Friday, December 14, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Bridging the Gap
“There is a disconnect between information and life.”
- A man of few words, but an intellectual of the highest standards. Meet the chairman of NABARD, Dr. YSP Thorat.
He said this with reference to the structure followed by our educational system.
We all at FLAME have an inkling about the powerful individuals associated with the development and progress of our alma mater. But each time we meet someone from the esteemed circle, the urge to strive ahead becomes ever stronger.
His words struck me to ponder upon an incident just the day before in our cinema class. We were expected by our professor to analyze a film and some students insisted that he provide a structure, a basic frame of reference for the assignment.
He tried explaining that this was an experience that would help us stretch our imagination and if he were to give us boundaries, we would perhaps not give our creative best.
Dr. Thorat simply reiterated those words. Students today, are so attuned to a set pattern, style of functioning, that if we were surprised with a different form of work – we would simply not survive. This process needs to be tackled at the grass root level – in the class room – where in teachers instruct students about the A – Z of a particular problem and its solution. That would be fine in the short run, but in the long run, it would make the student dependent on some one for the solution in every walk of his life.
He gave us the example of a carpenter, when given a block of wood would shape it the way he wants. But a student as a human being, alone has the right to shape his life and his destiny. Thus, sticking to a structure, an old redundant pattern would only stagnate our evolution.
I hope FLAME as a heaven for Liberal Education, will break this pattern and facilitate the flow of creative energies in the hearts and minds of all its students.
- A man of few words, but an intellectual of the highest standards. Meet the chairman of NABARD, Dr. YSP Thorat.
He said this with reference to the structure followed by our educational system.
We all at FLAME have an inkling about the powerful individuals associated with the development and progress of our alma mater. But each time we meet someone from the esteemed circle, the urge to strive ahead becomes ever stronger.
His words struck me to ponder upon an incident just the day before in our cinema class. We were expected by our professor to analyze a film and some students insisted that he provide a structure, a basic frame of reference for the assignment.
He tried explaining that this was an experience that would help us stretch our imagination and if he were to give us boundaries, we would perhaps not give our creative best.
Dr. Thorat simply reiterated those words. Students today, are so attuned to a set pattern, style of functioning, that if we were surprised with a different form of work – we would simply not survive. This process needs to be tackled at the grass root level – in the class room – where in teachers instruct students about the A – Z of a particular problem and its solution. That would be fine in the short run, but in the long run, it would make the student dependent on some one for the solution in every walk of his life.
He gave us the example of a carpenter, when given a block of wood would shape it the way he wants. But a student as a human being, alone has the right to shape his life and his destiny. Thus, sticking to a structure, an old redundant pattern would only stagnate our evolution.
I hope FLAME as a heaven for Liberal Education, will break this pattern and facilitate the flow of creative energies in the hearts and minds of all its students.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Prisoner’s Dilemma
I was forced to think deeply over the concept of ‘Prisoner’s Dilemma’ ever since we studied the topic in our economics class the other day. For those who are not aware of it, here is the explanation using an example from Wikipedia for your understanding:
“The classical prisoner's dilemma (PD) is as follows: Two suspects, A and B, are arrested by the police. The police have insufficient evidence for a conviction, and, having separated both prisoners, visit each of them to offer the same deal: if one testifies for the prosecution against the other and the other remains silent, the betrayer goes free and the silent accomplice receives the full 10-year sentence. If both stay silent, both prisoners are sentenced to only six months in jail for a minor charge. If each betrays the other, each receives a five-year sentence. Each prisoner must make the choice of whether to betray the other or to remain silent. However, neither prisoner knows for sure what choice the other prisoner will make. So this dilemma poses the question: How should the prisoners act?
In deciding upon this kind of a situation, both the prisoners will try to reduce their risk and also try to predict what the other prisoner will do. If Prisoner A confesses his crime and Prisoner B does not, he would walk free without having to serve any sentence at all and the opposite is also true. If both the prisoners do not confess their crime at all, both of them would walk away with a minor sentence of just 6 months, which seems like a win-win situation for both of them. They are also told that if both of them confess then they will both have to serve a term of 5 years.
In this kind of a scenario, it is usually seen that both the prisoners will not confess and hence serve a term of 5 years each. The paradox of the situation lies in the fact that that both of them will confess no matter what even though they are fully aware that they would be better off had they not confessed. This happens mainly when each of them try to judge how the other prisoner would behave and accordingly try to reduce their own risk.”
When the same is seen in context with various kinds of competitions and the system of relative grading in our college, the results could be startling. In the case of competitions which would provide a chance to individuals to mutually accept a win-win situation for both, they would not normally do so and would defect thus resulting in a lower win for each of the competitors. Even when it comes to relative grading, students could arrive at a common consensus where each would be benefit out of sharing rather than being frightened of their peers and over working or stressing out. However, would this does not normally happen and it leads to a situation where one is not sure about the other and at the same time wants to reduce his chances of losing out leading to a relatively poor result for both.
