Since last year, that is 2007, my motto has been to lose 40 lbs. I have lost 20 lbs so far and I have 20 more to go. I am noting down my diet and exercise regimes below, so as to keep track of where I was, where I am right now and how far I need to go.
When I started I was 167lbs, I wasnt this heavy always but most of the times have been a big girl, if you know what I mean. After transitioning from India to US, post-marriage, the weight kept on piling. On hindsight, I think the main culprit was peanut-butter sandwiches, eating out quite often and not seeing the potion-size. But I have to agree that this weight gain has been a boon a disguise, I have never taken better care of myself and have never looked and felt better.
Having a slow metabolism, my main problem has been food intake. I remember doing intense gyming (I will write in later what all I included in my gym sessions) and then not taking care of what I ate. This is a very wrong thing to do, it only helps in piling more weight and in places you wont like. I did gain a few pounds because of this and then it happened, my India trip for my brother's wedding. Each and every person said I had become fat, my husband looked younger than me, etc. Suddenly you realize there are so many things people can tell you when you are over-weight, the dictionary is endless. Not only that, my worse nightmare were clothes, old clothes didn't fit me, my tailor (always on my team) too looked horified to measure me up. But the only thing he said (and believe me it struck like lightning) was dont worry, next year when you come thin down. I was now resolved to do anything I could to cut down on the additional weight I had put on and reduce further.
Meal that I am following since a long time is as follows:
1. Beakfast - Oat meal + soymilk
2. Mid-morning snack - Any fruit like apple or banana
3. Lunch - Vegetable (Indian sabzi) + 2 chapatti
4. After 3 hrs - Another fruit or yogurt with active cultures in it
5. Evening snack (I am not completely happy about this part) - Tea + biscuits (I think this is junk really, but need to find a replacement)
6. Dinner - Vegetable + 2 chapatti
My work out looked like this:
Monday: Full body weight training, 9 exercises in all, 2 sets each with 15 reps for each exercise in each set.
Tuesday: Cardio - Treadmill/Elliptical/Cycle
Wednesday: Cardio
Thursday: Full body weight training
I must admit, I am happier doing weights than anything else. When I started with cardio, I was apprehensiible about Elliptical, now I totally enjoy myself on it. Even on a treadmill, I generally used to walk at the speed of 3 mph at an inclination of 10. I could notrun for even 2 mins in Feb 2007, today i can run for 30 mins non-stop on a treadmill, running outside is still a problem I have to tackle.
I followed this religiously for a year and lost about 20 lbs. It seemed losing weight was easy. This is when I got stuck with weight plateau. It is a condition where your weight doesnt fluctuate, it remains constant. For me, there was a 2-3 pounds fluctuation but I roughly remained 148 lbs.
This weight plateau has been going on for 4 months now, people say maybe this is my actual weight and I cant go further down than this but I have some other plans, I have resolved to do better, finally I want to win this race against weight.
This is the modification I have made since a week now 10-May-2008, I will further update this blog if it works out:
Diet:
The main problem I see in my diet is evening snacks and dinner. I eat junk and do late dinner. So here is the solution (which I think should work), I am going to cut on biscuits and eat milk + berries. For dinner, I have started eating only salads, cucumber, tomato, carrot with a little salt/pepper and cilantro. Lets see if my weight plateau puts up a fight!!!!!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Konkana SenSharma
I have become a huge fan of this Indian Actress. For late comers, Konkana is daughter of renamed Bengali Actor/Director Aparna Sen. She has acted in number of Bengali, Bi-lingual and Hindi films.
It so happened that I saw two of Konkana SenSharma's movies on the same day - Aaja Nachle and 15 Park Avenue. There is a scene in Aaja Nachle where Konkana's character has to audition for a role in a play. She is shown dancing on the tunes of the song "Babuji zara dheere chalo...", that scene is mind-blowing, it is hilarious and looks like the renowned actress is comfortable making fun at her own self, such an important trait for an actor. The scene is worth the entire film's money.
