Gulabi Talkiesu (Kannada Movie 2008)

Title: Gulabi Talkiesu (Kannada 2008)
Story: Vaidehi
Director: Girish Kasaravalli
Starring: Umashree, MD Pallavi
Awards: State Awards for Best Movie & Best Director.
National and State Award for Best actress (Umashree)



Gulabi Talkiesu tells the story of Gulabi a burkha clad Muslim woman in the fishing community in the western coastal region of Karnataka. Gulabi is a very useful member in her community since she is a midwife and helps out by delivering babies. As a result she is greatly needed by the community which has both Hindus and Muslims. Gulabi is fond of movies and she never misses an opportunity to watch a movie in the theatres. She enjoys the magical and dreamy experience provided by the movies.

One day she helps in delivering the baby of a local women and as a token of gratitude the woman lets Gulabi have her TV. And she also helps in setting up a dish antenna on the sea shores near Gulabi’s house (which is almost a hut). This changes Gulabi’s life. Not only does she start watching and enjoying the serials and movies that appear on the TV, but she also attracts the women folk from her fishing community to her own movie house. Both Hindu and Muslim women start gathering in her home to watch the TV. Hence the name ‘Gulabi Talkies’, talkies being a colloquial name for a movie theatre in India. This starts a whole chain of events including some domestic altercations in some of the families.

In the background there is also the story involving the livelihood of the community, namely fishing. The community has been working together and sharing the fishing resource equitably until the arrival of Suleman Barri who is rumored to be rich with gulf money and owns a big fishing boat. He upsets the ecosystem by fishing beyond his fair share and thus starts eating into the livelihood of the local fisherman. He also steals the employees from established locals. The other fisherman are unable to stop Suleman Barri. The issue soon takes on a communal tone. The ongoing Kargil war between India and Pakistan becomes an excuse for the ill-treatment of Gulabi and other members of the Muslim community.

This is the backdrop on which the story proceeds. The movie is based on the story written by prominent Kannada writer Vaidehi. It is a great education for those who are not familiar with the western coastal region, its society and its fishing trade. In addition one gets to hear dialogues spoken in the charming local Kannada dialect which is the common language spoken by both the Hindus and the Muslims.

Umashree’s performance as Gulabi is adorable. She rightfully received the National and State awards for best actress for her performance. Others in the cast including M D Pallavi give very natural performances. I felt I was seeing real people of the western coast and not actors.

Girish Kasaravalli who is known for his directorial abilities gives this movie a feel of authenticity and captivates the audience with a very interesting narration. The locales are beautifully captured. The movie brings home the fact that vested and political interests whip communal feelings and sow discord among the members to advance their personal interests.

A conversation with kids

Whenever I have a chance to be with my children I use it to have a chitchat with them. I get such an opportunity, when I am taking them to their music class or dance class,. The fact that they are bound to their seats by their seatbelts helps me in getting their undivided attention.

From personal experience, it is not very difficult to talk to your own children. The best way to go about this is to ask them, simple and open-ended questions about things that are part of their daily lives. By open ended questions I mean those questions that cannot be answered with a yes or a no. As they answer these questions, you show them that you are interested in what they are saying, by responding with more questions. This back and forth creates a conversation. It does not have to be about any serious topic. In fact it is more fun if the subject is casual.

Here is a simple example. You could ask "who is your favorite teacher?" or "who is your best friend?".  When they answer this question, you can react by saying "How come I am not your best-friend?". For this specific question, the response from my daughters aged eleven and five, would be one of disbelief at their father's ignorance.  They will say "Appa!!!! Don't you know you are a dad!! You can only be our dad. You cannot be our best friend".  For fun you can ask silly questions such as "Are there any moms or dads in your class?" for which they might say "Appa you are so silly". That is OK. In fact it is not just OK, it is actually true. That is the whole point.  Believe me, the last and only chance you may have of being silly and childish, is in front of your own kids.  Have faith that whatever you do, they will find it funny or interesting. Don't worry about the possibility of them getting bored and running away from the conversation.  It is not for nothing that I suggested the inside of a car as the ideal setting for this conversation.  They are stuck in their seats and you have the keys and the steering wheel .