Research also shows that when Prisoner’s Dilemma is played more than once in succession (with both the players having memory of the previous encounter, then there can be more cooperative outcomes beneficial for both.
Will that be one of the situations that we could encounter on the campus?
There would definitely be many more such scenarios which we would come across in the course of our stay. From inter-house competitions, to individuals working in group projects, to forming groups to negotiate deals from the council or the management, to the placements; these dilemmas would certainly affect most of us. Our reactions would be interesting to study to see if we actually end up mutually co-operating with each other or not.
“The classical prisoner's dilemma (PD) is as follows: Two suspects, A and B, are arrested by the police. The police have insufficient evidence for a conviction, and, having separated both prisoners, visit each of them to offer the same deal: if one testifies for the prosecution against the other and the other remains silent, the betrayer goes free and the silent accomplice receives the full 10-year sentence. If both stay silent, both prisoners are sentenced to only six months in jail for a minor charge. If each betrays the other, each receives a five-year sentence. Each prisoner must make the choice of whether to betray the other or to remain silent. However, neither prisoner knows for sure what choice the other prisoner will make. So this dilemma poses the question: How should the prisoners act?
In deciding upon this kind of a situation, both the prisoners will try to reduce their risk and also try to predict what the other prisoner will do. If Prisoner A confesses his crime and Prisoner B does not, he would walk free without having to serve any sentence at all and the opposite is also true. If both the prisoners do not confess their crime at all, both of them would walk away with a minor sentence of just 6 months, which seems like a win-win situation for both of them. They are also told that if both of them confess then they will both have to serve a term of 5 years.
In this kind of a scenario, it is usually seen that both the prisoners will not confess and hence serve a term of 5 years each. The paradox of the situation lies in the fact that that both of them will confess no matter what even though they are fully aware that they would be better off had they not confessed. This happens mainly when each of them try to judge how the other prisoner would behave and accordingly try to reduce their own risk.”
When the same is seen in context with various kinds of competitions and the system of relative grading in our college, the results could be startling. In the case of competitions which would provide a chance to individuals to mutually accept a win-win situation for both, they would not normally do so and would defect thus resulting in a lower win for each of the competitors. Even when it comes to relative grading, students could arrive at a common consensus where each would be benefit out of sharing rather than being frightened of their peers and over working or stressing out. However, would this does not normally happen and it leads to a situation where one is not sure about the other and at the same time wants to reduce his chances of losing out leading to a relatively poor result for both.
Research also shows that when Prisoner’s Dilemma is played more than once in succession (with both the players having memory of the previous encounter, then there can be more cooperative outcomes beneficial for both.
Will that be one of the situations that we could encounter on the campus?
There would definitely be many more such scenarios which we would come across in the course of our stay. From inter-house competitions, to individuals working in group projects, to forming groups to negotiate deals from the council or the management, to the placements; these dilemmas would certainly affect most of us. Our reactions would be interesting to study to see if we actually end up mutually co-operating with each other or not.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Happy Diwali!
Happy Diwali guys, and I hope you're having fun over this week.
Oh, FSB Students, I've been asked to remind you guys of your upcoming midterms.
If you guys do have any meet ups, we'd like pictures. You know where to send them by now.
Oh, FSB Students, I've been asked to remind you guys of your upcoming midterms.
If you guys do have any meet ups, we'd like pictures. You know where to send them by now.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Things that all future generations at FLAME need to go through:
1. Sleeping with four other people in a room only meant for two.
2. Taking a cold shower at 6:30 AM.
3. Living out of a suitcase for a week.
4. Indira Parikh's Induction Lab.
5. Falling in love with a pre-fabricated cupboard.
6. Learning the true value of salt in food.
7. Sharing ONE toilet among fifteen people at 8:30 AM, when classes are starting at 9AM.
8. Watching Hazel Mehta tell a room full of students that Rajastan is backwards.
9. Watching hot water gush out of a tap after a week of cold showers.
10. The first two weeks at FLAME.
Editor's Note: It has just come to our attention that people believe that this post speaks badly about FLAME. This was not the intention behind this at all. The only way that a person will understand this, and the emotion behind it is to live the way we've lived for the past two weeks. You truly do become closer to people. Among all of this stuff we've gone through, we really have bonded. In the immortal words of Aman, we're now "FLAME-ily".
Most of you that know me from Orkut know that I pretty much disliked all of the PG students on there. Now, if you ask me, I honestly can't see why I disliked them in the first place. I really can't imagine life without Kunal, Miten, Mishal and the rest of them. As I sit at home now, sick, life at FLAME is the only thing going through my mind. That's after just a few weeks like this.