15 Park Avenue, the more I talk about this film the better I like. Konkana is shown as a schizophrenic in this film. The film made me realise how difficult it must be for people to cope with a world which does not exist for most of the other people living in the outside world. Imagine, you are constantly seeing someone, someone so real, you can feel their prescence, talk to him/her, yet everyone else will say the person does not exist. A world within another world. Konkana has acted so well, that I could literally feel the pain and agony of a schizophrenic, the helplessness to convince people what they are feeling is real, when in reality it is not. Full marks to even Shabana Azmi for enacting a very complex character of a sister who is mentally and physically drained of the responsibilities she has to carry.
At times I feel there is a dearth of opportunities and there is so much of cut-throat competition then there are women like Konkana SenSharma and Shabana Azmi who make genX actors look silly to the core. There is no competition at all if you are at the very top.
I totally am bowled over by her...
It so happened that I saw two of Konkana SenSharma's movies on the same day - Aaja Nachle and 15 Park Avenue. There is a scene in Aaja Nachle where Konkana's character has to audition for a role in a play. She is shown dancing on the tunes of the song "Babuji zara dheere chalo...", that scene is mind-blowing, it is hilarious and looks like the renowned actress is comfortable making fun at her own self, such an important trait for an actor. The scene is worth the entire film's money.
15 Park Avenue, the more I talk about this film the better I like. Konkana is shown as a schizophrenic in this film. The film made me realise how difficult it must be for people to cope with a world which does not exist for most of the other people living in the outside world. Imagine, you are constantly seeing someone, someone so real, you can feel their prescence, talk to him/her, yet everyone else will say the person does not exist. A world within another world. Konkana has acted so well, that I could literally feel the pain and agony of a schizophrenic, the helplessness to convince people what they are feeling is real, when in reality it is not. Full marks to even Shabana Azmi for enacting a very complex character of a sister who is mentally and physically drained of the responsibilities she has to carry.
At times I feel there is a dearth of opportunities and there is so much of cut-throat competition then there are women like Konkana SenSharma and Shabana Azmi who make genX actors look silly to the core. There is no competition at all if you are at the very top.
I totally am bowled over by her...
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Memorial Service
I attended my first memorial service in US on 16th March 2008. It was held at St. Andrews Lutheran Church. The deceased person was the son of my husband's colleague. His name was Daniel. A mere 37 years of age. There were so many young people at the service, emphasizing the fact that the person who departed was too young to have gone away.
The service started with Dan's very talented friends playing guitar. The music was soulful without one missing note. After that the Priest read a sermon from the bible. This was followed by speeches from near and dear ones. There were close friends saying how special Dan was and how special he made everyone feel. He was always the first to help someone, he also went to New Orleans to help out the Katrina victims. His elder brother spoke with a teary eye. His speech was too much to handle. He cried and cracked jokes about Dan. It was evident he was going to miss his brother for a long time to come.
At the end of the service, there was a march, where everyone comes out and you can meet the person you have come for. We met my husband's colleague and she hugged us and thanked us for coming.
This memorial service had a lasting impact on me. It was very surreal and peaceful, just how a memorial should be. I equally dishearten in the way these services are treated in India. The part where I come from, (God Forbid) if you are one of the close relatives of the person who passed away, people will sit next to you and cry deliberately and its customary to cry with them. I think this just steals away the last serenity and respect we can ever give to the deceased. The person who has left is never remembered at his best, which I think is sad.
I have never seen Dan and probably will not know him ever, but that day I cried, I cried for the people who are going to miss him. I remembered him and was a part of his group of friends as much as his best friend. May god bless his soul and may he rest in peace.
