Education affairs january 2014 by Education Affairs

VOL.1 NO. 5

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JANUARY 2014

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TEACHING, TRAINING,edit KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB, Editor in chief Bijay Kumar Agarwal Consultant and Managing Editor Pradeep Gooptu Digital Head Kirty Kedia Chief Sub-Editor Ashok Chatterjee Reporter cum Copy-Editor Farah Khatoon Reporter Shaheryar Hossain Overseas Correspondent Snehasish Chakraborty (United Arab Emirates - UAE) Design Shubhodip Das Communication Consultant Sagittarius Communications Pvt. Ltd. Photos Arijit Saha (freelancer) For advertisement, subscription and queries Call: 033-40229000 or mail us at: advt@educationaffairs.in subscribe@educationaffairs.in info@educationaffairs.in

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All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner is prohibited. Printed and Published by Bijay Kumar Agarwal on behalf of the owner, GPF Trading Pvt Ltd. Printed at Satyajug Employees Co-operative Industrial Society Ltd, 13 & 13/1A, Prafulla Sarkar Street Kolkata – 700072. Published from 34/1Q Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata – 700019 Ph : (91) 33 – 40229000, Fax : (91) 33 -24755324 Volume 1 Issue 5 for the month of January 2014 DL No- 39 dated 28/02/2013

The arts as a career option As we usher in the new year, I take this opportunity to wish you the very best and hope that you are blessed with every success and happiness in life. Greeting you in the New Year is this edition’s cover story on the arts and the entertainment sector. We thought it was apt to focus on this theme as this is the time when a large number of cultural events are held all over the country, and entertainment is on top of our minds. However, Indian society till recently was against youth taking up any creative activity as a profession. All young Indian men and women were expected to become lawyers, doctors, engineers, accountants or bankers or some such profession. A young mind seeking to be an artist, sculptor, writer, singer or musician was strongly discouraged. In fact, even professions like advertising or film direction, or music direction, or acting, were seen as not being “up to the mark”. Parents in 20th century India admired and idolized the great minds of Indian civilization like Tagore and Satyajit Ray, or Lata Mangeshkar or Kishore Kumar, but did not feel happy if their sons and daughters wanted to join their ranks.The Indian economy despite its ups and downs is catching up with the rest of the world. Globally, entertainment, the arts, advertising and the media, and their supporting industries, represent the largest industry segment. This segment creates the greatest amount of wealth and has the greatest international reach. An American car may not sell in India and a McDonalds burger may not be popular, but dubbed movies and music make their way to every corner of the country, be they from Bollywood, Tollywood or Hollywood. In this issue, we have tried to identify the opportunities in arts and entertainment, and also some of great institutions that impart training and education in the field. Natural talent has to toned up, sharpened and improved through education and teaching to make the arts and entertainment segment a viable career for the many creative talents that our country has. The segment can create more jobs, and more happiness, than any other sector. India has the potential to be the creative and cultural centre of the world. Already, the Indian film industry is many, many times larger than the English language movie industry in the west. Lets all work together to place our country in the front of the global creative community. Bijay Kumar Agarwal Editor in chief education affairs 1

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB content

New tech Takes art world by storm

4 JNU Birth of a global institution

Interview Suvaprasanna talks about Arts Acre

7 Aurobindo Bhavan: A haven for classical dance I 13 RBU offers multiple options I 18 Kite flyers wait for the right wind I 23 SRFTI set to break new ground I 27 Electronic musical instruments drive out hand-made products I 29 VB: No1 in national rankings in the Arts I 35 ETO course a new option in Merchant Navy I 39 The tiffin box experience I 41 Briefs I 43-54 Events I 55 Hangout I 56-57 Book review I 59 Brain teaser I 60 Library I 61 Gadgets I 64 Debating at universities 2 education affairs

BE WHERE WHERE IT MATTERS.. MATTERS.. Education is aaplatform platformforforeminent eminent educators, practitioners, students and researchers Education Affairs is educators, practitioners, students and researchers from from across withspecific specificfocus focusonon Eastern India, to come together and share across the the country, country, with Eastern India, to come together and share their their knowledge, experiences, innovations and the latest trends in education. It engages with its knowledge, experiences, innovations and the latest trends in education. It engages with its audience andrelevant relevantissue issue pertaining to education. to address aspirants audience on on pressing pressing and pertaining to education. If youIf you wantwant to address aspirants and thought leaders in the education fraternity, this is the place to be. and thought leaders in the education fraternity, this is the place to be.

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TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, cover story CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB

New tech

4 education affairs

OB, BOOKS, GADGETS, GROOMING, SPORTS, FINE ARTS, MUSIC WITH DIGITISATION POSING A CHALLENGE TO MANUAL FINE ARTS THE HISTORIC GOVERNMENT COLLEGE OF ART AND CRAFT IS KEEN TO EXPLORE AVENUES TO REINSTATE THE TEACHING OF ARTS IN SCHOOLS, SAYS FARAH KHATOON

takes art

world by storm The world of fantasy of budding artistes is being transformed by new age technologies that are imparting a completely new meaning to arts, giving it a new dimension. However these changes are threatening artistes to look for other avenues for survival. Associate Professor and Officer in charge at Government College of Art and Craft (GCAC), Chandan Das, gave an insight into the new trends among Fine Arts students. Talking about the subject that is more popular among students Das said, “Every year around 80-100 students enroll for different courses offered by the GCAC. Most of the students enroll for painting, graphic designing and applied arts. However, students are finding more interest in printmaking which is the most modern and popular subject with around 18-20 students enrolling for it every year. The college offers a masters degree, MFA, in print-making.” Apart from print-making it is the stream of graphic designing that is catching on with the students owing to it’s easy job prospects in the market.

Das said, “Graphic designing is taking up because it is in tune with the popular demand of the job market and has a better job scope in comparison to other departments.” Talking about the private graphic designing courses that are a rage now, Das said, “Private graphic designing institutes are limited in their approach as they offer a diploma course while we offer degree course to the students. Moreover, the streams offered in Art colleges are very different from private institutes. There is scope to work in other departments of the college which is not there in private institutes.” Das, however, pointed out that the growth of the applicants has become stagnant. He said, “The enrollment is neither increasing nor decreasing. And I think it is because of lack of space in the college. We have proposed for another plot but there has been no response from the government.” GCAC offers bachelors and post graduate degrees in eight art departments that include – painting, modeling and sculpture, graphic design, textile design, ceramic art and pottery, wood and leather designing and print making. Though there are rigorous courses for an art enthusiast to hone their skills, Das education affairs 5

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB,

Chandan Das, Associate Professor and Officer in charge appeared pained when the question of scope for employment of artistes arises. “There are limited scopes for artistes when it comes to employment. I have had students who choose to do a computer course and get employed in a firm after getting frustrated. An artiste’s life is full of struggle,” said Das who pointed out at the government policy that had hit the artistes long time back. “A blow to Fine Arts was received when the Left Front government abolished the post of Art teacher from schools throughout Bengal. While all the disciplines of study 6 education affairs

(

Art remains a neglected subject at school level. There is lack of professional art teachers in schools

have got it dues Art remains a neglected subject at school level. There is lack of professional art teachers in schools. Very few schools give this opportunity to art teachers. Some schools like Missionaries of Charity and few central government schools have art teachers but it is not given preference. A good art teacher is a necessity in schools. In Western countries schools give importance to arts,” said Das. He said he wished the present government would reinstate the post of art teachers in school in WB.

OB, BOOKS, GADGETS, GROOMING, SPORTS, FINE ARTS, MUSIC

Aurobindo Bhawan: A haven for classical dance DEMAND FOR LEARNING CLASSICAL DANCE IS ON THE DECLINE BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT STUDENTS CAN STILL LEARN THE GREAT DANCE FORMS

Shaheryar Hossain Set on the commercially busy and westernised locality of Shakespeare Sarani in the heart of Kolkata is a haven of Indian culture and an island of excellence Aurobindo Bhavan.

With the rising tide of Western culture in our society, interest in learning Bharatnatyam among children is diminishing at present. Over the years Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, as a major cultural training centre situated at the heart of the city of joy, has emerged as an ideal place for students who aspire to learn classical Indian dance forms like Bharatnatyam. education affairs 7

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB,

Rendering this service is Ahana, the centre for art and culture, under the umbrella of Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, which is located in the spacious grounds next to the shrine dedicated to the great Sri Aurobindo. Ahana offers Bharatnatyam classes at below nominal range fee. Prantika Mukherjee, Bharatnatyam trainer for more than 13 years at Ahana, told Education Affairs: “We seek to encourage students to learn Bharatnatyam. We offer Bharatnatyam classes but the fee here is much less in comparison with any other institutes. Our objective of offering the classes is to preserve and highlight Indian culture and create interest towards Bharanatyam among students,” said Mukherjee. She pointed out that Bharatnatyam is all about facial expression and it becomes very difficult to train small children. “Music plays a vital role in Bharatnatyam. Simultaneously while listening to the music, dancers need to change foot movements and facial expression. Grown-up children catch the tune and the facial expressions easily but in case of small children it takes time to make them learn,” she added. However, special technique has been 8 education affairs

adopted by Mukherjee to mould younger children. At the time of rehearsals, she records the performance on her mobile phone and then transfers the recorded video to the students’ mobile phone via bluetooth. In this way, the flaws in the dance steps of students are identified and rectified through practice.

Trends in societal acceptance However, the big disappointment for Sri Aurobindo Bhavan authority is when a student quits midway. Seeking anonymity, a person close to the functioning of Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, said, “We feel sad when students quit learning Kathak and Bharatnatyam after just a few years. They quit sometimes because of academic pressure as they reach the senior section in school or their parents shift to different states, or other personal reasons” Records indicate that earlier, mostly Bengali children used to take admission but now few of them come here. At present, children from other communities and ethnic groups come for admission. After research and survey, it is found that

OB, BOOKS, GADGETS, GROOMING, SPORTS, FINE ARTS, MUSIC high cost of performing Indian classical dance, which includes expenses for orchestra, costumes and jewellery, may have had some role to play in the declining demand for forms like Bharat Natyam. In other words, it is a pricey occupation.

Courses offered by Ahana Bharat Natyam, Bengali recitation, Kathak Rabindra Sangeet, Karate, Painting and Drawing classes once a week.

Criteria for selection of students Children who are five-years old and above are eligible for admission. The applicants need to collect form from the children library at the Sri Aurobindo Bhavan premises at Shakespeare Sarani. There is no upper age limit. It is open for all. There is no entrance test for taking admission in the Bharat Natyam course. A child as young as four years, if keen to pursue Bharatnatyam, is allowed to join. “Throughout the year, students take admission. There is no time restriction,” said an official of the Sri Aurobindo Bhavan.

dance and dance music. The fellowship programme has introduced advanced training across India. Applicants need to be well versed in the field of Indian classical music, Indian classical dance, theatre, mime, visual art and folk, traditional and indigenous arts and light classical music. The duration of the junior fellowship in the field of dance and dance music is of two years. The shortlisted candidates need to undergo a rigorous training, which include practice of minimum three hours a day. Besides, the applicant should spend time on acquiring theoretical knowledge of the concerned field. This apart, the scholar is paid Rs 5000 per month for two years for books, art material, equipments and travelling. Other Institutes offering Bharatnatyam training in West Bengal n Jahnavi Bharatnatyam Dance Academy

Address: 25/245, Prince Golam Mohammad Shah Road, Golf Greens, Kolkata n

Course module There is no specific course duration. After joining the class, the students can continue according to capacity. “We do not put pressure on the students. Depending upon the age and experience, the students learn Bharat Natyam their own way. There is neither semester no yearly test for students learning the dance here,” said a senior official of Sri Aurobindo Bhavan.

Activities of Ahana Annual show: Ahana conducts annual classical dance dhow and competition at its premises. It is mandatory for all the students to participate in the competition. At the annual competition, students from other dance institutes also participate. “Not only participants, the judges of the competition are also from other dance institutes and academies,” pointed out the Bharat Natyam trainer. Government’s scheme to promote Classical Dance and Music The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, offers Junior Fellowship in the field of

The Sound of Music Academy

Address: CL 198, Sector II, Salt Lake. Near Sech Bhawan n

Mudra

Address: A-46 Purbadiganta, Santoshpur. Near Jadavpur Stadium, Survey Park. n

Konkona School of Music

Address: 130 C, APC Road, Beadon Street, Kolkata. n

Kalamandalam Calcutta

Address: 7/2B, Dover Lane, Gariahat, Kolkata n

Z-4 Dancing Network

Address: 16 B Capetower. Hiland Park Panchasayar, Kolkata n

Debroop Roy Rituparna’s Taal – The

Beat Address: 19/7, Block J New Alipore, Kolkata. Near Triangular Park education affairs 9

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB,

Demand rising for music & melody USTAADS, LIVING AWAY FROM THE LIMELIGHT, ARE THE ONLY AUTHENTIC SOURCE OF LEARNING THE ART OF QAWWALI, SHAYARI AND GAZALS. A REPORT BY FARAH KHATOON 10 education affairs

OB, BOOKS, GADGETS, GROOMING, SPORTS, FINE ARTS, MUSIC The demise of two giants has hit Sufi music — Jagjit Singh and Mehdi Hasan could take every listener sitting in a mehfil to an ethereal journey. Since their passing in 2012, there is a big void in the field. But the shama (lamp) of sufi music is yet to overcome this crisis as shayars, qawaals and gazal singers are working hard and keeping the tradition alive amongst the heart of sufi music lovers. Janiva Roy, a gazal singer from Kolkata, believes that the vacuum is fuelling demand for the art across the country. “Jagjit Singh and Mehdi Hasan sahab’s absence cannot be substituted with anyone but this big vacuum has not killed their fans. In fact the fondness for the art is there but what people are looking for is a gazal singer as good as them. There are many gazal singers across the length and breadth of the country. In Delhi, Lucknow, Muradabad, Patna and other cities gazal concerts are being held as it used to be. Few singers conduct shows but they are unable to come out in a big way. Talent is there but the opportunity and support is not there,” said Roy, who sings gazals regularly in the city as well as outside. She has a couple of gazal albums to her credit and four more are lined up in 2014. Trained under stalwarts like Om Prakash Bindra, Nasir Khan and others she is excited about her upcoming album Sangdil that will have Javed Ali and Roop Kumar Rathod giving renditions on the music of Naushad Ali with lyrics from Munawwar Rana and Nawab Arzoo. She will be seen acting in a film Khushboo in 2014 with Zareena Wahab. Sufi music like the Indian classical music has been a private affair when it comes to learning the art. Ustaads give classes to their chelas (apprentice) at a private place which suits them, keeping the sanctity of the art intact. And this tradition has resisted commercialisation of the art, thereby leaving aspirants to look for renowned ustaads for lessons. Janiva, however has plans of opening a school for learning gazals in the next two years. A R Rehman’s K M Music Conservatory in Chennai has facility for learning qawwali. The demand for gazal singers is not restricted to India as these singers frequently make trips to Dubai, Pakistan and other

countries. Qawwalis too has a sizeable market and this market is growing believes Salim Nehaly, a qawwali singer who lives in Belgachia. “Music has no religion and qawwali is loved by all. It’s not just Muslims but we qawwals perform at functions of non-Muslims as well. The market is certainly expanding,” said Nehaly. He however adds that, though the market for qawwali is expanding with new singers joining in the league, which also includes a sizeable number of women, the art is not what it used to be. “The tradition of qawwali in dargahs is still there but the young generation is losing interest. And this loss of interest is because of their disconnect with Urdu language. I believe the trend can be changed when Urdu will be included as a second language in the syllabus,” said Nehaly who informs that depending about the type of programme and artiste, one can earn 25 thousand per performance. Nehaly also points out at the trend that’s changing the art. “Earlier what mattered was adayki (acting), talaffuz (articulation) and alfaaz (words). But it is looks that is given priority and this is attracting a lot of woman from non-Muslim background as well,” said Nehaly. education affairs 11

