A good teacher does not happen, students too have a good role to play in shaping good teachers. A saying in Malayalam says that if you have a good friend you dont need a mirror. My friend tara told me this when her friend just told her that the bindi on her forehead is not in place!
Blogs are fantastic places where we can see reflections of life, even though the mirror is cracked or even splintered. Earlier in 2004, when the spot... no blog-light focussed on XLRI, the thought police swung into action. Well thought police are everywhere, not just at XLRI. The blog below is a tribute to the degree of openness that IIML allows. The subsequent online chat with a student is self explanatory.
Bharati Subramaniam says she will write anything she wants to, and by the looks of it she does a good job of it on her blog. I celebrate the spirit of Bharati and IIML. May more and more such blogs provide us teachers with mirrors for both good and bad in us.
The following Conversation with a student on the matter is self-explanatory.
mathaibakerfenn: Would our institution allow such freedom of speach?
xlstudent: good q...but then even they prevented her from writing about summers
mathaibakerfenn: Ha ha ha
xlstudent: its on the site...on the left chat box...issues about internal clearance...
mathaibakerfenn: Wow she wrote about that too?
xlstudent: in our campus a post like this would be controversy instantly
xlstudent: yeah but very well chosen words
mathaibakerfenn: I also believe that if you have the spirit and the language you can write whatever you want! I wonder if I can put our conversation on the blog?
xlstudent: :))
xlstudent: shes written openly about the profs
mathaibakerfenn: I honestly feel I should. But will disguise your identity even further!
xlstudent: but theres nothing in this conv...!
mathaibakerfenn: Except that such a post would spark instant controversy on campus.
mathaibakerfenn: Evidence of the thought police
xlstudent: true...
mathaibakerfenn: I will send you the link after I put it up
xlstudent: its also that how many faculty would appreciate this
mathaibakerfenn: Well lets stir the hornets nest.
xlstudent: esp. if people are expecting stud profs at IIMA
xlstudent: and then read this blog...
mathaibakerfenn: Welcome to the real world
xlstudent: yeah sure
xlstudent: :))
mathaibakerfenn: It makes people like me breathe easier.
mathaibakerfenn: At least EVERYONE is not perfect
xlstudent: hmmm....
xlstudent: :))
mathaibakerfenn: :)
Ps.
The thought police that came down on XL blogs were not faculty at all, but other student-peers.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
The Mayor
Prof. Deepak Kapur sent us a short email today
"Dear All,
You would be glad to know that my wife Ms Anu Chatrath has been elected as the 'Mayor of Chandigarh'. She contested the elections as a candidate of the Indian National Congress and has defeated the combined BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate by a record margin of votes.
She has been administered the oath of office as Mayor and has taken charge of her duties.
Deepak Kapur "
If you want to know more about it, you can read it at the Hindustan Times site. Isnt it funny how we may be just two or three degrees of seperation away from a celebrity?
Mathai
Mathai Fenn
"Dear All,
You would be glad to know that my wife Ms Anu Chatrath has been elected as the 'Mayor of Chandigarh'. She contested the elections as a candidate of the Indian National Congress and has defeated the combined BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate by a record margin of votes.
She has been administered the oath of office as Mayor and has taken charge of her duties.
Deepak Kapur "
If you want to know more about it, you can read it at the Hindustan Times site. Isnt it funny how we may be just two or three degrees of seperation away from a celebrity?
Mathai
Mathai Fenn
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