The service started with Dan's very talented friends playing guitar. The music was soulful without one missing note. After that the Priest read a sermon from the bible. This was followed by speeches from near and dear ones. There were close friends saying how special Dan was and how special he made everyone feel. He was always the first to help someone, he also went to New Orleans to help out the Katrina victims. His elder brother spoke with a teary eye. His speech was too much to handle. He cried and cracked jokes about Dan. It was evident he was going to miss his brother for a long time to come.
At the end of the service, there was a march, where everyone comes out and you can meet the person you have come for. We met my husband's colleague and she hugged us and thanked us for coming.
This memorial service had a lasting impact on me. It was very surreal and peaceful, just how a memorial should be. I equally dishearten in the way these services are treated in India. The part where I come from, (God Forbid) if you are one of the close relatives of the person who passed away, people will sit next to you and cry deliberately and its customary to cry with them. I think this just steals away the last serenity and respect we can ever give to the deceased. The person who has left is never remembered at his best, which I think is sad.
I have never seen Dan and probably will not know him ever, but that day I cried, I cried for the people who are going to miss him. I remembered him and was a part of his group of friends as much as his best friend. May god bless his soul and may he rest in peace.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
But I will not leave the fight halfway.
"How can I forgive them?" - these are the words of Bilkis Bano, one of the many victims of Godhra Riots.
It is such an irony, I was looking online for a cocktail dress to wear at my company's party and in another window I searched for Bilkis Bano. Isnt it a paradox, on one side of life is a girl like me who is independent, a face of 'Rising India' and on the other side is a girl who is 5 months pregnant and is getting brutally raped by folks she has known since childhood. THESE INDEED ARE TWO FACES OF INDIA. And however big our growth is with impressive GDP number, the fact will remain we are a country which is illiterate and inhuman and violent.
Here is the full story of Bilkis Bano:
http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/feb/26guj.htm
Reading this story, I couldnt help asking myself, are we humans yet? How can someone rape a helpless pregnant women? How can someone kill her 3 year old daughter? Bilkis Bano was the sole survivor in a camp of 17 people.
She stands tall today fighting for justice. She is a brave women. May God give her all the glory. Yesterday Supreme Court convicted 14 of the accused to Life time imprisonment. Is that enough? How I wish each and everyone of them was castrated and left to die!
This leads me to thinking, what would I have done? If I were someone who could have helped Bilkis's family to hide, would I have helped her? Would I have faced the wrath of a whole mad village? What would I have done?
If I were Bilkis, would I have fought for justice so long? Would I have courage to face all the threats? Wouldnt I have simply embraced death being so utterly humiliated? I hope everyone can ask this question themselves and come out with a good positive answer.
If there were any grain of truth in the fact that curses come true then I curse each and every one of her accusors from the bottom of my heart, to suffer as she did.
It is such an irony, I was looking online for a cocktail dress to wear at my company's party and in another window I searched for Bilkis Bano. Isnt it a paradox, on one side of life is a girl like me who is independent, a face of 'Rising India' and on the other side is a girl who is 5 months pregnant and is getting brutally raped by folks she has known since childhood. THESE INDEED ARE TWO FACES OF INDIA. And however big our growth is with impressive GDP number, the fact will remain we are a country which is illiterate and inhuman and violent.
Here is the full story of Bilkis Bano:
http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/feb/26guj.htm
Reading this story, I couldnt help asking myself, are we humans yet? How can someone rape a helpless pregnant women? How can someone kill her 3 year old daughter? Bilkis Bano was the sole survivor in a camp of 17 people.
She stands tall today fighting for justice. She is a brave women. May God give her all the glory. Yesterday Supreme Court convicted 14 of the accused to Life time imprisonment. Is that enough? How I wish each and everyone of them was castrated and left to die!
This leads me to thinking, what would I have done? If I were someone who could have helped Bilkis's family to hide, would I have helped her? Would I have faced the wrath of a whole mad village? What would I have done?
If I were Bilkis, would I have fought for justice so long? Would I have courage to face all the threats? Wouldnt I have simply embraced death being so utterly humiliated? I hope everyone can ask this question themselves and come out with a good positive answer.
