Obama would have loved dinner date with Gandhi ... (so would have I)

Washington: US president Barack Obama has said that given a chance he would have liked to have dinner with Mahatma Gandhi, whom he considered a real hero.

Obama expressed his desire in response to a question from a student Lilly during his discussion with 9th graders at Wakefield high school in Arlington, Virginia where he, accompanied with the education secretary, gave a national speech welcoming students back to school. Obama called for students to take responsibility and to learn from their failures so that they succeed in the end.

“Hi. I’m Lilly. And if you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be,” Obama was asked by one of the students. “Dinner with anyone dead or alive? Well, you know, dead or alive, that’s a pretty big list,” Obama responded amidst laughter. The next moment he was serious.

“You know, I think that it might be Gandhi, who is a real hero of mine,” Obama said. “Now, it would probably be a really small meal because he didn’t eat a lot,” he said amidst laughter. But Mahatma Gandhi is someone who has inspired people across the world, he said.

Terming the iconic figure as the source of inspiration for many, Obama said “he (Mahatma Gandhi) is somebody whom I find a lot of inspiration in. He inspired Dr King (Martin Luther), so if it hadn’t been for the non-violent movement in India, you might not have seen the same non-violent movement for civil rights here in the United States.”

“What was interesting was that he ended up doing so much and changing the world just by the power of his ethics, by his ability to change how people saw each other and saw themselves — and help people who thought they had no power realise that they had power, and then help people who had a lot of power realise that if all they’re doing is oppressing people, then that’s not a really good exercise of power,” Obama said.

Mahatma Gandhi has always been a source of inspiration for Barack Obama. “In my life, I have always looked to Mahatma Gandhi as an inspiration, because he embodies the kind of transformational change that can be made when ordinary people come together to do extraordinary things,” he wrote in the ethnic India Abroad newspaper last year. PTI

SOCIAL SITES MAKE A KILLING

When virtual cash brings real gain

Singapore: By selling an array of virtual products from avatar clothes to e-furniture, Asia’s social networking sites appear to have solved the conundrum of how to leverage big profits from their extensive user bases.

It’s simple, they say, the money might be virtual but the profits are all too real. Chinese university student Tan Shengrong spends about 20 yuan ($2.90) per month purchasing outfits for her pet penguin avatar or playing games on QQ, an instant message portal on Qzone, China’s most popular social networking site.

It might not seem like a hefty sum, but every fen, or cent, is money in the bank for Tencent Holdings, which owns Qzone and saw an 85% increase in its second quarter net profit this year compared to 2008 despite the economic downturn.

From virtual clothes to epets, Asians spend an estimated $5 billion a year on virtual purchases via websites such as Qzone, Cyworld in South Korea and mobile-phone based network Gree in Japan, according to Plus Eight Star. That’s about 80% of the global market for virtual products, it says.

Of the virtual sales in Asia, about 80% comes from the sale of such items as equipment for online games such as rods for GREE’s fishing game Tsuri Star 2. The rest comes from purchases for avatars on networking sites.

East Asian societies are also very status conscious. Players are loath to be the only avatar without the latest gear and Asians are perhaps more willing than counterparts in the west to buy products to update their avatars or social space. REUTERS

Funds From The Initiative Will Be Used For Charity

tudents to bid for a day out with CEOs

Shruthi Balakrishna | TNN

Bangalore: Imagine bidding for Infosys mentor N R Narayana Murthy or Biocon Ltd CEO Kiran Mazumdar Shaw just to spend a day with them. The students of Indian School of Business (ISB) are willing to pay any price to spend a day with their favourite CEO through a unique initiative called ‘Shadow a CEO’.

The Hyderabad-based ISB aims to connect the CEOs and students through the initiative. Participating students will bid in an online auction. Funds raised from the auction will go for a social cause. This will fulfil two aims—involvement of corporate India in a social cause and a networking opportunity between current and future business leaders.

In case a student fails to win the bid, then the money will be returned. ‘‘It is designed by the students to combine a business goal and a social cause. It allows students to understand the importance of doing business that not only helps an individual but society as well,’’ ISB dean Ajit Rangnekar told TOI. The initiative has been designed to participate in the ‘Joy of Giving Week’, a national movement.

