Jun 17 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)

Let's ruin your mood

Bikram Vohra





Look your hair's all gone. Yes, i needed you to tell me that So, iam standing at this party like one of those shabby relatives at a rich man's wedding, a little out of place, a little awed by the opulence and wondering why i can't be home reading a book when this half stranger, like most people in our lives, walks up to me and says, ha, fancy meeting you here (which is rude enough) and then he adds, my, my, we are doing well, look how fat you have become, after which he proceeds to poke my stomach.
Go away , you horrible little man, where do you get off being so personal?
Attack mode is not only fashionable, the damn thing never goes out of season. I would have truly thought it's rare, like i would think twice before making physical remarks. Obviously i live on another planet.There are the ones who hit you with concern; migoodness, i am so worried about you, what have you done to yourself, no way , you have really put on the pounds. The ones who make a mystery of it: I saw you and i said, no, that can't be you know who, she looks twice her size, wo, you are living it up. What about the medical approach: hey , i am worried about you, little tummy there and it has gone to your hips, slow down, you know not good for you...at your age.
Then there are the ones who make it into a collective Broadway musical: hey everyone, would you believe this is Bik, look at him, hasn't he really ballooned...say whattt!! Not to mention the ones who cannot conceal their glee: Boy , you have sure let yourself go, you are literally bloated, and you look twice your age. The fake ones: you look lovely , just a little wee bit, teensy weensy little love handle, darling.
Look at you, your hair's all gone. Yes, i need you to tell me that, i came here this evening because i know there is this huge Texas-sized bald patch on the top of my head but i thought i need your confirmation and thank you so much for setting me straight, now i have the seal of approval on my lost hair, ergo, the evening has not been a total waste.
You have bags under your eyes. I have what? Bags, big brown bags under both your eyes. Oh, i thought you said i had bags under my eyes. I did. Isn't that none of your business? Oh, come on, smile, chill out, no wonder you have the bags, you are stressed. I would be a lot less stressed if i could whack you across the face.
Why are we all so fascinated by other people's weight and why do we believe they want us to comment on it? Don't they know the darn diet didn't work, don't they know they are struggling to drop those 10 pounds, you think they are so stupid they don't know they will never be size 8 again, they need to dress up to come to a party, find car parking space, bring a recycled gift so you can tell them.
Truly, this happened to me last week. Along comes this lady and she says, i haven't seen you of years. And i say, true. And she says, i saw you from far and i said no, it can't be him, he looks too grey and haggard. Fooled you, lady, it isn't me, it's a mask, see, this is the young real me, eureka, go leap off the balcony, you cow.
People love to hurt. They dress in the evenings and they carry a quiverful of poisoned darts which they then deploy to enjoy themselves by making other people uncomfortable. About you, your money (lack of it) standing (lack of it) property (lack of it) your current business success (or lack of it) your inside story (which they know more about than you) and they haven't the slightest qualm about bringing it up.
So, what is it? Don't we like each other? Are we so jaded that we only get our kicks by dishing them out?

Jun 17 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)

Govt plans `soil health cards' for all farmers

Vishwa Mohan

New Delhi: TNN





New Delhi: Seeking to spur agricultural growth, the Centre will soon launch a comprehensive plan to provide `Soil Health Card' to all farmers across the country .The card will carry cropwise recommendations of nutrients/fertilizers required for farms, making it possible for farmers to improve productivity by wisely using inputs.
A computerized system will be developed allowing local agriculture science centres to keep details of `soil test' results. Soil samples will be collected even from small farms in remote villages. The system will, eventually , allow farmers to download the health card using `unique number' allotted to each soil sample. This way , any change in ownership of the particular farm land will not create any problem in getting such cards or getting it updated.
Though a few states including Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Haryana had successfully distributed such cards a couple of years ago, most states did not make it operational be agricultural universities. The Centre's fresh move will make it universal. “Providing `Soil Health Card' to all farmers across the country is our priority. We are working out the details, studying best practices being followed by different states,“ agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh said. He said the move will help farmers in identifying “health of the soil“ which will go a long way in improving productivity through judicious use of fertilizers and water.
Since collecting `soil samples' and uploading/updating the test results will be a mammoth exercise, the Centre may write to states urging them to culture universities. Officials here do not rule out the possi bility of linking the final de gree of agriculture students with their work in fields like helping `Krishi Vigyan Ken dra' officials in sample collec tion and periodic update.
All soil samples will be tested in various testing labs across the country . Thereafter, experts will analyze strengths and weaknesses (micro-nutri ents deficiency) of the soil and suggest measures. The result and suggestion will be displ ayed in the cards. Singh said the soil card and irrigation facility for all villages would be two major components of NDA's agriculture policy .

