Reservations - My Perspective!

In one of my past classes, my students initiated a discussion about Reservation system in India. The latest inclusion of Jains being included in the reservation by the central government. The discussion was obviously about whether it is right or wrong.

They posed questions to me as to why should there be reservation? and do Jains need it? etc. Overall the gist of their questions, statement and arguments was that reservation is an achievement. Every one wants to get under that umbrella. This forced me to think whether it is really an achievement. I think otherwise. I feel getting under the quota means your clan is in the category which cannot develop itself on its own. Your people are not self-sufficient, neither are they capable enough to move ahead inn life. Isn't it belittling your intellect, your capacity, YOURSELF?

So while talking to students I got some ideas about how should reservation be. Reservation was for the under-priviledged, for the poor. Initially an entire class "Shudra" came under this poor category.Reservation at that time, was justified. But shouldn't there be some liimit to the number of reserved category people in the country? I can explain this better with an example.

Suppose there's a Mr.X who comes under quota because he is literally poor and has very less privileges. He gets education at cheaper fees. Admission in higher education even with lesser grades. He gets a job even though there are other general category candidates with better merit. Now this Mr.X gets a government job with sixth pay commission (soon to be seventh). He starts earning a handsome five-six figure salary per month. Now isn't the purpose of bringing up Mr. X's family,solved?

With such good income and immense job security, he can admit his children in a better school. He can provide his children with better infrastructure at home. Shouldn't these children now apply for competitive exams from the general category? Do they? Most of them don't. So even they get all those benefits which actually should have gone to someone like Mr.X who may still be very poor. Mr.X didn't have the exposure, he went through all the hardships of living a minority life. Did his children go through the same?

Every Mr.X must understand that when he asks his son/daughter to appear under quota, he is doing two blunders. First, he is belittling their intellect. He is making his own daughter/son feel, believe, and understand that they are lesser than the general category students. Second, he is taking away the chance of another really needy student who needs that quota seat because he is facing all those difficulties that Mr. X once faced.

Wouldn't Mr.X be proud, if his children cracked competitive exams from the general category? And if every such Mr.X doesn't understand his moral duty, isn't it time for the leaders to think?

Amdavad - A hungry city

The UNLIMITED Mania

Ahmedabad or Amdavad, as it is popularly known amongst locals, is a place of foodies. At any point of time, be it any nook or corner of the city, be rest assured that good food is nearby. The entrepreneur has to keep two things in mind for success in food business in Amdavad. One is good taste and the second-reasonable pricing.

One might feel, that Amdavad must be an easy market for any  restaurateur. But that's not so. Amdavadi is known for his understanding of the value for money. This is a place where Jasuben Pizza competes Dominos and Pizza Hut. A city where Papa John's and Smokin' Joes had to close down. A place where Jay Bhavani better known as J.B. gives a tough fight to McDonald's.

Amdavadi is more interested to have a full unlimited platter at a certain (reasonable) rate. Combos, fixed meals at discounted rates are appreciated more. This is a place where even Pizza Hut had to give combos to attract customers. 

One glimpse at any classifieds page gives you an idea of the number of restaurants promoting unlimited offers. Any restaurant which does not offer fix meals, combos, or unlimited buffets is bound to struggle for existence.

The Amdavadi psychology is " charge me once, give me all, let me choose." Any restaurant which best satisfies this psychology with lip-smacking food is entitled to do great business.

The trend actually started some years back with some Gujarati speciality restaurants serving unlimited fixed meals (eat as much as you can) at pre-determined rates. Every local (almost) here has a set mind that fixed meals are economical. The trend had to be accepted by other Indian cuisine restaurants. The psychology is so strong that even multi-national companies had to bow down.

In short, Amdavadis love food but they love and respect money as well. Serve them value for money and they will see to it that you earn high revenue.

Time Please

Tell me, all you time pieces,
Why are you so discriminating  species?
The good times pass like a rock song,
The bad times, seem to last very long.

You run fast, when we are happily asleep,
And make the alarm quickly beep.
Your hands race when we are at play,
They rest, when we have a boring day.

The day seems half, when we picnic
It doubles, when we feel sick.
Bright days seem to quickly fade,
Darkness seems to grow instead.

Good times simply go unnoticed,
Bad times, don't get out of notice.
Times should be happy than of sorrow,
As good times, we can't even borrow.

All time pieces, I request to you!
Give us bad times but very few!
Let us have lots of fun
Make us enjoy, the sea, the beach and the sun.

Style Statement

           Today in the morning, while driving to work, I had to stop at a red signal. I was on my two wheeler observing others who had to stop in the rat race. There were many others on two wheelers, three wheelers and four wheelers. Almost all faces looked quite bored with the same routine life of going to work in the morning, getting stuck in traffic and deep breathing polluted air.
         
           But there was one guy (a rikshawalla) who looked in complete contrast to the occasion. Neither did he look bored, nor  frustrated with the traffic. He had an attitude of his own. He looked like some Bollywood hero who looks cool even in the most dull jobs. The reason he grabbed my attention was the way he had dressed and the way his body language was. He was wearing a bright red T-shirt and light blue jeans. He had a stylish black cap on and cool blue aviators (all this in an auto). Most stunning of all, he sported a pony which came out of the strap of his cap and a stubble to go along this dude look.

           All of this happened in a matter of thirty seconds, until the signal permitted us to go. But I discovered in those thirty seconds, that when a person has that attitude to look cool and stylish, he can do it no matter what work he does. Even that ricksawalla looked much more impressive than many of us wearing formals and going to work.