‘‘It has attracted a lot of appreciation from the industry leaders and we are getting a high rate of confirmations. We are on 20 now and we expect to reach 30,’’ Ajit said.

How does the bidding work:
Bidding process will include an open auction online for all ISB students

Bidding will be open for a limited period. Top three bidders for each CEO will be shortlisted

They will be asked to give a Letter of Intent on why they are bidding for a CEO

A panel comprising faculty and administrative members from the ISB will review the letters and decide on who is the most deserving student to ‘shadow the CEO’

After the winners are declared, the CEO can match the amount raised by students or give more. Funds raised from the auction will be given to an NGO of the CEO’s choice for a social cause. Date for bidding process is from September 21 to 23

Ashish Pedaprolu, student of the ISB, is hoping to win the bid. “I would love to spend a day with N R Narayana Murthy but I am open to with any CEO from the IT industry.” How is he arranging money for the auction? “I am trying to get the money from professional and personal contacts,” Ashish said. Arpita Shanker, who is also participating in the auction, too wants to bid for NRN. “He is a self-made man. I want to learn how to be a CEO and yet remain humble. I also read his book Better India, Better World and loved it. It would be great to spend a day with him.”

Applying for CAT isn’t a cakewalk

On Day 1, IIM Aspirants Face Technical Problems While Filling Up Online Applications

Hemali Chhapia | TNN

Mumbai: The application process for signing up to take the Common Admission Test of the Indian Institutes of Management may have gone online, but little has changed for aspirants. Agitated students said that they could not call back the form if a mistake crept in, they were asked to buy another form by shelling out Rs 1,400.

Students had to buy vouchers before they could log in and register themselves online. Despite the fact that registration opened on Wednesday and would go on till October 1, sources said that thousands of aspirants submitted their applications as they wanted to book a seat for the last slot — 3.30 pm on December 7. In fact, the prime slot is no longer available to aspirants wanting to write the test from Delhi, where there are close to 14,000 seats available per slot across computer testing centres. This year, the IIMs will conduct the CAT online for ten days from November 28; there are two slots available per day, but each student can take the exam only once.

“Students had a lot of complaints regarding the registration process. It was not user-friendly. After details were punched in by students, there was no validation on whether the information given was enough or wrong,’’ said Arks Srinivas, director TIME, a coaching class. What got the goat of most management aspirants was that not enough testing centres had been listed in some big cities; Mumbai has only five centres.

Srinivas added that the form also notes that students have to fill in their names as they appear on their SSC (class X) certificate. However, the site does not accept a form if the box for surname is left blank (several south Indians do not have a second name), leaving students like Vanita from Bangalore in a quandary.

“My SSC marksheet only has my first name. But the CAT online form insists on a surname and also states that my details must match with what has appeared on my SSC marksheet. My form was not accepted without the second name,’’ said a hassled Vanita from Bangalore, who works for an IT firm.

Task force to unite all edu regulators set up
New Delhi: The process for replacing UGC, AICTE and National Council for Teacher Education by the proposed National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER) and a national testing scheme on the lines of GRE for university admission has begun. A task force, set up by the HRD ministry for the purpose, will also advise the government on the creation of 14 world class innovation universities. The task force will oversee how the transition to the new regulatory body will take place.

Central school fees up

New Delhi: Studying in Central Schools will now be costlier as the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sanghthan has hiked the fees by three times from October. Kapil Sibal defended the new fee regime on the grounds of the monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 per child being given to the central staff. AGENCIES CAUGHT IN THE NET

IIM aspirants say they could not call back the online form once a mistake crept in the CAT application. They were asked to buy another form by shelling out Rs 1,400

Students said after details were punched in, there was no validation on whether the information given was enough or wrong

They complain that not enough testing centres have been listed in big cities like Mumbai
Applications are not accepted online if the box for surname is not filled. Several south Indian students who don’t have a second name are in a quandary

Tough to bell online CAT?

Shift From Paper To Online Test Will Need Adjustment, Say Trainers

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Cracking one of the toughest entrance tests — the Common Admission Test (CAT) — for entry to seven Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) was never easy.

