Don't leave me Ajji...

i want time to turn back,

go back to where she was hail and hearty,

taking care of me when i could barely manage to walk,

running behind me with the lunch in hand,

waking me up early for school,

cooking all that i loved to eat,

parenting me when my parents were at office.

but as time went by,

you had become a child,

ever so sweet and innocent,

it was now time for us to take care of you.

you never were any trouble for us,

instead, you were the driving force of the house,

once that kept us busy but happy all day long,

never for once, letting boredom creep on us.

all that now remains are her memories,

as fresh as the morning dew,

with the warmth of the cup of tea,

on a winter morning.

the house now is bereft of its cutest member,

the room is vacant now,

but we still peep in the room out of habit as we pass by,

we still head to your room first after entering the house,

it will take us time to get used to your absence,

but i know, you are watching over us from above,

and will always provide light whenever we need,

i love you ajji...

i want to laugh...

i want to laugh,

buzzing more than the swirling bees,

more brightly than the dancing sunflowers,

more sparklingly than the twinkling stars,

more freshly than the gushing rivers,

more melodiously than the infinite ragas;

i want to laugh,

not at anything or anyone,

but because laughing heartily is a gift,

He has bestowed upon us,

it is only once your forget how to laugh,

is when you realise its importance!

So laugh without caring what the world says,

laugh because it will spread the joys that need to be shared,

and will lead to more joys being created where there are none...

Just Perception...

it just doesn't seem right,

feel's like there is something amiss,

sometimes, it feels so good,

and suddenly,

the faint smile doesn't turn into the fervent laughter,

that i love laughing to my heart's content,

does not help my case,

it just makes me realise how fickle it is,

visiting me at its own convenience,

i know i'm not alone,

but when the smile goes away,

with its aura goes the gaiety...

but contrastingly,

i feel i'm blessed,

compared to the poor, orphaned kids,

dirtying their day away on the streets,

its just a matter of perception,

just plain perception...

the small little sparrow's story

the sparrow didn't know what had gone wrong? all was fine a few moments ago and it was not that the world had come to an end suddenly, but the birds whom the sparrow considered close, suddenly began showing their true colours. the sparrow was distraught. it had always been nice to its fellow birds, helping them whenever they chirped for it, ensuring they got the best nests built and even made sure that the worms they ate were fine and tasty. the rate at which the sparrow lost birds it could call friends was alarming and the sudden vacuum they created was tough to handle. the sparrow was left alone. not only in the physical world but also emotionally and mentally. it was left alone to fly the daily path and walk down the road alone. at every pebble, it remembered the gaiety that once existed and the bond it shared with the fellow birds. could they actually be called friends, thought the sparrow. these definitional thoughts were always futile, knowing well that a mere word or two won't bring back lost friends. the sparrow walked further down the bylane. it realised that there was a pattern to these friendly departures. it now struck the poor little sparrow that these friend-birds were its latest accomplices. it had so happened that at certain points in time, given the prevailing circumstances, these new entities had become very close to the sparrow. so much so that, even the sparrow had wondered as to how stranger birds could become such good friends so soon. they had become friends and had now ceased to be one at the same speed and with the same velocity, although equal and opposite. as the sparrow hopped to further introspections, the road led to a small curve. the sparrow decided to take the bend rather than fly to some other lane. with every hop, skip or jump, more realisations flew in. it seemed like, these were waiting to be unveiled, simply bidding their time, maybe for the sparrow's solitary attention. the birds whom the sparrow had given its time whenever they needed it had moved to greener pastures or rather greener fields where they would get better worms to feed themselves with. but then why had they moved away? maybe they took the sparrow for granted? or was it the other way round? either of them could have felt that where will the other bird go - it has to come to me only for friendship! but that was not to be the case with the little sparrow. friends it had. loads and loads. but it was in search of the perfect friendly birds, birds whom it could trust with the deepest secrets of the bird-world and with whom it would have an assurance of being always there, not for any material gains but for the sheer magic, that is friendship. just as the other birds moved away, the sparrow tried making new friends on the new road it was traversing. the same incidents and similar conditions emerged and once again it made friends in much the same way that it earlier had. but this time the sparrow was scared and apprehensive. it was bitten not only once but many times, and hence was shy to go all out to make the new birds its friends! slowly the sparrow came out of its shell. friends it did make, but it is now left for the forthcoming harvest season to judge whether the new birds also prove to be like the earlier ones. not friends but teachers!