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB,

(

The tradition of qawwali in dargahs is still there but the young generation is losing interest

In sufi music, mushaira (poetry sessions) is also a popular form of art which has produced immortal poets. The art of reciting poetry in front of an audience is still alive but what is lacking is the right audience. Jamil Haider Shaad, a well-known shayar (poet) in Kolkata believes, “The last 34 years has been an eclipse for Urdu in Bengal. The new generation has no knowledge of the language. There is demand for Urdu shayari, owing to its charm, but what lacks is people who would understand and appreciate it to its true value. People who can sing their couplets are making it popular but again the modern trend in Bollywood is making it hard to survive.” Shaad sharpened his poetry under his uncle Noor Quereshi and has given lyrics to a couple of songs in Tollywood films. The city has a couple of well-known shayars like Alkamas Shibli, Kaisar Shamim, Halim Samar Aarvi and Anjum Azamibadi among others who perform 12 education affairs

regularly at the mushairas organised by All India Mushaira and Urdu Academy. Like gazal and qawwali, learning shayari, rather learning the nuances, is a private affair. “There are no schools or books which can make you a poet. Being a poet is a gift but it is only under good shayars, ustaads, that one can learn the art and improve it further,” said Shaad. However, though it is possible to survive with the first two forms discussed above, gazal and qawwali, it is hard to earn a living with just being a shayar. A poet’s life is full of misery and those who have watched Gulzar’s Mirza Ghalib’s biography will relate to it. Shaad is a poet in and out, but to earn his living, he has to depend on the salary that he draws as a headmaster of an Urdumedium school in the city. “Shayar like Munnawar Rana depends on his business for living,” points out Shaad. It’s the passion for the art that sustains a gazal singer, qawwal or a shayar rather than the monetary rewards attached to it.

OB, BOOKS, GADGETS, GROOMING, SPORTS, FINE ARTS, MUSIC

Rabindra Bharati University offers multiple options FOR STUDENTS WHO WANT TO MAKE A CAREER IN PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS, RABINDRA BHARATI UNIVERSITY IS IDEAL FOR A DEGREE Shaheryar Hossain According to the statistics, the number of students in performing and visual arts institutes is increasing every year since the last two decades. Professor Amita Dutt (Mookerjee), director of Perfoming Arts Therapy Centre at Rabindra Bharati University (RBU), talks to Education Affairs on the performing and visual arts courses. “Perfoming Arts Therapy Centre encourages students to create items on their own and there are constant opportunities to showcase their talents within and outside the University. We help those students who want to get well trained in classical dance and music and achieve excellence. We do not train students who ‘aspire to learn’. This is not a training centre for beginners. A thorough grounding is given in practical and theoretical aspects of the subject the student wants to excel in. This includes history, aesthetics and allied subjects. For instance, a dancer learns rhythm and music,” Dutt said. RBU alumni are now stalwarts in the field of visual and performing arts. There are many renowned performers who are former students of RBU. Among the stars is pandit Ajoy Chakraborty, the classical vocalist. Then Dr. Anup Ghoshal, of Gupi Gayen Bagha Bayen fame and an exceptional singer of modern Bengali songs, is also RBU alumnus. The eminent Rabindrasangeet singer Swagatalakshmi Dasgupta, young

tabla player Rimpa Shiva and a host of young dancers have made their mark in the field as performers and teachers such as Ashimbandhu Bhattacharya, Paramita Maitra, Sandip Mallik and Ramaprasad Chattopadhyay were former students of RBU. Singers such as Agnibha Bandyopadhyay, Durba Sinha Roy, the late Rama Mondal and many established artistes of Bangladesh are RBU alumni. Last but not the least, renowned painter Suvaprasanna is also RBU alumnus.

Key points In 1956, West Bengal State Akademi of Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts saw its establishment at Jorasanko Thakurbari, now RBU Jorasanko campus. Since then, the Akademi is considered as an integral part of RBU. It promotes art and culture by felicitating Akademi awards to eminent practioners of dance, drama, music and visuals arts. This apart, the Akademi also conducts annual art exhibition artists, folk art for the artisans and folk festival, cultural competition, workshops and seminars. In a bid to assist talented students of fine arts, the organisation offers scholarships. However, RBU’s Performing Arts Faculty had been named the Fine Arts Faculty which was a literal translation of Charu Kala Anushad. The different subjects under this Faculty are Dance, Drama, Instrumental Music, Vocal Music (Rabindra Sangeet), Musicolgy and Performing Arts Therapy. The other Faculty was known as Visual Arts Faculty, from Drisya Kala Anushad. This includes subjects like Painting, Sculpture, education affairs 13

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB,

Graphics, History of Art and Museology. In the past few decades, the University has developed as a leading centre for teaching and research in the fields of performing arts and visual arts. Teachers and students of the Performing and Visual Arts Faculties have brought laurels for the University both at national and international levels. The University is developing international collaborations in teaching and research. Infrastructural facilities have been developed to quite a reasonable extent. With the active cooperation of teachers, students, officers and employees and the efficient and democratic functioning of all authorities and bodies, the University has earned a pride of place in the world of higher education at both national and international levels.

14 education affairs

Placement According to Dutt, getting a job is not an issue for talented RBU students. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our outstanding students are recommended for performances and teaching programmes and they are also sometimes absorbed into the University. Career oriented courses like Performing Arts Therapy have trained many students who have been absorbed in hospitals and centres for the disabled and unstable,â&#x20AC;? Dutt added.

Conclusion At time when there is an increase in the enrolment of students in performing and visual arts institutes, it is seen that students leave the course without completion. Nevertheless, RBU remains the haven for budding artistes.

OB, BOOKS, GADGETS, GROOMING, SPORTS, FINE ARTS, MUSIC Courses of Study at a glance Faculty of Fine Arts Course

Subjects

Bachelors in Arts (Honours) ( 3-Year)

Rabindra Sangeet, Vocal Music, Dance, Drama, Instrumental Music Percussion

Masters in Arts (2 –Year under Semester System)

Rabindra Sangeet, Vocal Music, Dance, Drama Instrumental Music, Percussion, Mass Communication and Videography, Musicology

Spl. Honours (2 -Year)

Rabindra Sangeet, Vocal Music, Dance, Drama Instrumental Music, Percussion

M.Phil. (2- Yr. under semester system)

Drama, Dance, Rabindra Sangeet, Vocal Music, Instrumental Music & Percussion

Ph.D (4-5 year)

Rabindra Sangeet, Vocal Music, Dance, Drama Instrumental Music and Percussion, Mass Communication and Videography, Musicology

Faculty of Visual Arts Course

Subjects

Bachelors in Fine Arts (4-Year)

Painting, Applied Art, Graphics (Printmaking) Sculpture, History of Art

Masters in Fine Arts (2 –Year under Semester System)

Painting, Applied Art, Graphics (Printmaking) Sculpture, History of Art

Masters in Arts (2 –Year under Semester System)

Museology

Ph.D (4-5 year)

Painting, Applied Art, Graphics (Printmaking), Sculpture History of Art, Museology

Courses of Study Other than mentioned above Type of course

Duration

D. Litt.

Subject In specified subjects in three Faculties

Diploma

1 year

Junior Diploma

2 years

Senior Diploma

3 years

Rabindra Sangeet, Dance, Drama, Vocal Music, Instrumental Music and Percussion

Certificate

6 months

NGO Management, Book Publication etc.

Name of course

Tagore Literature, Adult Education, Social Work, Multi-media Acting and counseling & Guidance. Rabindra Sangeet, Dance, Drama, Vocal Music, Instrumental Music and Percussion

Duration

Eligibility

UG certificate course in Performing Arts Therapy

One year

H S + Knowledge of Performing Arts

PG certificate course in Performing Arts Therapy

One year

Bachelors Degree + Knowledge of Performing Arts education affairs 15

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB,

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I live and breathe Kathakâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; RENOWNED KATHAK DANCER AMITA DUTT (MOOKERJEE), WHO GOT CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR EXPERIMENTING WITH NEW CHOREOGRAPHIC PATTERNS BLENDING PURE KATHAK MOVEMENTS WITH POPULAR SONGS AND INNOVATIVE THEMES, TALKS TO SHAHERYAR HOSSAIN ABOUT HER SCHOOL DAYS AND WHY STUDIES HOLD IMPORTANCE IN HER LIFE Besides being a gold medalist from Calcutta University, people know you as a renowned kathak dancer? How difficult it was for you to manage both studies and dance? I loved both dance and studies. Hence it was not difficult to manage both together. But yes, I had to choose on how I would spend my whole day. So time management is very important. I was always conscious of how I was spending my time. Then the concept of getting tired and resting was alien to me, and incidentally, it still is there. I think dance helped in activating my blood circulation which gave more oxygen to my whole body and my brain so that my memory and powers of concentration improved.

Why did you choose to become a kathak dancer? In the beginning I had not aimed at becoming a professional dancer. But as people started praising me and inviting me to give dance performances in important events, the idea of taking this up as a profession gradually dawned on me. I chose kathak over other dance forms because I could relate to the music which was Hindustani classical and I was mesmerised by the tempo, expressiveness and the sheer burst of energy that was an invariable element of Kathak. I felt at home with this dance form.

How significant is Kathak in your life? I live and breathe Kathak. It is like my

Q 16 education affairs

own language, my mother tongue. But instead of expressing through mere words I express through my whole body and my feelings are mirrored in my facial expressions. How do you popularise kathak through prolific publications? Everyone all over the world is not familiar with kathak and I felt that people should be acquainted with it. Moreover, if this style had to be kept alive, people should be constantly attracted to it. Hence, I started giving lectures on dance, especially kathak, and also wrote on the subject in books, journals and encyclopedias.

Any incident of your school life, which makes you laugh? My friends always wondered why I went on learning dance for so many years and they would often make fun of the fact that I was learning an art form which hardly attracted people. Whenever we had special guests in school, I was invariably asked to give a dance performance. But this hardly had any significance for my friends who looked on my dance as a waste of time and perhaps thought that I was out of my mind. Otherwise who would go home and practice dance rather than see a cinema or go for a bicycle ride in the city? But I had the last laugh. My friends now tell me that at least I had the discernment to pursue something worthwhile despite their taunts. Now they come to see my dance and are happy when they see me featured in the media.

OB, BOOKS, GADGETS, GROOMING, SPORTS, FINE ARTS, MUSIC Tell us about your favourite subjects? I loved all my school subjects: Literature, History, Geography, Art, Mathematics and especially Physiology. They have all helped in my life and career. Dance is based on literature. We interpret epics and lyrics through the medium of our dance hence a good grounding in literature is absolutely necessary. History helped me to understand the changing manifestations of dance. Dance is an art that is dynamic and its beats are set in rhythmic patterns using mathematical precision. Knowledge of Physiology and Biology made me conscious of my body and health. My knowledge of Geography helped me understand different regions and countries and the behaviour and tastes of the people. This has been the secret of my success in foreign countries.

What is the perfect age for children, who aspire to be Kathak dancer, start learning Kathak? Where should they apply? The age between five and seven is a good time to start. If you have determination and stamina and flexibility as well as sound health and enough time in your hands to pursue your chosen career, you can start later too.

In a bid to become a good Kathak dancer, how much time a child should devote for practicing dance? First and foremost, the child should love his/her style of dance. It should be his/her passion. In order to become a good dancer, a minimum of two to three hours of actual physical dance practice or riyaaz is a must. I mention physical dance because I have interacted with some students who try to remember the dance movements while sitting or lying down and feel they know the dance.

dancer is also full of challenges. As a successful stage performer you have to have a magnetic personality, a graceful bearing, sparkling movements and a stunning stage presence. You also have to be good at public relations and know how to approach the right organisations/persons at the right time. In fact, literally and metaphorically, You have to always be on your toes. How important is Education for a dancer? Learning how to dance and also the history and aesthetics of dance is education by itself. Education in other subjects is also very important for a good dancer. All outstanding dancers have been well educated in literature, especially in poetry and drama, different languages, mythology and scriptures, mathematics, music and art. Moreover, education at good institutes prepares one to face life in general and opens up career opportunities.

How bright is the career of musicians and dancers in India? All careers have prospects. It depends on each individual how he/she will succeed in life. Your sincerity, diligence, tenacity, power of interaction and organisation and your imagination, beside your native talent and command over your subject, are the key to y o u r success.

How difficult is the life of a Kathak dance? The life of a kathak dancer is replete with interesting challenges. Dancers often face problems with their gurus. The earlier method of learning in the guru-shishya parampara is gradually breaking down because of the misunderstandings between the teacher and the student. Nowadays people learn at institutes so that they can learn with an open mind and get sound training with minimum hassles. Establishing your own identity as a

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TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB,

Kite flyers wait for the right wind KITE FLYING FESTIVALS ARE ATTRACTING ENTHUSIASTS TO THE SPORT BUT THE ART IS YET TO JOIN THE RANKS OF ORGANISED SPORT IN INDIA, WRITES FARAH KHATOON The city just saw a demonstration of the joys of flying kites at Vokatta 2014, a kite flying festival that has gone international after its debut last year. Kite flying is a highly public, visually pleasing and larger than life art form which is spreading fast within the community of Indian kite-flyers. Nonetheless, several steps are needed to promote it and make it a viable sport in India, feels experts. Santosh Kumar Jaiswal, organiser of Vokatta, is working hard to promote the sport in the city. The festival attracted kiteflyers from the US, UK, Italy, Germany and Malaysia among other countries, while flyers from different states of India also joined in. Between them, these fliers delivered a spectacular performance filling the winter afternoon sky at Eco Park with their fighter and fancy kites. Talking about the

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sport, Jaiswal said, “There is no dearth of talent or good kite flyers in India. In every state there are kite flyers, Kolkata has them too. But it is not promoted, the way it should be. The Uttarayan festival in Gujarat is giving a very big platform to kite-flyers. We have been organising Vokatta in Kolkata with similar aim and I am sure people will be encouraged.” Kite-flying, popular skill-driven sport involving both art and science. It implies the aeronautical science with limitless imagination of an artiste to create a spectacular display across the canvas of the sky. The size of a kite can amaze a viewer and so can the price. “A Belgian flew a Delta kite that was 15/7 metres worth 6lakhs. There are proper rules and regulations in this sport involving 12 referees,” said Jaiswal. He said kite-flying can only be compared with paragliding but without the danger of accidents. Kite-flying is a big sport in different parts of the world and veterans believe it should be included in school’s curriculum to promote it. Bhavna Sailesh Mehta makes patchwork kites and participants in kite festivals rues over the lack of avenues to learn the art. “I had an inclination towards art and craft hence the creative aspect was handled.