Last Sunday, as I was driving my daughters to their dance class I decided to start a conversation.  As can be guessed from the previous paragraphs the questions about best friends and favorite teachers were already used up during previous occasions. So, while driving on that Sunday morning, in my mind, I start to look for a topic.  It is 8.15 in the morning and as we are driving on Interstate 880 in San Jose, I see that the whole area is engulfed in thick fog. It is cloudy but it is not raining. We could not see beyond one hundred or two hundred meters. Trees, buildings and oncoming traffic were made obscure by the thick fog.  It was fun to see a big truck with lights, emerge suddenly from behind the fog on the other side of the divided highway. I was enjoying this setting but the daughters looked a bit perplexed by the fog and were watching it with quiet trepidation.  So I decided to break the ice by talking to them about the fog that was all around us.

I addressed both my daughters and said " Oh, I really love this fog. Do you like this fog?" My eleven year old daughter Ruchira responded "But wait! why do you like the fog appa?". My mind was in favor of going into a tizzy wondering how to answer this question.

But I ruled against it and concentrated on the question and I got the answer. Then the conversation proceeded thus.

Me: "I like it because it appears mysterious. Do you like things that are mysterious?" 

Ruchira: "I like mystery novels"

Apurva: "Me too" (the little five year old did not want to be left out of the conversation)

Ruchira: "You haven't read any mystery novel Apurva. Do you even know what is a mystery novel?"

Apurva: "Yaa. I know.  What is a mystery novel"
Ruchira: "It is like a detective story"
Apurva: "What is diktektive story?"
Ruchira: "A detective is like Sherlock Holmes"
Apurva: "Oh yaa. I know Sherlock Holmes"
Ruchira: "C'mon Apurva!! You don't know Sherlock Holmes"
Apurva: "Yaa I do"
Ruchira: "No you don't. Have you read any Sherlock Holmes mystery?"
Me: "It is OK Ruchira. I believe Apurva. So Apurva, you know Sherlock Holmes? Who is Sherlock Holmes puttu?"
Apurva: "She is a princess"
Ruchira:" See I told you. She does not know Sherlock Holmes"
Apurva: " Ya I do. "
Me: "How come you know Sherlock Holmes paapu?"
Apurva: "Because I saw her in Tom and Jerry"
Ruchira: "Oooohhhhhh!  That one!!! Appa she is talking about the movie 'Tom and Jerry meet Sherlock Holmes'.  But Apurva, there is no princess in that"

Apurva: "Yaa there is. She has red hair"

Ruchira: "Apurva!! Not everybody you see in a cartoon movie is a princess. She is just a person. Don't you know that"

Apurva: "I knew that"

Ruchira: "No. You did not know that. You don't know anything"

Apurva: "No! You don't know anything. (crying).. Appa, Ruchira is being mean to me"

Ruchira: "No I am not being mean. I am just saying"

Apurva: "Stop it. I don't like you".

As the situation is about to take a wrong turn,  we fortunately arrive at the dance teacher's house. They both get down from the car and head towards their dance class. As they walk, I can hear them say in hushed voices "You don't know anything". "No, you don't know anything".

I lean back on the driver's seat and for the next hour loose myself in T. K Rama Rao's detective novel.

Kannada Rajyothsava on Stanford Radio. 2011 Nov 9th Wednesday 6.00 AM to 9.00 AM PST

Kannada Rajyothsava on Stanford Radio. 2011 Nov 9th Wednesday 6.00 AM to 9.00 AM PST

Date: 2011 Nov 9th Wednesday
6.00 AM (PST) - 7.30 AM (PST) - Music
7.30 AM (PST) - 9.00 AM (PST) - Suvarna Karnataka Vaibhava - a review of Karnataka's history, art, culture, literature, movies, music and famous personalities - starting from 300BC to contemporary times. This is a rebroadcast of the program that was first aired in 2006 November to celebrate Karnataka's Suvarna Mahothsava. (50th year).


