Notes From A Small Room - Ruskin Bond

‘Notes from a Small Room’ is a delightful collection of short essays, personal and anecdotal in nature, capturing the simple things that make life so beautiful. The common thread that runs through all the pieces is an eye for the small pleasures that make life worth living-“the sunshine, the bird-song, the bedside book, the potted geranium, and all the other little things”.

One cannot help but marvel at the way Ruskin Bond captures something as trivial as the transit of an ant across his writing desk. The book gives readers an insight into his “Thoughts on reaching 75”, the days spent with his beloved Siamese cat Suzie (who is later discovered to be a male, much to his disappointment!), his favourite smells, his idea of a perfect window and his philosophy of life (or rather, a lack thereof) among other things. He shares poignant memories of the last day spent with his father and celebrates the humble, but not insignificant, pleasures that life in his sleepy hill town so plentifully presents.

At a time when incomprehensible writing is often interpreted as a sign of intellect, Bond amazes the readers by weaving a childlike simplicity into his sentences to convey equally uncomplicated thoughts. He writes with remarkable ease and candour, transporting the readers into an idyllic world where time moves at a slow pace and, occasionally, even stands still.

As Bond observes-“It’s the simple things in life that keep us from going crazy.”

Marks-The Only Indicator of a Student's Success?

Wrote the following article for a college competition:

“Study hard”. “Get good marks”.

Don’t the words conjure up a familiar feeling?

Only marks, we are led to believe, ultimately spell success. But is it really so?

What marks one receives is less decisive than one’s approach towards learning. More often than not, focusing on how to get the perfect test scores is a myopic approach towards the more significant factor: long-term learning.

Currently, our schools expect children to confirm to the conventional methods of solving a problem. In such a setting, marks are mostly the end product of rote learning - acquisition of facts and committing them to memory. There is little scope or incentive for experimentation and exploration. Marks, at best, only indicate the ability and desire to learn. This is not adequate in today’s world where the focus is increasingly on qualities like innovation, leadership and divergent thinking, to name a few.

Beyond a level, marks cease to be important. The real ingredients of success are a go-getter attitude, perseverance, passion and a burning commitment towards one’s goals. Steve Jobs, Steven Spielberg, George Bernard Shaw, Bill Cosby are all college dropouts who still made it big because of these very traits.

Further, in today’s age, people often switch careers. This renders the marks they received while studying a particular discipline redundant. In creative fields, especially, marks are a poor indicator of capability as they fail to appraise a person’s inherent talent.

In the end, the definition of success itself is elusive. Success can be measured in terms of contentment and personal satisfaction or in terms of public recognition. Marks only spell “academic” success which plays a minuscule role in the grand scheme of things.

As Walker Percy put it - “You can get all A's and still flunk life.”

Rumour Has It....

Rumours have a life of their own. It’s amazing how they have the tendency to be passed on so rapidly and linger on immortally. Every school and college has its own set of fables dutifully handed down by seniors and passed on year after year, nobody having witnessed them first-hand. Then, there are some snippets almost everyone in the right state of mind knows to be false but that are, nevertheless, passed on further to catch that prized look of amazement on the listeners’ face. While these comprise mostly innocuous tales, much needed to add a little spice to the otherwise bland academic life, today we have urban myths widely circulating through specious e-mail forwards.

Recently, I came across this interesting site ( http://www.snopes.com/ ) that attempts to find the origins of the most widespread urban legends and verify whether there is any truth in them. The section on College is especially amusing, considering how schools and colleges are a breeding ground for the most unbelievable legends-some true, some not. There are other equally absorbing pieces, like the one about a man battling a $0.00 charge that won’t go away ( http://www.snopes.com/business/bank/zero.asp )and another about NASA developing a million-dollar astronaut pen which could work in outer space( http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp ), the latter subject being quite popular now, thanks to ‘3 idiots’.