OB, BOOKS, GADGETS, GROOMING, SPORTS, FINE ARTS, MUSIC

However it is the aeronautical aspect which is more important and one can learn it through trial and error. The main source to learn it is through workshops,” said Mehta who conducts workshops in school to educate children. Mehta strongly believes that kite-making and flying should be included in the school curriculum. Seconding Mehta, Vinita Vrej, a kite flyer from Gujarat, reasons the apathy of the schools in embracing the sport. “Kite-flying requires a big playground to teach the technique of gravity, air pressure, wind factor and others. The sport is itself very educative. It teaches mathematics, science and even logic and hence it should be included in a school’s curriculum the way other forms of art are,” said Vrej, who started her career in kite-flying with

the French Kite Flyers during the Gujarat International Kite Festival in 2010. She rues that though she had the opportunity to learn hands-on from an American kite flyer about the science of flying a kite, others might not due to lack of resource. Vrej holds regular workshops in schools. “I teach the students about the Sled Kite: It is simple to make and fly, and is always successful as a first kite. I also teach them to make traditional Indian kites, and a unique origami kite in the Japanese style. Being paper based, an ecological message can often accompany the instruction. I also ran similar workshops in Montelivet, in the district of Vendee, France. There, I was included in the flying team run by Michel Boucard and Dom Martin, both prominent Kite Fliers in France,” said Vrej who also took part in Vokatta 2014. The rewards, as of now in kiteflying is not big, but the joy and satisfaction of watching your art rise in the horizon touching the sky while riding the wind is priceless. education affairs 19

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB

Learning the art of acting in classrooms ACTING SCHOOLS PLAY A BIG ROLE IN GROOMING ACTORS OF THE FUTURE, EXPERTS TELL ASHOK CHATTERJEE

With the proliferation of television channels and films, both Bollywood and regional, and more TV modelling assignments, acting and grooming schools never had it this busy. Boys and girls are waiting in the wings to make a career out of acting. Fame and money in the field contributes to the lure of the silver screen, stage and TV shows. While most aspiring actors head Mumbai, there are many who come to Kolkata to try their luck. The increasing number of serials and mega serials being made in Kolkata has opened up opportunities for many budding actors and models. But out of many, few make it to the top. One of the most famous acting schools in Mumbai, Subhash Ghai’s Whistling Woods International and Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares, have churned out many professionals in the industry. Meghna Ghai Puri, president of Whistling Woods International, is excited about students who are now full-fledged professionals in the industry. With career prospects improving in showbiz, she says, “The Indian media industry is growing each year and as people need entertainment in any form — TV, film, mobile or the Internet. Training in a creative field like this is equally important just as in marketing or 20 education affairs

management. I agree that one has to have inbuilt talents but training helps you hone those skills and become a performer. It also increases the longevity of your career.” Emphasising on how acting schools help in the longevity of the career, she says, “Naseeruddin Shah for example went to acting school for seven years and you can see from his career graph what a long innings he has had. And it never ever looked sagging at any point. Training gives the stability in the long run. We have lot of talent in our country and they need to have a map for what they want to do. Parents too are not the same anymore. They understand the value of a happy life where their wards enjoy what they do. Parents are encouraging kids to have a career in the creative field.” Meghna is happy to point out, “There are so many more options. Our students are not only acting in films and television, they are doing voice overs, ad films and acting in short films which they make for film festivals and the Internet. The media is going to expand with the reach of Internet in our country and for that talent will be needed. It is not always possible to have budgets to cast expensive stars. After you start, it takes just one chance to make it big. One definitely needs destiny on his side. But I have also noticed that more hard work and perseverance has made

OB, BOOKS, GADGETS, GROOMING, SPORTS, FINE ARTS, MUSIC our students go a long way. They are being recognised in their own creative field of acting now.” Entry level professionals earn well. “They earn more than a regular 9-5 person does. If you have the talent and are creative, then this is the field for you,” emphasises Meghna. But the educator also makes it clear that preparing actors and professionals is not cheap and quality education costs money. “When we started the institute, we started with lot of responsibility. This school which looks like an elite school, with the best technology and the best faculty, is not an elitist school. Most of our students come here on bank loan. We are serious about the business of making filmmakers. Our entire curriculum is designed in such a way, we make our students employable at the end of the course, whether they are actors or editors, filmmakers or sound recordists. Most of them have worked with the industry by the time they finish school. In fact, most of them have options to choose from which allows them to bargain. There are many corporate houses who want only professionals to work with them. Half a dozen of our students have worked with Anurag Kashyap for example,” points out Subhash Ghai’s daughter. Whistling Woods International helps its students with placements as well. Meghna proudly states, “We have a placement cell and we just don’t leave them after passing out. The goal of our institute is to give talented youth a platform. We access their platform when the students come back to us for legal contracts. Our faculty gives them feedbacks.” But the president of the school agrees that there is extreme competition in the industry now. Until six years ago there was hardly any trained talent in the industry. Close to 80% of the workforce was untrained. “When we started this school there wasn’t much competition. Fortunately the edge we offer to the students is something which indsutrywallas look forward to. They know our students will bring something different to the table. There is certain level of professionalism, certain level of positive attitude to their work. This is an emotional industry and if you have the right attitude then you get preference over others,” says Meghna. The school offers degree along with diplomas and has affiliation with Bhartidasan University and offers a filmmaking course. It is a three-year programme along with university subjects. It has become extremely sought after course. “It suits parents to have degrees than diploma and it also suits us as well,” says

Meghna. Meghna insists that the fee is around a third of what international film schools charge. “We are spending more on our students than we are earning through them. Film education is not cheap. We don’t have any financial support from anyone. In the last seven years, no student has come and told me that the course is not value for money. The kind of faculty, classes and course we provide, is priceless for students. We also have lot of scholarship schemes. We have also sponsored student education from an NGO. So, we are conscious of the fact that we are not going to let go of good talent just because they don’t have money,” she says.

Highlighting the international nature of the course, she adds, “If you go to the US or UK, their curriculum is very specific to their industry. We have films from Iran, Mexico, China, UK, US and India so it is truly international. Out of our students 15% are foreign students. We do co-productions with various institutes from all over the world and that really helps them understand how the global cinema works. This is important because crossover of talent is going to happen now.” Here in Kolkata, which also nurtures acting talent in many ways, theatre forms a stepping stone for the budding actors. Actor Rishi Mukherjee of theatre group, Nabamayukh Nattya Sangstha, who has also been part of many serials and films, feels acting cannot be taught. A man trained on the job by greats like Gyanesh Mukherjee and Tapan Sinha, Rishi, believes only if someone has the talent and the propensity, should he go for acting. education affairs 21

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB, “I come across many students who want me to teach them the art of acting. I tell them the biggest virtue they need is patience. Patience will only take them ahead. Also one needs to be aware of one’s limitations and work according to his abilities. Both the heart and mind has to be in sync before one takes the plunge into acting,” says the actor turned director. To beat competition and be ahead of others, Rishi feels one has to learn all aspects of acting properly such as composition, light and what the director is trying to convey. Practical experience is very important. And theatre is an ideal place to learn the basics. He says, “Today’s youth lack education in their field of work. While the new generation is very advanced and are more aware, they are not serious about their profession.” Rishi feels the institutions which teach acting also should have a responsibility towards their students and not just think of making money. Talking about the flipside of this profession, he points out, “I get requests from students if I can create an opportunity for then to act. They are so desperate to act that they don’t even complete their education properly.” Samrat Mukherjee, who runs the institute SMPAI, training youngsters about various aspects of acting and modelling, says newcomer TV actors and models are well paid despite of little experience. “A newcomer gets paid anywhere between Rs 45,000 to Rs 50,000 for mega-serials whereas ones with little fame get paid in the bracket of Rs 70,000 to a lakh. When I started modeling in 1994-1995, I used to get Rs 500 for one assignment, whereas now they get paid 14,000 to 15,000 per assignment. Even RJs have a starting salary of 25,000 while VJs make little less. But the packages are only for the talented. Not everyone is in the same level,” he says. Samrat feels there is a sea change in attitude of the students from the time he started. “From the time I started this institute (20 years ago) till 2000, the attitude of the youngsters was happy-go-lucky. Focus and ambition was not so strong and even aspiration levels were less. But then a drastic change came about. Now we have so many channels. Students are focused and serious. They know what to do, how to do and where to do. They are not just dreaming. After passing out of acting schools, they get their portfolio made and go for auditions. They are well versed with the system,” he says. Someone, who has done films in Telugu and Oriya and assisted directors like RGV, K C Bokadia, Rajat Mukherjee and Raj Kaushal in 22 education affairs

Mumbai, Samrat feels competition in Kolkata is next to Mumbai. People come here in hordes to make a career. He feels to be a good actor one needs to have good body language, dancing skills, talking skills, coordinating skills apart from good looks and acting skills. One of the highest TRP generators in television, Samrat is pained by the wastage of talent in Bengal. “Boys here are very talented but the problem is lack of exposure. They are working in a deep well. They are not aware of what is happening in Delhi or Mumbai. As a result if they get little success, it gets into their head. Their ego issues come to the fore. Instead of thinking about wider horizons, they forget about higher goals,” says the SMPAI chairman. Budding actors coming out of such schools have options like either going for television or films. While getting a chance in films is still a difficult proposition, many opt for serials. Meghna feels it is a mix of both for Whistling Wood International passouts. “We tell our students that it is one thing making films for a hobby but from all we know that most of our students are here to make a career out of it. We tell them that you must have an audience for your films. No matter what films you make at what budget but make sure that you sell that many tickets so that you make money. We always drill the commercial aspect in our students. We make sure that students understand the economics of filmmaking,” says Meghna. Though the first love remain films but now more and more students are open to TV.

OB, BOOKS, GADGETS, GROOMING, SPORTS, FINE ARTS, MUSIC

SRFTI set to break new ground THE SATYAJIT RAY FILM AND TELEVISION INSTITUTE IS COMING UP WITH TWO NEW COURSES, NILOTPAL MAJUMDER, DEAN OF THE INSTITUTE, TELLS ASHOK CHATTERJEE What’s new at SRFTI? In terms of curriculum and new pedagogic practices, there is definitely a difference from earlier times. We have introduced a new course, Producing for Film and Television, which is a postgraduate course. It is a course where we envisage students, who would be in a position after completing the course, to professionally handle different production needs – they could be line producer, independent producers or looking after other creative aspects of production. Overall their contribution will be little holistic. In future, we are looking at the prospect of these students to bring in certain kind of spirit, energy and aesthetic understanding in overall film production. After the film is finished they can really work in terms of outreach of the film, even distribution and marketing can also be their area of work. They may also look into the aspect of promoting films at festivals. So, it will be a much valuable course. And I’m sure this course will open up lot of avenues. They will be marketing cinema as an artistic product. We know who our target audience is. There are different platforms to be exploited

– TV, internet and new media. With the convergence of 4G, the possibilities are enormous. The outreach has suddenly expanded. What is the procedure for admission for the new course? Here too we follow standard procedures just like other courses at the institute. Students get through through examinations. Then there will be orientation course, where we offer them inputs and they participate. Through this exercise we find out the ability, aptitude and talent of the students. And finally they appear for the interview.

How far has SRFTI progressed in terms of being a centre of excellence? We are not only starting new courses, we are also going to start very soon a department of animation. So, the overall academic quality would be enhanced. We are trying to gather experience of what is happening around the world and know how the industry and creative practices are changing and based on that we are changing our syllabus and curriculum. We are constantly incorporating new

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TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB, ideas and making it into a calendar as a defined structure. So, there has been lot of improvement taking place. There are reports that St Xaviers will work in collaboration with SRFTI to offer practical training and internship for film studies. We have no such information. Surely, the expertise can be shared since we are the most eligible institute. New initiatives are coming at the university level. I’m sure they are thinking about us in terms of sharing our expertise and developing their curriculum.

How different is SRFTI from other private acting schools? For that one has to understand our funda-

mental mandate. Our mandate is to spread quality cinema education among the common citizens. The course curriculum has to be affordable. It is for Indian citizens, particularly the young talents. The Indian students get something to study which is reasonable and has superior infrastructure and professional set up. The quality of education which we offer cannot be compared with any private institution. This is a practical film making school. For us cinema education is the only priority. We always look at the best possible practices available in the industry, we design our curriculum in such a way that it gives what is ideal for the students under top quality education. We are also mandated towards creating socially responsible citizens, a responsible artiste. But private acting institutes always tell their students about the commercial side of cinema. We definitely do not propagate that idea. We believe in good quality of storytelling which will engage the audience. If the film has quality, definitely there will be audience. We don’t have to harp on the idea that the film has to be a sellout. We know and believe that sometimes even the greatest artworks don’t

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How regularly do you update your courses? Firstly, we are aware of the changes happening around. Technology of filmmaking is changing very fast and we are in touch with the tech advances. Secondly, there is a change in cinema in the form of storytelling. This is something which is not radically changing. Definitely, there are many new ways of storytelling, new way of communicating (it may not be storytelling, it may not be the narrative, it can be something else). All this supports audio-visual communication. We look at the content, which has to be told in an aesthetically and artistic manner. So, we are definitely connected with the international trend.

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Our mandate is to spread quality cinema education among citizens

fetch revenues they deserve. Being a public funded institute, we philosophically, spiritually and perceptionally believe in something else. At the same time our students are most equipped and empowered to make sure that they can create something which is engaging. We believe in quality but there are many factors beyond our control.

What about placements? We do not have a placement cell like many private institutions. We create creative professionals. This industry is still unorganised. There is no concept of regular job. A director may be working with someone for a project, for which, he may work with someone else. No one is working under someone’s payroll. In such a situation, we cannot ensure employment but we make sure that with the skill set the students develop, they can work under any circumstance. We are sure that our students can withstand any competition.

Which is he preference of acting students – Television or films? It is a mix. Television is definitely a big force now but boys are also going in for films and independent alternate scenario. Most of the students are moving to Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and even Thiruvanantpuram. There are few, who take their own sweet time and stick to independent filmmaking. In fact, there is much larger scope for independent filmmaking. Many students either work directly or do freelancing for television. Since independent cinema is very vibrant, quite a few students from here are not much keen to move to other cities and work under a house or someone. It also ensures how you get yourself sensitised to a certain kind of project, which keeps changing.

