Vandana Sreekumar - Another Collection

Dream World Wanted to be alone, But now I'm with you. Don't know why, But I hope it's true. The times I cried, You wiped my tears, Told me it'll be alright, Made me believe it's real. If this is my fantasy, I want it alive - 'Cause it's my dream world, With you and I. Trapped To be trapped in a nutshell That is so gay, Don't know if it would be worse Had it been grey. Will my keepers always stay? Will I never see the sun, To show me freedom and light my way? Will they always keep me mum? Trapped by glory, Trapped by insanity, Trapped by baseless values, Trapped like an ant in bright dew. To everyone it looks beautiful, Except to the one inside. The child who never cries, Who's too much alive. Will there be no escape? Will it always be this way? Heavens send me an angel Please, to unlock my own days. More Than 'Just Friends' It's not like I want you Everyday of my life, It's not like I'm drowning In the depth of your eyes. But I like it, somehow, Caught right here, I like the way it feels When I know you're near. Into this friendship Goes a lot of love and care, Won't cross any boundaries But we know it's there. Not like lovers But not 'just' friends - Who knows, maybe we'll be Best friends till the end. ©Copyright Vandana Sreekumar,2010-2012. All Rights Reserved.

Vandana Sreekumar - Unsaid

UNSAID

She's giving herself

But he never sees

So invisible she becomes

Invisible she leaves

He dreams of her

Once in a while

Thinks she's pretty

But just for a while

She wonders if

He'll ever think

See her as more

Than a friend in ink

He does write to her

Says, "Love you my friend"

Hopes she'll say, "I love you too"

That together they can mend?

They part on good terms

though unsatisfied

The little things were said

But big things lurk inside

Unsaid

Years later

They meet again

Married? no

Still waiting for that "One"

They say

That chance encounter

Led to more

In success and good health

But big things lurk inside

Unsaid

Drifted apart again

With little things always said

But love untold

The big things left unsaid

One day again

(Even fate tries its hand)

They begin to talk

Find some memories lost

Childhood mischief

Teenagers' loss

Adulthood travails

Yet no love?

"There was but..."

"But? Now?"

"It's dead and gone"

"Sorry for your loss"

That was the last time

They were twenty five

They moved on but still

Looked back on their lives

Could they have made a difference?

Was it a little thing missed out?

Was it big things that were said

And little ones that lurked

Inside. Unsaid.

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Blogging

One of the greatest mysteries in the world of blogging, an unanswered questions, something not thought of so much. Probably because we take it for granted. Or because nobody actually cares for it. Besides spending some quality time, not many really wonder what is the purpose after all. Let me phrase it more appropriately. What is blogging?

Earlier when i did not have any readers (not that i have any now), I thought it was equivalent to diary writing. As a matter of fact, my blog was so unpopular that it was more secretive than my real diary, hiding which was an ordeal. So, when i felt bored, or when I felt the urge to express, I posted on my blog. That is the purpose I believe then. To express yourself. You have a wide variety of blogs. And every author writes about what he/she is passionate about. Eloquently, writing your heart out... that is what blogging is all about.

On that note arise two points. What is the point of spending all your energy, if you don't have any readers? Doesn't the absence of readers destroy the entire purpose of writing? Or does it? Something that can be dealt with, with an elaborate explanation. I personally write because I enjoy it. And shouldn't that be the ideal object behind doing any job. Isn't that what drives any person at all to achieve something off-beat. To explore and experiment. Is it not the fun, the adventure that fuels us. But does that make the result insignificant? Speaking quite frankly, this blog has 10 followers and I hope two of them will read this post. Which means that all the thoughts, the ideas, the hopes, dreams, emotions or whatever it is that beats in this message.. just stays there. Ideas that don't flow are like a lost ghost. Singing around, wearing a white saree, under the full moonlight, with long plaited black hair and scary fangs. Wandering crazily. Seeking salvation. Isn't that what matters? Don't these ideas deserve to flow. True that many blogs do get readership, but how many. What is the magnitude of work that gets wasted. Would Harry Potter be this famous if J.K. Rowling had posted her story in a blog. People would turn off their computers because of the sheer size of the story. Even the response to Big B's blog is dull in comparison to the comments on FB or twitter. As a proportion of his actual fanfaronade, the number of comments is nothing short of a classic joke! The most saddening part is the quality of work the flows in this network. Marvelous! Stunning! Anyone would fall short of words.