Jun 16 2014 : Mirror (Pune)

No country for thinkers

SHANTA GOKHALE





SEPARATING THE BEST FROM THE BANAL ON OUR CULTURESCAPE Liked/hated her column? Write to Shanta Gokhale at punemirror.feedback@gmail.com Writers, particularly historians, have been persuaded, in the interests of peace in the jungle, not to think, write or even speak

Manu lived in a house of straw, believing it to be built of stone.Donny lived in a house of sticks, also believing it was built of stone. Bandy lived in a house of mud. He too believed it was built of stone. The houses had been around for decades, so the three writers naturally felt safe and protected in them. And so they were too, till a wolf began to prowl around their jungle.
This wolf was sharp-eyed and razortoothed and abhorred writers, particularly historians. Instead of walking docilely down the many well-trodden paths in the jungle, these disruptive spirits had to go climbing trees, looking at the vast world beyond and writing about it. The wolf was convinced that such writings would pollute young wolfminds.
The thing about the trees was true though. Manu did climb many trees and discovered that there were 300 Ramayanas over and above the two that the wolf knew. The fact that even two existed, disturbed the wolf greatly, since his elders and betters had taught him to strictly follow the rule of one: one jungle, one language and one animal species.
Manu on the other hand, had felt a surge of excitement at the thought that an epic written and revered in the jungle of his birth centuries ago, was so inspirational, that it had spawned 300 versions across the country and the eastern world. Could
you say that about The Iliad or The Odyssey? Nope.Manu’s discovery of 300 Ramayanas made the wolf angry. Very very angry. So angry that he rushed to the house of straw (HOS), and howled at the chief, “Ohyoupig, don’t you know that I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll bring your house down if you don’t throw Manu out onto the garbage heap where he and his tribe belong? “For a while, the chief of HOS thought nothing of the threat. He was even heard singing, “Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf.” But he soon discovered that the wolf’s anger had the full support of the laws of the jungle. The wolf simply had to say his feelings were hurt and the house of law would throw its doors wide open to him.
That silenced the HOS chief. Manu was ejected from the house, and the wolf sang, “Sacredyboo, scaredyboo / Who is stronger, me or you?” Prompt came the fearful answer from HOS, “You, my master, youyouyou.” Emboldened by this victory, the wolf trotted over to the house of sticks, popularly known as HOST, and howled, “Out with Donny who thinks there’s more to my religion than meets my eye. Out with her or I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll bring your house down. “The chief of HOST flapped around for a while, uncaringly as it were, and was even heard to sing, “Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf.” But when the wolf, aided by the law of the jungle, huffed and puffed, HOST not only threw Donny out, but PULPED her.
Imagine the cruelty of the act! The world outside the jungle cried, “Murder most foul!“ But the wolf merely rubbed his paws together and chortled, “Sacredyboo, scaredyboo/Who is stronger, me or you?” Prompt came HOST’s answer, “You my master, youyouyou.” The wolf, now confident of his powers, soon bent his gaze on the house of mud (HOM), and whispered in the chief’s ear, “Psst. You need to take another look at Bandy’s Plassey to Partition: A History of
Modern India.There are things there that have made me very angry. “Instantly, all the people in HOM went into a huddle and pored over not just Bandy’s book but many others, scissors at the ready to cut and pare.
In time, what was bound to happen, came to pass. One day The Jungle Times carried this front page news: “The chiefs of HOS, HOST and HOM have been persuaded to step down in favour of the wolf.
Writers, particularly historians, have been persuaded, in the interests of peace in the jungle, not to think, write or even speak.
They may, however, hold hands and sing, “Here we go round the mulberry bush, the new jungle anthem.”