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‘I like the idea of my paintings taking on a life of their own’ GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS HOLDER TRACY LEE STUM IS BACK WITH RENEWED VIGOUR TO PROMOTE 3D STREET ART IN INDIA She has earned praise, applause and admiration every time she has been on the streets. Street artist Tracy Lee Stum had a successful workshop in Kolkata. She spoke to Farah Khatoon about the art and the movement. What were your expectations from the audience of Kolkata? This is actually my fourth visit to Kolkata and every time I come here I find more and more appreciation. It's a vibrant city that rewards if you allow yourself the time to peel back layers of experience. Everywhere I go, I find that young people are very curious about 3D street art and Kolkata is no different. There certainly is interest in understanding how to adapt this art form into India's cultural landscape. My intention is to provide concrete support for the development of a street art movement in India. How did you stumble upon the art of street painting? And how did the 3D aspect featured? I did indeed 'stumble upon' street painting! I spontaneously attended the Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival in California and couldn't believe my eyes. Over 100 artists creating ephemeral chalk masterpieces on pavement was amazing. I realised at that moment that I had found my 'tribe!' The following year, 1998, I crested my first drawing there. Fast forward two years and I had begun creating 3D images — all self-taught as instructional support via the Internet, blogs, books, etc. simply did not exist. Through trial and error & some revisiting of perspective theories, I began to understand the laws that govern anamorphic projection. This was in 2000.

Street art in Kolkata would mean street plays, some simple chalk art or sand-art in coastal areas. Do you think 3D street art will add another dimension to the art loving audience of this state? Absolutely! With the global explosion of street art murals and street painting festivals, these art forms have proven to possess universal appeal. As a result, many major cities around the world have embraced the marriage of urban spaces with large scale visual expressions via street art. I believe that Kolkata is a city ripe with potential and opportunity for artists who have the vision and drive to engage in these accessible art forms.

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TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB, and YouTube for those interested in beginner instructional tutorials. What was the main reason behind making the anamorphic paintings interactive? I like the idea of my paintings taking on a life of their own, autonomous. The interactive aspect changes a standard static image into a theatrical landscape that invites viewers to explore and play. Ownership of the image becomes expanded to include every participant. As a result, this dynamic exchange sets up a unique experience for each person involved, with the painting being center to various experiential scenarios. It's an offering of sorts that bring tremendous satisfaction. Due to its short life span, this ephemeral art form has also taught me to let go of any attachment to the work itself and simply embrace the creative process, which is very liberating.

How has the art evolved over the years? The art form followed a traditional practice for many years until the beginning of the 21st century. Street Art has moved from gallery and museum walls to public streets now, making it accessible to everyone. That's huge if you think of the impact these art forms have on society. And because of its global exposure many new artists have come to the fold, with original concepts, applications and approaches. Mixed and digital media have now been incorporated into street painting via animation, projection and augmented (4D) reality, along with larger collaborative efforts. Film, video and advertising are using 3D street art applications regularly as well. I see this art form as moving from its 'fringe' infancy to a more fully realised and accepted expression in the society. Possibilities continue to grow and develop yearly and who knows where its evolution will end? It really is a fantastic time to be involved in this expanding art movement.

How challenging was it for you to learn the art by yourself and make a living out of it? Is it still a profession that can be pursued with ease? When I began street painting there was a niche market open to street artists. Most of the opportunities were at non-profit events which are not in a position to give much financial support. However, with the advent of the Internet marketing street painting enjoyed exposure on a global scale. As a result, that niche market has now grown to a worldwide phenomenon, affording numerous opportunities for many practicing professionals and amateur street artists. Certainly getting one's work out on the web and participating in high profile festivals and events is essential for young novice artists wishing to enjoy some future commercial success.

Are there any 3D art teaching centers in India which is intending to promote the art? No, presently there are none, however, that may change in the coming two years. I am in the process of developing a Master Class programme in the US in 2014. And I have plans to take that worldwide in the next two years. At present I do offer a 'How To' Kindle book and free instructional videos through my website

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Electronic musical instruments drive out hand-made products DEMAND FOR ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS IS ESCALATING, AND THIS IS EATING INTO DEMAND FOR TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTS

Shaheryar Hossain With the advent of electronic musical instruments, hand-made classical musical instruments are hardly selling at the shops in Kalighat in Kolkata. As a result, the highly skilled artisan instrument makers, shopkeepers and other workers are in deep trouble.

The trade and sales of traditional harmonium, sitar, tanpura, tabla and other instruments have dried up. M Mullick, owner of Sarawati Bhandar, a traditional classical music instrument shop in Kalighat, was one of many who shared his troubles with Education Affairs. “Down the line, say 10 years from now, our business will be extinct. Earlier, we had work pressure but now the pressure is nil,” lamented Mullick. education affairs 27

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB,

petitions in different localities across the city. In fact, the demand for Indian or Western classical music is lower than the stuff belted out by modern bands catering to demand for Western style music in our society, be it in English or Indian languages. Bhangra pop does not need handmade instruments for sure! Electronic musical instruments are easier to use for partially or poorly trained performers, and many offer the karaoketype options that can easily be used to fool audiences. In contrast, non-electronic musical instruments require proper attention and caution to produce the perfect tune. The perfect note can be produced by pressing a single button attached on an electronic tanpura. So, most performers are shirking on long hours of vocal practice or the proper use of hand and finger which were needed so long to produce the proper tune on a handmade, individually crafted, non-electronic tanpura.

He further pointed out that the number of customers buying musical instruments has gone down very sharply. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our business has declined almost by 50%. Earlier, there were umpteen demands of guitar, tempura and other instruments. But today, the scenario is totally different. After manufacturing a harmonium, we wait for weeks and months to sell it. It is only once in a blue moon that any musical instrument is sold from our shop,â&#x20AC;? Mullick added. Handmade instruments appear to be losing general customers who are avoiding years of hard practice needed to master a traditional instrument; instead, the electronic item can be belting out the right notes thanks to a correct default setting done at the flick of a switch with no one in the audience being in the know. This appears to be the main reason behind declining sales of handmade instruments. The alternative is of course electronic musical instruments. Another factor could be the fewer number of properly judged cultural music com28 education affairs

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Visva-Bharati No 1 in national rankings in the Arts Pradeep Gooptu

Heritage

Guess which university has been in first position in the national rankings of institutions in the field of arts, fine arts and related cultural courses conducted by multiple magazines and agencies? Its none other than the West Bengal based Visva-Bharati, a central university under the Government of India. An institution classified as one of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;national importanceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, was established by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, the first noble laureates from Asia, at Santiniketan, 170km from Kolkata.

From its inception, Tagore gave utmost importance on socially relevant academic pursuits such as folk and modern culture, visual and performing arts, and rural work and reconstruction, alongside exercise (vyayama) and sport (krida) for national development. Traditional university courses are taught here but are always blended and dovetailed into the knowledge and values laid down by Tagore. The Nobel laureate was a great practitioner and admirer of ancient psycho-spiritual (yoga) and traditional physical culture and started many events to promote these. education affairs 29

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB, Santiniketan and its twin hamlet Srinikatan hosts regular festivals besides normal classroom courses. The festivals are carefully structured for displaying the arts and their fusion and symbiotic relationship with normal academic courses.

Ahead of its time Tagore’s dream of preserving intangible cultural heritage is a concept recognised only today by UNESCO. Tagore’s unique concepts and methods have made Visva-Bharati the right place for the arts, fine arts and related disciplines. As the current vice-chancellor, eminent physicist Dushanta Dattagupta, is so fond of pointing out, “A brilliant physics graduate can study music and the arts at VisvaBharati, and that makes our institution unique”. In parallel, it worked towards ‘Asian Unity’, another dream of Tagore. Visva-Bharati continues to preserve culture and future development in collaboration with institutions as big as UNESCO. In fact, a Centre for Indian Traditional Sports and Games is in on the planning board at Visva-Bharati.

Why does it enjoy No.1 ranking? “We look for graduates from there they are toppers when it comes to creativity and knowledge of new techniques”, said a senior official of a production company associated to one of the largest media groups in India. Headhunters in the media and arts sector, like Shayantani Dutt, say students are more flexible and willing to adapt to new circumstances because of the work culture and openness of mind that Visva-Bharati appears to inculcate. But the real reason for its top ranking may be the wide range of courses it offers, some of which are given below. n

B.Mus. (Honours - 3 years) at the Sangit Bhavana (Institute of Music, Dance & Drama) Subjects: Subjects include Rabindra Sangit, Hindusthani Classical Vocal; Sitar, Esraj, Tabla and Pakhawaj; also offered are Kathakali Dance, Manipuri Dance, Manipuri Dance. Eligibility criteria: Candidates must have passed the Pre-degree Examination of Visva-Bharati / West Bengal Board of Higher Secondary Examination or equivalent Examination (10+2) outside West Bengal with at least 45% marks in aggregate.

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Masters in Music (2 years) at the Sangit Bhavana (Institute of Music, Dance & Drama) Subjects: Rabindra Sangit, Hindusthani Classical Music Vocal; Hindusthani Classical Music Instrumental (Sitar,Esraj, Tabla, Pakhawaj); Kathakali Dance, Manipuri Dance. Eligibility criteria: Candidates possessing the B.Mus. degree of Visva-Bharati in the relevant subject; OR External candidates possessing first class Honours in a 3 years B.Mus./ B.A. Hons. In Music degree in the relevant subject of any recognised University n

B.Fine Arts (Honours - 5 years: 2 years preparatory & 3 years specialisation) at the Kala Bhavana (Institute of Fine Arts) Subjects: Painting, Mural, Sculpture, Graphic Art; Design (Textiles/ Ceramics); and History of Art. Eligibility criteria History of Art: School leaving certificate/ Madhyamik of Visva-Bharati or equivalent with at least 65% marks and necessary aptitude. Others: School leaving certificate/ Madhyamik of Visva-Bharati or equivalent with necessary aptitude. n

Masters in Fine Arts. (2 years) at the Kala Bhavana (Institute of Fine Arts) Subjects: Painting; Mural; Sculpture; Graphic Art; Design (Textiles/ Ceramics); History of Art. Eligibility criteria: B.F.A. (Honours) of Visva-Bharati or equivalent in the relevant subject with at least 55% marks in aggregate and History of Art as one of the subjects of study. In addition there are special modules like diplomas, certificates, bridge courses, foreign casual course and pre-education course. These include: n

Kala Bhavana (Institute of Fine Arts) Duration of 5 years. Subjects include Painting; Mural; Sculpture; Graphic Art; Design (Textiles /Ceramics). Eligibility criteria: School leaving certificate or Madhyamik from Visva-Bharati or equivalent with necessary aptitude. n

Kala Bhavana (Institute of Fine Arts) course with duration of 2 years, with subjects like Painting; Mural; Sculpture; Graphic Art; Design (Textiles /Ceramics). Eligibility criteria: Degree or Diploma in the relevant subject from Visva-Bharati or equivalent with at least 55% marks in

OB, BOOKS, GADGETS, GROOMING, SPORTS, FINE ARTS, MUSIC

aggregate. n

Kala Bhavana (Institute of Fine Arts) course of two years in the subject of Design. Eligibility criteria are education upto school final standard, atleast 16 years of age and necessary aptitude.

BRIDGE COURSE: Kala Bhavana (Institute of Fine Arts); Duration 1 year. Subject: Art History Eligibility criteria: Under graduates from other than Fine Arts discipline with 60% marks in Honours subject. n

FOREIGN CASUAL COURSE at Vidya Bhavana (Institute of Humanities and Social Science) of one year. Subjects include survey of Indian History & Culture; Indian Classics; Modern Indian Culture with special reference to Tagore and Gandhi; Ancient Indian Culture; Indian Art (Theory & Practice); Indian Dance (Manipuri/ Kathakali); Indian Music (Tagore Songs); Hindusthani Classical Music (Vocal); Hindusthani Classical Music (Instrumental- Esraj and Sitar). Eligibility criteria: Passed H.S. (10+2) or its equivalent examination. Admission to this course is restricted to foreigners joining the university as casual students.

Kala Bhavana (Institute of Fine Arts) courses of one year in subjects like Painting; Sculpture; Graphic; Design. Eligibility criteria: Selection to be done on the basis of specimen of original works. n

PRE-DEGREE COURSE (10+2 level) at the Uttar Siksha Sadan of a duration of two years. Subjects include (under Humanities Stream) Rabindra Sangeet; Sitar; Painting; Manipuri Dance; Hindustani Classical Music (Vocal); Tabla; Esraj. Eligibility Criteria: Humanities stream with Geography combination 50% marks in aggregate and 50% marks in Geography; Humanities Stream with Economics combination 50% marks in aggregate and 50% marks in Mathematics (compulsory or additional); 50% marks in aggregate and 50% marks in additional Economics; 55% marks in aggregate and 45% marks in Mathematics Science Stream 60% marks in aggregate and 60% marks in Mathematics (Compulsory or Additional); Humanities Stream with Mathematics/Statistics combination 50% marks in aggregate and 50% marks in Mathematics; Humanities Stream with Others combination 45% marks in aggregate. education affairs 31

TEACHING, TRAINING, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB, from theKNOWLEDGE, archive

Jawaharlal Nehru University: Birth of a global institution

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is today one of the greatest universities in Asia if not the world. It educates the finest students and is a beacon of hope for youth across all segments of society. M C Chagla, as education minister, dreamt of a worldclass institution pioneering teaching and research in diverse fields and placed the Bill with his ideas and concepts before the Rajya Sabha on 1 September 1965. Bhupesh Gupta spoke on the motion, describing the JNU plan as good but ‘pedestrian’. Gupta wanted the new university to be Indian and not another Oxford or Harvard, and also to be Indian in its approach. JNU emerged from the combination of the concepts of Gupta and Chagla. Excerpts from Gupta’s speech. Mr Chairman, Sir, we have heard some speeches, especially from the Congress benches. I do not think it is necessary to talk about this university in order to settle the name of a personality in history. We are told that the name of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru would be immortalised by this particular university as though that how we are going 32 education affairs

to immortalise him; otherwise, according to them – it seems to me he would not be immortal. I think this is an entirely wrong approach. It is understandable if honourable members take the opportunity of expressing certain good and noble sentiments for their leader and for, undoubtedly, a very great man. But we are here discussing the specific proposal for a university and let us not try to waste time on the name itself, although points were made about him, or the biographical sketch of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was drawn. What we should do here is to look at the problem and examine the question that is before us on merits. We are having another university in Delhi as indeed we should have got one such earlier. Delhi’s requirement of higher education are not squarely met and Delhi certainly deserves to be given a university by the Central Government and arrangements for providing higher education by the Central Government should have been made. That was not done. Naturally, people have suffered and our education has suffered here. Mr Chairman, therefore I am happy that