Live On Radio: Stanford KZSU 90.1 FM (in California Bay area)
Live On Internet: http://www.itsdiff.com/Kannada.html
(listen from anywhere in the world)
Host: Madhu Krishnamurthy
Please also check this site for latest information. http://rasikararajya.blogspot.com/
Note to people listening in India: The program is from 7.30 PM to 10.30 PM IST on Wednesday night.

Temptations

Oh look, what's here!

A bowl of M&Ms.

I feel like having one. 

nope..

nope.. 

Just keep walking away,

don't even look at it.

But, it is so tempting!

True, but this is your chance

to learn to overcome temptations.

But wait, 

the best way to do that

is by yielding to them, right?

So, I guess it is ok

to have just one and not more.

Yes, but listen,

after the first one

there is no stopping.

Ok, here is the deal,

I will have one and

let the temptation grow bigger.

For, greater the temptation,

greater is the satisfaction of

overcoming the temptation.

Yes,

One M&M now, is the right choice.

ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಜನ್ಮಾಷ್ಟಮಿಯಂದು ನೆನಪಾದ ಡುಂಡಿರಾಜರ ಹನಿಗವನಗಳು

ಇಂದು ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಜನ್ಮಾಷ್ಟಮಿ ಪ್ರಯುಕ್ತ ಮಿಲ್ಪಿಟಾಸ್‍ನ ಸತ್ಯನಾರಾಯಣ ದೇವಾಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರೀಯ ಸಂಗೀತದ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳ ಗುಂಪೊಂದು ಕೆಲವು ಕೃತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಮತ್ತು ಕೆಲವು ಭಜನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹಾಡುವ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮವಿತ್ತು. ನನ್ನ ಹನ್ನೊಂದು ವರುಷದ ಮಗಳು ಹಾಡುವವಳಿದ್ದರಿಂದ ಅವಳನ್ನು ಕರೆದುಕೊಂಡು, ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆ ಮಂದಿಯೆಲ್ಲ ಕಾರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಗ ಕಾರಿನಲ್ಲಿ 96.1 FM ರೇಡಿಯೋದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೇಳಿಬಂದಿದ್ದು ಮಹಿಮಾ ಕ್ರಿಯೇಶನ್ಸ್ ಅವರ ಗಂಧದಗುಡಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ. ಇಂದು ಗೋಕುಲಾಷ್ಟಮಿ ಪ್ರಯುಕ್ತ ಕೃಷ್ಣನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ರಸಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ – ಕೃಷ್ಣನಿಗೆ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಪ್ರಿಯವಾದ ತಿಂಡಿ ಯಾವುದು? ನನಗೆ ಕೂಡಲೆ ಹೊಳೆದದ್ದು ಅವಲಕ್ಕಿ ಎಂಬ ತಿಂಡಿಪದಾರ್ಥ ಅಲ್ಲ! ಬದಲಾಗಿ ಅವಲಕ್ಕಿ ಎಂಬ ಡುಂಡಿರಾಜರ ಈ ಕವಿತೆ.


ಯಾಕೆಂದರೆ ಕೃಷ್ಣನಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಿಯವಾದ ಅವಲಕ್ಕಿ ನೆನಪಿಗೆ ಬಂದರೆ ಅದರ ಹಿಂದೆಯೇ ಬರುತ್ತದೆ ಅವನ ಮತ್ತು ಸುದಾಮನ ಗೆಳೆತನದ ನೆನಪು. ಕಡು ಬಡವನಾದ ಸುದಾಮ, ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣನನ್ನು ಕಾಣಲು ಅವನ ಆಸ್ಥಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದಾಗ ಕೇವಲ ಒಂದು ಹಿಡಿ ಅವಲಕ್ಕಿ ತಂದುಕೊಡುತ್ತಾನೆ. ತನ್ನ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತನು ನೀಡಿದ ಈ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ಕಾಣಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ಸಂತುಷ್ಟನಾಗಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣನು ಸುದಾಮನಿಗೆ ಅಷ್ಟೈಷ್ವರ್ಯವನ್ನು ನೀಡಿ ಅವನ ಕಡು ಬಡತನವನ್ನು ನಿವಾರಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಕಥೆಯ ಈ ಸಾರವನ್ನು ಡುಂಡಿರಾಜರು ಈ ಕೆಲವೇ ಸಾಲುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸೆರೆ ಹಿಡಿದು, ಅವಲಕ್ಕಿ ಪದದೊಂದಿಗೆ PUNಆಟವಾಡಿ ಸೊಗಸಾದ ಹನಿಗವನದ ರಸಪಾಕವನ್ನು ಓದುಗರಿಗೆ ನೀಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಅವಲಕ್ಕಿ