For the first time, CAT will go online and with a little over two months left for CAT 2009, aspirants are preparing hard at coaching centres, trying out various types of question paper patterns.But how are students preparing to face CAT? What are the difficulties they are encountering?

According to coaching centres that TOI spoke to, students are finding it a tad tough with the online version, as opposed to the paper-based one.

“Many candidates told us that they were finding it difficult to stare continuously at the monitor for over two hours,” pointed out Arindam Lahiri, director (academics) with Career Launcher. TIME regional director Ajay Arora revealed that candidates could face ‘computer fatigue’. “According to IIMs, the online test will be user-friendly and the pattern will remain the same, which will be advantageous for students,” Arora said.

Some hiccups?
With paper-based test, candidates could give the paper a once-over and then decide which section to tackle first. But a preliminary scan of the paper before solving it may be difficult with the online version, at least during the mock tests.

But Anchana C, a working person, said she has no problems making the transition from paper to computer. “During mock tests, we were given models — one section after the other and tabbed, where all sections are presented on different windows. You can alternate from one window to the next. Questions are hyperlinked, so you can go directly to the question you want to attempt,” she explained.

In the coaching centres
Coaching centres are providing question papers with different patterns. “We are giving papers with all types of patterns so that whatever pattern appears, students are ready,” said Ajay of TIME.

Another observation the trainers made is that reading graphs and passages in the Reading Comprehension (RC) section is difficult in the online mode. Unlike with paper, candidates can’t put any marking on the graph. Earlier, students could also mark difficult sentences in RC, which is now not possible to do. “The RC section may pose a problem. Grasping power is higher on paper and reading long passages online will be tough. Plus, in DI and Quant and geometry sections, transferring calculations to drawings will be an issue,” said Anchana.

Details on website soon
An IIM-B official said details of the exam pattern will be posted on the website in September.

Online Mode
With paper-based test, candidates give the entire paper a once-over and then decide which section to tackle first

Preliminary scan of the paper before solving it may be difficult with the online version
In online Reading Comprehension section, unlike with paper, candidates can’t put any marking on the graph

Sibal raises a storm of questions

BANGALORE: Ever since HRD ministry Kapil Sibal announced that the CBSE Class 10 exam was optional, phones have not stopped ringing at Bangalore schools.

With no clear communication from the ministry, schools and parents are in a quandary. On Monday, the ministry announced that CBSE Class 10 exam will be optional from the next academic year, while the grading system will be introduced this year itself. Further, Sibal said that after the board exams are abolished in 2011, students will have a choice -- to appear for the exam on demand for transfer to another school, or pre-university institutes.

This has raised doubts among schools, which say the "idea is good but the thought process is not".

"It's important that all three stakeholders -- parents, students and schools -- are satisfied. The challenge is for students looking for a transfer to other schools or PU institutions," said Mansoor Ali Khan, member, board of management, Delhi Public School (DPS).

Valuation is another question. "How will we valuate students appearing for the board exams and those who are not? Hitherto, students would begin preparations four months in advance. Now, there is pressure to prepare throughout the year," he observed.

A KV school principal, who did not want to be named, had similar views, "Every day, we have queries from parents wanting to know about the optional exam, they want to know how it will be conducted. There should be some selection criterion to Class 11. Nothing is clear. There is no communication from the ministry and we learn everything only through the media," the principal added.

NPS Group of Institutions chairman K P Gopalkrishna said the grading system involves conversion of marks into grades. "Ultimately, marking has to take place in the grading system. For instance, 90-100 marks is A1. Grading carries a new meaning and is done differently," he said.

He asked how evaluation will be done for students taking the exam. "What about those who do not take the exam? On what criteria will they be given admission for Class 11? Will the PU Board accept the grading system?"

Mansoor Ali Khan suggested a proper directive from the Council or ministry. "There has to be workshop for parents and teachers on the grading system and evaluation method," he added.