This reminds me of one of my favourite passages from Malgudi Schooldays where Swami gives a lurid account of his teacher’s violence: “When he started caning he would not stop till he saw blood on the boy’s hand, which he made the boy press to his forehead like a vermillion marking…..His cane skinned people’s hands. Swaminathan cast his mind about for an instance of this. There was none within his knowledge. Years and years ago he was reputed to have skinned the knuckles of a boy and made him smear the blood on his face. No one had actually seen it. But year after year the story persisted among the boys…”

As a Chinese proverb goes -“What is told in the ear of a man is often heard 100 miles away”!

The Pleasures of Reading and Re-reading

Reading, being such a personal activity, appeals to a wide assortment of people- each in quest of a different kind of gratification through books.

There are those who experiment with books belonging to diverse genres and authors. Then, there are those who stick to their favourite authors and eagerly await any new books by them to hit the stands. Chetan Bhagat enthusiasts, perhaps, best describe this lot. Also, there are a few who dig a particular genre; for instance, many take a keen interest in self-help books (though I personally find most of them too idealistic, and their claims to have changed the lives of millions seem too far-fetched).

Lately, I have progressed (for want of a better word) to a new level altogether: I experience a new-found pleasure in re-reading the books I haven’t read in years. And, the fact that I’m reading the same book again doesn’t really dampen the novelty factor. Having matured considerably since the last time I read the book, I can appreciate the same things from an entirely new perspective, and almost always discover some finer details that I missed out earlier. Many a times, the old stories conjure a faint feeling of familiarity, if not a complete recall of the plot. Then, there are also times when they do not ring a bell at all, having got jumbled up with a lot of other things. In case of the latter, even old mysteries and suspense thrillers can be visited time and again without any loss of interest since it is still a mystery each time you revisit the book!

Sometimes, it’s not so much about the plot of a story as about escaping to a different world. Reading an old classic transports you to a much simpler world; it is reminiscent of a bygone era - a less hurried time when life moved at a slow pace. Also, it triggers many happy memories of the time last spent with the book.

Occasionally, I read an old favourite and wonder why I found it so gripping back then. On the other hand, a novel that I found just passable years ago seems quite absorbing now, making me realise how preferences change as we grow up.

Monsoon Woes

Increasingly, I’m discovering that the rains are causing more inconvenience than the initial euphoria that marked the arrival of the monsoon. While it is nice to have a light drizzle for hours, heavy incessant rains cause more botheration than relief.

It begins with the sound of raindrops pitter-pattering against the window glass, which is followed by the rush to bring the clothes in from the line. But the rain stops as suddenly as it had begun, rendering the effort pointless. Then there is the tedious exercise of closing all the doors and windows if the rain is accompanied by a storm, which is usually the case these days. Often, the water still seeps in through some opening and spoils the adjoining walls, besides other things placed in proximity.

Further, with the first monsoon showers arrive a swarm of clumsy winged insects, making their way to any light source they find. It is such an ugly sight to have them congregate in large numbers and to have them strewn all over the place subsequently.

And this is just the scene indoors. Outside, the streets get clogged and the dug up roads fill up with water, leaving no choice but to waddle across after several futile attempts of high jumps over the murky pools of water. Add to this the considerable humidity when the sun shines just after a heavy downpour, making the weather muggy and sticky.

How much would I prefer just a light drizzle and a faint breeze laden with the scent of wet earth- an ideal setting for reading a good book sitting by the window!

Do students really have a choice?

With college admission season in full swing, career advice columns in newspapers and counselors unanimously advise students to pursue a course in which their interest lies rather than being influenced by the choices their peers make or by the popularity the course enjoys.

On the face of it, it seems to be an indubitable advice. But unfortunately life is not so simple.

Firstly, a greater number of students do not have a field of interest in mind. For the few who do, the choice is mostly influenced by how much it pays -financially or otherwise- to be in that profession rather than out of natural inclination toward it. There may be some exceptions but this is the general tendency. For most students, the notion of a ‘dream calling’ does not exist, irrespective of what they show in movies.

Moreover, the emphasis on theoretical learning in our schools rarely exposes students to what a career actually encompasses. They are often disillusioned upon discovering that higher studies in a particular subject is anything but what they had made it out to be; there is no feeling of déjà vu to find solace in.