ಗೆಳೆಯನ ನೋಡಲು
ಹೋದ ಸುಧಾಮ
ಕೊಟ್ಟನು ಹಿಡಿ ಅವಲಕ್ಕಿ
ಸಿಕ್ಕಿತು ಬದಲಿಗೆ
ಅಷ್ಟೈಶ್ವರ್ಯ
ನಿಜವಾಗಿಯೂ ಅವ ’ಲಕ್ಕಿ’

ನಾನಂತು ಡುಂಡಿರಾಜರ ಹನಿಗವನಗಳನ್ನು ಓದುವುದಷ್ಟೆ ಅಲ್ಲದೆ, ನಾನು ಓದಿದ್ದನ್ನು ನನ್ನ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಅಥವಾ ಸಂತೋಷಕೂಟಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇತರ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಹಂಚಿಕೊಂಡು ಆನಂದಿಸಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಇವರು ನಾಟಕಗಳನ್ನು ಮತ್ತು ಆಂಕಣ ಬರಹಗಳನ್ನು ಸಹ ಬರೆದು ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧರಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಇವರು ರಚಿಸಿದ ನಾಟಕ ’ಕೊರಿಯಪ್ಪನ ಕೊರಿಯೋಗ್ರಫಿ’, ೨೦೧೦ ಮೇನಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಯಾನ್ ಹೊಸೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನಗೊಂಡಿತು, ಶರ್ಮಿಳಾ ವಿದ್ಯಾಧರ ಅವರು ನಿರ್ದೇಶಿಸಿದ ಈ ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊರಿಯಪ್ಪನ ಪಾತ್ರವನ್ನು ನಿರ್ವಹಿಸುವ ಅವಕಾಶ ನನಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದ್ದು ನನ್ನ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಭಾಗ್ಯ. ಈ ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊರಿಯಪ್ಪನಾಗಿ ನಾನು ಡುಂಡಿರಾಜರ ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನು ಆಡುತ್ತ, ಅವರ ಶುದ್ಧವಾದ, ಅದ್ಭುತವಾದ ಹಾಸ್ಯವನ್ನು ಪ್ರದರ್ಶಿಸುತ್ತ ನಟಿಸಿದ ಅನುಭವ ನನ್ನ ಪಾಲಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ಮಹತ್ ಘಟನೆ. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ ನನಗೆ ಡುಂಡಿರಾಜರ ಮೇಲೆ ಅಪಾರವಾದ ಅಭಿಮಾನ ಬೆಳೆಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೇನೆ.

ಕಳೆದು ತಿಂಗಳು ನಾನು ಭಾರತಕ್ಕೆ ಪ್ರವಾಸ ಹೋದಾಗ ಅವರನ್ನು ಫೇಸ್‍ಬುಕ್ಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಪರ್ಕಿಸಿ ಅವರನ್ನು ಬೇಟಿಯಾಗುವ ಆಶಯವನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಸಿದೆ. ಅವರು ಬಹಳ ಸಂತೋಷದಿಂದ ಅವರನ್ನು ಭೇಟಿಯಾಗಲು ಅನುಕೂಲವಾಗುವಂತೆ ವಿವರಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡಿದರು. ಮತ್ತು ನಾನು ಅವರನ್ನು ಭೇಟಿ ಮಾಡಲು ಹೋದಾಗ ಬಹಳ ಆತ್ಮೀಯತೆಯಿಂದ ಮಾತನಾಡಿಸಿದರು. ಅವರನ್ನು ಭೆಟ್ಟಿಯಾಗಿ ಅವರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕೆಲ ಹೊತ್ತು ಮಾತನಾಡಿದ್ದು ನನಗೆ ಬಹಳ ಸಂತೋಷವಾಯಿತು.