Jun 16 2014 : Mirror (Pune)

Business of research papers

GOURI AGTEY ATHALE





GOURI AGTEY ATHALE WRITES ON WHAT MAKES PUNE INC TICK Liked/hated her column? Write to Gouri Athale at punemirror.feedback@gmail.com Newer institutes, colleges take the easy route instead of enhancing quality and stringency of parameters

The monetary side of the business explains the attraction of hosting scientific and other high-end, knowledge-based conferences and subsequent publications of papers presented at the conference.The registration fee is between Rs 5,000-10,000 per head, if the conference is in India and the expected number of attendees is around 200-400 people. If the conference is international, then the registration fees are in the region of $ 300-500 per head. Do the math: it works out to substantial amounts with fairly low initial investment.
Participants also have to pay for the publication of their papers and according to people in the know, this is where they really make the money: the publications side of the conference.
Add that and the business is significant.
This has led to several sting operations by well established scientific and mainstream newspapers and magazines, exposing the racket. Nothing’s changed! Why is this relevant? Institutions pressure their staff (looking for tenure) and students to publish research, based on the ‘publish or perish’ philosophy. This gives rise to the business of hosting conferences where you might have been ‘invited’ but have to pay for your travel, stay and pay for the publication of your paper.
Quality is at stake, especially as newer institutes and colleges start their own journals, taking the easy route instead of enhancing the quality and stringency of parameters of existing journals. Academic rigour will get you quality but if you focus on just meeting the norm that an academic staff member has to have publications, never mind the quality of said publication, then a fall in standards is inevitable.
As a senior academic from Pune University explained, “This is a problem of the knowledge industry. Institutes require their staff to publish and there are elements who ensure that this happens... for a price. Universities have tightened their procedures and systems, ensuring their staff attend only credible conferences.” A young scientist and researcher at a well regarded institute in Pune told me of the high level of filters that he has set up on his email account.
Despite this, at least two-three invitations for in
ternational conferences sneak into his email.These are mainly from Chinese entities but not only from them: this business like a host of others, is global.
The practice is rampant in India as well as more and more institutes look for credibility and as more academic bodies insist on publications. Researchers and academics agree there is need for the academic community to take action by enforcing standards: consolidate the number of existing publications and improve their quality by enforcing rigorous and stringent standards.
The financial angle, however, has taken precedence over the academic. The financial angle for the entrepreneur and that of the academic/ researcher seeking a permanent post are the primary drivers of this business. Universities
and research institutes have begun to blacklist such entrepreneurs as well as tightened their grants to attend conferences that are not recognised nationally or internationally.The first filter that universities and research institutes have begun to apply is that any conference where the invitee has to pay to attend is a strict no-go: this is part of the realisation that academics is not the focus of the conference.
That this is not going to stop is clear because there is a paucity of funds in the ‘developed’ world as a result of the economic meltdown which makes holding of international conferences a money spinner. This is compounded by the premium emerging countries put on international publications, regarded as the gold standard. Eternal vigilance is the need, obviously!

Jun 16 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)

Q&A - VIEWPOINT - Trends in higher education





Vijay D Patil (pic), president, DY Patil University, Navi Mumbai, shares his views on the higher education sector in the country Corporates can step in by providing financial aid. This support can be in the form of research grants to deserving students or through the development of centres of excellence to help ease the cost of infrastructure for institutes

What role can higher education play in realising the youth's potential?
Higher education plays a crucial role in realising the potential of a country's youth while laying the foundation for its success.Today, when every sector, right from agriculture to IT, requires a tremendous amount of tremendous amount of trained personnel, it is not enough to have a basic knowledge of a subject to succeed.
You need to have an in-depth knowledge of your field along with the right skill-set to make your mark in the industry. And this can be achieved only with the help of higher education.
What is the key challenge that the higher education sector in the country is facing?
A key concern is the lack of access to higher education that students face regardless of their financial and geographical backgrounds. Another chal lenge is the quality of education provided by our institutes.
Corporates can step in by providing financial aid. This support can be in the form of research grants to deserving students or through the development of centres of excellence to help ease the cost of infrastructure for institutes. In fact, this can be advantageous for can be advantageous for corporates as well, as it would lead to better research facilities and deserving students would not shy away from higher education due to high fees.
This would further facilitate better quality workforce for employers. What are your expectations from the new government?
Higher education is the sunrise sector. The government should speak with all the stakeholders to understand their needs and roadblocks. The key among them being the tedious ap proval process for launching new courses.
This process needs to be streamlined under a single au thority for things to move swiftly and efficiently instead of multiple approvals, which we require now.
What are the key trends in higher education?
With the introduction of new technologies, education now focuses on teaching through interactivity between students f and faculty, making learning a continuous exercise. Specialised courses will gain momentum and will help students pre determine their area of interest and choose relevant subjects to gain expertise.
Another trend is a high degree of specialisation. With the introduction of niche courses, this trend will gain further momentum in times to come.

