Learn or churn

We all have an equal right to education
To learn from it, one needs determination
Education for all can be simple, yet priceless
Let's not complicate it and make it worthless

Mother nature was the source for it in primitive days
Learn we did by experiencing it in multiple ways
Apply, learning, we did, to domesticate and settle
Multiply we did, yet, thrived with little

With passage of time we moved into civilization
Learning too, kept its pace sans any realization
To industries we went to work and earn
Schools we created for our children to learn

To spread it far and wide it got standardized
In that process did learning get compromised?
Industry it became and many built an empire

A factory that churned out victims of despair

Among them, lived a few known for their philanthropy 

Shared they did their learning and philosophy

Business, it was not for them; our right to education

Lead by example they did for the next generation 

Education for all, now, comes at a price

If you want nature in it, expect a steep rise
Education for all can be simple, yet priceless
Why complicate it and make it worthless?

We are born with creativity and imagination
Let's explore more and upskill for innovation
Choice we have to either learn or churn
Let's follow our passion, till comes our turn.

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©Balaji Palanidurai

This poem is inspired by events over last few weeks where I have been engaged in various discussion about the state of current education system and how the standardized approach is churning our graduates who find themselves lacking in employable skills!

Education now is a big industry and in developing countries this is big business. I was stunned by fees some school charge for kinder garden and more in the name of nature trips and studies! Is it really worth it? But, what is the alternative? In a nuclear family that has both parents aspiring to excel in life they decide to send their kids to schools to be churned out along with million others.

If a small percentage of those parents chose to home school their children and coach them to pursue a passion - in sports, arts or even farming, I am sure life will be very rewarding for them and their children will love them for that freedom. 

The last line of the poem was inspired by the Gully boy (#gullyboy) movie I happened to see over the weekend "Apna time ayega..."

  

Beauty of Goodwill

Fortunate you are to experience a goodwill

Culminate it does over time, not at will
Inherit though some do, sans a written will
Alas, acquire some do by passing a bill

Maintain it well, like it is your health
Sustain it will, like your wealth
Jealously it may create, at times in stealth
Seriously if taken, may plant thoughts of filth

Asset it is not, still worthy of a credit
Liability it becomes if not followed by a debit
Leverage it wisely, never misuse it
Else, erode it will - bit by bit

Intangible it can be on your balance sheet
Responsible if you are it will often repeat
Intention if there is to amass and cheat
Tension it creates and will soon deplete

Respect it well, so it becomes your legacy
Suspect none will or call it a fallacy
Adopt its heritage they will in infancy
Your goodwill, of all, will rein in supremacy

Fortunate you will be to experience goodwill
Accumulate it over time, never at will
Inherit if you did, do pass it on in your will
Acquire, never do, by passing a bill

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©Balaji Palanidurai
January has been busy with setting up my consulting business and working on my first client project. Preoccupied mind is not creative and I experienced it during his period - result there was no poem in Jan.

But, few events in my daily life and recent holiday in the East triggered something  - goodwill of  vendors that I meet who don't hesitate to top up my vegetable purchase with some greens or that extra couple of bananas when I buy a dozen.

I think about help my wife extends to our servant maid at times in kind and sometimes monetary - all in goodwill!

I also remember the incident when the AT&T lady topped up my phone card (free of cost) during our holiday in USA - actually their system was not able to recognize my UK post code and local post code was not matching with the credit card address! $10 just added.

Goodwill is such a good thing, so lets admire its beauty.

Pssst: I asked my 14 year old daughter to make me a cartoon for this poem and she did one. At first I could not relate to it. When she explained the story I realized she thinks deeper than me!!

Its a large family that buys some goodies. The last kid does not get a piece. So, the shopkeeper give her a piece out of goodwill!