The city lost in transition

Allahabad city has history which can be matched by very few cities in the India. The number of great writer and philosopher and even greater politician city has produced has been remarkable. There has been golden period of the city when it was political centre of the state and national level and also the literature world as well. People used to come to Allahabad to complete their education of life. But in last three decades city has fallen behind the race, the city which gave most PM to the country is not even visited once by anyone today. Question has to be asked why?

The golden period of Allahabad city was mainly due to the Allahabad University. The City was education hub for India at the pre Independence time. All the famous people at that time came to Allahabad to complete their education and fallen in love with the city. But that is not the case today; the city has lost its place in the education land map of India. Yet it is still popular in the north India and UP, Bihar but not all over India. No one cares about that today also, it was granted central university status at my time in Allahabad University but still it is way behind in term of education facility and also the technique of education.

If you look at the hero of Allahabad at that time, either it is hariwansh rai bachaan, sumitra nandan panth, Pandit Jawar lal Nehru and various other famous people. They used to meet the ordinary people in the city; they used to live in the city as well. But with the next generation things are gone, I am not saying there should have lived in the city. But my point is city has not replaced their hero with new one. They still speak about them and their family, but how many people have been now inspired by them. Very few of us have been at my time. One time the Allahabad University student wing was one of the stepping stone in the political career of aspiring career of youth politics now it is again a hub of power and gang politics.

People still come in the city to study for the exam of IAS and PCS and other competitive exam, but city has lost it charm that once it used to have. People come and leave but nobody is able to leave the mark in culture, politics of city as that golden generation did. When I get in touch with people of today generation who are from Allahabad, they don’t want to return the city.

There is old saying about Allahabad city, “In Allahabad if you build anything, it will remain like that for years to come, because they don’t appreciate changes”. I am not sure about today time, since I am seeing lots of good and bad changes in the city. 

P.S.: This is my first post about the city Called Allahabad; I just want to share what I feel about city today. A city gave so much to the country and end up lost in the modern Map.

The death of old lady

Mr. Salman khan wrote in his twitter account after his family driver killed a lady in the road.

"Feel sad for the lady. It is really very sad that she was homeless n sleeping on the roads, may god rest her soul in peace. Bache honge, they must have thrown her out of the house, which is why she landed on the road. Unfortunately, an accident happened on the sets of Dabangg also."

Well most of people who love the actor will say look it was accident. I to agree with all of them but the difference is that one person was killed in that incident. No body from his family has come forward to say it is bad and take action against the driver. I know he must be loyal servant to be backed by Mr. Khan himself. But the irony is on that same day Mr. Amir Khan show was shown in the morning saying avoid alcoholic driving to avoid accident.

No I was thinking everybody is busy in focusing on the issue of what Mr. Khan has to day, what his family is doing. What about the lady who lost her life? In the end it will be her mistake to lose her life.

It was her mistake to living in the streets; it was her mistake to come in the front of car of Mr. Khan family driver, it might be her mistake to lose life because who care for her in the world. That is the irony of Indian system; the person is free after killing the lady but still no body care about her. In the end we will go and watch and support Mr. Khan for fight against all the odds for his heroin in her films but do he earn the respect. He has lost mine that is for sure.

I am no body to stand against him or write against him, but even if it was accident then also does that make this crime less to protect his driver. Killing someone is fine if it is road accident, that to if you have star support with you. This incident makes you realize two things:

     

1. Daily there are so many Incident happened but no actions are taken any one of them.
2. Killing in road accident is not crime; it is crime to come in front of car because it is your duty to save yourself.

We will talk about this for 2 days and then we all will forget about this. And there will be thousand of life will be lost in the road accident but nobody will care. When I see these people get freed by our system then I think how a common man could get justice in this country. This is a personal opinion, Please support to get justice to that old women who died not because of hunger, not because of any disease but because somebody can’t drive the car carefully.

P.S.: I like Salman Khan but now I don't respect him just because he is not "BEING HUMAN" any more...

Mentor....why we need them in college..

