Corona Diaries- a write up in Black & White magazine

 The personal and professional changes

This pandemic has taken each one of us on a roller coaster ride. Whether one enjoys the ride or is petrified is a personal choice. A new perspective to existence is what I have accepted as the new normal. My take on this scenario is an opportunity to learn to survive crisis; every homemaker has learnt financial management, working from home has taught people teamwork, and home schooling was never a wrong option! 

A huge loss of personal space has become inevitable, irrespective of home or at the workplace; it is like when our family and colleagues become virtually claustrophobic. With the huge dip in most industries and where chopping of heads for economic survival is mandatory, being an independent consultant, my freelance job has taken a huge backseat. I see it as a phase to learn from the upcoming opportunities and believe that there is always light at the end of the tunnel!

The changes affecting the future 

Futuristically, I foresee a very welcoming change both, personally and professionally, with regard to the virtual life we lead today. People-building, teamwork, planning, execution and communication literally need no workplace or work time to bring efficiency. The lessened peer pressure, competitiveness and academic stress would hopefully ease the outlook on education. From fine arts to physical fitness, distant virtual learning has carved its niche by expanding the reach to a larger scale of learners. Learning to separate the workplace from home and vice versa would be a major take home for all of us. 

The aftermath of Covid 19

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the persisting threat of another unforeseen crisis would linger at the back of our minds. Personally, I would have to rebuild my clientele and bridge the months-long gap. Nevertheless, building confidence and promising resources will take time. The looming uncertainty and threat of unemployment could be a major concern for job seekers. Small scale industries and daily wage workers, including domestic helpers would need to be uplifted and provided with the platform of opportunity.

A difference in the war against the virus

A happy mind is a happy life. I ensure that there is a routine and time for family, work and friends. Quintessentially, I adhere to providing food for the mind, heart and body. Exploring the chef in me, the avid cinema-goer, the reader, the fitness novice and the most competitive player at family game nights are all optimistic traits I have rediscovered of myself through the course of this pandemic. It is necessary that we maintain an optimistic outlook, and make sure to create a healthy environment within ourselves and our surroundings. 

This pandemic has reminded us that we are, in fact, equipped to deal with a crisis. Natural calamities like earthquakes, floods and tsunamis in the past have instilled in us the alertness to prepare for any oncoming threat that COVID-19 has brought out in each one of us. Take a minute to be grateful for each new day, while praying for those who succumbed to this virus war. Healthcare providers, volunteers and frontline warriors deserve our gratitude and respect for emerging as the heroes of this battle.

Mentors or Mediators?

 

Matha Pitha Guru and God ... this is what we have been taught since childhood, however today’s generation says matha pitha google and god!! I’m only glad God remained constant and parents have become compulsion! What I question is the teacher factor hasn’t been playing a huge role or  hasn’t the teacher played as a role model? Well that’s unanswered now and hopefully not for a future. 

 

The Sanskrit word guru from gu (darkness), and ru (light) is someone who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom and authority, and use it to guide and mentor. Literally a mentor who shows others knowledge (light) and destroys ignorance (darkness). 

 

Educators are you mentors or mediators? 

 

Today’s world demands mentors to groom children and help them choose their paths carefully. Any child’s first hero is the dad and then it should be a teacher, ideally!! After a certain age students in high school or in college seek mentors to guide and shape them; and trust me that relationship is the most compassionate one for life long. A mentor is someone who reaches out to understand and comprehend the students struggles and still be there to shoulder selflessly. A guiding light throughout their lives! 

 

Are we missing mentors in today’s educators ? Is it that they are being mediators between the created syllabus and students. The concept of completing target lessons , challenge with the electronic gadgets because you are left with less choice. Today’s teachers go through targets, classrooms are war fields, promotions play an important role, pass percentage is primary, stressful hours of standing, harmful conversations in the staff room, comparison student scores, nepotism hasn’t spared education either!!

 

At an early age of 29, a genius in mathematics who could not afford to study at the Harvard, MIT because of his father's death and his financial condition, in spite of seeking sponsorship. Yes, I am talking about Anand Kumar the Indian mathematician known for his super 30! In 1992 Anand Kumar began living his dream  by renting a room for a Rs 500 and started the Ramanujan school of mathematics for the underprivileged children in preparing them for the most competent entrance exams. Between 2003-2017 he mentored 450 students out of which 391 passed out of IIT’s! also between 2008-2010 was his super 30 hatrick , all the 30 students cleared the IIT JEE in a row of three years.

 

Anand Kumar runs the institution with the tuition fee that he earns and the institute is not aided by the  government sectors or any  private agencies. Since 2002, in the month of May , the Ramanujan School of Mathematics has been conducting competitive tests to select 30 students for the Super 30 program. Although many students appear for the test, he selects 30 exceptional students from economically backward sections, mentors them for the most competitive JEE. After the success of Super 30 and its growing popularity, he received offers from private sectors both national and international for financial aid, but he refused it; Anand Kumar wants to sustain the Super 30 through his own efforts.

 

Are we missing this warmth, cohesion, passion and commitment and hence the mentors are gone astray? It is about time to change the perspective, about time to build confidence, about time to hold the experience high, about time to extend arms, about time to mend and mentor.

 

 

There are many more untold Anand Kumar’s, is there one in you ?!!