Learning in Pune

Its been a long time since I addressed my little blog. I was regular in my previous city...Over here, time flies by so fast, blink and you will actually miss something. We try to adapt to our surroundings the same way our ancestors did and our generations will do(surely) in this world. I have noticed things that I never experienced before. No matter how much you deny it, we keep changing due to the inevitable flow of time.

I came here as an enthusiastic soul in 2009 and was ready to explore design first hand. How does one with such basic intentions end up in a maelstrom of trouble and dissatisfaction is truly a question that begs for an answer. In my opinion, to study design, one must observe, relate and strategise before making a mark on the paper. Design in my opinion is a slow process and we must never rush it. We ourselves are fantastic design modeled over millions of years! I am not implying that every design should take such mammoth time spans, but it is safe to say that in my college, submissions and attendence are SO important, that I find my self deciding between actually learning something and just saving my butt somehow. It frustrates me that how little importance a person's work actually receives. I can site countless examples of people in my college who have some mind blowing work, but they get no credit from college what so ever. It is very easy for a teacher to destroy a student's motivation. We all KNOW that already...so why this enemity with us? We have come here to learn and grow intellectually. It is not our purpose to orbit teachers like satellites singing praises for them just for the sake of marks. I respect all my teachers but I never felt the need of licking their shoes to get ahead of some student who scored more marks than i did.

Teacher's also face problems here. Life in this college is like a double edged blade. You are at equal risk of being labled a "Showoff" or a "wannabe" if you try to discuss your work with students. It is not our fault that half the students have come here to be models instead of fashion designers and the rest half has come to hit on the above mentioned crowd! But why is it? What kind of influence has changed our sense of priorities?? What kind of treatment has made going to college such a herculean task? Let me shed some light on this..In my college, you can submit every work on time, be nice to everyone, get full attendance and take part in extra curricular activities, and still be hated by everyone. Yes. I am referring to something called partiality and groupism. It exists in abundance in our college. I honestly have never been placed in such a hostile environment, where I am forced...FORCED...to hate people and behind their backs. Its not only me. This concept of back bitching and being a middle man, is so NORMAL and ACCEPTED in our college, that when there is an issue, people tend to ignore it..perhaps it is true everywhere.

I agree to the fact that no two people can be 100% compatible. Quoting Stephen Hawkins, "Perfection simply does not exist in the Universe as we know it." But why take those differences and manifest them into weapons against people who we go to college with and chill out with in the evenings? You hardly get a positive outlook on our college from anyone...its not because our college is an evil place or some mad sanctum where people are ruining our lives! The college is just a brick building. The problems we face here are a reflection of our own personal grudges and opinions. And I am not just talking about the students. I dont appreciate my faculty making fun of my hometown in the MIDDLE of a serious jury. I dont appreciate faculty putting up an appointment at 4:00 PM and leave at 3:45 PM! Forget about the students for a moment...the teachers here have a nasty habit of talking behind the students backs and not regarding work and submissions but other things which we might take offence to as well.

As far as the course structure and the administration goes, they are fine...but it must have been easier for God to write down the TEN COMMANDMENTS. People hardly follow them. So its not the fault of the administration or the course, BUT of the people who are incharge. Sometimes its beyond unfair...it is simply inhuman. Forgive me for the lack off inappropriate words to describe what hell have some of my friends gone through. Day after day, deadline after deadline, they are depreciating their talents and motivation just because someone behind the big desk in the faculty room chose not to listen. They took us for granted. They feel, what harm it will be to ignore ONE student. That ONE student deserves a chance. As much as we all do. We are all equals here, so why this casual approach towards learning? With great power, comes great responsibilities! The value of this line stretches beyond the theatrical environment of Spiderman movies.

It is easy to fold your hands and say "I am sorry, now nothing can be done." to a desperate students face. But were you watching me when I was on a downfall? Did anyone try to show me the correct way? Did anyone lend a helping hand when I was struggling with my work? And did ANYONE, ever offer me a solution to my troubles? Now when I am in a distress, it is because the college LET me become like this. I am not talking about myself...or trying to justify bad behaviour. I am not pointing fingers but stating, that somewhere, between the 4 year period, the teacher's GAVE UP on the student without even trying.