Second, as long as certain professions are regarded more respectable than others and there is substantial difference in pay packages (which is indeed the case and quite understandably so), a student cannot be expected to make a choice of career solely on the basis of interest in a particular field. Ultimately, the actual choice to one is reduced to the few well-paying careers held in high esteem by people at large. More often than not, one has to ‘cultivate’ interest in the field already entered into rather than choosing a field of interest. Career switches usually raise eyebrows and are seen as a sign of indecisiveness.

Third, there are so many fields one may like to pursue as a career but that are best considered mere hobbies in general opinion - photography, painting, music - examples abound.

Pure interest often takes a back seat in the face of other factors like money, prestige and job security.

Constructive criticism, anyone?

From an early age, we are taught-“If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”.

Every other day, we come across instances of people getting unduly offended by criticism and others, who are not a party to it, echoing the sentiment.

What is so offensive about one professional critiquing the work or performance of the other? Why is it so often taken as a disapproval of the person himself?

People want to hear good things about their work rather than honest opinions, even if that would help them evolve. More often than not, criticisms of works are taken as personal attacks. Interestingly, such remarks are denounced not only by those toward whom they are directed but also by others.

If a lesser known artist criticises an established one, it is labeled as a sign of envy. If a novice does the same, he is lambasted along the lines of ‘what-does-he-know-about-it’. Likewise, an artist of equal stature is expected to be more complaisant and accepting of the work of his contemporaries. Thus, the general verdict is that open criticism is believed to be harsh, no matter where it is coming from.

When actor Abhishek Bachchan wrote on his Twitter page, "We don't deserve a talent like Mr. Amitabh Bachchan! Don't think we can make movies to fit his talent!”, he was criticised for showering lame praises on his own family. His response- “It’s my twitter page, so I have the freedom to write whatever I want and praise whoever I want. Don't like it? Don't read it!"

What a preposterous justification for not taking kindly to criticism!

With such tendencies, we are heading toward a culture of ostensible displays of mutual admiration, instead of one that is continually evolving as a result of genuine feedback.

India- Rich and Poor

Two years back, fashion magazine Vogue India was severely criticised for its editorial spread displaying the country’s downright poor modelling such luxury goods as a Hermes Birkin bag, a Fendi bib and a Burberry umbrella. While the shoot was certainly distasteful, rather outright offensive, it does epitomise the strange paradox that contemporary India is: home to the uber rich- the kinds who make it to the Forbes list of billionaires -and the poorest of the poor.

In fact, this rich-poor anomaly seems so customary now that we are no more astounded by the sight of people sleeping on the streets just outside the swanky malls housing some of the top international luxury brands.

So why doesn’t the government direct its resources towards addressing the basic needs of its own people rather than endeavouring for enhancing its global image; organising the upcoming Commonwealth Games being a case in point. The most common argument is that it would bring in huge revenues. But its benefits will again accrue to the elite or be used to organize more of such world-class events. Clearly, the trickle-down effect of government policies never seems to take place. As the cliché goes-the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer.

Another argument is that development cannot be initiated at merely one level. Thus, advocating that the government should first ensure basic amenities to all its citizens is akin to saying that we should just have primary schools instead of the IITs and the IIMs. Besides, competing with the developed countries in terms of infrastructure is a much more visible indicator of having “arrived” as a nation, not minding the underlying disparity.

Ultimately, it is for a nation to decide what it wants-a fake recognition as the next superpower or a just and equitable distribution of wealth among all. As someone has said, progress is not giving more money to the already rich but to give enough to the extreme poor.

Earth Hour - Is It Worth the Extensive Publicity?

Frankly, I don’t think Earth Hour is worth the hype around it. It is, at best, a mere gesture with no practical purpose to serve. In fact, the very provision of a separate hour for turning off all the ‘non-essential lights and other electrical appliances’ is contradictory to the conviction of making an endeavour to save power every single day.

The initiative may still hold some relevance in case of the Western world, known for its indulgences; it might make them mindful of the amount of electricity that they use each day. However, in developing nations like India, where several regions experience power cuts for long hours at a stretch and electricity still hasn’t penetrated many regions, an initiative like this makes little sense. In India, barring the Metropolitan cities, we are forced to observe many Earth Hours each day!