If there were any grain of truth in the fact that curses come true then I curse each and every one of her accusors from the bottom of my heart, to suffer as she did.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Lessons Learned
In this sardonic life we meet so many people, face so many adversities, enjoy triumphs at times and failures at others. There are orators who narrate their experiences in beautiful words, weaving a simple encounter into a happily ever after story, then there are people who have abused or have been abused and are here to tell their tales. My experiences in past couple of days have taught me to learn the right lesson from each of them.
It is so interesting to note that a single experience can have so many facades to it, which lesson you learn and carry with you is as important as to have experienced that encounter in the first place. Let me explain by a simple example:
I was driving through this road and a car was waiting to turn in my lane, no one was allowing that car to make a turn. I saw this from a distance and (even when I should have) I didnt make up my mind as to what I wanted to do, should I wait and let that person enter or should I just drive by since there were a number of cars behind me and slowing down would mean slowing all of them down. At the last moment I decided I needed to help this guy so what I do, I slam on the brakes which brought my Jetta to an immediate halt, the car behind me, couldnt stop in time and had to brake and go on to the curb. The car-driver for whom I did this whole circus laughed at me. I remember that sarcastic laugh often and think to myself, why did I do it. I not only jeopardized by own car but all also the driver behind me.
Initially, I took the laughter as a personal insult (here I was being helpful and there this guy is having a wonderful time at my expense), I decided not to help anybody henceforth. Let them wait till eternity for all I care. This was indeed a wrong lesson learned. As a very close person pointed out, I should be discreet while deciding when to help and prepare in advance. And it dawned on me, yes indeed, it is so important to learn the right lesson.
I still err in my judgement but I try to make a conscious decision of learning the right lesson not only from my mistakes but from others as well.
It is so interesting to note that a single experience can have so many facades to it, which lesson you learn and carry with you is as important as to have experienced that encounter in the first place. Let me explain by a simple example:
I was driving through this road and a car was waiting to turn in my lane, no one was allowing that car to make a turn. I saw this from a distance and (even when I should have) I didnt make up my mind as to what I wanted to do, should I wait and let that person enter or should I just drive by since there were a number of cars behind me and slowing down would mean slowing all of them down. At the last moment I decided I needed to help this guy so what I do, I slam on the brakes which brought my Jetta to an immediate halt, the car behind me, couldnt stop in time and had to brake and go on to the curb. The car-driver for whom I did this whole circus laughed at me. I remember that sarcastic laugh often and think to myself, why did I do it. I not only jeopardized by own car but all also the driver behind me.
Initially, I took the laughter as a personal insult (here I was being helpful and there this guy is having a wonderful time at my expense), I decided not to help anybody henceforth. Let them wait till eternity for all I care. This was indeed a wrong lesson learned. As a very close person pointed out, I should be discreet while deciding when to help and prepare in advance. And it dawned on me, yes indeed, it is so important to learn the right lesson.
I still err in my judgement but I try to make a conscious decision of learning the right lesson not only from my mistakes but from others as well.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Regret
If you are expecting to read regret in all its obnoxious form over past relationships or broken hearts or life or marriage or anything serious, this is not the place you should be looking at.
Regret - It is such a heavy word with loads of emotional baggage attached. I, for one, dont generally regret or repent what I have done or any of the decisions I picked from a choice. Hell, I dont even remember half the things I did. Though yesterday I did feel why people say only if they can go back in time and change an incident or do it another way or do something so that the circumstances wont be the same.
I have recently started driving and the experience has been over-whelming for my fellow commuters. I always have this lump in my throat when I drive and if its about going to a new place, where I have previously not driven by myself, I am almost in tears. I hold the steering like its the only hope of life. My brakes become an extension of my body and accelerator is arch rival.