ಈ ಮೊದಲೇ ತಿಳಿಸಿದ ರೇಡಿಯೋ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ಅಮೇರಿಕದಲ್ಲಿ ನೇರ ಪ್ರಸಾರವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಇಂದಿನ ಗೋಕುಲಾಷ್ಟಮಿ ವಿಶೇಷ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನು ಕರೆ ಮಾಡಿ ಕೃಷ್ಣನ ಪ್ರಿಯವಾದ ತಿನಿಸು ಅವಲಕ್ಕಿ ಎಂದು ಸರಿಯುತ್ತರ ನೀಡಿದ್ದಷ್ಟೇ ಅಲ್ಲದೆ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಸುದಾಮರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಡುಂಡಿರಾಜರು ಬರೆದ ಅವಲಕ್ಕಿ ಕವಿತೆಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹೇಳಿ ಆ ಕವಿತೆಯನ್ನು ವಾಚಿಸಿದೆ.

ನಂತರ ಹಾಗೆಯೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಯೋಚಿಸಿದಾಗ ಡುಂಡಿರಾಜರ ಇನ್ನು ಕೆಲವು ಹನಿಗವನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಕಾಣಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾನಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ನೆನಪಾಯಿತು. ಡುಂಡಿರಾಜರ ಈ ಕವನಗಳನ್ನು ನೆನೆಪಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಈ ಬಾರಿಯ ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣಜನ್ಮಾಷ್ಟಮಿಯನ್ನು ಯಾಕೆ ಆಚರಿಸಬಾರದು ಎನಿಸಿತು. ಹಾಗಾಗಿ, ಹನಿಗವನದ ಸಾಮ್ರಾಟರು ಎಂದು ಕರೆಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಡುಂಡಿರಾಜರ ಕೆಲವು ಹನಿಗವನಗಳು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸವಿಯುವಿಕೆಗಾಗಿ. 


ಚಕ್ರ
ಎಷ್ಟೊಂದು ರುಂಡಗಳ
ಚಂಡಾಡಿತ್ತು ಅಂದು
ಮುರಾರಿಯ ಚಕ್ರ.
ಇಂದು ಆ ಕಾರ್ಯ
ನಿರ್ವಹಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ
ಬಸ್ಸು, ಕಾರು,
ಲಾರಿಯ ಚಕ್ರ

ಈಗಿನವರು
ರಾಧೆಯ ಗೆದ್ದನು ಆ ಗೊಲ್ಲ
ರುಕ್ಮಿಣಿಯ ಕದ್ದನು ಆ ಗೊಲ್ಲ
ಹದಿನಾರು ಸಾವಿರ
ಮಡದಿಯರನ್ನು
ಸಂಭಾಳಿಸಿದನು ಆ ಗೊಲ್ಲ
ಈಗಿನವರಿಂದ
ಆಗೊಲ್ಲ

ಈ ರಾಧೆ
ಹತಾಶಳಾಗದೆ
ಕಾಯುತ್ತಿರುವಳು
ಪಾರ್ಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ರಾಧೆ
ಕೃಷ್ಣ ತಪ್ಪಿದರೆ
ರಾಮರೂ ಇದ್ದಾರೆ
ಎಂಬುದೆ ಅವಳ ಇರಾದೆ

ನನಗೆ
ಕೃಷ್ಣನಿಗೆ ಸಾವಿರಾರು
ಹೆಂಡಿರಿದ್ದರಂತೆ
ನನಗೆ ಒಬ್ಬಳೆ
ಆದರೂ
ಸಾವಿರಾರು ಚಿಂತೆ

ಗೀತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ
ಗೀತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೃಷ್ಣ
ಹೇಳಿದ್ದಾನೆ
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Dare to raise your hands

"I wish I had utilized my college days to develop the courage to ask for clarifications, to gain the skills of being open about my understanding of an issue in a group and to develop the confidence to face criticism and disapproval from peers and authority figures.