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Delhi will perhaps have a larger scope for higher education in humanities, in science and in technology. But it is a pedestrian way in which the bill has been conceived of by our esteem friend, Mr Chagla. One should have thought that when you are giving this name to this University and are being guided by certain sentiments which should be cherished, undoubtedly, honestly you would have also introduced some new ground in the matter of approach. But what we have is just a common-place. Legislation which more or less repeats the picture of the universities that we have in our country. There is nothing particularly new in this, nothing particularly exciting in it, nothing particularly hopeful in it. That is what I wish to say. The very first thing that comes to my mind in this connection is: for whom we are arranging this education. Yes, technological education, scientific education and other educational facilities should be extended. We agree, but preference should be given, especially when income disparities continue in the country in a very serious manner. When we find that young boys and girls coming from the poorest classes do not have the opportunity or wherewithal to enter the portals of our university, naturally the question arises whether this university is going to be open for them, those who do not have enough money or whose families do not have enough money or whether it is going to be just another one which will be accessible only to the sons and daughters of the rich. This question is very important and has to be answered and settled from the standpoint of those who need the care of the country most. Still, we talk about the Oxford University and so on. I do not know how long it will take â&#x20AC;&#x201C; perhaps another five centuries we will require at this rate â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in order to forget the Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Mr Chairman, let us not go into all these things these are very pedantic, high-sounding and perhaps very, very attractive to those people who have, in the corner of their hearts, still a lingering admiration for everything that is Anglo-Saxon. I am not one of those people. Certainly there are a lot of things to be got from every country and England is not excluded from them. But why cannot the problems of our universities be considered from the standpoint of the requirements of our country in the light of the experience about education in the contemporary world? And I think the contemporary world points to one thing and it is this that

the type of educational system that we have in Oxford and Cambridge in modern times, with very high-flown expenses and with a different set-up of values and functions of our people or any people for that matter, does not meet the requirements of the situation. That is what I wish to say. Therefore let us not go into it. Here Mr Chagla should consider for whom the university is intended. Why should we like more money to be given to this without any assurance given by the Government that this university will particularly cater to the needs of the poorer classes and poorer people? Mr Chairman, let us not have Cambridges and Oxfords and Princetons and Harvards

here; let us create universities and colleges that our people need, that our development needs, for the remaking of our material and cultural being. That is what I say and therefore the first thing is to ensure that the sons of the working people, the worker, the peasants and the middle classes do not have the doors of the universities thrown wide open to them. That is the first thing and for that you have to provide not only money but also a different outlook. Money must come; we must have subsidised education; it must be highly subsidised because the investment that you will be making in imparting higher scientific and technical education to the poorer sections of the community will have been repaid in the course of time in creative and education affairs 33

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB, even constructive labour which would go to the benefits of the entire society. That is how I view this matter. But Mr Chairman, if the cost of education becomes expensive – from Rs 125 to Rs 200 – I should like to know how many even of the great officers of the Government would be in a position to send their sons to these universities. That is what I would like to know. We know of those days when the tuition fees in the college was Rs 10. Now, to go to the college, one requires to spend Rs 30. That is the position. Then, we pay the tuition fees and spend on books and other things. Therefore, if Mr Chagla feels and honourable members who expressed good sentiment about Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru feel that he had some socialist ideas and a socialist way of looking at things, let the emphasis be shifted from the upper classes to the classes that are economically at bottom layers of the society. This is the first suggestion. Secondly, the university should be run on a broad basis. I would not like the bureaucratic set-up to come in. The autonomy should be completely guaranteed. I think we can give autonomy in a larger measure to a university of this kind. Since Jawaharlal Nehru’s name is associated with it I feel there should be a faculty which educates the student in the spirit of world power. Now, we have got all faculties … We want, therefore, in a university of this kind a special faculty to be created that would impart learning and education in the spirit of the worldwide struggle for peace because nothing today is so novel and great as that one which teaches our younger generation… the struggle that humanity is waging for peace. Therefore, this thing should be there. Let there be a new faculty. Show some originality… There are new faculties to be created. That is a matter for the Select Committee to consider. Maybe it is not possible to include everything in a Bill. But an indication should be there. That is what I say. Then, Mr Chairman, I should also like this university to educate students in various matters connected with development of democratic institutions and democracy in the country. This should be special subject. It should be there in other universities also. Sir, many names are taken here. We find special faculties in a given situation are brought into existence in order to educate people in special branches of learning. So that students may become useful, enlightened citizens when they are educated in world affairs and the affairs of the State.

34 education affairs

Therefore, I say such suggestions should also be considered. Some honourable members talked about student in discipline. Sir, we are elder people. Therefore, we can talk about student indiscipline. But, Mr Chairman, let us rule at the ruling class and at the elders in a particular State from which Pt Jawaharlal Nehru came. I see the greatest indiscipline going on among those teaching discipline to the students. Take the example of UP. What is happening there? Among the leaders, as you know, they talk glibly about student indiscipline. Sir, by and large, I do maintain that our student community are a fine lot, a very disciplined body. We know the student communities in other countries also and we should have no hesitation in extending to the student community as a whole our best feelings and deep appreciation of the manner in which they conduct themselves. There will be some bad people. And where there are not bad people, I should like to know. If you take percentages, you will find a much higher percentage of bad people in the Treasury Benches than in any college or university in the country. Therefore, let us not talk about this business. Sir, students should have ideals before them. I should like this university to have a clear faculty, I maintain, for the studies of scientific socialism. And why should it not be there? Everybody talks about socialism. Mr S K Patil talks about socialism. Mr G D Birla talks about socialism. Mr J R D Tata talks about socialism. Mr Haridas Mundhre talks about socialism when he gives money to a particular election fund. Everybody these days talks of socialism. But one does not know what it is… So there should be a faculty for the study of scientific socialism. …I know, in the post graduate courses Marxism is taught but the books are always from the United States of America which display no knowledge of Marxism at all. Therefore, Mr Chairman, I should like a faculty to be created to impart proper education of this kind. As far as other things are concerned, I do not wish to say anything because we will have another chance I believe when the thing comes back from the Select Committee. But I think the poor should be kept in view. Noble ideas should be kept in my mind. And certainly when Parliament has declared for the establishment of, what they call, a social State, socialism should be studied as a special subject, as it prevails in this country in this particular university.

OB, BOOKS, GADGETS, GROOMING, SPORTS, FINE ARTS, MUSIC

ETO course a new option in Merchant Navy TO ENSURE SMOOTH ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONING ON SHIPS AND PREVENT MISHAPS, A NEW COURSE FOR ELECTRO TECHNICAL OFFICERS (ETO) HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION. SHAHERYAR HOSSAIN REPORTS For engineering students who earlier opted for stream other than marine engineering, here is a chance for them to enter shipping industry as officers. The ETO course is a medium with the help of which they can achieve this dream. S C Mondal, joint director general of shipping (T) ministry of shipping (Kolkata), said, “The ETO Course is meant for engineering students who pursued chemical engineering, civil engineering or others and now wants to join in shipping industry at higher ranks.” However, only students who have successfully completed bachelors in electrical engineering, electronics engineering electronics and telecommunications with 60 % marks are eligible to apply for ETO course. There are only four colleges in India offering ETO course. The Seacom Engineering College, situated at West Bengal, claims to the pioneer and the only college in Eastern India offering ETO course. Speaking about recognition of ETO course in India and abroad, Anish Chakraborty, chairman of Seacom Group, said, “It is the biggest achievement of the shipping industry to insist upon the International and National Shipping Regularity Authority to adopt the post ETO. The task of ETO onboard is of immense importance. They look after the

equipments and machineries for smooth operation and movement of the ships.” Chakraborty pointed out that the ETO course module has been designed as per industry requirement and after successful completion of the course the students will be immediately recruited by the shipping industry. “There is a huge demand and dearth of qualified and well trained technical officers globally. This apart, it has become mandatory from January 1, 2014 all ships should have an ETO officer. ,” added Chakraborty.

ETO course pre-requisites Course duration: Seventeen weeks Institutional Education and Training including the 4 mandatory modular courses, followed by eight months mandatory on board training. Academic Qualification required: i) Passed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and English as separate subjects with minimum of 50 % in English language in 10th or 12th standard exam, from a recognised board. ii) Passed three years' Diploma with 60% marks or 4 years' Degree including lateral entry with 50% marks in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunication / Communication education affairs 35

ON CINEMA HEALTH BEAUTY CINEMA HEALTH BEAUTY CINEM

(

There is a huge demand and dearth of qualified and well trained technical officers globally

Engineering, or Electronics and Instrumentation or equivalent. iii) The Diploma / Degree courses must have been recognised by any State or Central Government or the All India Council for Technical Education. Age Limit: Applicant should not be more than 35 years on date of commencement of training. Number of Seats Per Batch: 40 (In case of Seacom Marine College) Medical Fitness: Medically fit including eye sight and hearing as prescribed in the (Merchant Shipping Medical Examination) Rules, 2000; as amended. Merchant Marine Personality Evaluation 36 education affairs

(MMPE) test: Short listed Candidates must compulsorily undergo a psychological screening test known as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Merchant Marine Personality Evaluation (MMPE) Testâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (Psychometric Test) introduced by the Directorate General of Shipping and the same will be conducted by at Seacom Marine College Campus.

Role of ETOs on vessel ETOs monitor electronic and electrical equipments on the ship. The ETOs maximise operational safety and efficiency of the vessel. ETO offers shipping companies a chance to consider placement on board ship for regular Bridge / Electronic Maintenance / Repair of the equipments which is cost saving. ETO can be appointed in Directorate General of Shipping approved for shore based maintenance / repair workshop.

Benefits of ETO course Unparallel options opens up for Electronics and Electrical Engineer / Diploma passed students in shipping industry which was not available career. 360 degree indicative career path shows the high end value of ETO training as career option.

EMA HEALTH BEAUTY CINEMA COVERSTORY INTERVIEW FOOD

Apollo Gleneagles to host MRCP exams SUCCESSFUL AND AMBITIOUS MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS CAN NOW ASPIRE TO WORK ABROAD. THE HURDLES HAVE BEEN CLEARED AND MEMBERSHIP OF ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OR MRCP (UK) EXAMINATION IS NOW POSSIBLE. SHAHERYAR HOSSAIN TELLS US HOW

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as qualified examiners. Apollo has 14 consultants with required qualification and experience to be eligible for an examiner. The standard MRCP- PACES examination requires five in house examiners and five overseas examiners to conduct the examination. In comparison with last year, there has been no increase in the number of students appearing in the examination this year. That is be

Most of the corporate hospitals in India and overseas recruit only MRCP qualified doctors

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The Royal College of London, Edinburg and Glasgow will now jointly conduct the MRCP (UK) examination at Kolkata, with the Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals serving as the only certified center in eastern India to hold this exam. Speaking to Education Affairs, Debasish Ghosh, consultant cardiologist at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, and the chairman of the MRCP Examination Federation and host examiner, said the scope of the MRCP (UK) examination was huge. The recognition enjoyed by the MRCP (UK) examination in India and abroad is formidable. MRCP UK is considered to be the highest post graduate degree in medicine all over the globe. After successful completion of the examination, candidates can opt for super specialty training in gastroenterology or neurology or cardiology or respiratory medicine. Most of the corporate hospitals in India and overseas recruit only MRCP qualified doctors as consultants. Apollo Gleneagles was selected as the MRCP (UK) examination center in eastern India for a reason. After scrutiny, the Apollo Gleneagles Hospital at Kolkata was found to have got the required infrastructure to conduct the examination. In addition, the examination requires FRCP (Fellow of Royal College of Physicians)

cause each examination has 45 candidates to be examined in three days. Waiting list to get a seat for the examination is almost 1.5 years. This year it was conducted from November 29, 2013 to December 1, 2013 at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals. The date of examination varies from country to country. The MRCP (UK) Examination helps students in getting jobs in UK. If experts are to be believed, getting a job in UK and other European countries is not difficult for successful MRCP students. They can enroll their name education affairs 37

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB,

with General Medical Council and can get a job in UK. Highlighting the benefits of the MRCP (UK) Examination, Ghosh says it stands for the most acclaimed and highest standard of training. In terms of details, the MRCP (UK) Examination is divided into different parts. In the first part, there are five stations of 20 minutes duration. Each candidate needs to complete all the stations successfully. All the skill-sets are distributed in all five stations and are measured in most scientific way. MRCP (UK) Part two Clinical Examination (PACES) tests multiple skills and some merit special mention. These are: * Physical Examination - Demonstrate correct, thorough, systematic (or focused in Station 5 encounters), appropriate, fluent, and professional technique of physical examination. * Identifying Physical Signs — Identify physical signs correctly, and not find physical signs that are not present * Clinical Communication - Elicit a clinical history relevant to the patient’s complaints, in 38 education affairs

a systematic, thorough (or focused in Station 5 encounters), fluent and professional manner. * Explain relevant clinical information in an accurate, clear, structured, comprehensive, luent and professional manner. * Differential Diagnosis - Create a sensible differential diagnosis for a patient that the candidate has personally clinically assessed. * Clinical Judgement - Select or negotiate a sensible and appropriate management plan for a patient, relative or clinical situation. * Select appropriate investigations or treatments for a patient that the candidate has personally clinically assessed. * Apply clinical knowledge, including knowledge of law and ethics, to the case. * Managing Patients' Concerns - Seek, detect, acknowledge and address patients’ or relatives’ concerns. * Listen to a patient or relative, confirm their understanding of the matter under discussion and demonstrate empathy. * Maintaining Patient Welfare - Treat a patient or relative respectfully and sensitively and in a manner that ensures their comfort, safety and dignity.

OB, BOOKS, GADGETS, GROOMING, SPORTS, FINE ARTS, MUSIC insight

The tiffin box experience Ashok Chatterjee The two-day 38th regional conference of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) at Science City had the motto of making CAs more symbolic in their sphere of work affecting not only taxation, audit and accounting but also serving as a watchdog especially for the eastern region and build synergy between demand and supply chain. As part of the conference Pawan Agarwal, CEO, Mumbai Dabbawala Education Centre (MDEC) spoke on the supply chain management with the dabbawalas of Mumbai. Talking about the association of ICAI with dabbawalas, Ranjit Agarwal, chairman ICAI (E), said, “We are a professional institute and have our own ethics and working style. There is lot to be learnt from dabbawalas how professionally they manage this huge operation and if we can replicate even 10% of that in our profession, nobody can beat a CA in his profession.” With an employee strength of 5000 and covering on an average of 60-70 kilometers daily, Mumbai dabbawalas carry around 2,00,000 tiffin boxes and still manage to keep their error level to one in 16 million transactions. Pawan Agarwal spoke to Education Affairs on the unique system where the the average literacy level is standard eight. What is Mumbai Dubbawala Education Centre? It started 8 years ago as a result of my research on the system. It took me 9 years to complete my research. I was moved by the dabbawala family, who could not educate their children because of money, non-awareness and non-conducive atmosphere at home. That pained me. Because I’m an educationist, I decided to give free education to all such children. From that point onwards, I started (MDEC). In 2010, I realised that dabbawalas should have some basic literacy of computer and English. But when I spoke to them, I realised that they were not willing to educate themselves. They complained that they were not getting any joy out of learning. They had the fear in-

side that education will corrupt them. After about six months I had an idea. I made bogies of local train out of wood and placed it in the classrooms. That gave them an association. The classrooms were now closer to their heart and they agreed to attend classes for IT and English. How do dabbawalas manage such a complex operation (the boxes changing hands six times in a day)? What is the secret of this simplicity? Their honesty at work is ensuring that even a complex job becomes easy for them. There have been proposals from Amul from Ahmedabad to deliver butter milk. But dabbawalas refused as they felt, if they start delivering anything else along with food, their dabba business will get affected. They say that they want to do their work regularly, honestly and consistently.

education affairs 39

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB,

Do they have an insurance policy for dabbawalas? We just started it some six months back. Around 1,200 dabbawalas have been insured in the first month. Even if there is no insurance policy in place and there is an accident, every dabbawala contributes from his pocket certain some of money which goes for the treatment of the injured. There are also retirement and also endowment benefits.