I also feel very cold in general. I have the heater blowing at full speed in my car in winters, only yesterday this was to prove detrimental. On my way back home, I went to my Office Garage, started my car, didnt start my heater however (I should have, I should have). I parked on the 5 th floor so obviously had a long way down. When I was nearing the exit I suddenly realized I am cold and need heater ASAP. No doubt I went ahead and started it, only to take my eyes off the path for a split second and hit sideways to a wall, BAM!!! I had taken a deep turn and there it was this big dent on my car !!!! I was worse than having measles all over my body. My poor car just gave a moan and a jolt (though my husband spoke on behalf of the car and man, was it belittling, he should have been in law enforcement).
On getting down, I could do nothing more but to check the damage down. My Miss Nancy Blue is permanently scarred (well, at least till it gets a make-over, which is out of my budget right now).
I so very much want to go back to that brief second in time, where I would take a wide turn and NEVER EVER take my eyes off the road, not even if I am travelling with Brad Pitt. How I regret feeling cold, if only I could, I would......go back in time....
Regret - It is such a heavy word with loads of emotional baggage attached. I, for one, dont generally regret or repent what I have done or any of the decisions I picked from a choice. Hell, I dont even remember half the things I did. Though yesterday I did feel why people say only if they can go back in time and change an incident or do it another way or do something so that the circumstances wont be the same.
I have recently started driving and the experience has been over-whelming for my fellow commuters. I always have this lump in my throat when I drive and if its about going to a new place, where I have previously not driven by myself, I am almost in tears. I hold the steering like its the only hope of life. My brakes become an extension of my body and accelerator is arch rival.
I also feel very cold in general. I have the heater blowing at full speed in my car in winters, only yesterday this was to prove detrimental. On my way back home, I went to my Office Garage, started my car, didnt start my heater however (I should have, I should have). I parked on the 5 th floor so obviously had a long way down. When I was nearing the exit I suddenly realized I am cold and need heater ASAP. No doubt I went ahead and started it, only to take my eyes off the path for a split second and hit sideways to a wall, BAM!!! I had taken a deep turn and there it was this big dent on my car !!!! I was worse than having measles all over my body. My poor car just gave a moan and a jolt (though my husband spoke on behalf of the car and man, was it belittling, he should have been in law enforcement).
On getting down, I could do nothing more but to check the damage down. My Miss Nancy Blue is permanently scarred (well, at least till it gets a make-over, which is out of my budget right now).
I so very much want to go back to that brief second in time, where I would take a wide turn and NEVER EVER take my eyes off the road, not even if I am travelling with Brad Pitt. How I regret feeling cold, if only I could, I would......go back in time....
Friday, October 12, 2007
Public Education in Aamchi Mumbai
I read an article in Times Of India today about the condition of public schools in Mumbai, how parents are toiling hard to put their children in private schools, paying ever-increasing fees and how the education in public schools need an uplifting.
My mother is a teacher in a Hindi medium BMC school (public schools are also called BMC schools in Mumbai. BMC stands for Brinha Mumbai Corporation). She has been in this profession for about 17 years now and is considered a senior teacher in her school. From what she has told me, here are some of the pros and cons of public education.
Pros:
Government IS investing a lot in Public Education both primary and secondary. Few years back, my mother's school got a number computers, selected teachers were trained in computers so that they could teach students in their school,
the school building is regularly painted and taken care of,
there is a yearly FREE full-body check-up for students,
some students who are in absolute financial crisis are given a waiver on their school fees (even this fee is a nominal fee, the education is free) not only that they are also given old text-books, uniforms and books to write in.
In 1996, Fifth Commission was applicable to teachers, this in layman's terms means, three times increase in salary, this has resulted in a lot of good people applying for a teaching position in BMC, it is no longer a second choice. So the quality of teachers is good.
Some patrons adopt these public schools, giving off free text-books, books, pens, uniforms, etc. My mother's school is in the care of one such patron.