I have been thinking about lots of things to write about but as everybody know how much lazy I am, it just didn’t happen until it is odd hour to keep your mind in mood to write or I am reminded repeatedly to finish the pending work by my scheduler (usually my back logs are so much that even that can’t be scheduled).

I was just reading one of my blog and thought how my opinion has changed from last year. It usually gives you a better perspective of things once you are away from that situation.

I never believed in the thought that you need good teachers in the MBA in my opinion far from teacher you need more of a motivator and mentor in the MBA who can guide you rather than putting more focus on teaching. I have seen both type of mentor in my MBA life. In first year I never had a single interaction with my mentor at that time but in the second year I had a mentor whom we used to interact daily and tell our though and problems daily related to college, life and profession.  At that time I written about what I felt for my mentor and it evoked lot of response. Some thought it was emotional other thought it was buttering. I written what I thought at that time was right and somehow it was true. I read that blog thousand times but still it feels it misses something or other thing.

When I left the college, I had only good things to say about my mentor. And now my junior has the same thing to say about my mentor. It is not about one person or a group of student, but when one group, second group and even third group start praising your. You bound to have something special. And I think my mentor has that thing, something that made her special teacher and mentor.

Well I hope she continue to mentor of many batch to come, that’s why I always say sometime age is not a barrier in what you can be. Sometime I miss mentor in my life. But what we can do, we all have moved on in our life but she still mentor and nurture lots of lost and potential talent in the college. 

You need those kinds of people in college who can guide the talents in right way.

Once I want to a teacher of marketing in last year about to consult one of my projects, He rejected it and said it was not possible. But few months back when I started this blog in my college, my mentor was the first to believe in my idea. I am still continuing it; I hope to do it always on my own. But the faith she shown on my idea at that time has given me faith to continue this.

P.S.: Sometime In life you need those teachers who belief in your idea and let you free to choose your own path. I don’t want to name her but everyone who will read this will know who I am referring to.

The Village diary...(Part 2)

I looked at my watch it was about 12 noon yet there was so much calm here. I got the mixed feeling in my heart. It has been about 6 months since I visited home. Crossing the road seemed easier as traffic chaos was missing of big city. Everyone seems to be familiar face in the small town.

Usually form road to my home the distance is of about 1.5 Km. either my dad or Jija ji used to pic me up from the outside of the Village. This time it was different as I have decided to give surprise to all of them by reaching on my own. Nobody knew about my arrival apart from my Sister. While walking to the side of road I can see the difference in the village. The biggest change I have seen was to see lots of educational institute around my village. Well from engineering to management and even law college is now in walking distance of village. It feels strange to see these things happen in outside of my village. This was the same village where not a single school used to be there apart from Madarsa (It is place where Muslim student take education usually of religion and also now days it turn out to be full school with all facilities).

I and my sister used to go At least 25 KM for our college and even to 35 KM daily (Don’t think we used to walk that much. We used to take public transport). I had a luxury of bike when I was in college but my elder sisters used to go by public transport. This thing seems to have so little relevance today but it taught me so many things. I never complained in my life that I live in village so I will not be able to that or I am this because of that. Education is one thing only which can change the life and dynamics of villages. Nobody in village used to go to college from here till my sister first started it (I am biased toward praising her). People used to stay either in city or do it by correspondence. She was the one who gone against the trend and started the new trend. Nobody will remember her as first lady to be Graduate from his generation but she broke the barriers that were there in the village. Girls can study and even the higher studies. Well matter of fact in my village girl’s ratio of Graduate is higher than the boys. Maybe because they all know how hard they have to work to go for the education. It could not have been possible if two main points where not there:

College fees: It is quite less compare to what all big college charge to student. I graduated from Allahabad University in less than 5,000 Rs. And it is combines fees of all three years. It gives them option of dreaming that they can also take the education.

College status: Co College may be in trend in big city but if you go in small city there you find all girls and all boys colleges. Well it might be seemed backward to people here in big city. This is only hope for lots of girls whose parents might not allow them to go for college if it is Co College. This is truth but who cares if we can educate one generation we hope next will be more liberal and free in his/her thoughts.

