When you have to select University.

That time of the year when after 12th one has  to select Degree Course/University/ College and don’t know where to go and whom to ask . My humble advice to parents and Children  - please spend some time doing some ground work on which course you would like to pursue (preferably by the end of 11^th std) , which all universities/colleges offer the course and the entry criterion. Please do not fall into trap of Agents – Its not about spending money , its about knowing which Universities are Recognised, new courses offered. After spending 3-4 years in a college, the Degree has to be valid and the quality of education and students coming out should be good.

Check out - https://www.ugc.ac.in/

List of unrecognized universities -https://www.ugc.ac.in/page/Fake-Universities.aspx 

I get to interact with teenagers quite often. Though I don’t consciously take the topic of school and studies, it inevitably comes in when they say that they have tuitions or coaching classes after school and during weekends , and they hardly get time for anything else. And the next question comes so what do you plan to do after 12^th? The usual answer Engineering or Medicine – as that’s what most of the parents (still) want their children to become. So, have you thought of any other course or colleges you might want to study/get into? Is my question to them – and answer is (most of the time) they don’t know about good colleges or good courses offered in Universities across the region or country.

Some links which I came across and found very informative

https://admission.aglasem.com/ 

Not all universities but they have good list at least for North Indian Belt. - AMU -Aligarh Muslin University, BHU – Banaras Hindu University, DU – Delhi University , JNU – Jawahar Lal Nehru University  

They also have a good list of Universities offering Distance Learning Courses.

https://admission.aglasem.com/distance-education/

And 

https://collegedunia.com/

Some of the universities which can be considered for UG courses 

• Bangalore University - http://bangaloreuniversity.ac.in/  
• Christ University - https://www.christuniversity.in/
• IISc - https://www.iisc.ac.in/ - (Bangalore)
• IISER - https://www.iiseradmission.in/ (Behrampur, Bhopal, Kolkata, Mohali, Pune, Trivandrum, Tirupati)
• Madras university  - http://www.unom.ac.in/#
• Mumbai University – http://mu.ac.in/portal/faculties/
• Jadavpur University - http://www.jaduniv.edu.in/  (Kolkata)
• Jamia Milia University - http://jmi.ac.in/studyatjamia/courseslist/regular (New Delhi) 

Its always better to go through individual college websites for clear Admission Deadlines, requirements and course details.

Some colleges affiliated to Bangalore University

*PS – There are many colleges affiliated to the university, below lists just few of them which I happen to know.

·         St. Joseph’s College of Arts &  Science - http://www.sjc.ac.in/ - Co-ed - Autonomous .

·         St. Joseph’s College of Commerce - http://www.sjcc.edu.in/  Co-ed - Autonomous

·         Jyoti Nivas college  - http://www.jyotinivas.org/  - Women Only - Autonomous

·     Mount Carmel College -Mount Carmel College, Autonomous, Bengaluru | Official Site  - Autonomous

·         Baldwin Methodist College - http://www.baldwinmethodistcollege.com/ - Co-ed 

·         Kristu Jayanti College - http://kristujayanti.edu.in/home/ Co-ed - Autonomous

·         College of Fine Arts, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath - http://collegeoffineartskcpbengaluru.com/ - Co-ed

·         NMKRV college for Women - NMKRV College Bangalore | UG, PG & Research Programs

·         M.E.S College of Arts, Science & Commerce, Malleshwaram - 

http://www.mesinstitutions.org.in/mesdegree/ Co-ed

Some colleges affiliated to Madras University -These are my personal choices/preferences

*PS – There are many colleges affiliated to the university, below lists just few of them which I happen to know.

·         Madras Christain College - http://mcc.edu.in/home.php

·         Stella Maris College (Women’s) - http://www.stellamariscollege.org/

·         Loyola College - http://www.loyolacollege.edu/

·         Ethiraj College for Women - http://www.ethirajcollege.edu.in/

There are many prestigious colleges under Delhi University and MumbaiUniversity. You can check out the respective university/college links.

PS: There are quite a few New Generation Universities like
http://www.flame.edu.in/ ,
http://www.amity.edu/
http://www.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/SitePages/index.aspx
I have not got much chance to know about  these places.