Teachers are reponsible for finishing their courses in time, taking attendance, informing parents if their children are absent for more than a pre-decided number of days. Basically, whatever is done in a private school is and has to be done in public schools as well. Belief that BMC teachers enjoy themselves and not do anything is incorrect and one that should be changed for better.
I myself have met some exceptional students from my mother's school. They are brilliant and you will be surprized at the zest of their knowledge. There was one student, who as my mother fondly remembers a humble, no-nonsense guy, hardly spoke anything but did Math problems faster than my mum (she is a math teacher), he used to find mistakes in publication, in teachers but forever in a humble way. His father used to sell vegetables at the roadside and there was hardly any time to study for him, assisting his father and all, still he did and he passed school with flying colours. Another one, passed out in the same year as my brother, even this guy came from a poor background and went on to do his Engineering from vey reputed college in Mumbai. It is a fact that I did not meet as many bright girls as boys from the school. A fact that I dont very much relish but I dont even have an explanation for.
Students getting highest subject marks, or highest among all BMC schools are saluted by the BMC and given gifts and certificates.
There are many primary and secondary BMC schools spread throughout Mumbai, so accessibility is not an issue.
Cons:
Teachers !!!!
There are some teachers who hold the flag for being the notorious of the bunch and giving a bad name to all the others. I know of one of my mother's colleague who takes leaves like its sunday three times a week. Though she gets pay-cut, and other teachers roll their eyes at her and gossip, there is little fear of her losing her job. That is not done (generally) in public schools. If it would have been a private school, the teacher wouldnt have dared to do it. After all why to do it in the first place, in India, is there any dearth of public holidays?
Teaching methods are outdated, very few fresh teachers are imbibed, there are old, senior teachers with big fat ego who are resilient to changes. Teachers have to be quick, not bored, fresh and not stale by their wisdom. I have met some BMC teachers who are out of their league, very good in their subjects, wanting to make a difference, but they are not enough.
Parents!!!
Students come from a very poor family background, most of the times their parents' care a rat's ass of how they are doing in school. Other times, they are ignorant, they think their responsibility is over once they sent their children to school. I think this is where private schools have an edge, the parents there are overtly conscious and meticulous. They are ready from the word "Go".
In one of a few unfortunate incidents that my mother told me was a girl whose pregnancy test came positive in a routine check-up. She was 3 months up and didnt even know about it, her family was ignorant too.
Turn Around Time!!!
Each decision takes a million light years to be implemented. I dont know whats with the Indian Government offices but a single permission has to be taken from at least a zillion people. Like, this ex-student who had lost his school leaving certificate and wanted a fresh copy, he had to stand in line, then wait for the clerk to finish her lunch, then hear her rant about how irresponsible he was for losing it in the first place and then if there was still time before she left, she would do the favour or would snap to come back the next day. My mother says, it is a 10 minute job straight out.
Awareness !!!!
There is a severe lack of what education means and how to use it among lower middle class of Mumbai. Some students get enrolled in school then leave in between to do nothing, then come back again, not do their homework, involve in all kinds of illegal activites like fights, drugs, etc. Though these problems are not restricted to BMC schools, BMCs have to realize they are on a weaker side. To attract students these activites have to be destroyed in their buds.
All I am trying to say in so many words...
Public Education is good in Mumbai and Government is paying attention. I would recommend people who are not able to afford private schools, give public education a fair chance, it might surprize you.
My mother is a teacher in a Hindi medium BMC school (public schools are also called BMC schools in Mumbai. BMC stands for Brinha Mumbai Corporation). She has been in this profession for about 17 years now and is considered a senior teacher in her school. From what she has told me, here are some of the pros and cons of public education.
Pros:
Government IS investing a lot in Public Education both primary and secondary. Few years back, my mother's school got a number computers, selected teachers were trained in computers so that they could teach students in their school,
the school building is regularly painted and taken care of,
there is a yearly FREE full-body check-up for students,
some students who are in absolute financial crisis are given a waiver on their school fees (even this fee is a nominal fee, the education is free) not only that they are also given old text-books, uniforms and books to write in.