Jun 16 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)

THE FIRST STEP TO YOUR FUTURE

Malini Sen

TNN





UK varsity launches professional development hub to improve students' employability

Recognising that a creative approach is required to improve employability of graduates, especially due to unpredictable economic trends, Leeds University Business School (LUBS) launched a Professional Development Hub.“Whilst the hub supports all LUBS students, postgraduate students benefit from five professional development tutors embedded in different programmes guiding them in their job search and honing their soft skills,“ says Elizabeth Bailey, professional development tutor on the MSc in international business programme and the head of the hub.
“It is different from academic earning. It is more experiential, we divide students in groups and observe how they perform under pressure, relate to others from different cultures and work as a team. We make them apply what they learn on he programme to a workplace situa ion in an international context,“ adds Bailey.
According to her, the key soft skills include communication, presentation, self awareness, emotional ntelligence, academic writing, teamwork, etc. Besides an academic degree, she says, these skills are important to make graduates more em ployable in the 21st century. Though over a year old, the hub is continuously evolving, adds Bailey.
Additionally, all University of Leeds students have access to the Careers Centre, which works closely with local, national and international employers. Leeds is currently the 8th most targeted university for the UK's top employers (High Fliers 2014).
Priyankaa Ankalgi, a student at the university, says: “We are international students and our knowledge about the job market in the UK is limited. The Careers Centre sends us information on vacancies and company details, and helps us with our CV and cover letter.“ Ankalgi has found a job in Leeds as an R&D combustion and controls engineer with JBC Industrial Service Ltd and will be involved in field research.
Laura Trotter, career consultant at the university, says the centre works closely with tutors from all disci plines to familiarise students with the recruitment process, industrial practices, graduate schemes and internships. Besides, undergraduates are encouraged to choose a 12month industrial placement as part of their programme.
“The Leeds approach to employability is based on our commitment to helping all students to decide on their future career, plan to acquire the right experience and skills, and compete in graduate employment markets globally,“ she adds.
The centre has also been using social media platforms in job search and career development. “We help students with their online profiles and teach them how to use social media to interact with potential employers. We also reach out through blogs, podcasts, etc. However, we sensitise students about the pitfalls and how they should use the platforms positively,“ says Trotter.
http://www.leeds.ac.uk

Jun 16 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)

India to set up digital library in Bhutan

New Delhi TIMES NEWS NETWORK





Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday emphasized on the possibilities of greater educational contacts with Bhutan and suggested doubling the scholarships being provided to Bhutanese students in India.India will now provide scholarships worth Rs 2 crore.
Modi said India will also assist Bhutan in setting up a digital library which will provide access to Bhutanese youth to two million books and periodicals. Modi said educational links were important for strengthening people-topeople contacts. He also inaugurated the Supreme Court building which has been built with Indian assistance. On Monday, he will address a joint session of Bhutan parliament.
Modi described Bhutan as a natural choice for his first visit abroad as the two countries shared a “special relationship”. “Our hydropower cooperation with Bhutan is a classic example of win-win cooperation and a model for the entire region. During the visit, we will lay the founda
tion stone of the 600MW Kholongchu hydropower project,“ he said. “I will review with the Bhutanese leadership our development cooperation programme to make it even more effective and responsive to the changing aspirations of the people of Bhutan.“In a banquet held in his honour, Modi said India and Bhutan had a “made-for-each other relationship”. He said while the world talks of GDP, Bhutan talks of national happiness, adding there could be many parameters to measure happiness, but he wished to suggest a new one — how is your neighbour? Among the parameters on which Bhutan measures happiness, having a good friend like India should be one of them, Modi said.