Swami and Friends in Malgugi

Picked up ‘Swami and Friends’ By R.K Narayanswami from Library few days back. The Character Swami from  Malgudi days TV series was part of out growing up in 87-88, though at that point of time as 9-10 yr old I did not understand the Pre-Independence India set up completely but for RK Narayan's narratives highlighting social context and providing a feel for his characters through everyday life, a fictional town that stood for reality, brought out the humour and energy of ordinary life, and displayed compassionate humanism,  the Title or the Signature music ‘Ta na na tana na na naaaaa…’ RK Laxamanan’s cartoons and the young boy Swami and his adventures,  we just could think of missing the series. Picking up the book after almost 30 years of watching the TV series was going back to those old ‘Malgudi Days’

It was interesting to read in the introduction of the book the ‘Swami and Friends’ is the first novel written by Rasipuram Krishnaswami Narayanswami in year 1930 which was first published in year 1935 by the reputable English publisher Hamish Hamilton . What surprised me towards the end of the book was the cricket team and match and the enthusiasm which RKN has expressed so beautifully which made wonder – Cricket was a craze in 1930’s also, wonder why hockey became the National game of India ? :) Loved this book, a good read for children very simple  prose and diction but one will have to give them a good background of how things were in India before independence .  As RK Narayanaswami expressed his indebtedness to Graham Greene is inscribed on the inside cover of a copy of Swami and Friends Narayan presented to Greene: "But for you, Swami should be in the bottom of Thames now" could not have agreed more with him ….

When the murderer is a millionaire ....

On of the News item in today’s newapaper (Trivandrum Edition) – Leader of the ruling party asks Government to give good compensation to the deceased Security Guard. The guard was killed by his employer a Millionaire Business Tycoon(Nisham) from Trichur district Kerala, who ran over his Hummer on the guard  when he got few seconds delayed in opening the gates. The security guard was in private hospital for 3 weeks with severe internal injuries and 6 surgeries were done on him all on Govt expense, while the Business man was  in jail on again govt expense,

I fail to understand why was the criminal (The Business Tycoon) who has millions to spend on Ferrari and Hummer was not asked to pay the hospital bills and the compensation ? If the same Govt had to collected money for the deceased family from the politicians and leaders of the ruling party what amount would they have decided to be good enough ? And what would have been the ‘Leader’s’ contribution ? I get annoyed that the criminals don’t pay any penalty, probably this Criminal would get away from his charges like he has got away before with the help of the money he has. Instead of the same money being used for helping the victim’s family and for community work , it’s the Govt money (Tax payer’s money) used … I am all for govt compensations when there is natural calamity, accidents, disasters , but not for the mistakes done by a Arrogant, Selfish, Criminal Millionaire ….. Govt and law should know how and where to use public money and how and where to enforce laws …

Treat each federal dollar as if it was hard earned; it was - by a taxpayer.

Donald Rumsfeld

Why it hurts people like you (me)......

Conversion – Reconversion  -- its not about religion , its about Social or Economic acceptance. Look around people who are being targeted for conversion or Recon most of them are among the lowest in the caste (let me put it Indian Caste system) or among the lowest income group. If they were Hindu they were not considered pure enough to be treated as good breed humans –  so probably they thought converting to other religion , they might get better treatment as human beings – but there too many would have found disillusionment – acceptability and if they had any reservation benefits that too they would have lost – (I don’t understand why we need a Anti conversion Bill , government is anyway discouraging people to convert (From Hindu ) to other religion by ensuring that if the ‘Convert’ had any reservation that would be not valid after getting converted to Islam or Christianity  (not sure if this rule applies on conversion to Sikhism/Budhissim/Janisim/Judaism guess the numbers are too small to be a threat).

Homecoming …

 

Recently we went for one of our friend’s family function . They are from North East India and have very few friends in Trivandrum, we got introduced to each other through a common friend. It was a very pleasant, surprising gathering, we had 3-4 Malayali families, 1 family from Jharkhand and 2 families from Kashmir. We have been in living in Trivandrum for last 7-8 years but we never had opportunity to meet such diverse set of people at one informal place , we got introduced to each other .