Neil O'Brien, chairman, CISCE, told The Times of India from New Delhi that the Council has not taken any decision on it yet. "These are suggestions made by Kapil Sibal and implemented by the respective boards. Hence, we will wait and see what happens. As of now, we haven't discussed it yet and have no plans of making any change," he added.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Almost 25 years after they passed out, students of A B Goregaonkar English School come together to do their bit for the institution that cemented their formative years, reports Vikas Hotwani

Sandeep Hardikar maintains a busy schedule, working almost ten hours a day, five days a week. However, after office hours, the 39-year-old’s work is far from over. He scans Orkut and Linkedin, sends out e-mails and makes phone calls. On weekends, when others unwind, he scours unknown neighbourhoods and goes knocking at stranger’s doors. The purpose of his chase: to touch base with 60 students of class X-D of A B Goregaonkar English School’s 1985 batch. “The idea was to bring the batch together and collectively initiate a plan to contribute towards the school’s betterment,” says Hardikar.

After months of persistence, Hardikar managed to reach out to most students, some from as far as US, Singapore and London. “It wasn’t easy though. There were no mobile phones back then, the landline numbers had changed, people had moved out of their old homes, so the school records couldn’t help much. Some women had adopted a different name after marriage making them almost untraceable,” he recounts.

Now that most classmates are in the loop, next on agenda for them, is to mobilise efforts for the school’s development, as a gesture of gratitude for everything that the school did for them over many years. Shripad Desai, Hardikar’s classmate says, “Our school, despite its humble resources, was undoubtedly one of the most proactive in motivating students to think beyond the curriculum. The soft skills we have today is the result of excellent teachers back then.” In fact, every year on August 15, Desai takes his son to the school’s project exhibition, partly out of nostalgia, and partly to have his child see what other students have come up with.

Of the many initiatives in the pipeline, one is to ask each student to contribute a small sum of at least Rs 100 every month for the school’s benefit. “Even if 50 students contribute, that’s Rs 60,000 annually. Not that it would solve all the problems, but it can certainly make a difference,” adds Hardikar. Repair work of the school premises, better seating facilities for students and advanced teaching aids are some of the current suggestions. “The final plan, however, will be decided in tandem with the school authorities,” he says.

Mid-October is when these ex-students, now working professionals, will come together for a reunion and facilitate their teachers and simultaneously, zero in on the action plan for the coming months. “The most important task at hand is to not to restrict ourselves to a particular class and pool in ex-students from other batches and divisions as well. More the resources, the better for our school,” smiles Hardikar.

Students of class X-D, 1985 batch

Punishing kids is OK, says K’taka mantri

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mangalore: Even as educationists are coming down heavily on corporal p u n i s h m e n t , Mangalore district in-charge and minister for ports and inland transport, Krishna Palemar, on Saturday approved of it in schools. He said that at least in his case, it helped him become a better individual.

At a district-level Teachers’ Day celebration here, Palemar said corporal punishment like tweaking of ears and making students stand on benches was needed to discipline unruly students. He was referring to an incident at Ullal Seyyid Madani School after which parents filed a police complaint against a teacher for allegedly beating a student.

“When a teacher or parent approaches the police, it sours the sacrosanct relationship between a teacher and student,” Palemar said, adding that when a teacher is not given respect, it means the society has hit a low.

The minister also pointed out that when parents find it difficult to manage one or two children at home, one could imagine how much patience a teacher needs to have to manage a class with 70 to 80 children. “The teacher showers love on students much more than parents and teachers should be given respect,” he added.

Palemar also mentioned the government’s initiatives for the well-being of teachers, which included online payment of salary, special grants and transparency in transfers. Ullal MLA U T Khader urged the government enact a law which prevents the police from entering school campuses. Mangalore MP Nalin Kumar Kateel urged teachers to impart quality education, along with moral values. Present and retired teachers were honoured on the occasion.

On Teachers’ Day, J’khand tutors strip over pay
Ranchi: It was a Teachers’ Day with a difference in Ranchi as thousands of teachers braved the pouring rain and walked to Raj Bhavan with a long list of grievances and begging bowls in their hands. But there was more to come, when in a rerun of last year’s show, 300 of the protesters started stripping. Police at Raj Bhavan immediately cordoned off the area. But the teachers could not meet the governor and left their charter of demands with an official.