How do they ensure six sigma customer satisfaction level? Honesty towards their work is ingrained in them. Their forefathers were also dabbawalas. If someone wants to become a dabbawala then the present group has to take responsibility of the person. Before induction, the recruit has to work for a month, guided by others on how the system works. The dabbawala system is a big example in management education.

What are you training these people on management? I’m working especially with their children. I’m educating them so that they can become CA or management experts but they should not take education with the aim of getting a certain package when they pass out. Now the trend for students is that they ask for starting salary packages before admissions in B-schools.

Is there also a fear that they will also be part of the rat race if they get more education? Let me tell you that if someone is highly educated then he will automatically not come into the dabba profession. I want them to be at least graduates. I’m not only educating

40 education affairs

them but also providing them various avenues. They have recently got offers to deliver health juice bottles and also delivering food to Bohra Muslims. These opportunities will add to their income. We have even 75-year old dabbawala working in the system. My education centre is doing the job of a facilitator. Now four of our boys have been selected to study at JECRC. Juhu Club in Mumbai has also promised to adopt 20 of our students, who work as newspaper delivery boys. Can the dubbawala model be replicated outside Mumbai? Not exactly! The primary reason is that in Mumbai the railway line is straight, cutting across the city in two halves, which is not so in other metros. Secondly, no other local train in any city is as crowded as Mumbai. The volume of people travelling is huge; close to 65 lakh people travel in local trains every day whereas there are close to 2 lakh tiffin boxes are carted. The scale of operation allows it to be successful in Mumbai.

What does a Mumbai dubbawala stand for? Work is worship. They consider themselves as the soldiers of Shivaji Maharaj.

Are you also researching on Mumbai newspaper delivery boys? I’m doing so for the last 15 months. Everyone wants to be an entrepreneur. I do not think one needs to go to B-schools to get the skills. If they sit with their grandfathers and fathers, these kids will learn enough to be good entrepreneurs. They can easily get knowledge at home.

OB, BOOKS, GADGETS, GROOMING, SPORTS,briefs FINE ARTS, MUSIC Medical seat counselling goes online

Medical seat counseling is all set to go online from the next academic session. Like the engineering seats, medical seats will also be filled through online decentralised counseling system. From 2014, the medical candidates will be shortlisted from the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination merit list. Media reports confirmed that West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination Board (WBJEEB) chairman Bhaskar Gupta said that the initiative has been adopted to maintain transparency at the time of counseling. He further added that WBJEEB had decided to introduce bio metric system to stop impersonation from next year. According to media reports, state education minister Bratya Basu promised more autonomy to the WBJEEB. He said that so far WBJEEB functioned only on the basis of a few government orders. The state education department is bringing an Act to give the board all statutory powers enjoyed by other government bodies.

Student union elections in the city will resume in January. In a bid to avoid violence during college elections, Calcutta University (CU) and Kolkata Police officials decided to hold the campus polls in three phases at city colleges. Depending upon the location, the 85 colleges going for polls will be categorised into eight divisions of Kolkata Police jurisdiction â&#x20AC;&#x201D; south, north, central, port, south-west, south suburban, south-east and eastern suburban. While January 16 is the tentative date for union elections at 31 colleges across the city, January 18 and 21 are the scheduled dates of elections at 27 colleges. Colleges affiliated to CU and situated in Howrah will go for polls on January 21. Colleges in Hooghly and South 24 Parganas on January 28. This apart, elections on the six Calcutta University campuses will take place on January 18. Media reports confirmed that decision on whether students should file nomination file via online or offline has been left to the colleges. However, Surajan Das, vice-chancellor of CU, told reporters that nomination forms can be downloaded from the university website but the submission needs to be done in person.

Besu upgradation on the cards

Bengal college student union elections With the passing of National Institute of Technology Science Education and Research (Amendment Bill) 2013 to upgrade the Bengal Engineering and Science University (Besu), the 157-year-old institution will step ahead to become an Institute of National Importance (INI). The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha and is now at the Rajya Sabha for approval. Once the bill is passed at the Upper House, Besu is education affairs 41

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB, all set to transform into an Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST). Latest media reports confirmed that after achieving the IIEST status, the Centre will grant Rs 592 crore to Besu. Ajoy Kumar Roy, Besu vice-chancellor, told media that the Besu lack well-equipped auditorium and its laboraties need immediate refurbishing. However, it is estimated that around Rs 300 crore from the grant will be spent on infrastructure development.

54 channels dedicated to education Come May 2014, the human resource development ministry is all set to launch 54 channels dedicated to education. The new channels will allow professors to deliver lectures from central universities, top institutions, IITs and IIMs. Latest reports confirmed that the ministry has urged IIT Madras to take stock of the technological aspects like setting up studios and uplink and down link facilities of the channels. However, the ministry at present runs four education channels — Eklavya, Gyandarshan – 1, Gyandarshan-2 and Vyas. According to reports, former director of the Consortium for Educational Communication T R Kem said that channels are the best medium to reach students who pursue distance courses and who do not interact with professors regularly. According to him, around 20 million students in India are pursuing higher studies. Of them 12 per cent are enrolled in distance learning while 50 per cent are studying in nonaccredited institutions.

New campus of at Rajarhat St.ChiefXavier’s minister Mamata Banerjee laid the foundation stone of St Xavier’s second campus at Rajarhat on December 27. The 16.64 acres of land have been allotted by the state government for setting up another campus at Rajarhat. Media reports confirmed that Banerjee promised that the state government will offer all types of help required for setting up the second campus. The college authority should not hesitate in sharing hurdles which may arise at the time construction of the new campus. At any cost there should be no ob42 education affairs

stacle in setting up the Rajarhat campus. In a bid to raise money, she may hold an exhibition of her paintings. St Xavier’s principal Felix Raj said that State-aided means that government would bear 65 % of the financial burden while remaining 35% would be borne by the college authority. If things go accordingly then St Xaviers will start the journey as university from 2015-16 session.

Gear up for lit fest

The fifth edition of Apeejay Kolkata Literature fest promises you an intellectually stimulating literary festival, inviting authors across the world. Paying tribute to the first education minister of India, the fest is scheduled to be held from 8-13 January. Keeping up to its tradition the fest will be inaugurated at Victoria Memorial. Other venues include Townhall, Tollyclub among others. Actor Amir Khan will be seen talking about the secular belief and foresight of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on the inauguration evening. The other five days will see different sessions discussing Azad’s philosophy through poetry, literature and others. Authors from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Europe will be seen taking parts in discussions.

OB, BOOKS, GADGETS, GROOMING, SPORTS, FINE ARTS, MUSIC events

Ekal Abhiyan celebrates silver jubilee

Ekal Abhiyan, a unique scheme of Friends of Tribals Society (FTS) aimed at eradicating illiteracy from India, is celebrating its silver jubilee. As part of the celebrations, a rally is to be held at Shahid Minar ground in Kolkata. Three processions will be used to spread awareness about the scope and range of the programme. Tableaus would march from Hedua Park near the ancestral house of Swami Vivekananda, from Subhas Udayan near the house of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and Ram Lila ground in Moulali. The processions would terminate at Shahid Minar in Kolkata, where a nine-day exhibition will be held till January 8, 2104. As part of celebration, youngsters would participate in the rally and take a pledge to work towards eradication of illiteracy from the country. On the occasion, they would also take an oath to follow the teachings and ideals of the nineteenth century philosopher-saint Swami Vivekananda. Friends of Tribals Society (FTS) and Swami

Vivekananda Sardha Sati Samoroha, a conglomerate of organisations under the Vivekananda Kendra, would be organising the concluding programme with Dr Anil Kakodhar, Padma Bhushan and former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, as chief guest, alongside Sanjib Chakraborty, Bengali writer, and other eminent personalities from different walks of life. At the concluding programme at Shahid Minar ground, around 15,000 youths from all over the country would would take a pledge to serve the nation following Swamiji's ideals,â&#x20AC;? Sajjan Bhajanka, President of FTS, informed Education Affairs. Ekal Abhiyan's inaugural programme was held in New Delhi. Ekal Abhiyan is a part of Ekal Vidyalaya Yojna, a project started in 1989 in rural and tribal areas of Gumla district in Jharkhand. The Ekal Vidyalaya Yojna comprises schemes to uplift tribal and rural populations. These schemes provide free basic education, health care services and create awareness about government welfare projects for tribal and rural communities. education affairs 43

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ICAI ‘has no opinion’

The unending debate whether the opinion of the majority that forms the backbone of democracy, that governs the country, is at all an opinion was debated at the annual debate of The Institute of Chartered Accounts held at Science City. The debate that promised to deliver high performances with four politicians, one professor and a filmmaker taking the dais, lived up to its expectation. With politicians like Subrahmanyam Swami, Saugata Roy, Meenakshi Lekhi and Tathyagatha Roy bringing in the political colour, the session guaranteed the entertainment quotient as suggested by Derek O’Brien who moderated the debate. Suman Mukherjee and Ashok Viswanathan also formed the panelist who locked horns on the motion of the house – ‘In the opinion of the house, the house has no opinion’. The debate started off with Dr Sougata Roy, former Union Minister from TMC, speaking for the motion, narrating the story of Mullah Naseer, who changed his mind according to the preference of his king. Roy emphasised that it’s the collective opinion, that matters and not anyone’s personal opinion. He indicated that Central government is suffering from policy paralysis and that saffron is the upcoming colour that will prevail. Taking up from Roy was Subramanyam Swami, speaking against the motion, based his speech on replies of smses from different political personalities. The replies on the motion of the house from the likes of Mamata Banerjee, Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi, Kapil Sibal, Jayalalitha, 44 education affairs

Mayawati and Arnab Goswami triggered the entertainment quotient with amusing inputs. Smartly he played it safe. After the senior politicians have had their share senior professor and dean at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Suman Mukherjee took the dais, arguing for the motion. With a strong candour he chronicled around questions like why opinions vary and change, how prejudices and rumours change and how lack of logic makes us passionate about an opinion, Mukherjee firmly stated that the only opinion that matters is when wisdom empowers freedom. Meenakshi Lekhi declared at the outset that she is very argumentative like her fellow Indians. Speaking on the motion she took a dig on the former speakers and smartly pointed out that though Mukherjee and Roy spoke on the motion but they were actually giving their opinion on something or the other, hence contradicting their own motion. Following Lekhi was Ashok Viswanathan who also pointed out how frequently our opinion changes and how it is coloured and is a reflection of the stimulus around us. The last speaker, Tathagatha Roy, speaking against the motion, sharing space with his brother Sougata Roy and following a different political ideology rebutted arguments made by the opposite team. He underscored that opinions are what matters in a democracy and if there is no opinion there would be no debate and an absence of debate would mean having a string of dead bodies. Ironically, the opinionated audience gave their opinion and voted for the team who argued in favour of the motion – In the opinion of the house, the house has no opinion.

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A language tool for teachers British Council recently launched English in the Primary Classroom – DVD Teacher Training Series, a range of audio-visual material for primary school teachers in Bengal. Launched by state education minister, Bratya Basu, the project is funded and developed by the British Council in partnership with Paschim Banga Sarva Shiksha Mission and West Bengal Board of Primary Education. The AV pack will help primary teachers in the state schools in teaching the language to young ones. Also present on the launch were Manik Bhattacharya, president WB Board of Primary Education, Arnab Roy, secretary school education department. On English being one of the weaker link in the state for the students, the minister said it is very important that we bolster our English at the foundation level after it was stopped teaching at the primary level by the previous government. “But we aren’t saying that we should learn English at the cost of our mother tongue. Our mother tongue, Bengali, is our staple,” he said. Equating learning English to having fivestar food, the minister said we are entitled to that as well. The minister meant business as he has asked his department to follow up on the launch recording the developments.

He said it must be made mandatory for each teacher to write suggestions so that they can be incorporated in the next edition of the DVD. The initial plan by the government is to implement this scheme at primary level and gauging the response there are plans to work this out in the secondary level too. Talking about the DVD, Sujata Sen, director British Council, East India, said that it is indeed possible to teach the language with English as a medium of teaching. Another important suggestion from Basu came when he revealed that he also plans similar scheme in Mathematics as it is another subject children are afraid to learn. West Bengal will be switching to new books and syllabus at the primary level. Kuheli Mukherjee, one of the trainers, who was also part of the launch event who has written and edited the learner book along with Jane Boylan, Mrinalini Sen, and Philip Bebb feels this type of learning is all about activitybased, learner centric education. Being one of the teachers who has interacted with the teachers for this programme, Mukherjee said, “The teacher has to make the classroom learner-centric and draw students into various activity. The DVD shows teachers how to overcome their problems. Initially there has been some reluctance but the teachers were quick to pick it up.

education affairs 45

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Annual exhibition cum Fete at Peters Day School

The annual exhibition cum fete of Peters Day School was celebrated on December 15 at the school premises. While Rajani Mukherjee, Rotary International District Governor – 3291, was the chief guest, Peters Day School principal Lovina Khan, President of Catholic Association Bengal Alexander Anthony and others were also present on the occasion.

There were games, food, handcrafts, T-shirt and candle stalls at the exhibition. “Revenue earned from the sale of food and other stuffs is ultilised for running the free school named Pearl Memorial School,” said Khan. A school for under privileged students, Pearl Memorial School, runs in the aftersoon at the school premises. All the handcrafts, food, candles and jute products were made by the students of Pearl Memorial School.

Guiding students

In a bid to prevent confusion while selecting the right career path, the MC Kejriwal Vidyapeeth (MCKV) organised a two-day career fair on December 6 and 7 at the school premises. While the students were offered career counseling, parents were also allowed to attend the fair. Colonel A S Mann, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India chairman Ranjeet Agar46 education affairs

wal, Institute of Company Secretaries of India chairman Gautam Dugar, anchor Mir and professional from other fields shared their experience with the students. “Students these days are quite perceptive to market and want to know about emerging job opportunities. However, due to lack of right information they lose direction. The reason of organising this unique fair was to help students in selecting the correct profession according to their choice,” said K K Kejriwal, managing trustee of MCKV. There were stalls where career counsellors and industry experts were present to answer queries of the students. Seminar was also held where industry experts enlightened students about the professional world. The topic of discussion not only covered traditional career choices like medical, engineering, law and chartered accountancy but also included other emerging trends such as animation, merchant navy, aviation, sports management, hospitality, designing, retail, film studies and others.