Family from Jharkhand shifted here recently, 3 – 4 years tenure and their first time in South India , their children grown up and pursuing Higher studies, Then we got introduced to the Kashmiri families , both the families have been doing business in Trivandrum for the past 12 years ! I was surprised children are studying in one of the best schools here and they speak Malayalam much better than me , infact they would have been born here as the age range between 5-10. Though the ladies don’t know Malayalam but speak very good Hindi and English – they were delighted to hear us speaking hindi and it did not take much time to hit off with Farhana and Shabeena and their children …

Pancakes from Kerala ….

Make those sweet coconut filling pancakes for breakfast tomorrow – That was Anil request for breakfast .. I was little surprised as usually I don’t get such request from Anil and also in past he avoided this specific (coconut filling) pancake sighting that it is very sweet and probably not a very quick item to cook for a breakfast (which actually is not so, it can be made less sweet and is pretty quick to make) So we had pancakes for breakfast , surprisingly Esther asked for more , and so did Ezekiel and Anil came early to have breakfast to have garam garam pancakes ….. hmmmm I thought , no matter how many generation pass by, some simple joys in life remain same …..and the flashback ..

Women leaders in India

Reading newspaper I commented without giving any pretext ‘ why is that talking about successful women (any newspaper) almost 90% of the women are from Film or glamour world – don’t we have successful women in other industries ?’  The other day there was another list of young successful entrepreneur off the four 2 were young women in their 20s . Getting curious I read in detail and came to know that both of them are daughters of Owners of  successful establish IT company and Construction company and one of them is into Cakes and Bakes and the other one in Designer boutique – Well the first thing which went into my mind was , not worth reading further …

Untold agony ….

Nizammuddin station, Its morning 6:30 , train for Agra is in platform 5 people from all over India are in this train, going to see Taj Mahal …. I get a window seat , satisfied I place my bag below my seat , ask my daughter to sit at the window seat , I look around the compartment , there are Bengalis from Asensol, Tamils from Chennai, Telegu’s from seemandhra, people going to Dwarka.... it does not take much time for train to get Jam packed …. I look out of the window, train still waiting to leave the platform …. And then I see something at the platform …. … it takes me some time to make out, and tears roll down my eyes without me realizing , I quickly wipe my tears ,,, but my daughter has seen me shedding tears …… she asks – ‘what happened mummy ?’

Something has gone wrong with our sense of India …….

‘Anilji, I am not liking the feel with this Election around, and politician of certain party screaming that Muslims should not be given voting rights ….. tomorrow they will say the same about the Christians who are  the next big minority in the country … where are we heading to in India …’  I said this after reading an article  by T.M Krishna ‘You are Muslim, not Indian’ and connecting that with the statement made  recently by a known politician ….

Happy Singh ….

‘Above all – and I am repeating this because it is so important – don’t  be afraid  to be yourself and to be honest . If you write fearlessly and candidly you have to be prepared to pay the price’ – Khushwant Singh in Khuswantnama. He definitely was fearless, candid, simple writer, whose short stories I had read and studied as part of English curriculum, and whose column I remember reading in ‘Illustrated Weekly’ during my childhood days and ofcourse his jokes … 
The tribune  ‘Our well-loved Santa and Banta owe a lot to the bespectacled sardarji, with his untidy turban, sitting in a bulb and scrawling through sheets of paper every day: Khushwant Singh, of course. He made the Santa-Banta jokes popular indeed by carrying them as a tailpiece in his weekly columns and then compiling them in best-selling books that adorn the kiosks at bus stands and railway stations’

It was coincidence that just couple of days  before his death( on March 20^th) I read 2 of his books, and one was Khushwantnama his last book which got published last year when he was 98 years old  and I had noted down some of the things which I felt were worth noting down … tWhat I like about his writing is the simplicity , very simple language which anyone can understand and his honesty and his ability to make fun of himself … in his last book Khuswantnama - towards the end of the book he narrates his experience of undergoing ‘endoscopy’ few years back and I could stop laughing loudly for atleast 10 mins tears rolling down my cheeks, when my daughter came from her room asking what happened ….. such was his talent ….