Surely, I do not endorse the other extreme stand either - people turning on all the lights and appliances as a mark of protest against Earth Hour – or, for that matter, even the so-called ‘Human Achievement Hour’. What I believe in is a genuine everyday-concern for the planet rather than an hour-long futile exercise in the name of ‘making a change’.

Now, many would argue how Earth Hour is meant to be a symbolic affair to raise awareness about the need to take action on climate change. But, this is not the time to make mere gestures; it is the time to act. Combating climate change won't come about from turning out lights but from reducing carbon emissions.

I agree with Michelle Minton of the Competitive Enterprise Institute when she says-“Environmental challenges will not be solved by turning off our lights and symbolically hiding in the dark. We should be looking to technology and innovation to help solve environmental problems.”

The Problem with Old Sayings and Popular Quotes

These days, I cannot help but sneer when someone merely quotes a famous person or a maxim to drive a point home or to justify their actions. Come to think of it, there is an aphorism or a quotation endorsing practically everything under the sun.

So, while we have someone asserting that "modesty is to merit, what shade is to figures in a picture; it gives it strength and makes it stand out", there is another intellectual who believes that "modesty is the lowest of the virtues, and is a confession of the deficiency it indicates; he who undervalues himself is justly overvalued by others".

Likewise, they say “Try, try, until you succeed”; though, we all know how it is sometimes best to let go and move on in life.

The other day, when a fellow student asked the teacher about the ‘long-run’ implication of an economic policy, all she could come up with as a reply was a quote by the great economist, Keynes -“It is only the short-run that matters; in the long run we are all dead.” Now, how insightful is that!

More often than not, old sayings are overly simplifying and just add an element of drama to the given situation, rather than actually resolving one’s dilemma. People need to realise that the world has transformed appreciably since these were conceived and that they no longer hold good.

Popular quotes are not a panacea for all of life’s problems, and certainly not an acceptable excuse for dodging genuine questions by students!

The Charm of the Hills

“And the last puff of the day-wind brought from the unseen villages the scent of damp wood-smoke, hot cakes, dripping undergrowth, and rotting pine-cones. That is the true smell of the Himalayas and if it once creeps into the blood of a man, that man will at the last, forgetting all else, return to the hills to die.”

- Rudyard Kipling

There is something about the Hills, whether it is Kipling’s Simla or Bond’s Mussoorie. Hailing from the hills myself, I derive an unparalleled contentment from all things characteristic of the hills. They provide an ideal getaway for an invigourating yet peaceful holiday, away from the mundane city life.

To me, there is no greater pleasure than that of seeing the sun rise from behind the snow-capped peaks, making your way through the dense carpet formed by dried needles of chir-pine trees as you climb the mountains, boating on the misty blue lakes, feasting one’s eyes on bright flowers in full bloom amidst beautiful green surroundings, experiencing the slow-paced life…

It is a wonderful experience taking long strolls on the mall road, while gentle breezes, laden with ‘that’ blissful smell, brush against you. The clean and fresh air of these idyllic destinations rejuvenates your mind completely, and the old world charm that these places still retain is a welcome retreat from the heat and dust of the plains.

One cannot help but return to the hills to die!

Why???

• In order to speak of something disparagingly, one has to be good at the same; otherwise people label it as a case of ‘sour grapes’.

• There is such a fine line between being optimistic and being impractical.

• We are so spirited and extreme about our likes and dislikes when young but gradually become impassive and docile as we grow older.

• Everyone proclaims that they want to lead a simple and unpretentious life, free from strife, in the countryside, despite being clearly enthralled by the hustle and bustle of big cities.

• Old days always seem much more delightful in retrospective.

Indian English

It is amusing how several words and idiomatic forms, derived from Indian literary and vernacular languages have made their way into the every-day English we speak today. Over the long history of the language in India, the implication of many English words and the context in which they are used has changed considerably. Following are some of the most noticeable and interesting instances of such usage, as pointed out by wikipedia:

• Use of "blood pressure" or "BP" to refer particularly to high blood pressure, as in "I have BP!" to mean "I have high BP or hypertension".

