The India Scene

Higher Education in India - Its Drawbacks and Suggestion For Reforms
By Rajesh Mohan

Today the world is of science, new inventions and competitions to excel over the other. We can be proud to be a part of our great country but the world has shrunk today to a common platform on the basis of higher education and learning. Everybody has to be ready to receive and contribute towards new ideas, thoughts and systems. To gain the benefits of modern society and compete with the outside world, it is necessary that youth of our country get higher education. More and more avenues of higher education are provided to them at affordable prices and in all locations so that all round development in personality of the complete society takes place. Rather now it is the duty of each individual to ask for higher studies and be broadminded.

During the last few years, universities have increased manifold to impart higher education through various colleges all over the country. Liberal grants have been sanctioned by University Grants Commission. Many colleges have emerged in the private sector also to provide higher education. In different big cities and towns, massive infrastructure of buildings has come - up which is supposed to be the centre of higher learning. However, theses centres have started converting into hot beds of political intrigues. They were expected to radiate learning, discipline, sense of responsibility towards the nation, but they seem to be breathing violence, indiscipline, strikes, political groupism and even vandalism. The House of worship and learning has turned into the House of Satan. The youth is turning unpatriotic. The students take admission in these universities for the sake of just qualification instead of developing self-reliance, confidence and a sense of duty with planned career.

Now -a-days, we find that there is over-crowding in the classes of higher education also. The ratio of teachers as compared to pupils is very low and the teachers don’t have any personal feelings with the students. And thus higher education is examination ridden. Easy and shortcut methods are being adopted to achieve success. The students are getting fascinated to all things except books. The dependence on the Examinations only is the main cause of deterioration in our education system. No real or practical knowledge is gained by the students. There is a big gap between the practical life and education in colleges. Going to colleges seems to be a place of enjoyment in paradise for the students. However, their rosy dreams are shattered when they come out of colleges and enter the actual life. They have to return disappointed when they search for a service from door to door. It is due to purely technical education given to them.

The system of imparting higher education should be such that after completing education in college, the youth should not be dependent solely on service, but must be able to start some independent small scale industry or business on his own. Vocationalisation of education is the need of the hour. More and more technical and vocational institutions need to be started where training modules in practical aspects of career must be compulsory. Every effort should be made to inspire the students with noble and innovative ideas. It should be compulsory for students to appear in psychological tests. This will enable the students to choose subjects and careers of their own choice. In this way, the students can plan their careers from the very beginning. Just after their schooling, they would be able to decide the career which they wish or are interested in pursuing.

For more success in higher education, it is required that instead of lengthy examinations at a stretch, the due importance should be given to intelligence tests, personal interview and class room works at regular intervals. The development of clean character towards prosperity of nation is another important aim of higher education. The aspects of these higher studies must develop lessons of national integration as well as international integration and unity more effectively.

A great stress needs to be given for establishing good libraries in our colleges and universities. Students should be encouraged to make free use of them under the able guidance of teachers free of cost. More discussions and arguments on varied topics can impart more knowledge and information than more lecturing and completing the course. Equally important are the laboratories with latest equipments and items. To test the learning of books, students need to have good laboratories. An experiment is an unending quest of learning and knowledge on a permanent basis. The institutions providing higher education should be made temples of the modern age.

Rajesh Mohan is a Indian Poet and Freelance Writer. For more, check out Kerala Backwaters and Calicut University MBA [http://universityofcalicut.in/calicutuniversity/calicut-university-mba-admission-notification/117]

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Hill Stations in North India - Undulating Beauty of Pristine Nature
By Manish Caper

Untamed, unblemished and unexplored characteristics of Hill Stations in North India summons scores of tourists from several parts of the globe. It is the land which is endowed with lush green valleys, lofty mountains and tumultuous rivers. The geographical location of North East India gifted this land with series of undulating landscapes, varied flora and fauna and rich heritage of ancient traditions and lifestyles. Northeast India refers to the easternmost region of India which consists of the contiguous Seven Sister States, Sikkim, and parts of North Bengal. The panorama of Himalayan Mountains with their abundance in scenic vistas attracts nature lovers and adventure freaks to hill stations of this regions. Some of the prominent hill stations of this region are:

Gangtok:

Gangtok the exuberant capital city of Sikkim is mesmerizing, picturesque and colorful city which attracts scores of tourists who want to experience unforgettable holidays in the lap of serene and scenic natural ambiances of Himalaya. This place is most preferred among the tourists who want to explore the tranquil beauty of nature as well as tribal culture. The rich flora, the beautiful people and the serene Buddhist monasteries are attractions of this small place which fascinates travelers during their visit to this enchanting destination. During Gangtok Tour tourists can also experience adventure activities like white-water rafting, yak safari, trekking, hang gliding and mountain biking.