In 1996, Fifth Commission was applicable to teachers, this in layman's terms means, three times increase in salary, this has resulted in a lot of good people applying for a teaching position in BMC, it is no longer a second choice. So the quality of teachers is good.
Some patrons adopt these public schools, giving off free text-books, books, pens, uniforms, etc. My mother's school is in the care of one such patron.
Teachers are reponsible for finishing their courses in time, taking attendance, informing parents if their children are absent for more than a pre-decided number of days. Basically, whatever is done in a private school is and has to be done in public schools as well. Belief that BMC teachers enjoy themselves and not do anything is incorrect and one that should be changed for better.
I myself have met some exceptional students from my mother's school. They are brilliant and you will be surprized at the zest of their knowledge. There was one student, who as my mother fondly remembers a humble, no-nonsense guy, hardly spoke anything but did Math problems faster than my mum (she is a math teacher), he used to find mistakes in publication, in teachers but forever in a humble way. His father used to sell vegetables at the roadside and there was hardly any time to study for him, assisting his father and all, still he did and he passed school with flying colours. Another one, passed out in the same year as my brother, even this guy came from a poor background and went on to do his Engineering from vey reputed college in Mumbai. It is a fact that I did not meet as many bright girls as boys from the school. A fact that I dont very much relish but I dont even have an explanation for.
Students getting highest subject marks, or highest among all BMC schools are saluted by the BMC and given gifts and certificates.
There are many primary and secondary BMC schools spread throughout Mumbai, so accessibility is not an issue.
Cons:
Teachers !!!!
There are some teachers who hold the flag for being the notorious of the bunch and giving a bad name to all the others. I know of one of my mother's colleague who takes leaves like its sunday three times a week. Though she gets pay-cut, and other teachers roll their eyes at her and gossip, there is little fear of her losing her job. That is not done (generally) in public schools. If it would have been a private school, the teacher wouldnt have dared to do it. After all why to do it in the first place, in India, is there any dearth of public holidays?
Teaching methods are outdated, very few fresh teachers are imbibed, there are old, senior teachers with big fat ego who are resilient to changes. Teachers have to be quick, not bored, fresh and not stale by their wisdom. I have met some BMC teachers who are out of their league, very good in their subjects, wanting to make a difference, but they are not enough.
Parents!!!
Students come from a very poor family background, most of the times their parents' care a rat's ass of how they are doing in school. Other times, they are ignorant, they think their responsibility is over once they sent their children to school. I think this is where private schools have an edge, the parents there are overtly conscious and meticulous. They are ready from the word "Go".
In one of a few unfortunate incidents that my mother told me was a girl whose pregnancy test came positive in a routine check-up. She was 3 months up and didnt even know about it, her family was ignorant too.
Turn Around Time!!!
Each decision takes a million light years to be implemented. I dont know whats with the Indian Government offices but a single permission has to be taken from at least a zillion people. Like, this ex-student who had lost his school leaving certificate and wanted a fresh copy, he had to stand in line, then wait for the clerk to finish her lunch, then hear her rant about how irresponsible he was for losing it in the first place and then if there was still time before she left, she would do the favour or would snap to come back the next day. My mother says, it is a 10 minute job straight out.
Awareness !!!!
There is a severe lack of what education means and how to use it among lower middle class of Mumbai. Some students get enrolled in school then leave in between to do nothing, then come back again, not do their homework, involve in all kinds of illegal activites like fights, drugs, etc. Though these problems are not restricted to BMC schools, BMCs have to realize they are on a weaker side. To attract students these activites have to be destroyed in their buds.
All I am trying to say in so many words...
Public Education is good in Mumbai and Government is paying attention. I would recommend people who are not able to afford private schools, give public education a fair chance, it might surprize you.
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