School Ranks

It was with great excitement that I read the recently released rankings of Indian schools. Having been part of a organization that listed and ranked employers across the country, I am a bit sceptical of such exercises. On the one hand, publishing such lists does encourage healthy competition and an improvement in standards. On the other, to find themselves in such lists, participants sometimes adopt not so desirable behaviour. Besides, no study can claim to be so comprehensive as to cover all factors that make for the definition of "the best".

As a mother, I have suffered a lot of angst with regards to present day schooling in India and Chennai, in particular. Torn as we were between what can be called a "real education" and the need to excel academically (the truth appears to be that they have some difficulty co-existing!), any assessment of what makes for a good school was a challenge. And, everything considered, we were left with a few schools to choose from and the applicants seemed far too many. 

With these apprehensions and experiences, I went on to study the list in some detail. I am no expert on matters concerning education and my observations are merely as a lay person.

1) A good number of the schools that are in the Top 10 of Day Schools list have existed only for the last 20 years or so. Five schools in the Top 10 boarding schools are new schools in comparison with the others on that list. So, does that mean the Padma Seshadris and the DPS's of the world have lost the plot?
2) Although we have hubs for school education like Dehradun and some small towns like Jamshedpur and Vellore have fabulous schools, all the top 10 Day Schools are large city schools. So, what happens to our town and village folks? 

3) All schools in the three Top 10 lists are privately managed - there is no public or government school in the list. In fact, if you go through the city lists, you can identify one Kendriya Vidyalaya and a couple of government schools in Chandigarh. How is the government going to get its act in order, given its onerous responsibility?

4) A good number of schools in the Top 10 Day Schools list are considered to provide an "alternate" education - which in the Indian context means, a schooling that is not focussed on preparing you for the competitive medical or engineering entrance exams. What do we want from an education? Are our expectations changing?

5) Boarding schools and international schools would naturally fall under this label but it is important to note that a majority of schools in these lists would be considered "elitist" - catering to only a few. So, is good education for everyone? Or, only for a few?

6) The fact that we have list for International Schools is worth noting - and, a majority of them have come up in the last 10 years - a sign of growing globalization. Watch this space.......I am sure there will be a lot happening here.

And, as I go through the lists I am thinking of all the people that I know who studied in schools on these lists and feel proud to have crossed paths or made friends with them.....and, I am most happy to find Rishi Valley School at the top!

For more details on the lists, go to http://www.educationworldonline.net/index.php/page-article-choice-more-id-3320

Green Spain

An aspect that struck me while in Spain was the concern for the environment and cleanliness. Cities and towns in Spain are not spotlessly clean as say, Singapore. You do see the place littered with cigarette butts and lots of them too. However, what struck me was the increasing adoption of a "green" lifestyle by Spanish citizens.

Most cities/ towns have garbage segregation and it is not uncommon to see waste bins clearly marked for the type of garbage. Here's one for paper.

And, one for bottles of vinegar!

Dustbins are very cheerful and friendly.

 And, sometimes dark and mysterious, wanting to make you throw your trash in them.

Bicycling is a way of life and there are many ways to support cycling. You have the famous French style "Pay and use cycles".

 With well marked bicycle lanes/ tracks.

 Besides, many models of cycles to meet each one's needs.

There are specific slots where bicycles can be locked while you go shopping or step into a restaurant. Buses and trains have specific carriers for bicycles allowing people to travel long distances too.

You can still see Don Quixote type of windmills when driving in the countryside!

  And, the newer models too!

 I was amazed by the number of solar farms as we drove through the countryside.

If you consider public transportation, trams are still in vogue and used by a large number of people.

The Metro meanders through most parts of the major cities and the well networked amenity is heavily utilised.

 Walking is a major means of getting from one place to another with beautifully laid out pedestrian areas and paths making it a pleasure.

Madridismo!

I am no football fan and I do not follow football as a sport. I have however, at different points in time, admired football players. Pele, Socrates, Zico, Linekar, Platini, Rummenigge, Rossi, Beckenbauer and Maradona were amongst the footballers that I related with in my growing years. With Dhruv's interest in football, I have been a little more exposed to the games and the various clubs that are part of the game's ecosystem. So, an opportunity to visit the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid was something I took with a pinch of seriousness! However, I must admit that I came back from the visit feeling nice, not so much for learning more about the game but from realising the good that sport can and is doing, to better the lives of people.

The stadium is easily accessed using the Madrid metro and the nearest station in the Chamartin area of the city carries the name of the stadium. The stadium is owned by Real Madrid Football Club and was inaugurated in 1947.

Currently it seats over 85,000 spectators and rises to over 70 meters from the football field. The stadium is a sea of blue, the colour of the Club, with all seats being in that colour. Retractable roofs form the ceiling and the stadium is heated for the comfort of the spectators. A tour of the stadium takes you to the seating area at 50 metres above the field for a panoramic view of the stadium, the field which has well maintained green grass, the display room for the trophies and memorabilia, the players' tunnel, the preparation area that includes the lockers, jacuzzis, showers, massage areas, etc, the dug outs and the press room.  Through the entire visit, we were treated to the arousing rendition of the Real Madrid theme song, Hala Madrid!

Trophies and memorabilia

Memorabilia again!

Golden boot

Footballer of the year trophy

Players' locker room

Jacuzzi in the players' waiting area

VIP Box

Press room

The Club has a rich history and has won many laurels. Ferenc Puskas with an average of almost a goal for every match he played was a member of the Club. Other known footballers who were part of the Real Madrid team include Beckham, Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Raul.