• Use of ‘no’ or ‘na’ as a tag question, as in “He's here, no?” or “You are lying, na?”

• The word "marriage" used to mean "wedding", as in "I am attending my cousin's marriage next month”.

• The word "healthy" as a euphemism for fat people, as in "His build is on the healthy side" to refer to an overweight person.

• 'B.A. fail' for someone who was admitted to college, took college classes, but did not pass the final examinations, as opposed to someone who did not go to college! 'Higher Secondary fail' and 'M.A. fail' are used in a similar fashion.

• Creation of rhyming double-words, as in "No more ice-cream-fice-cream for you!", "Let's go have some chai-vai.” or "There's a lot of this fighting-witing going on in the neighborhood".

• The word "hero" is used to mean a male protagonist in a story, especially in a movie. The protagonist need not have any specifically heroic characteristics! Thus, "Look at him; he looks like a hero", meaning "he is as handsome as a movie star."

• The word "dialogue" to refer to "a line of dialogue" in a movie. ("That was a great dialogue!" means "That was a great line!"). "Dialogues" is used to mean "screenplay". In motion picture credits, the person who might in other countries be credited as the screenwriter in India is often credited with the term "dialogues".

• Use of "engagement" to mean not just an agreement between two people to marry, but a formal, public ceremony (often accompanied by a party) where the engagement is formalized with a ring and other local rituals. Indians will not speak of a couple as being "engaged", until after the engagement ceremony has been performed.

As Binoo K John says in his book 'Hazaar fundas of Indian English', "savour the sorry and soaring love affair between India and English"!

The Curious Case of 221B - Partha Basu

My fascination with Sherlock Holmes refuses to die with the Canon (the fifty-six short stories and four Sherlock Holmes novels written by Conan Doyle). So I turn to this "brilliant retelling that turns the Holmesian canon on its head, even as it adds to it".

The book starts with Jit's story in Deogar, a small town near Calcutta. Jit, a young man, stumbles upon some letters and notebooks addressed to his father, penned in secret by Dr.Watson. The notebooks divulge Holmes’ failures and his fallacious theories regarding some of the most illustrious cases. Watson's narratives go on to elucidate how Holmes committed a 'Blunder in Bohemia' rather than preventing a 'Scandal in Bohemia'! They talk about the 'Reappearance of Frances Carfax', the 'Tale of the sad cyclist' and the 'Judgement at Abbey Grange', among other accounts.

The narratives are laced with Emma Hudson's synopses of the original cases to make it easier to comprehend for those who haven't read the Canon. However, those already familiar with the original work will derive much more pleasure from the book for the feeling of déjà vu that it provides every now and then.

Although the stories lack the powerful element of drama so peculiar to the original stories, they make one ruminate whether the solutions to the original cases were really as 'elementary' as Holmes made them out to be.

Read the book if you are one of those who always wanted Watson to have some share of the limelight enjoyed by Holmes.

Don't read it if the purist in you can't see Holmes being defeated in his own game or if you want to retain that legendary image of the detective in your mind forever!

Why so serious??

I recently came across this video where Andy Roddick imitates Serena Williams, duly cheered up by the crowds. It made me think about the inevitable backlash had the same episode occurred in India.

So why are we such a sombre nation?

Every witticism seems offensive to someone or the other. The self-appointed moral police are always armed and ready to counter anything even remotely displeasing to any section. The most common argument in favour of curtailing open banters is that they hurt the sentiments of people and thereby breed contempt in the society, or they pose a threat to our culture and values.

But, is our culture and our values so fragile that they won’t be able to endure a joke or a pun?

We are obsessed with political-correctness at all times, more so if the people involved are public figures. Politicians, in particular, are expected to be poker-faced creatures with no sense of humour as is evident by the “cattle-class” controversy involving Shashi Tharoor. No wonder we don’t come across playful exchanges of insults as between, say, Winston Churchill and George Bernard Shaw. It also explains the dearth of good stand-up comedians in the country.

It is time for an honest introspection if we want to grow up as a nation because as the noted American author, Richard Bach, said- “The first prerequisite of an advanced being is a sense of humour.”

Sherlock Holmes - the ultimate sleuth!