I received the best education that my family can provide me. But when I see there are talented child’s out there but they can’t do anything. They don’t know what to do with life.

Well moving on I just imagined how things can be changed with little effort but will be helpful. I have seen city grow and villages turn into city just because of this education industry. I Hope same will happen with my village. Someday we might get to know it as a education hub of Allahabad.

A noise broke my thoughts. It was horn of car. Well I have given them way as I was walking in the middle of the road. Well walking carrying a big bag filled with all dirty cloth was not easy. I was smiling at every change I can notice. From trees to new homes in the village, new holes in the road and yet it seemed so much the same old like nothing has changed since I was the kid.

P.S.: Well education is one thing which can change your life. Even my grandmother used to take classes from me when I was in school. If she can try I think ever body can. She can write her name in Hindi and English yet she has not seen the face of school (only time she was in school to listen my compliant from teachers).

 By:  Saifi Shahid

The village diary…. (Part 1)

Well usually I write about lots of my current life and lot about my friend life in this blog. When I was at my home in small village in Allahabad I decided to write about that place from where I belong to and where my roots are. The village diary is a collection of my small memories about my village and life over there, which made me what I am today.

My village is almost 25 KM away from main city of Allahabad. The Village name as HATWA, I don’t know about the story behind the name of my village but I found that name unusual. If you will try to find my village even on Google map, it will be really hard because it does not show over there. Well my village has nothing especial to talk to about. Nor we have any special monuments or nor village has any special talent to talk about but yes if I can say something about my village it has some pure heart people living over there. It is located around somewhat 1.5 KM away from the main road, and to reach my home from main road either take a long walk or have your own vehicle.

Well the road, it has not been repaired for almost a decade. Last time I saw the road to be repaired was when I was in school. This time when I saw the road it has more holes in the road then in the field. And yet nobody ever complained about it. I was about to land in my hometown Allahabad in the railways station and it was little bit weird feeling that how long has been away from the city and yet it seemed like the same. One famous poet said about Allahabad that if you put one basket of fruits in the street of Allahabad and after one year you will find that fruit basket in the same place because this city never changes. Well that was about 50 year ago; only thing that not changed in the city from that time was city name and Sangam.

I walked outside of the railway station from Platform No. 1 to take auto or tempo to reach home. Well if you don’t know Tempo is other name of Shared auto. Allahabad has not changed much I can think on my mind. It was same crowd, people talking to each other about politics even though they might not know each other apart from taking a sip of tea with each other in a shop. Every one asking me about me what I need tempo or taxi, It puzzled me because being lived in Allahabad for so long it was strange to be asked for auto and taxi. I responded in a confused state of mind, “Sorry I don’t need that”. I was looking for the tempo stand from where I can find the right transportation for my home and that to in cheaper way. Well who mind to travel 20 KM in shared auto and that to in 10 bucks? Well surely I don’t.

Some pan shop wala helped me to know from where I can find the auto for my destination. In Allahabad if have to ask for a route usually I ask the Pan wale Bhaiya because they are the best resource to get the right information. For me there were few more surprises over there. The entire autos were standing in the straight line and in arranger manner. It was new thing for me as they never used to stand still few months back and more so fight with each other for getting more and more passengers. But this time they all have formed a union or something in which they all get to take passengers by their number. It helps them to at least make sure all of them get proper business at the end of day. I got myself in the auto which was about to leave and have seat for two passengers. I decided to sit in the right of the driver this was only place where seat was available. This was only my second auto ride in Allahabad in last 7 years. After school my Mom gifted me bike, so I never ever traveled with auto or public transport after that.