About 2,000 primary, secondary and intermediate teachers, including women, assembled at the Morabadi Ground around 11 am and then marched towards the governor’s house about a kilometre away, carrying banners and placards and raising slogans. Some of the teachers were arrested but released in the evening. The event left the students shocked. “I just could not believe my eyes,’’ said Ranchi College student Mihir Oraon. Among other demands, the teachers wanted a permanent affiliation of 56 inter colleges to the Jharkhand Academy Council and 23 Sanskrit upper vidyalayas. They also demanded a hike in honorarium for para-teachers. TNN

Teachers beg to differ, help needy students

Hemali Chhapia | TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Jalgaon: In the old days, gurukul students donning saffron robes would go around town asking for dakshina for their school. In a complete reversal, a group of teachers in Jalgaon begs unashamedly in the streets for alms to help out students who lack the means to make it to a classroom.

The startling act of empathy began nine years ago when engineering aspirants from underprivileged families were admitted to the government college in Jalgaon, only to find that there was no hostel attached as claimed in the brochure. Four students started staying back in college till late and sleeping in the classrooms—till one day a clerk got wind of what was going on and threw them out.

“The students then started spending the night on the pavement outside the college,’’ says S S Rane, then rector of a hostel attached to the Bendele College of Arts. “When asked why they weren’t renting rooms, they said they couldn’t afford it.’’ Moved by their plight, Rane and several other teachers pooled in a part of their salaries and rented a place for the youngsters. Over time, however, as the number of needy students grew from the initial four to 115 today, Rane and other faculty members like Nemivant Dhande, Mahesh Joshi, Lekur Vale and D S Nemade realised that they would need financial help. That’s when Rane came up with the novel idea of begging.

The backlash was instantaneous, with whispers and accusations in the town that a bunch of teachers was into making easy money. The do-gooders’ horrified families urged them to look at other options. But the teachers remained steadfast.

“Initially people wondered why decently dressed men were holding begging bowls and asking for alms,’’ smiles Rane. “So we asked the students who we were supporting to stand beside us.’’

The experiment proved to be a stunning success, thanks to the army of contributors that materialised, many from the same economic class as the students. “Women vegetables vendors approached us. They told us it was difficult to give money, but they could give us vegetables for the students,’’ says Dhande.

Drivers, porters, MNCs...everyone did their bit

Jalgaon: If teachers of a Jalgaon college begged to ensure a roof over the head of students who couldn’t afford it, women vendors provided free vegetables to feed the youngsters while a gurudwara donated vessels. Soon, a barber came forward and offered his services for free. In no time, a flour mill, a supplier of cooking oil, a foodgrain trader and an LPG gas agency did their bit to run the mess.

“If these poor kids go on and do well for themselves, we’ll feel so happy. I am not doing anything out of the way. We don’t have storage facilities for the vegetables we don’t manage to sell. So we give them to the children,’’ says Lata Yeshwant Nemade who sells vegetables and speaks on behalf of close to a dozen vendors who take turns to donate veggies. Two octogenarian women come by and cook bhakras and rotis for the students everyday.

In 2004, the four teachers decided to build a hostel, and a rupee was collected from every person in the city. “Hawkers, rickshaw drivers, hamaals, everyone contributed. Some gave one rupee, some ten and some thousands,’’ says Rane, standing on the portico of the 16-room hostel. According to Dhande, the porters did their bit by collecting cement that fell from the gunny bags that were being loaded on trains from Jalgaon. An MNC heard about the teachers and donated switches.

Now, a library has come up in the basement of the hostel. Dhande coaches students who want to take entrance exams and an MSEB engineer D S Patil too comes by to help students with their lessons.

Nine years on, a lot has changed; some teachers have retired, some faculty members have been promoted and many students have gone on to join top companies. But more students continue to be supported. “We receive anonymous donations too. Last season, 24 boxes of mangoes came from an anonymous donor, and someone else sent a Matador full of fruits recently,’’says Joshi.

