It turns me off to see half of the world learning yoga and aerobics to fight obesity while the other half out there is sleeping hungry. The problem is generally blamed on the governments, but a small yet significant solution lies with us. Each grain consumed or wasted holds a significant value. Stop wasting food!!

Kapil Sibal has done it again! The foreign educational institutional bill is in, which aims to allow foreign universities to set up campuses in India. What more? The bill is not expected to face hitches since the leading opposition, BJP, is in favor of the bill! These universities, represent diversity in educational methods, examinations, admissions, and administration; thus, they are a potential source of innovation.

The 80/20 rule by the great Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, is a brilliant theory that should find application in all possible fields, including technology and education. The rule meant that in anything a few(20 percent) are vital and many(80 percent) are trivial. In Pareto's case it meant 20 percent of the people owned 80 percent of the wealth.

I find this rule applicable in almost every field-

Garlands have remained a part of Indian politics as no other accessory. They have a long history, and are integrated with our culture for ages put together. From the times of mythology, through the ages of Mughals and Rajputs, to the current era of modern political parties; these garlands have had their moments of pride! However, these garlands, once used, get swept aside or badly crushed. Except the one recently presented to the UP Chief Minister on the 25th anniversary of her political party.

I was reading Business Line the other day, when a news struck me. According to the latest report form the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), India has emerged as one of the world's top-10 countries in industrial production in 2009. Guess what? We have overtaken the developed nations like Canada and Mexico!! The top-10 in 2009 are US, China, Japan, Germany, South Korea, France, Italy, UK, India and Brazil.

British once organized an exhibition in Medinipur in Bengal. Their intention was to hide the injustice of the British using articles like pictures and puppets, and display that British were helping the people of India. Suddenly a 16 years old boy appeared with a bundle of hand-made bills, titled 'Sonar Bangla'. It carried the slogan Vande Mataram'. The true purpose of the British in putting up the exhibition was also exposed. He calmly distributed the hand bill to villagers around.

Right to free compulsory education is here! And the television channels and print media is filled with articles on how difficult it is to implement, thereby displaying the pathetic infrastructure of the government primary schools in various parts of our country! This actually disturbs me. Media should focus on the success stories of villages where a small group of people transformed the standard of education there. Why doesn't the televisions start with programmes that teach these children instead.