I have always enjoyed reading Sherlock Holmes mysteries, not just for Holmes’ deductive reasoning of the solution to a crime but also for the remarkable quotations that still seem as relevant as they may have been in the Victorian times.

Following is a list of quotes from the Sherlock Holmes series of stories that I find the most contemplative:

1. I consider that a man's brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things, so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it.
2. It was easier to know it than to explain why I know it. If you were asked to prove that two and two made four, you might find some difficulty, and yet you are quite sure of the fact.
3. When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
4. It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.
5. It is of the highest importance in the art of detection to be able to recognize, out of a number of facts, which are incidental and which vital. Otherwise your energy and attention must be dissipated instead of being concentrated.
6. What one man can invent another can discover.
7. Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius.
8. Education never ends Watson. It is a series of lessons with the greatest for the last.
9. What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence. The question is, what can you make people believe that you have done.
10. His ignorance was as remarkable as his knowledge. (Dr. Watson about Holmes)

And now the wittiest passages:

Dr Leslie Armstrong - "I have heard your name, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and I am aware of your profession — one of which I by no means approve."

Holmes - "In that, Doctor, you will find yourself in agreement with every criminal in the country."

Holmes - “I followed you."

Sterndale (the murderer) - "I saw no one."

Holmes - “That is what you may expect to see when I follow you."

My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other people don't know.

Come at once if convenient — if inconvenient come all the same.

(Holmes to Dr. Watson)

"I play the game for the game's own sake."

(Holmes - expressing his indifference toward any kind of public honour for solving a case of national importance)

Economics-making rational fools of people?

“Our criticism of the accepted classical theory of economics has consisted not so much in finding logical flaws in its analysis as in pointing out that its tacit assumptions are seldom or never satisfied, with the result that it cannot solve the economic problems of the actual world.”                                              

                                                                                                      - John Maynard Keynes

 Theories in Economics have often been criticised for relying on overly simplifying assumptions which are, many a times, in stark contrast to the actuality. Take, for instance, the most basic assumption - that of  'Rational choice'. According to this assumption, a person always reasons before taking an action (say, making a purchase) by weighing the pros and cons of the action against each other. However, in reality, individuals often base their choices on impulsive decisions; or sometimes they are not adept at judging what is good for them in terms of utility maximisation. Theories in Economics do not consider these inherent aspects of human behaviour.

Nonetheless, such assumptions are indispensable in formulating a theory and reaching some conclusion. They make it possible to study the interplay of a specific set of forces keeping other forces constant. Moreover, modern economists have been evaluating these unrealistic assumptions and there has recently been an increased interest in modeling non-rational decision making.

Is being an 'idiot' really so cool?

The tremendous success of  '3 Idiots', in a way, reflects the popular viewpoint of the present generation. While hard work, commitment and devotion towards one's job and honesty were once considered to be among the most prized qualities in a person, today these have been replaced by creativity, inherent intelligence, and street-smartness (even if it amounts to deceit). Those working hard to achieve their aim, rather than searching for shortcuts, are often ridiculed.

The movie compares rote-learning to some grave offence. So, what should someone not as intellectually endowed as the protagonist do-simply accept that academics are not his cup of tea and sit back? Isn't it better to try and make up for the lack of natural intelligence by working harder than others?

Further, the movie highlights the loopholes in the country's education system. Many of these are exaggerations but nevertheless, the sentiment has found collective endorsement from everyone. Everyone jumped on the bandwagon just  because criticising the education system and being a rebel is considered to be fashionable or the 'in' thing. In reality,most students do not favour even creative learning; what they really want is 'easy' learning. Anything that causes the slightest stress is deemed to be undesirable even if, once accomplished, its outcome is most likely to be fruitful.

Moreover, thinking outside the box is not opposed so vehemently as the movie portrays. No teacher tries to supress creative thinking even if they do not go out of their way to encourage it. What they actually comdemn is indiscipline and deliberate ignorance on the part of the students.

Undoubtedly, the movie is well-shot and is highly entertaining but it should be enjoyed merely as a work of fiction rather than being taken too seriously as a true portrayal of the current state of affairs.