The second point is the responsibility of each writer. What is the role of a blog as a part of electronic media? Is it just a platform of stressed writers to relax. Or is it something that has the potential to spark off a revolution similar to the one in Egypt? Writing over here, am I not dealing with a Nuclear Weapon? Or even worse! We all know the role of media in our social structure. Media is definitely more destructive, and even more constructive, than any other work of science. In my finger tips I hold the key to a great revolution. Am I using it responsibly? Am I utilizing the potential a blog offers? And am I utilizing it properly? A blog can be of a very personal nature. Or it can advocate against the most controversial political issue. Either one has to be dealt with wisely. And personally, I am a huge fan of those really personal notes that form a part your blog. They come from the heart.

I am addicted to social networking sites, but I have started to begin the accountability and credibility of such websites. They are immature. They are not elaborate. I strongly suggest politicians stay out of twitter. Their work cannot be dealt with 140 characters. Be expressive. Raise your opinion. You are a citizen of a free country! Your forefathers were not!

Vandana Sreekumar - A Collection

RED ROSE

Blushing slowly,
Unfurling gently,
Whisper soft,
Soon she grows.

Suitors come,
One by one,
For age has marked her,
The glory of blood red.

Experience hardens,
Makes self protective,
Green thorns strengthen,
Let few get to her.

With age, beautiful exterior falls away
But the brown thorns remain
Even if sweet flower withers away...


COST OF PROGRESS

What is progress?
If it works this way,
City dweller by day
Though heart in village stays.

One day to return
Expecting small familiar roads,
Dirt and grass runs,
Nature's beauty abound;
Deep blue river flowing fast,
A hope that it'll all last.

Hopeful return,
But leave in shock;
Roots destroyed,
What have we lost?

Cost of progress
A broken tar road,
Cost of progress
A mediocre school.

Aping the city,
Village lost its way;
Age old traditions,
Has it all gone astray?


WHAT YOU ARE TO ME

Feathers fall
Like the rain,
Pillow fights
Are never the same,
Bright blue eyes
You stare at me,
Waiting to jump
As if you don't know me.
Child, don't you know
That we are one?
And will be so
Till time is done?
You are part of me
Wild and bright,
Sudden sadness -
Have I been right?
Soon enough
You will have to leave,
Be stronger than now
More beautiful to see.
Now yet we have
Our pillow fights,
For a few more years
I will hold you tight...
Still I'll let you be
All might and rights,
Oh my child,
What you are to me.

Neeraja B - Through The Lens of IFFK

Through the Lens of IFFK

Rush, long queues, running between theatres, discussions, opinions, emotions, applause, recognition and at last the much awaited “Suvarna Chakoram” ……Yes, Yet another IFFK bids adieu…For those in the capital city and for those movies are life, the one week extravagant film festival means a lot, a lot beyond the rush and hush for a commercial hit and a lot beyond what is movie for a lay man. Like any other year, this time too IFFK staged varied performers, it became the platform for hard core discussion on movies, it became a forum for cultural and ideological give and take, and an inspiration for those who just stepped in into the mesmerizing world of cinema. For the pioneers , it meant getting wonder struck by the impeccable works of the great maestros ( retrospective ), deriving confidence and also elevating themselves to the standards of world class movies. For the youth, it was celebration but for the uninteresting “budhijeevis” (as we dearly call them ), it was reverberation of the nuanced philosophy of human life and of rebirth of “romanticism”. For film lovers it was plethora of colors unveiling and for critics it was painting their figures in a wider canvas. For the skippers of the movies it meant struggling and fasting for their movies, sharing their ideas, sharing their concerns, and feeling the content of applause. And for yet another ilk it had much of a “social” coloring. It was where they discussed contentious issues – moral policing, attitude towards and portrayal of sex , which have caused an eye brow raise among the hind runners of the so called “civilization and morality” . What so ever, it could hardly be possible to be not part of it, for the media were at no dearth for news to fill in; thanks to the organizers.