This is probably why Ganesh Wagh from Wakdi in Marathwada, Santosh Bhadarge from Andheri, Anand Ingale from Chalisgaon,Hanuman Aare from Hingoli, Vilas Bele from Jarud,Manorama Jadhav from Jawekhede,Roshan Bagul from Khamatane, Manoj Muneshwar from Warud and many others know their dreams will continue to live on.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER
Gas agencies: Dilip Chaube, an engineer, supplies LPG cylinders every month

Gurudwara: Vessels for the mess came from a local gurudwara

Station porters: Apart from giving money, they collected cement that spilled from gunny bags on trains passing from Jalgaon

S K Oil Mills: Gives supply of cooking oil for the mess

Jagdamba Grains Trading Corporation: Donates foodgrain to the hostel

Khandesh Flour Mill and Vishwabharati Foods: In the last six years, these agencies have sent close to 1,000 kg flour

Rotary (Jalgaon and S Korea): Set up a library and donated close to 3,000 books

Le Grand Switches: Donated electrical fittings for every room

COOKING FOR A CAUSE: Two octogenarian women prepare meals for 115 students everyday. They are among several Jalgaon residents who offered to do their bit after a group of teachers came up with the idea of begging to support underprivileged students

EVERY SNIP COUNTS: Barber Vijay Songere gives students free haircuts

Teachers, students, friends?

Exploring the changing dynamics within and beyond the classroom

Mithila Mehta

Eight year old Pari Shivdasani, a student at St. Theresa's School, loves listing out her best friends. And topping the list is Mrs. Gonsalves, her English teacher. "She is kind and funny, everyone in my class loves her," gushes this tiny tot.

While this declaration may have raised eyebrows a few years ago, not anymore. The traditional drift between teachers and students is narrowing. "I have been teaching since 1973, and today I feel closer to them than ever. It is about sharing a common wavelength," opines sociologist and renowned academician Nandini Sardesai.

Professor Sudha Ravishankar, who has been teaching for 27 years, believes the shift in dynamics is a given. "It happens in every generation. It is a necessary result of changes in society," she explains.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Students are forging unique relationships with their teachers, which extends outside the classroom. Meeting in neutral places helps the friendship flourish on an equal footing. "My college psychology teacher was extremely approachable and friendly. She often spent time with the class after college hours-catching up on a movie or simply hanging out. The traditional teacher mould didn't hold good here," smiles Shruti Makhijani, who graduated from Mithibai College this year. Concurs Sardesai, "I may be strict in class, but am a close friend outside. Many students confide in me and freely talk about personal issues. The key is wanting to listen."

Bonding outside the classroom has a snowballing effect in the classroom as well. "A comfortable relationship means better communication from both ends. This makes learning a two way process. Unlike a conventional
class, there is a forum-like atmosphere. This is very helpful in subjects like cinema or literature which are open to interpretation," shares Vinay Rohira, who completed the mass media course this year.

Despite the changing dynamics, remnants of the erstwhile guru-chela relationship remain. "Students do have innate respect for teachers, especially at the school level. They look up to us. It is for teachers to ensure that they do not break this trust," remarks Sardesai. Ravishankar illustrates the need for a teacher to show discipline to command the respect of students. "Letting down your hair once in a while is fine, but not every time!" she laughs, adding that students appreciate a teacher who is honest and well updated.

OLD SCHOOL
Of course, rigid old school beliefs are not dead. Certain academicians prefer to maintain a certain distance from their students. "Students may see me as stuffy, but I think being slightly aloof is healthy. I have seen that students start taking assignments and projects for granted when they know the teacher personally. Also, I find it difficult to mark my class objectively if I have immensely personal relationships with a select few," explains Dr Hitesh Somani, financial analyst and visiting faculty at several commerce colleges.

Adds arts student Jharna Puri of Jai Hind College, "I have friends and I have teachers. The difference is very clear to me. Call me old fashioned, but I am not comfortable being in a backslapping relationship with a teacher. For me, it takes away from the sanctity of learning."

The teacher stereotype may be gradually changing, but it is a long way before the boundaries completely disappear. "We must know where to draw the line. Ultimately, teachers and students can be friends, as long as they don't violate each others space," signs off Ravishankar. Seems the (chalk) dust is yet to settle!