The current first eleven are in the photograph below:

The Club earned the FIFA recognition for the best club of the century.

Besides football, Real Madrid has a successful basketball team. And, over the years, it has strived to bring together other sports under its fold. Tennis and baseball are most prominent.

The Real Madrid Foundation supports many social causes. Through the entire visit, the idea of leveraging sport to build character and confidence in young people came out in an overwhelming way. Their sport academies build sportsmen like character with focus on fair play, team work, hard work, discipline and respect. Their sports academies provide opportunities for physically challenged children and youngsters to build their confidence and stay integrated with the larger population, building acceptance. The Foundation supports social inclusion of children from different backgrounds using games like football and basketball. Elderly people are also made socially useful through physical activity.

Real Madrid Club tries to promote the quality that they refer to as "Madridismo" - playing the beautiful game in a beautiful way. Playing the game without focussing on the winning but playing it with style and honour. And, it is extending this beyond the game to everyday life!

A visit to the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas

I would never have ventured to a bullfighting ring under normal circumstances. My cousin, Aravind, wanted pictures of bullfighting on my trip to Spain and that got me interested in paying a visit.

The bullfighting ring in Madrid is an area called Ventas, easily accessible by the city's metro. The bullring is referred to as Plaza de Toros. It is an imposing structure with a brick finish. The architectural style is Neo Moorish and is characterised by arches and ceramic inlay work. The bullring was inaugurated in the year 1931 with a charity fight featuring seven matadors.

 

The "stadium" has a capacity to seat almost 25,000 spectators around a 60 metre sandy arena. Bullfights normally happen in the summer months (April to October) - there is a fight every Sunday. And, during the San Isidor festival, there is a fight every day of the week. There are three Matadors each evening, starting with the most experienced and each of them take on two bulls. Fights normally commence at around 6pm and can go on for almost 3 hours.

 

The seats for the bullfighting show are priced based on: how close you are to the fighting area and whether it is in the sun or shade. Ticket prices for a show vary from Euro 4 to 140 depending on where the location of the seat. The royalty of Spain have a box for themselves and the Chairman of the bullring sits to their right in a special enclosure. The Chairman is like an umpire during the fight and he declares the winner at the end of the fight, basing his decision on the reaction of the audience through the fight and particularly, at the end of it.

Bulls charge in through one of three doors to the left of the royal box. Matadors come in from separate doors. Matadors are dressed in colourful outfits which sport golden and silver embroidery. The bull is maimed by the Picadors and the Banderilleros to get it excited. The Matador used his capote to incite the bull further. There is a music band that plays the pasodoble throughout the fight.

The "dugouts" at the bullfight are meant for the matador's team which includes his Manager, Picadors and Banderilleros. Doctors and surgeons who are part of the team are also seated in the "dugout". The Press is seated here. The dugout is separated from the arena by a "tallish" wall to prevent the bull from entering the area. The metallic ropes above the "dugout" are meant to prevent the bull from entering the audience stands.

Bulls used in the fights are specially bred for this purpose in the countryside in Spain. When they are almost five years old, they are brought to the ring. Each bull could weigh 500 - 700 kilograms and look huge - wide and large - alongside a normal human being. Bulls arrive at the ring about 3 - 4 days prior to the fight and are monitored under the watchful eyes of veterinarians who certify the bull fit for a fight. Matadors are assigned bulls by draw of lots. The bull is invariably killed in the fight, with permission from the Chairman of the bullring. Once dead, the animal is taken to the slaughterhouse. The Matador, on the other hand, takes the ear of the bull as the trophy - both of the ears if he had a great bout and sometimes the tail too - rushing out in triumph through the front gates of the Toros.

Matadors train in schools across Spain. Being a matador is no mean task and is highly competitive. Trainees who are unsuccessful at the Matador training schools end up as Picadors or part of the Matador's team. Thought it is fiercely male dominated sports, of late, one does come across female matadors. Conchi Rios is one of them. Matadors tend to get paid around Euro 15,000 per fight. However, it is a risky occupation with the chances of injury and sometimes, even death, being very high. Jose Tomas, a contemporary bullfighter, is like the Sachin Tendulkar of this sport. Matadors come from Spain, Portugal and France. Matadors are known to be a religious and superstitious lot and there is a chapel in the bullring which a matador can visit ahead of the fight.

Bullfighting is governed by many rules. Some people in Spain are ardent followers, while some oppose the sport and many are plain indifferent to it. The guide who took us on a tour of the bullring emphasised the healthy respect the matador has for the bull, the traditions involved and brought out a pretty convincing romantic and philosophical view of the animal vs man confrontation.

Republic Day 2012

Thanks to Soma, we got three passes for the Republic Day parade at Rajpath this year. We arrived at the venue after a series of security checks, almost two and half hours after we left our home, just in time for the start of the parade. Yingluck Shinawatra, the young and new Prime Minister of Thailand, was the chief guest for the occasion. It is an occasion of great pride for every Indian - very sombre, very thrilling and very emotional.

Here are the highlights for me of the parade:

- The best marching contingent from the services was that of the Indian Air Force. The 144 member marching team was led by Flight Lieutenant Sneha Shekhawat, a first time for a lady leading the contingent. She was joined by three other women officers from the IAF.

- The flypast this year was wonderful, what with the clear skies.

MI 35 helicopters

C130 Hercules aircrafts

Jaguars in a V formation

MIG 29s in a V shape

Sukhois - in a Trishul formation

Amongst the tableaus, here is one that I found interesting - my father would also (it was his department after all):

Customs tableau