But beyond all these experiences, what IFFK or any other International Film Festival offers for the film world and the society at large would be an interesting preposition to think about. In that regard, IFFK has offered much to Malayalam Cinema. One repeated theme that was over heard through out the festival is the plight of Malayalam movies. The muddle around “Aadhimadhyandham” and the disappointments regarding the poor theater facilities itself are shadows of a looming crisis. It was for the first time that the festival is not hosting a Malayalam movie in the competition category. But,at the same time the recognition “Aadaminte makan Abu” won and the applause for movies like “traffic” shows the changing course of our movie world. The move to market Malayalam movies also offers hope. The Indian movies like “Aadukalam”, “Delhi in a day”,”I want to be a mother” etc helped appease the complaint on Indian movies not striking world standards. Yet, the reality remains bitter. We still have a lot of work in hand.
The stark contrast between the colorful and the colorless world is something one could experience only at such an arena. It is from such an intellectual turf that some of the most brilliant movies were born. Who doesn’t know how many great film makers IFFK might give birth to??
In yet another level and most importantly the global platform it offers is worth the pains taking effort behind the screens. To see our movies from an outsider’s shoe and to look for out of the box solutions is possible nowhere else. When we get to know the culture of various nations, it is not just that they often become an eye opener for innovative film making but also it reminds us that there are shared concerns and shared crisis which blurs global boundaries and we need to look at them from a collective perspective. It’s not just a place for the film makers but for all of us to look at the world. Screening of movies on the Arab spring, surrogacy and many such issues in the political and social fore became true depiction of this.
Festivals are places where not only new ideas come in but also where ideas are shaped. It’s where culture moves forward, it’s where we see the efforts to bridge cultural lag taking place. Morality, Sex, Art, Civilization, Values, Artistic privacy – everything of the kind is discussed both openly and subtly.
It’s also a place of remembrance and homage when you go back to the works of our great masters all over the world who helped this industry grow and be by itself a form of art that is so dear to our hearts. And by and large it’s a place where film makers grow, through the recognition they get, through the applause they receive and at times through the struggles they cope up with while at the festival.
Festivals help you appreciate life and at the same time remind us many things- they show what we haven’t seen, they show what we have forgotten to see, and they show what we ought to see.
So if you think that you are too much for this world or feel your’s is too paltry a life, its of no loss that you spend some 400 bucks for your delegate pass.

Meera Nazer - Higher Education Globalised

This institution has faced a sea of snag globally. Especially with focus to this infant democracy,

driven by factionalism whose caste and religious divisions seemed to be written in stone. The

expression “education” or Vidya was something reserved for the upper caste social elite then.

Globally this establishment found place especially higher education when the first university was set up in Germany (Philip G. Altbach 2009) which redesigned its intact nature.

The concept of education was later, as the nation won independence, seen as an important

development marker especially with regard to our target of being a developed economy by 2020. World over once said that our nation’s ordeal with democracy was going to be carved in history’s strongest voice as a humungous failure because around 80% of the population was illiterate.

Then we moved on to the focus on “literacy” from which we haven’t diverted yet as the implementing authority i.e. Parliament which is considered as the agent of destiny by the “aam admi” had various vested destinies. Literacy is to do with reading and writing and basic math. Education is to do with thinking and awareness. And Thinking and Awareness is what we as a fully functioning democracy aspires to.