Pasighat:

This is other nature laden place which is fondly known as the ‘Gateway of the Arunachal Pradesh’. It is situated on the banks of the river Siang in Arunachal Pradesh State at a height of 152 meters from the sea level. This is the place where one can see witness the Mother Nature in her purest form which makes it a photographer’s paradise. It is the beautiful hill-station famous for scenic charm scattered in the form of rising and falling Himalayan landscapes, exotic flora and fauna and scenic ambiances that becomes indelible memories for tourists during their visit to this place. At this place tourists can enjoy adventure sports such as river rafting, trekking in the deep forests, fishing and angling during their visit to Pasighat.

Shillong:

It is the capital city of Meghalaya State which is famous round the world for its Himalayan Panorama abundant in beautiful landscapes and exotic flora and fauna collections. The scenic ambiances of pristine Himalaya, rolling green valleys, dense forests and several waterfalls designated this place with the title ‘Scotland of East’. The charming beauty of this place leaves lures tourists time and again who once visit this place.

The vastness of mighty Himalaya gifted number of enchanting hill stations to North East India which is visited by scores nature lovers, adventure seekers and honeymoon couples round the year. Some of the other popular hill stations of this region are Ziro, Pelling and Tawang.

Soul stimulating beauties of north india tour are the perfect destinations for tourists who want to enjoy the thrill, fun and beauty of mountains with snow capped peaks. The majestic height of Himalaya and its exotic flora and fauna collections gifted North Hill Stations with ample of soul captivating attractions that lures tourists time after time from several parts of the globe.

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Cheapest Flights to Kochi India by Richards Wilson

India is truly a fantastic and magical travel destination, favored by backpackers, honeymooners and holidaymakers from all over the world. It is also one of the fastest developing destinations for travel business. The huge increase in oil prices has had an impact on the cost of air travel to India yet despite the huge hike in air fares, cheap flights can still be found.

India Airlines has started to make non-stop flights from United Kingdom or United States to 8 different cities in India. Flights from London City, Manchester or Heathrow to Kochi, Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad are only £ 289.70. These prices are exclusive of taxes and fees.

Air India also has cheap flights to India from USA,UK and just like India Airlines the advertised price is enticing, but the £ 291.00 in taxes and fees take some of the glamour away. If you are going to travel to India, book well ahead and travel during the days of Tuesdays through Thursdays. The business travelers have many of the flights booked for Mondays and Fridays so avoid them if you are looking for a low cost deal. Likewise Saturday is generally filled by businessmen that either worked late on Friday or just wanted to stay one more night. Sunday is for the business travelers that are going to get off on Monday morning where they are going to conduct business.

Tips for finding that cheap flight!

1. Be flexible with your flight times: Being prepared to fly at unsociable hours such as early mornings or late at night greatly increases your chance of finding cheaper flights.

2. Be flexible with dates: Being flexible with the dates on which you can travel expands your window of opportunity giving you access to a vastly increased number of flights.

3. Fly mid-week: The busiest and most popular time to fly is at weekends, consequently these flights will be in great demand. With no shortage of buyers for a limited number of seats, these weekend flights are likely to be the most expensive.

4. Avoid public holidays: Take any holiday brochure and look at the table of prices. Notice how prices increase sharply on the dates coinciding with UK bank holidays and school holidays. The chances of finding cheap flights to India at these times are practically nil.

5. Avoid dates with religious festivals in India: Similar to the last tip but of course this time the demand for tickets is linked to the increased number of travellers of Indian origin expected to return home or to visit family during these times.

6. Choice of departure airports: Restricting your choice of departure airports will also restrict your access to cheap flights. By far the most used airport for departures to India from the UK is London Heathrow followed by London Gatwick and Manchester. The majority of the cheap flights that I personally find are on routes from Heathrow and Manchester. You do need to ensure that any saving in air fare is not outweighed by extra costs involved in getting to an airport that is not local to you.

7. Book in Advance: Good savings can be made by booking your tickets well in advance. This is particularly the case if you are restricted to times and dates when you can fly.

8. Book Online: This is often cheaper than booking over the phone, it offers a greater choice, and allows you to browse at your own pace. I always get the feeling that at the end of a phone I am not necessarily getting the full picture. Booking online with a reputable company is now considered to be one of the safest ways of paying for your air tickets.

Searching online, through the internet is the best resource for information on cheap airline tickets to India. Many websites offer free information on cheap airline tickets to India.

Richards Wilson is sharing knowledge about Air tickets to Kochi. Get more details on http://www.ticketstoindia.co.uk

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Real Estate India - In the 21st century by Sab Ka Hub

In the 21st century, India has witnessed a remarkable growth in the real estate sector. Not only the metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, and Chennai are seeing this development but also small regional towns of India are affected by this India real estate boom. The factors responsible for such massive boom are foreign direct investments, free funds investment in the property and the interest of various multinational companies in India real estate. Real Estate in India is seeing a major change currently. The real estate companies have become more professional and corporate in their services and business.