2. Taking a cold shower at 6:30 AM.
3. Living out of a suitcase for a week.
4. Indira Parikh's Induction Lab.
5. Falling in love with a pre-fabricated cupboard.
6. Learning the true value of salt in food.
7. Sharing ONE toilet among fifteen people at 8:30 AM, when classes are starting at 9AM.
8. Watching Hazel Mehta tell a room full of students that Rajastan is backwards.
9. Watching hot water gush out of a tap after a week of cold showers.
10. The first two weeks at FLAME.
Editor's Note: It has just come to our attention that people believe that this post speaks badly about FLAME. This was not the intention behind this at all. The only way that a person will understand this, and the emotion behind it is to live the way we've lived for the past two weeks. You truly do become closer to people. Among all of this stuff we've gone through, we really have bonded. In the immortal words of Aman, we're now "FLAME-ily".
Most of you that know me from Orkut know that I pretty much disliked all of the PG students on there. Now, if you ask me, I honestly can't see why I disliked them in the first place. I really can't imagine life without Kunal, Miten, Mishal and the rest of them. As I sit at home now, sick, life at FLAME is the only thing going through my mind. That's after just a few weeks like this.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
First Trek at Flame
India won the World Cup. The euphoria reached a hilt at one point when enthusiasts demonstrated their emotions on the furniture outside pitstop! 6.30 am next morning. 23 sleepy students. Waiting at Pit Stop. Still celebrating???Naaa! We left behind Bhaji's captaincy for something even more fun – a trek with General Mehta, our CO and inspiration for numerous initiatives at FLAME.
There were some samples of course; some were literally dragged out of bed like our Gandhiji Vickey (ahem... Dipika had to do the honours of dragging her bhaiya out!)
On the way up the hill, General Mehta shared a few precious memories of his time spent in Kashmir and the jawan's life in the Indian Army, extremely inspiring. It felt so great...an honour to be able to hear his stories and be a part of the experience. 
As with all awesome things, the fun part came right at the end, while walking half way down the constructed road, some of our crazy UG girls came up with the brilliant idea of taking the 'off the beaten track' - a slope cutting almost 75 degree right down, leading us to the golf course! Now, normally, we would have taken the sane road and come down like respective (read boring people) but no, the crazy gang with our 60 year young leader went down the rubble filled slope! Slip! Tumble, scratch! Ouch! Through muck, slippery grass, and a lot more, we managed to paint our bottoms a healthy earthy shade, what with everyone sliding down with no clue as to where their feet slip next! 
It wasn't exactly the most strenuous trek, neither was it tiring, yes we all came back all dirty, but with big grins all across our excited faces, and most important of all - the fun-o-meter – I rate that a 100%! Cheers to more such adventure at FLAME!
Deepti Jhangiani
Flame School of Communication
Foundation for Liberal and Management Education
Pune, India
Credits for Images:
Deepti Jhangiani
Flame School of Communication
Foundation for Liberal and Management Education
Pune, India
Foundation for Liberal and Management Education
Pune, India
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Bollywood Night - Special Photo Feature
Event: Bollywood Night
Venue: Indoor Sports Complex
Time: Dark Hours
Dress Code: Formals or Elegant Wear
(Entry by invitation only)
The CEO of the evening, MS. POOJA SHAH:
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
And her small team of people:
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Dipayan Kundu
Image Courtesy: Dipayan Kundu
Image Courtesy: Dipayan Kundu
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Dipayan Kundu
Image Courtesy: Dipayan Kundu
Image Courtesy: Dipayan Kundu
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Venue: Indoor Sports Complex
Time: Dark Hours
Dress Code: Formals or Elegant Wear
(Entry by invitation only)
The CEO of the evening, MS. POOJA SHAH:
Image Courtesy: Deepti JhangianiAnd her small team of people:
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani 
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani 
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
The people who graced the occasion:
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani 
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani 
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani 
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani 
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani 
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani 
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani 
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani 
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Dipayan Kundu
Image Courtesy: Dipayan Kundu
Image Courtesy: Dipayan KunduAnd this is what happens when they all go CRAZY, DANCING:
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Dipayan Kundu
Image Courtesy: Dipayan Kundu
Image Courtesy: Dipayan Kundu
Image Courtesy: Dipayan Kundu
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Dipayan Kundu
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani 
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Image Courtesy: Deepti Jhangiani
Credits for Images:
Deepti Jhangiani
Flame School of Communication
Foundation for Liberal and Management Education
Pune, India
And
Dipayan Kundu
Flame School of Communication
Foundation for Liberal and Management Education
Pune, India
P.S: More images expected by tonight from Rahul Khamboj. So hang on to this space for some more time.
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