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Children’s day-out on Christmas Indus Net Technologies recently organised Gift of Joy, as part of the company's CSR activity, for the underprivileged children of sex workers in association with Good2Give and Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee in Salt Lake. Children played games, cricket match and took part in other fun-filled activities on their day out. And they were most happy getting goodies from Santa Claus. There were also food packets for the children. Taking part in the games were children from Amra Padatik, an organisation of children of sex workers. These children study in different schools of the city. Ratan Dolui, secretary of Amra Padatik, who himself is also from similar background, said the students get primary education at evening coaching classes at Beda Bhenge Shikhha Kendra, which number around 18 in the state. “We give both formal and non-formal education to such children. We also help these children with soft skills such as dancing and singing apart from sports. We help these children stand on their own and also teach them that they should not be ashamed of their background.” Wearing red Santa caps, these

boys and girls definitely enjoyed their dayout. Abhishek Rungta, CEO, Indus Net Technologies, who was also present at the venue along with the kids said the exercise is to give students exposure which they normally do not get. “Through such exercises, we try to give back to the society. Apart from this we also help students through Kiva.org in making village entrepreneurs and other forms of self-sustainability. Also these underprivileged kids are part of our annual event, Indus Net Premier League,” said Rungta. The primary reason behind why the organisation planned such an event is because it seeks to let the children enjoy the flavour of a festival and Christmas, a festival essentially associated with the children, is the best. The cricket match, as part of the event, allowed the kids to play their heart-out. There were other games for the ones who did not participate in the cricket matches. Exciting gifts sponsored by sareez.com along with refreshments was distributed to the children. Many INTians were seen encouraging students and collected amount of contribution in the form of clothes, food, stationary, toys, bags, winter garments and candies. education affairs 47

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB

Facets of Shakespeare staged The 34th annual inter-school drama competition of British Council celebrated Shakespeare’s 450th birth anniversary with nine schools across the country competing on stage, enacting various plays of the Bard. The finals that took place at South City International School saw G D Birla Centre for Education, Kolkata Goalz Police School, Modern High School for Girls and Union Chapel School participating from Kolkata. The other three finalists were St. Marks Sr Secondary School, Meera Bagh, Delhi, Bright Day School, Vasna Unit, Vadodara and PSBB Learning Leadership Academy, Bengaluru.

48 education affairs

The participating schools recreated the works of Shakespeare making it relevant to the situations that prevails today. Creativity and excellence teamed with innovation marked the performance of the schools when they presented their own version of Shakespeare’s play. At the end it was Kolkata Goalz Police School, which wooed the judges with their play Hamlet@recent, a modern day telling of Hamlet’s dilemma in the context of football. Individual prizes were also given out. Akhmal Ahmed, Kolkata Goalz Police School received the best actor award while Sanjana Chaudhary, St. Marks Sr Secondary School, Delhi bagged the best actress award. The prize for best scrip was awarded to Bright Day School while the best make-up award went to Modern High School for Girls, Kolkata. Shyamashree Chatterjee of PSBB Learning Leadership Academy, Bengaluru took home the best teacher coordinator award. The prizes for The Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Teacher Coordinator include a trip to the UK to learn more about theatre. The judges for the finals were theatre personalities Mahesh Dattani, Arundhati Nag and Kaushik Sen and Dennis Dunn, Pro Vice Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University, all of them gave out prizes at the end of the day.

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Encouraging innovation among students Debapratim Jana, Shailpik Roy and Prachatos Mitra of South Point High School are a happy lot. Their excitement is palpable and justified as they are the lucky ones whose projects have been chosen to represent India at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF 2014) this year at Los Angeles, United States. The Initiative for Research & Innovation in Science 2013 (IRIS 2013) which was held in association with the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and CII in its 7th year, received 126 projects from school students across the country in 17 different categories. Out of these 15 projects have been chosen to represent India and two projects are from Kolkata. Shailpik Roy, and Prachatos Mitra’s combined project deals with - White’s illusion vs simultaneous brightness contrast illusion: An algorithmic approach. And Debapratim Jana‘s project is about harnessing phytopig-

ments to develop multilayered heterojunction solar cell: A green solution to energy crisis. Talking about the project Jana said, “Development of a biopigment solar cell with improved efficiency is the ultimate goal of this project which would provide an eco-friendly approach to solve energy crisis. The present project aims to use chlorophylls (Chl a, b, d, f), carotenes and anthocyanin to develop multilayered polymer-coated solar cells, which, because of different absorption ranges of the different bio-pigments, would trap a wide range of the solar spectrum.” With four national level mega-fairs National Children Science Congress (NCSC), Science Fair by National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), Jawaharlal Nehru Science Fair by National Council of Educational Research & Training (NCERT) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Science Exhibition affiliating to IRIS, it has emerged as the largest research-based science fair in India this year reaching out to more than 3 million students.

education affairs 49

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Higher education not elitist, says Kolkatans

Higher education may be becoming more and more expensive and increasingly difficult to crack, but Kolkatans still do no think it is an exercise in elitism. The high profile debate was vetted by judges of great eminence like Justice Sanjib Banerjee of the Calcutta High Court, Prof. Jayanta Sengupta (director of the Victoria Memorial Hall), Mrs Debi Kar (director of the Modern High group of academic instititions) and Prof. Krishna Sen (the doyen of English teachers in Kolkata). Sugata Bose, Gardiner professor at Harvard, was chairman of the debate. Speakers from eight academic institutions debated the subject, “In the opinion of the House, higher education is essentially an exercise in elitism”. The programme was held at St. Xaviers auditorium on Park Street, with the participating teams being Cambridge and Oxford universities of UK, Harvard and Yale universities of USA, St. Stephens Delhi, Presidency University, the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and St. Xaviers School. The two member teams had one speaker speaking for the motion and one opposing it. It was a new format for the foreign teams, as debating colleagues in the same team never speak against each other, according to the overseas students. Sharan Banerjee and Srijeet Bhattacharjee of Presidency University made the first presentations, highlighting the issue of admissions. Deepak Chaube and Adil Ahmed of IIMC 50 education affairs

followed, and they explored the elitism practiced by institutions. Alfred Hinchcliffe and Gregory Farquahar of Oxford University followed, and they spoke on the socially inclusive but intellectually exclusive nature of great universities. Anish Kanoria and Shourya Dasgupta of St Xaviers School, as the fourth team, was somewhat out of place in the fast flowing yet cordial debate. The fifth team – Harvard comprising, Joshua Zoffer and Benjamin Sprung-Keyser – chose the focus on the inclusive nature of higher education. The sixth team, of Soutik Banerjee and Samyabrata Mukherjee of St. Stephens Delhi, discussed the relevance of top end institutions in the Indian context. Daniel Berman and Peter Doughton of Cambridge raised the debate to a higher level by analyzing how top academic institutions had a network of linkages and yet provided the sole avenue for the upward mobility of worthy. Andrew Connery and Benjamin Kornfeld of Yale rounded off the debate with a fabulous presentation on the non-elitist nature of higher education because it was colleges and universities that had produced most of the life saving drugs and pest resistant plants that mankind depended on today. Thanks to support provided by The Telegraph, the debate ran to a full house. The judges marking sheet at the end revealed that all the teams had scored in the same range and only a few marks separated the speakers. However, the foreign speakers appeared to have an edge overall.

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Discussing global perspective in education

The Heritage Institute witnessed a rare sight with students from Cambridge, Yale, Oxford, and Harvard sharing the same platform in a panel discussion. A penal discussion ‘We are the World’ that focused on ‘Global perspectives in education' organised by The Heritage Group of Institutions and the Calcutta Debating Circle moderated by Dr Kunal Sarkar President Calcutta Debating Circle and Pradeep Gooptu, founder member of the Calcutta Debating Circle. The discussion centered on myriad topics that touched gender equality, multi-culturism, social networking, globalisation and others taking in reactions from the audience as well as from the opposing teams. The discussion started with the host team discussing both perspective of the topic – Examination kills originality. The two-member team made the audience ponder on the topic, that has been so relevant in each one’s life, with their arguments which stressed on using our brains like a processor rather than hardware. St. Stephen’s College – discussed ‘The life of the millennial is full of intriguing contradictions’ and underscored the disparity that exists in today’s society referring to the controversial sec 377 and the taboo over sex education in schools. Harvard University discussed ‘E-education is a de-humanising experience’ enlightening the audience of the online education system that

is set to revolutionise the learning experience with obliterating physical boundaries. Discussing a very pertinent topic ‘multi-culturalism is a myth’ Oxford University pointed out at instances in the present and past history of assimilation of multiple identity into one, the problems as well the hindrances. Following Oxford was Heritage Institute of Technology which discussed the topic - Gender equality is an elusive goal. The elusive character of equality in context of woman in society was discussed along with the achievements made by women across the globe. Cambridge University discussed ‘Social networking erode social skills’ highlighting the significance of face to face interaction that makes one value human emotions. They also spoke of the fatal incidences that the world of social networking is causing, and also power to spark a revolution. The last topic ‘Globalisation in education has failed’ was discussed by Yale University who pointing out at the failure of globalisation in preserving delicate cultural balances. The strong arguments made by Cambridge University helped them emerge as the best team while Harvard taking the first runners up trophy. The event was judged by Helen G LaFave, US Consul General, Kolkata, Scott Furssedonn Wood, British Deputy High Commissioner, Kolkata and Malabika Sarkar, Vice Chancellor, Presidency University, Kolkata. Education Minister Bratya Basu also graced the occasion. education affairs 51

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‘Hollywood does not represent tyranny’ A 1500-strong crowd at Calcutta Club decided that Hollywood did not represent cultural tyranny although it was undeniably a major cultural influence. This decision was delivered at the end of a 100 minute debate on the issue, “Hollywood represents cultural tyranny”. Supporting the motion were Daniel Berman and Peter Doughton of Cambridge University, Alfred Hinchcliffe and Gregory Farquahar of Oxford University, and Kolkatans Dr Kunal Sarkar and eminent academician, Ms Ananya Chatterjee. Opposing the motion were Joshua Zoffer and Benjamin Sprung-Keyser of Harvard, Ben Konfeld and Andrew Conelly of Yale university, Jawhar Sarkar, CEO of Prasar Bharati, and Pradeep Gooptu. The British deputy high commissioner, Scott Furssedonn-Wood, was the non playing captain of the proposition, as it comprised two British universities.

52 education affairs

Ms Helen LaFave, consul general of USA in Kolkata, was non-playing captain for the team in opposition, as two leading US universities are part of that side. The debate chairman, Dr Sandip Chatterjee, had his hands full managing the twelve speakers, more so as the debate format allowed two minutes for interjections by the opposing team at the end of each speaker’s speech. Overall, the debate was on the parliamentary debate format, with a show of hands at the end. Thanks to the support extended by The Telegraph, and the Ashok Hall group of schools, the debating stage had a digital backdrop, a first in the city. The audience comprised Calcutta Club members and their guests, as well as a large number of students and representatives from academia based in Kolkata. Members of the armed forces serving in the city and quite a few members of the consular corps were also present given the general and international nature of the debate.

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Celebrating the spirit of participation Like every year Manovikas Kendra held its annual sports meet that blurred all the gap between a normal child and a child with special need. The winter sun on December 19 spread itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s warmth as around 600 children of Manovikas Kendra set out to display their sporting skills. Referred to as special children, these kids, belonging to different age groups, were seen participating in different sporting events assisted by their teachers. While some were seen running on the designated tracks for a flat race, others were seen running with earthen pots on their heads.

This event was unique in more than one ways. It encouraged the mere spirit of participation and competition which is the trait of normal sports meet, held in any other school. And it is this spirit of participation, sans any feeling of competition that made it special. The sports is organised every year with a view to enhancing the level of confidence and self esteem of these children. Director, National Council of Science Museums, G S Rautela presided over the ceremony as the Guest-in-Chief and encouraged the children and appreciated the effort of the school. Shuvaprasanna, eminent artist also graced the occasion.

A colourful bouquet The Annual Day for the primary section of South City International School saw a bouquet of performances by kids of the primary section. With their everlasting and charming smiles and innocence they won the heart of the audience that consisted of their parents. A number of dance performances were put up by the students of primary section. Wearing colourful costumes and donning different looks, they all sang in unison matching dance step with each other. The audience could not stop from applauding. Samarjit Guha and Sujata Sen, Director British Council East India were present at the event. education affairs 53

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Who’s got colour Kokuyo Camlin Limited, one of the pioneering and leading stationery and art material manufacturer of the country, recently announced the All India Camel Color Contest regional winners from Kolkata. All India Camel Colour Contest is world’s largest art activity for school children and has been running successfully since the last four decades. This highly awaited annual painting contest for Indian school students is held to promote art and art awareness among students. The contest was initially announced in August 2013 and took place in Chennai garnered a great response amongst the school children. There were a total of 204 schools which participated this year from Kolkata, out of which, total of 1,98,400 entries were received at the school level. After a detailed scrutiny 2,200 entries were awarded at the school level and then judged at the regional level. Apart from first prize winners, there were

two second prize, three third prize and ten appreciation entries, which were chosen. The regional level winning entries would be automatically qualified for the national level; the judging of which will be held in the last week of December and the winner will be announced nationally. All the 80 winners would be honoured with the medals and certificates and the entries will be judged further for the National level Awards, which will take place in Mumbai later this month.

