Tag Archives: Satire

Mr. Bay, You are not Rajni

Posted on by

0

This post follows a situation in which I chose not to speak, though my heart pounded in an urge to do respond. Simply put, it was a lovely moron who questioned me on the ‘most important’ inconsequential thing (saying it was a question could be an injustice to the intimidating and ordering tone). The details of the situation, I cannot go even slither more deep. But, to satisfy myself and to get a good night’s sleep, I am having to do this; though I know this is not the ideal post to celebrate the second anniversary of my blog. What follows is an outburst of all love I had to express to this moron ever since I knew he was one. And one request before you read further: if you can, please avoid reading this post. If you can’t stop yourself, then read it and forget it! For the comfort of conversation, let me call this moron as ‘Bay’, the word whose little variant might actually fit the character.

Dear Bay, 

Thanks to the real estate restrictions, I am pleasedat hell to share the corner with you. No one except you could have had the uncontrollable need to throw in a towel to reserve that place. Come the first opportunity to leave that place, I am off from there, for such a place is reserved for your uncorking highness! If you ever want to spare a thought for why I think I cannot afford to share your corner–which I know for sure your highness shouldn’t bother to, and even if you did, I am sure your highness has the brains only to read the lines as published–here are some of my thoughts. Continue reading →

My Student’s interesting question

Posted on by

2

There have been many ‘first times’ to me in the last week and a half. But I cannot claim the same for my teaching experience. But rarely does a student question, and almost invisible are those which spark. One such interesting question sprang up in the most irritating class yesterday:

When a class is performing mediocre all the time, and when some faculty comes through doing things differently and expecting huge; don’t you think he is only going to feel bad, make the students feel bad, and make things messy?

What a fantastic question! I loved it at that moment, for a reason that somebody had the mind to perceive, and that somebody had the guts to shoot a question, and all that was done with a purpose in an acceptable class room setting. It was no joke, no satire, no comment from behind the back of fellow students. It was a genuine question. And I answered it.

May be my answer sounds diplomatic, but my heart believes in it. My answer was that it is all wrong with the system, if things get messy. Feeling bad is almost unavoidable, and reasons can be many; perhaps, demanding faculty is one of those for a student. But rolling back the story a little, one would know that expectations were placed before entering a system, by the system, and were later drubbed by the system (I am referring to all those souls who tried to change the system). Now, I think if the system can change (not that I sound optimistic on that), then I believe the whole thinking process of people within would also change. One can argue it is the other way around. All I have to offer them is–I have seen by experience–that the former is easier than the later.

Now, somebody might ask me who is to be found at fault with a wrong system, may be the one where I am currently. I have a very valued (researched rather!)opinion in my head. I played a distinctive role in the college so far, both as a student and as a teacher. And my expectations on both platforms were battered brutally by the other parties, and my communication to clarify was seen (if I can say) rather strangely. I have experienced that feeling in many responses that have come through during my stint. So in my opinion, there is nothing I would achieve by pointing to people at how strange they were to me (as I must have been to them), but believe that the system is such and that it needs change.

I am smiling now writing this, because my consultant/academic mind tells me that it is wrong at the larger level. We are such a high context society, that any bit of open communication seems strange and awkward.

Life is fascinating, and how so uncomfortable sometimes can it be!

Suggestion Suggestion

Posted on by

3

Mr. Heyde went to the bank to deposit a cheque. And very soon he found himself in the far end of a long queue. With his mind unable to rest, and legs unable to push forward—he began analysing the situation. He collected data talking to people, looking at the clock, and ascertained that the bank teller was roughly taking around three minutes per person standing in the queue. Also, he counted from that front end, and estimated that it would be another 27 minutes before his turn comes. Immediately after coming out of the queue, he ran up to the suggestion box in the bank and dropped in a paper with his suggestion.

Few days later, on another  purpose, Mr. Heyde went to the bank again. This time too a similar experience showed up itself to Mr. Heyde. Not holding his arses, he barged into the manager’s cabin and made a c0mplaint on the state-of-affairs, how slow the processing is and how it can be bettered. After lending a patient ear, the manager suggested Mr. Heyde to write his ideas on a paper and drop it in the suggestion box, and that his suggestion will be considered. With just a glare and a non-verbose suggestion on the paper, Mr. Heyde dropped his suggestion again in the drop box.

Few days later, Mr. Heyde turned to the bank once again on work, and found no change. This time, with a satirical smile, Mr. Heyde walked into the manager’s cabin, and asked if his suggestions and ideas were considered. After an educated response from the manager, in a very enthused manner Mr. Heyde requested that the drop box be opened. It had just three slips. Mr. Heyde and the manager decided to read them.

The first of them turned out to be the suggestion Mr. Heyde made on his initial visit to the bank, and included ideas about the process changes. The second suggestion they read out was also the one put in by Mr. Heyde on his second visit, and it read ‘Open this box and read my other suggestion’. Mr. Heyde’s shoulders raised high in courage, now that he question the manager.

And then the third suggestion read:

Mr. Heyde, your suggestions are read. Thanks!