This is true as we examine a part of the picture, as we examine the other part we discover the excellence of middleclass and aristocratic youth in the higher education sector. This is partly or wholly attributed to the notion of “globalization” which spread its mighty wings and cast a shadow upon education too. With this came the student exchange programs, overseas branch set up of renowned academia and engagement of inter institutional partnerships. For many this influence seemed overwhelmingly satisfactory as it catered to their aspirations of an internationally accredited degree. It blessed them with an opportunity to study and research no longer limited by nation’s boundaries. But there were many too who felt this as an assault on national culture and autonomy.

However beating all this higher education sector is on a growth spree wherein significance is provided to the wealth of nations and universities which directly determines the quality and centrality of a university /academic institution. It fuelled competition which at times even resulted in a sense of decline of academic community mission and traditional values. Higher education exercises a dominant role especially due to the shift to post industrial economies worldwide after the cold war era. But it’s tainted again with the social inequality in access it faces.

Higher education is actually fraught with the problem of accommodating the millions who are knocking their door and denied access to. As a result many private institutions have set up their branches wide across the nation and are providing the students with a namesake certificate. Mainly because they are profit driven and not committed to the field. With the public funding being no more in a position to take-up the challenging task of expansion and diversification of the higher education system in the country to meet the continuously growing demands at present, there is little option other than bringing in private initiatives in a massive way to meet the various challenges. The deregulating mechanism of controls started with the granting of “Autonomous Status” to identified Colleges in the 1970s. Some of these Colleges have graduated further to receive the “Deemed to be University” status in later years. Now, the country is on the threshold of the establishment of Private Universities in different States. To add fuel to this dangerous situation it’s again the play of globalization which demands talent, competence, drive, initiative and innovation at several levels. So the populations being exposed to these flee in bee numbers to wherever they can earn a paper showing they are competent.

A paradigm shift has been noticed in higher education now a days, from ‘national education‘to ‘global education’, from ‘one time education for a few’ to ‘lifelong education for all’, from ‘teacher- centric education’ to ‘learner centric education’. The Indian higher education system therefore has a new role and a challenge to provide to the nation and the world at large, skilled human power at all levels, having breadth of knowledge and confidence to effectively confront the social and economic realities.

But this is again met with rising costs involved as with regard to materials or tuition fee. Another major drawback is the lack of full time teachers which results in lower academic records and skill development among candidates.

All we can expect is a better shift of government’s attention towards this development marker to expect a better turn in our nation’s efficient functioning.

Ramon Dharma Rajan - I burnt Myself

I burnt Myself

A cool night, when the full moon and sparkling stars can be described as the magical, mystical, beautiful honey and nothing else, only I knew that it was not honey - the stars where angry honey bees. I had lost it all, my fame, my glory, my happiness, my family, my love; it was all snatched away from me, by greed and selfishness. The warrior who lost his kingdom was lying on the terrace of his house, staring at the honey sky, stung by the honey bees of guilt... correction, I wasn't the warrior who lost everything, I was the traitor who betrayed everything. "It was a waste my friend. You are the screwed Scrooge, except this is no dream. You are the reality that Scrooge was afraid of, that the future ghost showed him", my best adviser, my most loyal servant, my cruel conscience whispered in my heart. "But you can change it. Do you know what really matters? What you care for the most in this world? The most valuable, the most precious... what ought to be protected with everything you have. Do you know what it is? Do you know how you can achieve it?" I knew all the answers. Mountains of gold, hectares of land, tons of cash and everything a princess deserved, my daughter will get. The will was signed and locked in my safe, and I was staring at the moon which questioned my very existence. "Alright moon, I am coming. All my life I have sinned, and did nothing to mend it. But now I want to get things fixed, and I will", with that victorious smile I walked, happily, towards the edge of my terrace and continued walking. I did not stretch my arm or scream for help, because I was proud - I had fixed everything, now they will be proud of me. A soft breeze took my to the shining moon, the honey bees had disappeared; there was only honey left now, magical, mystical, beautiful honey and nothing else.

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