"Wake Me Up When September Ends"

I tweeted months ago that the song of the year was Wake Me Up When September Ends. Well, I thought it would be a good joke. And, honestly, I wanted it only and just a joke. And, here we are at half a month more to actually being in September!

The dynamics of how we look at the world and its activities have drastically changed. And, the change is for everybody in every field- as a teacher, student, graduate, businessman, leader, sportsman, actor, helper- literally everyone. Some of us are fortunate enough to be better placed than others, and it is up to us to do what we can to help others to the extent we are capable of helping. 

I think one of the fundamental changes that I have been witness to, as a student, is how classes are conducted. It's all been shifted to an online medium. No more do I have to spend a thousand rupees getting physical copies of bare acts this semester, because the official copies of it are all available online. I find many students who take notes online, although I am not comfortable with it. Online classes are making teachers send you extended reading links and their relevant syllabus slides on time, instead of postponing it till the last minute. Traditional methods of evaluation with pen and paper tests are being pushed and changed because of the inherent impossibility, and more research-oriented, and knowledge-based testing through projects are becoming the answer to the problem of evaluation. 

Things are changing, but so must we. The mindset of both the students and teachers are still trained in the traditional ways of how we are used to doing things. And, I think I do see a change happening after months of trial and error. 

Online mode is a very accessible and important way to help the environment and other significant causes relating to accessibility. Even after this pandemic ends, and normalcy returns, I think we should all think about a more efficient use of the online resources that we do have. It can save paper as good as it can save time and fuel, and energy. If recorded lectures are made available, then it can complement to varied student needs. Textbooks, reference materials, bare acts- all of them can be allowed to be used on the laptop or phones to save money. 

We are all probably learning how to use our resources better, and I hope we exploit it for all the good reasons!

Whee, Whizz, Wish-away!

Maiden young, plump and sweet,
laid back and dreaming in her seat,
of gushing rivers and lofty heights,
of a kind world sans ugly fights.
Sense and sensibility- she thought,
in humankind was a missing part
among pretentious vanity and futile pity,
genuine empathy was a dire necessity.
Pride and prejudice- all around,
yet not one voice can be heard profound
that stays the pride and lends a hand,
she thought, since we only demand.
Persuasion, might be the key,
to sensitize all around in need-
so the maiden thought she would rise
and lead the world to paradise.
Love and friendship, and good old hope,
our maiden believed, would suffice,
unaware that a change to cope
must come within all men and mice.
Dawning sense, she looked about
to see those around cry and shout
the same things she wished to change,
and grappled with the situation strange,
or not so strange- it wasn't just fate,
she found a way for them to educate.
Things fell in place, steady and slow,
she felt no surprise now- long way to grow,
she thought and smiled
as she laid back and smiled,
and slid to another dream, like a child.

Revamped: A Fresh Look For Fresher Perspective!

It was a routine day for Sandhya's Blog until mid-day. Sitting there in her figmental location, with a warm smile, displaying an array of posts across books, movies, stories, art, life, law, and more, she welcomed one and all, and kept a regular tally of those stats and comments. She was blissfully unaware that a makeover was awaiting, come evening.

Changing the theme of your beloved blog is like getting a haircut. You want that new style, but you are also scared if it would look good. And, even after you get your haircut you always have that little, little, tinge of doubt left about whether the one you had before was just better. 

Every time I think of changing the theme of the blog, there is similar feeling. And so, I never did for a long time now. I always liked how my blog looked earlier- bold, bright, orange, slightly kiddish.

Today, my dad sent me a tweet that someone called Vishak Hariharan was doing a 'name art'. I checked out the tweet and his handle (@vishak4u), and found the initiate very interesting! I sent out a mail, asking him if he could do one for this blog. After a quick two hours that flew before I even expected the artist to get back to me, I receive this smart, witty, pun-ny, and creative name art! 

The long due revamp that the blog needed resumed today, and ta-da: I think the blog just got  a minimal and classy makeover (kind of on the opposite spectrum of what it was) that I absolutely love. However, the original theme of orange and maroon has been retained even in the new name art- with the comma and the words "blog" maintained on the same hue. 

I believe it is best to shake things up once in a while, and it was time Sandhya's Blog had one. It gives the blog a fresh vibe, and a sophisticated look- and, hopefully the content will live up to all the sophistication!

Now that I have introduced you to the new look, let me also introduce you to the artist: Vishak Hariharan's name art is a really cool, interesting and creative initiative. You can get in touch with Vishak on twitter, and check out the tweet below to know the details! 

Hey guys, the #MyNameIs brief from @OneMinuteBriefs lead me to launch this li'l initiative. Watch this short video to know more about it :) Cheers, #OMBLES.

Thanks again for pointing out the playback error earlier, Nick. Appreciate it. pic.twitter.com/jmFFyK3rwn

— Vishak Hariharan (@vishak4u) April 12, 2020 

A to Z: On How To Create A Sustainable Change

Image from Sustainability Illustrated

Apple fell on Newton's head, and then suddenly we all realized the concept of gravity. 

But, gravity had always existed, and continued to exist. 

Can we draw a parallel, and say that be it discoveries or imagination it always derives its source from what already exists? 

Do you think humans have the capability to create something that in no way existed before? 

Every object we know, though the object might have been new at some point, is made up of stuff that we know and exists. 

For instance, let's consider the creature of imagination: unicorns. 

Given the fact that we know of the existence of horns and horses, we pieced together two elements that exist to imagine something that doesn't. 

How and what, then, do we pride ourselves to have discovered?

Is the various combinations, of what already exists that we piece together, something to feel accomplished about?

Just a few seconds of thought is enough to realize that humans can just shape what is given to them, and not create anything novel. 

Knowing this, is it fair for us to deplete the resources that we have?

Life would come to a standstill, if the resources we have are not used effectively.

Mankind is an intelligent species, and such intelligence is a double-edged sword. 

Not so long ago, our ancestors seemed to have lived in a world that was replete with resources, and within the short time, we have managed to cause exponential depletion in the name of development.

Our duty, as responsible citizens of, I will not say the world, our own locality, is to make sure that our neighbourhood understands the impacts of irresponsible behaviour, and starts to pay heed to the environment and its resources.

Panacea to this ill is to use the well known principle of 5 R's.

Question your neighbourbood on their practices, and promote small changes for a better future.

Refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot- all possible products in your neighbourhood.

Stay within your neighbourbood, that's where you can effect a change and actually contribute. 

To help the world, you first need to help yourself, so don't just preach sustainability, you also need to follow it.

Unless every neighbourhood feels the need to change, and also implements change at small levels, there is no way a change can be seen at a city level even, forget the world level.

Very effective ways to help people get into the groove of the 5 R's of sustainability is to start them at schools, work spaces, hotels, restaurants, where there is a lot of scope to do so. 

Where there is a will, there is a way, after all. 

Xerox of documents and unnecessary printouts can be avoided in today's world of technology, so do it only when necessary. 

You need to be the change you want to see.

Zeal is all that is required!