About two weeks back, I visited my Engineering college in Bangalore and walked past many of the old haunts and took some pictures. Now I am back in US and a couple of days back I read David Brook's blog about Living with Mistakes. The article talks about the importance of not being afraid of making mistakes. It asserts that many great organizations have achieved success only after making mistakes. What made a greater impact on me was a comment to the article which I have reproduced here. "Dare to raise your hand even if you're not sure of the answer, because even if you get it wrong, the benefit of your remembering the right answer, after getting it wrong, is well worth it!". I felt this was a very powerful comment and felt motivated to write this article. 

Puzzled in college

As I was looking through some of the pictures I took of my Engineering College, a lot of memories came back to me. I could not help wish, that I had the benefit of David Brook's article during my college days. I regret I did not have the confidence to make mistakes and learn from them during my college days.

At that time in my college I had started feeling that everyone else in my class knew more than me. In class the professors would call on students and ask questions. When ever I did not understand some topics, it appeared there were many others who seemed to know it all and would ask what were apparently intelligent questions or 'doubts' as we used to call them. So there was a lot of pressure to appear competent or to not appear incompetent, while answering a question or while asking one. 

Interesting professors

Some professors said things which were unforgettable. One professor would ask students to stand up when he asked question and if the student answered wrong he would say "tappu" (WRONG!). Then he proceeded to rub it in by saying "Didn't you read the notes from last class? Where is it? Show me! Do you have it or did you use it to wipe your nephew's bottom?" 

There was another professor who's class would start at 7.20 AM in a dusty corner room at the end of a long corridor. It would be quite gloomy there and having to travel an hour in a BTS (Bangalore Transport Service) bus before the class, did not help.  During the class the professor would call on students who had nervous looks on their faces and conduct a spot quiz.  When the student did not answer satisfactorily he would scold them in a very intimidating way. There were some students who were unfortunate enough to be picked up for this treatment too often. One such unfortunate student was a nice guy called Bisi Reddy. I suspect the professor picked on him simply because he found his name interesting and he could admonish him with "I need to put some Bisi (heat) on you".

Another favorite person of this professor was 'last man'. 'Last man' was any student who was unwise enough to sit in the last bench. The professor would routinely keep writing something on the board and suddenly without turning would say " Last man! Stand up and tell me what are the advantages of a Yagi Uda antenna". No one would want to own up to the name of 'last man'. Hearing no response from the class he would quip "So is the 'last man' absent today?". Then he would turn around and call on one of the occupants of the last bench to answer the question. If the student did not answer, the professor would turn red with anger and scold him with choice words. Most students were quite scared of landing up in this situation.  (If I think of it now, I wonder why we had to be so scared. Now I am a bit concerned because, soon my little daughters will ask a similar question  "Why should we be afraid of dad giving us a timeout")

The subject taught by this professor was Antennas and for various reasons I was not receiving it well and often found myself tuned-out in the class. The biggest concern I had was that I would be called on to answer a question. I was convinced that I would not know the answer and would face horrible embarrassment and verbal abuse. Many other students feared the same and we all had found a way of avoiding it.  The strategy  was to come to class ahead of others and occupy the front bench before anybody else does. The adage "the safest place is right under the nose of the enemy" was literally true for us. The professor would stand right above us on a platform and would mercifully look over us training all his weapons on the unfortunate 'last man'. I must add that the professor taught well and was no enemy of us but the proverb is useful in this instance.  

As is evident, I wanted to hide from the professor and avoid being asked questions. Such being the case, it was way out of line for me to ask questions on my own or participate in a class room discussion.  Added to this was the feeling that every other student in the class seemed to be better prepared than me. Whenever I did not understand some concepts, I would just think that I needed to go home and read it on my own rather than risk embarrassment by asking for a clarification or for greater explanation of the concept. This I realized later was a very unwise thing to do. I wish I had utilized my college days to develop the courage to ask for clarifications, to gain the skills of being open about my understanding of an issue in a group and to develop the confidence to face criticism and disapproval from peers and authority figures.

