI VENKATESHWARA

Gone are the days when Indian scientists (or spiritualists) used to look Towards Russia for Rocket technologies. With the Soviet gone long back and the US not willing to part with precious technologies, our ISRO patriots have found out their ultimate source of help-Lord Thirupathi Venkateshwara! Trust me, the Lord has helped ISRO to launch various vehicles into the space and has constantly guided our confident scientists (science-eats?) in developing the Liquid Cryogenic Engine! However, it seems the ISRO of late, has earned the wrath of Lord Venkateshwara resulting in a series of failures. While the previous successes were attributed to the grace of the Lord, the failure at no cost could be blamed on the Lord. A telepathic connection established by the author (none other than the damn me) with eminent personalities reveals the reason behind ISRO’s failure. Let us see what they have to say:Former President: ISRO should distribute free copies of the books ‘Wings of Fire’ to its scientists. They should learn to dream more. If possible, I shall administer the following oath to the children of ISRO scientists- “I have a dream of India in 2020….” ISRO should also try to specialize in Bt cotton and Bt Brinjals that could be grown in Space using technology and funds provided by Monsanto ltd.Former HR minister: ISRO should dig into the 'roots' to develop robust space technologies. They should try their best to employ the technologies showcased in Vedic scriptures and the Puranas. The rocket launch wouldn’t have been a failure if only ISRO had modeled the rocket on the Pushabak vimana of Ramayana. For the liquid cryogenic engine, cow urine should be used as fuel and for solid engines, cow dung has to be used. This would propel the rocket faultlessly besides purifying the space. Karnataka CM: This is not the fault of ISRO. I am going to request the prime minister to hand over ISRO to the Reddy brothers. Given their efficiency in running (after) government properties, ISRO would excel in all its endeavour.Secretary, Youth for Equal equality: It is because of the reservation policies. The reservation policies and patronage given to BC and SC-ST people have to stop. Merit should come first. Only descendants of well educated ancestral lineage (at least 10 generations) should be recruited. It is indeed difficult for the elite scientists to work with scientists of ‘first generation learner ‘ background.Selector, Indian Cricket Team: ISRO should follow our recruitment policy. It should take cue from the way we run Madras Cricket Club where only those Balajees, Venkats and Krishnaas who have cricket running in their ‘pure and sacred’ blood are selected. Those with impure blood and lineage should not be considered.Lakhanji: I have met with an astrologer who predicts that the future launches are going to be a great success. Ah… I forgot to mention that it is the same astrologer who kept predicting that the UPA government would fall, at regular intervals!!

Points to remember, while doing a PhD in India

1) Never expect to complete your thesis by overtaking your seniors. But if you see your junior overtaking you then bless his stars.

2) Never complain about the expenditure on PhD. You will have to take a break, make money and come back.

3) Always say yes, when asked to do something. Only arrogant people say 'No'

4) Always say 'no' if you are asked something on your subject. Knowing more is a sign of 'over-smartness'.

5) Your knowledge on the subject increases day by day. Longer the time taken to complete your PhD, higher would be its degree of perfectness.

6) The drawbacks and shortcomings of your research is your fault. But the credits if any, shall be shared.

7) Never compare yourself with your batch mates who dont have a PhD, but still earn more. Because nobody compelled you to join PhD

8) Never complain about the time taken to submit a thesis. Your duty is only to prepare the thesis.

9) Patience is an essential quality required for a researcher. But if you become a mental patient after waiting for long, then it is nobody's fault.

10) Researcher proposes and supervisor disposes.

Arrogance of money!!

A week back there was a minor article in 'The Hindu' somewhere (i really missed on saving the issue) where a guy says that he bought a motorcycle on his first salary and then a maruti 800, and now since he is expecting another pay hike, he has planned to upgrade to a Cadilla..
Wow.. this is how the brain of neo-rick work. ..somebody please tell these guys that status cannot be 'marked' by the vehicles that they arrive... it can indeed be a mark of statement when u arrive for a party where culture conscious men and women hold champagne and dance to the beats, but not among the educated people.... gas guzzling polluters are no more a style or status statement...
I also wonder what would happen if this poor guy happens to get another pay hike.... oh no! PRAY THAT HE DOESNT GET ANOTHER PAY HIKE for he may arrive in an Ashok Leyland truck to mark his bigger status!

Learning a new language? This should help…

This happened in 2004. I had just started learning the local form of Oriya spoken in Koraput district. I was there for my Ph.D in Ethnobotany and was hosted by IRDWSI in one of their residential quarters. The roof of the room where I was staying used to leak during rains and hence I had requested the mason to plug the holes in the cement-asbestos roof.

The mason and I were on the roof top and two young girls were on the ground helping the mason with the cement slurry. It happened once that the mason wanted the shallow hemi-spherical vessel used to carry cement slurry. He asked me for the vessel. Being eager to test my oratorical skills in Oriya, I asked the girl ‘se bond deo’ (give me that bond. Bond is the word used for the vessel in Tamil Nadu). I was just using a hybrid language. To my surprise, the girls stopped working and started starring at me. I was wondering what offended her. Then the mason, who was initiated into the profession by a mason from Tamil Nadu came for my help and explained me that the word in the local slang refers to the private parts of a human being. Only then I did realise that I just had escaped from the sickle!!

Culture, superstition or superstition embedded in culture?

It was a dry humid morning. I was just returning from a night’s halt at a friend’s home when I remembered that I had run of coconut oil at home. I was wondering will there be any grocery shops open at 6.00 A.M. in the morning, and was really glad to see a shop open with its owner (who appeared pious) with lot of holy ash on his forehead and arms. He had just finished offering prayers to his deities blessing him from the photo frames above his cash counter. I asked this gentleman if I can have a bottle of coconut oil. He gave me this cold stare-kind of stare that you get accustomed in Chennai. Before I could finish wondering what harm I had done to him, he shouted at me ‘no coconut oil for you’. I could see bottles of parachute coconut oil in his racks. I just pointed to them. He then told me that he does not sell coconut oil in the morning.

I had always thought that culture has an important role to play in the society. I still wonder what could be the reason behind the above incident. Superstition , culture or superstition embedded in culture. I could only pity him for his belief that the negative energy (jargon courtesy: the ubiquitous scientific religious groups) emanating from coconut oil is powerful enough to offset the benefit of the prayers he had just offered.