DIPLOMAS IN DEMAND

OPTING FOR A POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME CAN PROVE TO BE A WISE OPTION FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE THE TIME AND RESOURCES TO PURSUE A FULL-TIME MASTER’S COURSE. SATSHEEL REDKAR AND RUCHI CHOPDA ELABORATE ON THE ADVANTAGES OF A PGDP

he increasing number of students looking to equip themselves with additional qualifications other than a mere graduate degree has led to a steady rise in the demand for postgraduate diploma programmes (PGDPs). These courses are not only popular among graduates, who do not have the time to devote to a regular master’s programmes, but also among professionals who desire to keep themselves up-to-date with the current market trends. Disciplines which have been a hot favourite among diploma students include hotel management, finance, management, mass media, law and computer application among others. So what exactly are the benefits of pursuing a PGDP? UNLIMITED OPTIONS The sheer diversity of PG diplomas is immense. Consider this - you can opt for a PG diploma in fields as niche as library automation and networking, school leadership and management, folklore and culture studies and even acupuncture! Diploma programmes offered by institutes are extremely niche. This is beneficial for students who know exactly what they want. Thus, if you are looking to pursue a programme specifically in say creative writing you do not have to pursue a course that will train you in all aspects of media where creative writing will be just one module. Your focus will be the focus of the course. DEGREE VS DIPLOMA Unlike a conventional master’s programme, that lasts for a minimum of two years, the duration of a postgraduate diploma programme (PGDP) varies from one to four years. Furthermore, a PGDP offers you the flexibility a normal fulltime degree would not. It can either be pursued via the full-time, part-time or even the distance learning mode. Classes for most of these courses are either held late in the evening (on weekdays) or on weekends. This allows you to gain knowledge in your chosen field without severely disturbing your existing work or study schedule. Another added advantage of these courses which usually aim to prepare students to be job ready is their high placement records. Explains Mohit Gadodia, who recently completed his PG Diploma in Marketing from a well-known institute, “Colleges try to push for the placements of their PG diploma students over their regular master’s students when it comes to campus placements. This, for the simple reason that a PG diploma is offered by the college and not the university. Hence, its success depends on the placements the institute is able to offer.” PRACTICAL APPLICATION Another edge that diploma programmes offer students is the fact that they are usually more contemporary and market oriented than their corresponding master’s programmes which are essentially theoretical in nature. For instance, a PG Diploma in Hospital and Health Management or clinical cardiology involves hands-on training with practicing doctors as part of the course. Similarly, colleges providing professional diploma programmes too incorporate practical training as part of their syllabi wherever it is required. Shares Yashshri Soman, who recently completed her PG Diploma in Social Communications Media from Sophia Polytechnic, “We had to plan an advertising campaign right from scratch. We were required to conceptualise the campaign, make the logo, posters, etc, for the same and lastly present the campaign to a jury that consisted of people from the industry. This exercise helped us actually go through the entire process of making an ad campaign rather than merely learning it from the book.” Thus, a student not only acquires the modern-day acumen essential for getting a job but also gets the opportunity to put into practice the classroom lessons on the job. Concurs Neha Kapoor, a journalist by profession, who is simultaneously pursuing her PG diploma in creative writing from a popular institute in South Mumbai, “Having completed my degree in mass media a long time ago I was at a loss when it came to actually putting the theories I had learnt to practice. The course I am currently pursuing has a mix of professionals and fresh graduates and therefore presents me the opportunity to learn what is going on in the professional world beyond the confines of my office. I put to use all the lessons of my weekend diploma classes to solve the challenges at my workplace. It works amazingly!” LEARN WHILE YOU EARN As mentioned, a diploma programme can be simultaneously taken up while pursing your job. This is especially beneficial for those who cannot afford to give up their jobs for financial reasons. Though the fees of a PGDP are often higher than regular postgraduate degree programmes, the specialised knowledge one gains at one’s leisure more than makes up for it. As Rajas Rane, an ex-student of the PG diploma in business design programme at Welingkar Institute of Management says, “The course helped me to get a job in my field of study and have direct application of my knowledge.” WORD OF CAUTION However, as in every case where popularity often leads to unscrupulous players in the market, the demand for PGDPs has led to a number of dubious institutes offering courses in various fields. Thus, it is crucial for students to conduct a thorough check on the validity of the course and the affiliation/ registration of the institute. The accreditation can be checked from the official sites of the UGC or the NAAC or AICTE or such other assessment and governing bodies. Career counsellor Jayanti Ghose concludes with a crucial piece of advice, “A student must define the purpose of pursuing a PGDP in order for it to meet his/ her expectations. A fulltime professional PGDP helps a graduate in seeking related jobs. However, a parttime or distance education diploma related to the kind of job one is already doing may add weight to the graduate's CV, but may not directly lead to a job. If the diploma course being pursued is not in line with the individual's abilities and personality, then a prospective employer may not give it any importance.”

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