Pre-University days

Before going to Engineering college we all had to study the eleventh and twelfth year of school in what is called a Pre-University course.  

My college was very selective in giving admission and the student population generally included very good students from the best schools in the neighborhood. Subjects like calculus, trigonometry and science were a bit overwhelming - especially the labs in chemistry and physics. I was experiencing labs for the first time and it was very confusing. The experiments needed a series of steps and I wanted to make sure I got them right and so I would ask a lot of questions. While the teacher answered the questions patiently my own teammate with whom I had to do the experiments seemed to be getting extremely embarrassed at all my questions. At some point he made a very curt remark at me "You are asking too many silly questions. Stop asking them". The stupid guy made such an impact on me that from then on I hesitated to ask questions even when I did not understand the topic. This kind of hesitation is self serving. In the beginning you don't ask questions because you think it may be a stupid question. Before you know you will be half way through the course and you would still have lingering doubts and questions but it would be too late and embarrassing to ask them. The term would end with an unsatisfactory learning experience. This carried on to engineering too leading to the situations I wrote earlier in this article.

A second chance

After completing my Engineering I took up a job and I would often wish that I could go back to my college days and go through the education again - this time doing it the right way without making the same mistakes. I would think "If only I could get a second chance, I will not hesitate to stand up and ask for an explanation when it did not make sense to me.  I would seek out the professors and clarify my 'doubts' at the risk of appearing incompetent in front of the professors and other students." I did get a second chance at going to college after working for four years. But this time it was at an university in New Mexico, USA where I went on to complete my graduate degree.

I don't get it Prof

Given my  past experience,  student life in New Mexico, USA had a pleasant change of atmosphere which was greatly welcome to me.  The relationship between the professors and students was more casual. The professors wore shorts and students would call them by their first names without adding the title 'professor'. The staff treated students as if they were equals. Students would come to class with a can of coke and sit with their legs crossed on the table. One fact that certainly caught my attention was this. When  the professor asked questions the American students did not hesitate to say "I don't know" or answered with whatever they knew. What appeared even more impressive to me was this. During the lecture a student in a pony tail would tell in a loud voice "Hold on David. I don't get it. You are going too fast". At which point the professor would patiently explain what the student was missing. I must admit, this had a lot to do with the fact that we were graduate students. (I also admit I secretly desired that someday I would be able to talk to the professor as the American students did)

Questions welcome

There were also situations when things were slightly different. There was one professor who taught a subject called Finite Automata which was very challenging or at least the professor made it tough and kept reminding students how it is not going to be easy. He was very tough in the class and more so when he graded the exam papers. He believed in tough love and some students (including Americans) were generally scared of him.  Most students played it safe by remaining quiet in the class. But this being my second chance, I had the benefit of experience and I had decided that I would not make the same mistakes I had made in my previous college life. Early in the course I had a difficult time understanding a concept and reached a dead-end in my efforts to learn it on my own. I had no choice but to go and ask him for help.  I went to visit him in his office and explained that I was having problems with a certain concept and wanted to clarify my understanding.  When I asked him my questions ('doubts' as many Indian students would call them much to the amusement of Americans) he not only answered them well but said something that encouraged me. "See it is good for me to listen to your questions. For me, the concepts in my subject are quite clear because I am familiar with it. But there are lots of missing links in your mind, The problem is, I do not know what those missing links are. I do not know what puzzles you, what confuses you. But I would like to know. So, you should come and talk to me as often as you can". These words from him had such a comforting effect on me that I found myself being very attentive in his class and was able to get a better grasp of the subject.  In fact the class turned out to be very enjoyable after that.  His attitude towards students has helped me be a better person whenever I am in the position of a teacher such as teaching my own daughters or while explaining to my co-workers.

Handling incorrect answers

When it comes to the topic of a professor quizzing the students, I am reminded of another professor whose style of asking questions and responding to students was really encouraging. This professor would ask a question and if somebody answered wrong he would grin and close his eyes and wrinkle his nose and say "uuummmm ... you could say that.. but I am looking for something different". Eventually he would go around asking whoever raised their hand and finally get the answer he was looking for. Such supportive environment  gives the students the confidence to open up and participate in class activities, which is very important to develop self-esteem and confidence, which become extremely important in the real life which come after college.