Quoting Khushwant Singh on different topics which when I read I exclaimed ‘yes yes you are absolutely right Khuswant ji’ … 

The great Indian Tamasha … Screening April 7th

Finally its announced – Dates of 2014 General Election – Why am I even thinking about the Elections when I know it’s big ‘Nautanki’ or Tamashaa as it is commonly referred to, where people (not all but a good majority) who are known thugs/criminals/law breakers get elected to represent the ‘Aam Janata’ of India as Member of Parliament  … .. Why is that even though I feel like running away from this country(getting another chance I might do it as well), I still end up being here, end up standing in the queue and exercising my franchise every Electoral Year since 1998 and wish more of my friends and coworkers would cast their vote ?

Bharat ka Swarnim gaurav Kendriya Vidyalaya ..

Went to Kannkakunnu Palace on a weekday,last week after 5 pm with my kids for spending the evening. Anil had a Book Release to attend in the same vicinity. Dropping me and kids near the palace hall, he said ‘ There is an exhibition on 50 Years of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sanghatan, think its till 5 pm only, but take a chance and check out ‘ And I thought, 50 years,that’s all ! It should have been much much older by now ,and then thought of checking it out, It happened that day was the inaugural day and Shashi Tharoor was speaking on how high regards he has for the KVS and how he gets so many letters asking for recommendation for admission in KV from people of his constituency – and that even if all the 4 KV s in Trivandrum were 10 times bigger, he would have been able to get admission for the children sorting his recommendation ! He added, that shows how good the education system is in KV ! 

Driven by Driving License

‘Congratulation ! I am proud of you ‘  That was Anil congratulating me while I made ‘Sulaimani – Black tea with mint’ after coming from RTO Trivandrum ! I quizzically looked at him – He then patted on my back and said ‘Now you know how a government office looks like and how to get your work done ‘ :)

The occasion was I submitting form for Change of address and issue of duplicate license at Trivandrum RTO. And if you are wondering whats the big deal – then let me explain the process – I got my driving license in the year 1997 – that time the License was issued from my Home town ‘Irinjalakuda’ (Yea I know the name sounds weird J) the format of the License was A4 size paper which I had kept very carefully all these years. The new rule is that everybody should have the card format License and people with Old License should get the License in new format – So you have to submit an application at RTO – the catch is you have to submit the application at same RTO from where the license was issued . That would mean that I will have to go to Irnijalakuda which is atleast 6-8 hrs 1 way journey (by Rail/road thanks to the great infrastructure we have in Kerala where govt feels 30mts width is enough for NH) .

Mallu Land or Mundu Land ! :)

7 years back when we decided to move to Kerala and when we shared this idea with one of our friend, His first and immediate comment was ‘Oh planning to move to Land of Mundus and White Shirt!’ I could not stop laughing :) Such is the image of Kerala in the minds of people outside Kerala. I think one of the reason for this image is ‘Mile Sur mera tumhara’ where guy in a Lungi on top of an Elephant is singing ‘Ninde Swaramum Nigalude swaramum Otthucheiyum namudeya Swaramai’ ! And very recently happened to see comment by a Northie on one of my Mallu Friend’s snap asking ‘No Mundu?!” and I just could not stop smiling J

Dumb Charades at KFC Trivandrum !

I was not a big KFC fan till last Sunday , but afternoon snack with my kids at KFC Trivandrum and am looking forward to more visits to KFC or places like KFC Trivandrum ! Yep , you read right places like KFC Tvm, not for the fried chicken, but for the people who work there . KFC  Tvm had been in news for all wrong reason, one search and you will know , worms found in chicken , kfc shut down will be the only news you will get to see. We are not very regular goers at kfc, and its usually once in a quarter that we go there to eat and even after all the worm stories, I was comfortable eating out there with my kids .

The Lamp ....

Weekend we had been out of Trivandrum. .Sunday after a long spell of rain, it was a clear bright day, perfect for a peaceful drive and we thought of going to Perumala church (Place close to Mannar known for its Bronze Metal work ) . I always wanted to check out the shops at Mannar for ‘Lakshmi Vilakku, Hanging Brass lamps , but since it was a Sunday , not many shops were open and I kept the idea to myself , but kept my eyes open while crossing the shops , did see something interesting – A hanging lamp with an umbrella kind of covering on top of it, all in brass it looked very unique and antique, but I did not stop there , … … We reached church and spent some time there , Esther and Ezekiel went around the church and after spending one and half hour there we started back for home at Chenganoor .