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TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB book reviews

Transforming India - Challenges to the world’s largest democracy Pradeep Gooptu That Indian democracy is one of the most exciting in the world which almost overshadows the fact that it is also the world’s largest. We are subjected to election after election- Parliamentary elections for the Centre, assembly elections for the state, municipal elections (or panchayat elections, depending on where you live) for local governments, and so on. In recent years, we have had authors like Ramachandra Guha writing a tome on India after Gandhi. More, similar books have been written on the events, developments, issues and problems that are a part of life in the country. His work seeks to establish the fact that as long as such state-based parties and leaders continue to deliver reasonably good governance, and at the same time, act responsibly when issues of national importance come up, they will continue to be major forces in the naBy Sumantra Bose tional and state governPublished by ment formation Picador India/ first published in exercise. the USA in 2013 by Harvard His work has one University Press word of caution, Rs.699 though: he feels that Indian political parties have to learn how to improve their ability to talk to each other, to co-operate or at least hammer out a working relationship with other parties which may hold diametrically opposite views but still have a role to play in running the government. To sum up, this is the story of India’s democracy in the early 21st century. The 56 education affairs

narrative starts with the ninth Lok Sabha election of November 1989 marked the beginning of a new political era of coalitions. It maps in detail how, since then, the nation’s political landscape has been dramatically transformed by the rise of regional parties and leaders. Bose seeks to identify the “roots, significance and the challenges of this bottom up federalisation driven by the will of the people and the transition towards a decentred democracy”. We are reminded that the “vitality of Indian democracy derives from the enthusiastic participation of hundreds of millions of ordinary Indians – the demos. But its transformation into a polity ‘of, by and for the people’ awaits solutions to great problems of poverty, inequality and alienation.” Bose provides detailed account of the long term challenges posed by the Maoist insurgency and also examines the unresolved issue of Kashmir. The book is lucidly written and offers excellent, incisive analysis, and masterly command of detail without losing sight of the big picture. Bose finds the “story of Indian democracy profoundly inspiring, but never loses sight of its flaws and warts, challenges and contradictions.” This book claims to be an essential guide to understanding the present and the future of India’s politics. That’s a tall order, given the rise of new political groups that promise to bring down corruption and yet step up the subsidies delivered to communities. In parallel, pan-indian parties are projecting national level leaders in an attempt to swing the electoral scales partly in their favour. The national elections to the Lok Sabha in 2014 may well throw up surprises, and new leaders and coalitions. Till Lok Sabha 2014 results are out, this book will keep you occupied with its content. Bose is the professor of international and comparative politics at the London School of Economics and Political Sciences, popularly called the LSE. Born and raised in Kolkata, he received his doctorate in political science from the Columbia University in New York in 1998. He lives in London and Kolkata and has five earlier books to his credit.

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The Dead Don’t Confess: A murder mystery Pradeep Gooptu

man in uniform. He has to operate within three restrictions: he has to work within the Monabi Mitra has created a restrictive framework of the law; fight off new character in Indian pressure and influence from his administrative crime fiction in English- DSP and political bosses; and has to face up to an often-hostile media waiting to pounce on perBikram Chatterjee. Married to a senior member ceived violations of the fundamental rights of the Indian Police Service and freedoms in a way that may often convert placed in the West Bengal a superior officer into a hostile boss. Mitra intelligently uses the problems faced cadre, Mitra was born and brought up in Kolkata. Not surprisingly, her marriage has by Chatterjee to create a very readable book and provide the tenonly served to enhance her sion and surprises interest in the working of that are the essential forces that work in the field to a good who-dun-it. of crime detection and in She places her particular, the Indian police characters and her force. story against the This is the second book in backdrop of the viher series, the first being brant film and enter‘F.I.R.’, which was released in tainment sector of 2012. it introduced DSP Kolkata society. It’s a Bikram to Indian readers and world driven by rivalhelped lay the foundation of ries and merit, by opthe series. It appears that a portunities and third book will follow in due denial, and by jealcourse. ousies and alliances To Mitra’s credit, she has for petty gains. created the most with conIt might be a good siderable success the difficult idea to buy both the of all characters: a charisbooks together if you matic crime fighter who dons have not read the first the official uniform and already. Mitra protherefore, may be seen to be vides a lesson in story “just doing his job” backed By Monabi Mitra telling and writing by the resources, infrastrucPublished by that students of lanture and official authority of Penguin Metro Reads, a unit of guages in general, the government structure. Penguin Group and every person with The most popular crime Rs.199 fiction writing ambifighters in history are indetions can pick up. As both pendent practioners who work in parallel to official forces and on occasion, the volumes are priced at Rs 199, it’s a small clash with the typically stolid and relatively price to pay for reading up on the newest hero in the Indian detective fiction world. dull official policeman. Mitra was educated at Loreto House, DSP Bikram has to fight this prejudice and has done so with great success in both of Presidency College and Jadavpur University, Mitra’s books. The readers are gradually drawn and currently teaches at Scottish Church into the many difficulties faced by the police- College in Kolkata. education affairs 57

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB

GOC Bengal lectures JU IR department

The GOC Bengal Area, Lt. General Ashok Choudhary spoke about the malice of low intensity warfare and how it is becoming a major headache for countries recently at the Jadavpur University's School of International Relations & Strategic Studies. The Department of International Relations organised the lecture by the GOC Bengal, Lt. General Choudhary, at the Seminar Hall of the Department of International Relations. The theme of the lecture was strategic management of low intensity conflict (LIC). Bearing a distinguished military career, Lt. General Choudhary was the director general Military Operations (DGMO) at Army Headquarters before taking charge as GOC Bengal Area. Someone with wide and varied field experiences to match his theoretical cum operational knowledge of conflict and battlefield related issues, he spoke from his experiences in the north eastern states. Giving insights into LIC, which is taking place almost every 58 education affairs

day, he harped on the point that in order to understand peace, one has to understand war. Non-state actors have become important in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s context and that such a conflict is an instrument of the state policy. In the same breadth, he also discussed how the LIC in Jammu & Kashmir and North-East India is a complex problem and how it just cannot be treated just like any law and order problem. Talking to students about such a mode of warfare and conflict, the General said that any LIC can lead to a full-scale war so it has to be fought like one. Sounding the warning bugle, he said there is every possibility of terrorists getting hold of biological warfare equipments which can spell doom for any country. The General suggested measures to counter LIC such as involving all state-craft options like diplomacy, inter-state communication, economic and military options, effective intelligence set up, involving insurgency in the Union list, avoiding any appeasement and a need for unified command HQ.

OB, BOOKS, GADGETS, GROOMING, SPORTS, FINEteaser ARTS, MUSIC brain

Put on your thinking cap A major global currency was Which airline ran the first 1 8 launched on New Year’s round-the-world commerday- which one? cial flight? Also on New Year’s Day, a On which day does the 2 9 new country was born. Can Christian Orthodox Church you name it? celebrate Christmas day? British general Robert Clive Who discovered the 3 10 of the English East India moons of Jupiter? Company attained great fame Dr Herman Hollerith for what he achieved. What 11 patented the first electridid he do? cal computer. What is his comMarvin Stone patented this pany called today? 4 invention to handle fluidsIconic scientist Prof. what is it? 12 Stephen Hawking was The first Indian Parliament born on January 8, in which 5 met on January 3, in which year? year? Which country was the The first ‘Colt’ revolver was 13 first to impose income 6sold to the US army in tax and in which year? which year? Its been universally used since.

did Wilhelm Rontgen 7What invent in 1896?

Who invented penicillin, 14 the antibiotic that saved millions of lives? Answers on page 61 education affairs 59

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Answers 1. Euro 2. Australia 3. Clive recaptured Calcutta from the Nawab Siraz-uddowlah and founded the British Indian empire on January 2, 1757 4. The humble drinking straw! 5. the year was 1921 6. the year was 1847 7. the X-Ray used in medical diagnosis 8. Pan American Airlines, in 1942 9. January 7, not December 25

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education affairs 61

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB interview

‘Artists should refrain from being greedy’ PAINTER SUVAPRASANNA SAYS ARTISTS SHOULD NEVER CONFUSE A LIFE DEDICATED TO ART WITH CAREER. HE IS ALL SET TO LAUNCH HIS PET PROJECT, ARTS ACRE, IN MARCH Ashok Chatterjee What made you come up with a project like Arts Acre? This dream has been with me since the time I passed out of art college. On my first visit abroad, I came across École des Beaux-Arts, one of most ancient art education centers in Paris. I was impressed by how students study under one instructor, like the guru-shishya parampara in India. The teacher there is a government nominee. In India the art education system is very different. After seeing École des Beaux-Arts, I too felt if someday I could do something similar. Much later while at Visual Art centre, I had many students, who showed interest in my concept and encouraged me to École des Beaux-Arts model. The system we had at Visual Art Centre was that for initial three years, students would

62 education affairs

learn how to draw and the rest of two years they will do creative work out of their own imagination. These students have stayed with me all these years. I thought then if I can create a shilpi gram or an artist village, which will be a residential work place. Arts Acre will have galleries. In 1983, I got land for this and announced the project with Pt Ravi Shankar inaugurating it and with Gunter Grass having his exhibition. The venture at New Town will be unique in nature. Spread over four acres of land, which comes to about 1,65,000 sq ft area, artists can not only explore art, they will also have a place to stay. There will be amphitheaters, auditoriums, a 35,000 sq ft museum of Bengal modern art. We will also have restoration work done there apart from discussions

OB, BOOKS, GADGETS, GROOMING, SPORTS, FINE ARTS, MUSIC on cinema and theatre. This one-of-its-kind effort will be completely private. We will announce it in a big way in March, this year. Hope this will be a melting pot for world artists. For the new generation, is art a career? When we started, as an artist, we never thought about if we will survive or we will manage to feed ourselves well. I believe art can never be measured. There is no guarantee that a sitar player will become another Pt Ravi Shankar. Likewise, the moment I start painting, I will hit success. It can never be pre-determined. I don’t know how the students, who come to art colleges looking for a career, look. I believe people who have a dream and work with dedication, self-belief and devotion, never face any shortage in life, they will become famous. Only mediocre-thinking people think of career out of art.

But there are many students, who are looking for a job after passing out of art colleges. May be they believe that they will not be successful in life by just painting. Even in the so called ‘careers’ many doctors and lawyers barely manage to meet ends. Let me tell you success does not come easy. When we started, we never had the idea that we will come this far. I never made calculations before taking up art. I chose art because I had a dream and passion for it. You have to jump into your dream with all your force.

In this competitive world everyone is making calculation and plans accordingly. I do not believe in this philosophy. I never plan anything, I just do it. I never paint with the thought that it will sell or not. I don’t know the formula for success.

Hasn’t the art market improved? What betterment are you talking about? Do all the artists in India have success selling their art? The only improvement is that the media now is much more aware and they report on anything new. People are much more aware about art as a result. But how many from middle class buy art? Only a handful! There was a boom in art market from 1995 to 2005. Many people thought then that art would be a good medium to investment in. There were many new buyers. These buyers only had investment in their minds. They had little idea about art and invested when they saw people buying artworks. But these buyers lost out when the market burst. These ‘so called’ buyers are not

there anymore. Vasudeo S Giatonde’s work recently sold for Rs 23.7 crore at Christie’s. Also artist Tyab Mehta commanded a price tag of Rs 8.2 crore for his painting. Aren’t these signs of good times for Indian art? Giatonde is one of the foremost Indian artist, who has done abstract work. Though he had a name he never commanded exceptionally high price for his works. These auctions are not a recent phenomenon. To me, these auctions are very interesting. Many a time some of the good works by the masters do not get sold, whereas at other times an unsold work suddenly catches some rich man’s fancy and gets sold for abnormally high price. People pay such high prices because they want to get fame and recognition. They may not be appreciating the artwork but for the publicity that they get in return. I remember, way back in 1973, someone bought my work for Rs 250. That same artwork was sold at Christie’s in London for £6,000 few years back. That sale at the auction house did not translate to my works selling for more.

Kolkata, unlike other metros, does not have VAT of 12.5% . Does it excite you? Not at all! After 1985, when I stopped exhibiting my works independently, I have no idea who buys my works and for how much. Gallery owners are best placed to understand the market dynamics. Many artists priced their works fancily out of greed, but without much success.

What do you say to the debate of affordable art versus expensive art? Businessmen, who deal in art, have a different goal and the artists have another. The businessman will always strive to sell artworks at the highest price which indirectly helps artists too. But I always feel that artists should abhor from greed and have a semblance when they put a price tag to their works.

You are more known by your symbols, mostly crow and owl. I don’t believe in symbolism. I have done many picture series like time, man and space, illusion, even did a series, Metropolis. Kolkata has many crows which attracted me and crows can also survive extreme adverse conditions like human beings. Crow is like a mahajagotik (beyound the world) bird. In European culture owls are called ‘wise bird’. I felt that there is enough scope for experiment with their shapes. Artists are not rubber stamps. Rubber stamp can be my signature, my passion, my colour or my stroke. People can identify me with my composition, my colours. For an artist, his picture is his face.

education affairs 63

TEACHING, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, CAREER, PLACEMENT, JOB, stop watch

Debating at universities December was a fascinating month in Kolkata’s academic calendar as select students from four of the world’s top five universities - Harvard and Yale from the United States of America, and Cambridge and Oxford from the United Kingdom - were in the city.Two students from the debating society of each of these universities were in Kolata to take part in three interactive programmes thanks to the initiative of an association called the Calcutta Debating Circle. All the programmes were open to the public and designed to expose the overseas students to the city’s student community, and vice versa. The first was held at the Heritage School before west Bengal minister for education Bratya Basu, and the board of trustees of the Heritage

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Debating and discourse is considered to be as important as exam performance

group of academic institutions. The four overseas teams locked horns with a visiting team from St. Stephens Delhi and the host team, to present viewpoints on various aspects of education. From the impact of social networking on education, to the de-humanising effect of e-education on the learning process, various aspects of the academic experience were laid bare. And the presentations were judged by none other than the vice-chancellor of Presidency University and the heads of missions of the USA and UK in the city. The foreign teams won. The second programme was held at St. Xaviers auditorium on Park Street, where the teams from the four foreign universities, along with St. Stephens, Presidency University, the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and St. Xaviers School, debated on the issue, “Higher Education is essentially an exercise in elitism”. Once again the honours went to the foreign teams. The third programme was a Parliamentary style debate at the Calcutta Club on the issue, “In the opinion of the House, Hollywood represents cultural tyranny”. Four seasoned debaters from Calcutta spoke in the 64 education affairs

debate as well, and once again most felt the foreign visitors, particularly the Americans, put forward very impressive arguments. To what can be attribute the superiority of the foreign teams at all the public programmes? Its never easy to find the correct answers to such a question but several issues became clear in discussions with the visitors. One, foreign universities develop the skills of students to discuss, debate and make presentations on all academic and intellectual issues as a basic part of undergraduate and post graduate programmes. While comprehension and domain knowledge are important, analysis and presentation of problems and issues placed against the body of knowledge is the deciding factor. The imagination and analytical skills of students are not hampered by the need to memorise everything in the syllabus, or by the need to vomit out all the memorised information against questions posed in the examination paper. Two, debating and discourses are conducted in many formats at foreign universities. Besides the Parliamentary form of debating, students are trained in the Oxford format of debating, in which four teams debate an issue, with the first two making speeches for and against a subject, and then two more follow-on teams re-debating the issue to take it forward beyond the structure that has emerged from the first debate.Yet another format trains students to present their points at phenomenal speeds, for example in two minute bursts of 300 words a minute against the normal speaking speed of 175 words a minute. This sharply improves concentration, speaking skills, diction and speech control expertise. Three, debating and discourse is considered to be as important as exam performance because the development of a student’s personality and communication skills is as important as mark-sheet scores. Needless to say, the visitors greatly enjoyed Kolkata, staying on in the city well beyond their scheduled programmes. They soaked in the intellectual buzz and cultural ambience at College Street and the Rabindra Sadan complex, for example. They also made a short visit to the Sunderbans and other tourist destinations. And while impressed by the depth, multiculturalism and quality of our education structure, they could not but comment on how memorisation dominates our system, rather than analysis, free thought and debate.