Honest feedback

When it comes to giving feedback or praise to students, I do agree that the teachers have to be honest and deliver critical feedback instead of avoiding them. But there is also some merit to the sentiment that there are times when it is wise to hold back honest critical assessment - especially when such critical feedback runs the risk of throwing cold water on the receiver's enthusiasm. Such criticisms might  have the sad outcome of completely extinguishing a person's spirit.

The intent of this article is not to generalize the teaching styles in India or in the US. It is just my personal experience.  I have come across professors in US who just recited mechanically what they knew, without bothering to know how much the students had understood. On the other hand I have had many teachers and professors in India who were such noble people that they personified the image of the knowledgeable and benevolent guru. They not only excelled as teachers but also showed love and care towards  their students.  I wish more and more students get to benefit from such teachers. Such teachers are sensitive to the needs, strengths and limitations of all their students. Such teachers will not only teach the right lessons but will also help their students learn from their mistakes.

Golden opportunity

Irrespective of the teachers and their methods, it is the student who has to take personal responsibility for getting the best out of his or her educational experience. Students should dare to raise their hands when asked questions and should not shun participation for the fear of making mistakes. Life in school and college provides golden opportunities for the student to gain invaluable life skills and grow as a person. Good teachers will enable the growth of their students by providing and maintaining a supportive learning environment. 

Movie: "Inside Job" looks for culprits in the global financial crisis of 2008

New York's financial district

Title:  Inside job (2010)

Awards: Oscar Award Winner for the  Best Documentary film of 2010

Produced, Written, Directed by: Charles Ferguson

Narrated by: Matt Damon

Score: 7 out of 10



Verdict:   A very good documentary about  the financial crisis of 2008 that caused ripple effects across the globe. It explores the roles played by various individuals who were inside players in the world of finance and their complicity in the economic meltdown. The movie features tough face-to-face interviews with financial consultants, lobbyists, some people from the government and of course the villains from Wall street. Odd as it may sound this movie features some great music and excellent aerial photography of New York's financial district.



The movie is organized in 5 parts.

Part 1: How we got there 

Part II: The Bubble (2001-2007)

Part III: The Crisis

Part IV: Accountability

Part V: Where We Are Now

The movie starts off with the caption "Tens of millions of people lost their savings, their jobs and their homes. This is how it happened."  That line supports one reason why I like to watch documentaries. Some times when a potentially important news story breaks out, I miss the beginning. Then I start paying attention only when the issue becomes front page news daily, leaving me feeling that I need to know how it all started. So I like watching a documentary to catch up on the details right from the beginning.

 

The director Charles Ferguson lamented during his Oscar acceptance speech that not a single person has gone to jail for his or her role in causing this crisis. After watching the movie I felt that he has the conviction to say it. In this movie he demonstrates his good understanding of the financial systems. Watching him pose tough follow-up questions to the alleged culprits, we can appreciate his solid preparation for making this movie. It is also good for us that he also possesses good skills in making movies. Through expert evidence, illustrative information and interviews, he lays bare the criminal neglect displayed by the regulatory bodies. In some cases we see that they actively contributed to the financial crisis.

The movie refers to great number of academic papers and memos which had tried to warn of the impending financial crisis. One paper that draw my attention was by Raghuram Rajan - Chief Economist from the IMF. In this paper titled "Has financial development made the world riskier?" the author's conclusion is a 'yes'.  The movie helps the viewers grasp key material from such papers by highlighting the appropriate sections. 

It is a treat to watch and listen to highly analytical and scholarly dissection of the problem by financial and economic experts like Paul Volcker (Fed Chairman in the late 70s and 80s) , George Soros (investor),  Nouriel Roubini (academic), Charles Morris (Author of The Two Trillion Dollar Meltdown); Elliot Spitzer (former Governor of New York). The movie even features some conversation with Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the now-disgraced Chairman of the IMF.

This movie should be of interest to students of finance and economics and anyone interested in knowing who were responsible for the global financial crisis of 2008.