From my past experience in Allahabad and what I have heard from my Sis on phone that it will not be easy ride because of two reasons. One was that I was sitting in auto and second was the roads of Allahabad are not in a good condition at this time. My journey started in next 5 min. and it was new experience for me. I was looking after the every change I can notice in the city whether it was in the color of the city or the traffic chaose or the new building and the new shops that I could see. Well for me the journey was getting better and better but not for others. They started complaining to the driver about the slow driving and he could only say, “ Sahab dheeme chalaoob tabhoo log kahaiye aur tej chaloob to jeka lagi osse mar kaaab. Humka to adat ho gaiyi hai, tabhai to itni tej gana chalait hai hum”. He was seemed to big fan of Bhojpuri song and that to Nirhuwa rikshawala. For a change I was aslo enjoying that song.

He asked me again, “Sahab aap naye ho ka sahar ma ki bahut dinawa baad laute ho”. I could only give only slight smile to him and replied. “Nahi humao yahi ke rahe wale hai par aaj kaal bahar raahat hai kaam se”. He was more that amazed to see that I too can speak this language which I think he was not expecting from me. 

“Sahab aapho bahut achi bolat ho apni bhasaa, chala bahar raahat ho par apan bhasa to bol leet ho”. I was faltered by his compliment and by the time I reached to my destination I could say to him, “Bhaiyaa tohar ganwa humka bahut acha laag baa, kehke tu sunat rahoo ba aur paisai kitna bha ihya tak ke”. Now that was the finest I can speak this language.

“Paisa to 10 rupiya bha Sahab aur ganaa to niruhawa ka raha, tohka to kahoo b mil jai”. He said in cheerful voice. I was just thinking well I can get some of these songs from Raj bhaiya but thinking about hearing this song in our room was just not the option I can think off. I gave the amount to bhaiya and just started to my journey to home and I am still 1.5 Km and small distance away from my home.

 P.S.: Well being in village always help you to learn without all the Gadgets. As Electricity is found only for hours over there.

The EQUATION of my college days And Its PARAMETERS....PART 3 (From Zero to Hero)

There was one incident in my college life which change my whole college life. That incident was first semester result in which I topped. From a zero in Allahabad university to batch semester topper in IEC and the awesome part was that I was first guy after few years to do so and then only song i can think of was this.....

Frankly I was the last student expected to top the class. To be fair I was also never expecting that result from myself. I screwed 2 or 3 papers in examination badly and still end up getting highest marks. Some say that is luck and I say luck with right chance.

In my friends group I was with least attendance, my assignments were always late and apart from economics no other subject was my favorite. I hated organization behavior and stats, both papers I screwed badly. My aim was always to pass with decent marks not a single time this thought came in my mind that will score highest marks in class. In my whole life I have always thought that scoring highest marks is not good for health. Maybe I never wanted to reach on top and I was happy in my own space.

After result it was whole new experience for me. Just everybody start thinking you are intelligent, which I am not. Friends and people who know you start thinking, how the hell he can top when he was least studying and one of the laziest persons in the world. I think they were right at that time. That made them think had he has been studying while we were sleeping. In reality I was the one sleeping most and studying less. People feel jealous of you, your comments are taken more personal especially regarding study and yet you fell " I don't care about you" Attitude.

The most irritating part was when everybody started calling me SAIFI SIR. I used to think, hold on man, I am just 21 year old and SAIFI SIR Sound makes me feel like 31 year old. But to be franks I enjoyed every bit of FAME in that period. Now everybody knows me for right reason and in my whole life it has been rare.

My stint at top was short one but one of the memorable one. I didn’t deserve to be there just because I never that hard to be there. Others have work hard and believe me very hard. They all studied late night, attended full class. Where was I all that time, sleeping and relaxing?

But this incident taught me one thing. Never ever in life underestimate yourself in whatever you do. Some time underdogs also perform well and just believe in you. Yet I exceeded my all expectations.

Lastly I would like to thank all the friends because of whom I achieved that thing. Nisheeth bhai ( a bade bhai, roommate and one who know all about how I topped),  jayant ( he was one the deserving candidate of topping the semester and I toppes just because of his questions), raj( he has similar story to me just he topped from down), kshama( she always say why you write and yet she is first one read and say nice one with her cutest simle), smita( only friend whom I have irritated most in first semester) and most important my family.

Saifi Shahid