There are many big names that are playing a major role in the real estate industry such as JK Developers, Raheja Developers, BPTP, AMR Builder, ARN Infrastructure and many more. They have created an incredible benchmark in India property market. Not only have they taken commercial real estate in India to new heights but also marked their success in the Indian residential real estate. The real estate developers are constructing all sorts of residential and commercial property in India which include hotels, apartments, offices and shopping malls in par with the international standards. In the coming years, we are going to see these several commercial and residential projects undertaken by these esteemed real estate developers.

With more and more new developments in the projects coming in the market of Indian properties, people are investing in this sector. Seeing the robust growth, people have become more active in buying Indian properties. Residential property in Indian is remarkably showing more growth as compared to commercial properties. Person by investing on Indian property are making huge profits. People now buy property at low price and then sell or rent property at appropriate price. Through such activity, they are earning huge profits. The price of India property is also sky-rocketing that has supported indirectly in earning more profits. Both the commercial and residential properties in India are yearning high revenues which is benefiting the Indian economy.

The residential properties have been in huge demands as India is seeing birth and growth of nuclear families. This demand has reached to new heights and has grown stronger in recent years. India being one of fastest growing economies is seeing prominent growth in commercial properties. The purchasing capacity has influenced people to invest even in commercial properties. With so many international companies dealing in retail and other products venturing in India, people are also interested in buying shops in great shopping malls and centers. Similarly, with the so many IT companies entering the service sector, the real estate developers are busy in developing offices that meet their international customers.

If you too are the one who is seeking to invest in the commercial and residential real estate, then keep alert watch on the real estate news. There are many Indian property portals that are actively taking part in the promotion of residential townships developed by renowned developers which backed up by many real estate agents like Kargil Realtors, Jain Associates, JMD Associates and more. Get to contact these real estate agents and builders directly or through any portals on Indian property and enjoy the services provided by them to the customers is real estate market.

Author is a contributing writer to Sab Ka Hub.It offers Real Estate India,India Property buy property, sell property

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Clive of India - British Soldier, Governor of Bengal and Founder of Britain’s Empire in India
By David Paul Wagner

Robert Clive (1725-74), also known as Clive of Plassey, Clive of India and Baron Clive, was a British soldier, colonial administrator and statesman who founded British India.

In 1743 he joined the East India Company and was sent to Madras to work as a “writer” (clerk).

Clive was not to work for long as a clerk. During the War of the Austrian Succession, war broke out between the British and French in southern India. In 1751 Clive led a small force of 500 soldiers in a diversionary expedition against a French-Indian army in Arcot, the capital of the Carnatic (a region in southeastern India, between the Coromandel Coast and the Eastern Ghats). Clive succeeded in seizing Arcot and holding it for 53 days.

In 1752 he defeated the French in Trichinopoly and installed a pro-British ruler on the throne of the Carnatic. By 1753 French power in India had been reduced to a few lone outposts such Pondichery.

After a triumphal return to Britain, Clive went back to India for a second tour of duty.

Called on to avenge the so-called Hole of Calcutta, he marched on India’s richest province, Bengal, and on January 2, 1757 he seized its capital, Calcutta.

On June 23, 1757, Clive had his greatest military triumph: the Battle of Plassey. He led a small British East India Company force of 2,400 soldiers into battle and defeated the much larger force of Indian and French forces (50,000 soldiers in all) fielded by the Nawab (ruling prince) of Bengal. The Nawab was removed from power and a pro-British puppet ruler was then put on the throne of Bengal.

This victory gave the British access to the enormous wealth of Bengal, which strengthened British military power and opened the way for the later British colonization of most of South Asia and later of other parts of Asia.

For the next three years, Clive was governor of Fort William, Bengal, but in fact he was the effective ruler of Bengal, giving directions to the puppet ruler. He also presided over a period of great spoliation and corruption, with vast amounts of public monies disappearing into private pockets.

In 1760 Clive returned to Britain a wealthy man, entered Parliament and was made “Baron Clive of Plassey”.

In 1760 Clive returned once again to India and began a second governorship. During this period he reformed the civil service, enforced law and order, and re-established military discipline. He reined in corruption of officials by regulating their private trading and by limiting their ability to accept gifts.

Clive returned to Britain in 1767. He faced a storm of parliamentary attacks regarding the conduct of his first governorship during which so much corruption had been allowed to flourish.

Upon accusations that he was involved in the looting of the treasury of Bengal, Clive waxed indignant: “A great prince was dependent on my pleasure; an opulent city lay at my mercy; its richest bankers bid against each other for my smiles; I walked through vaults which were thrown open to me alone, piled on either hand with gold and jewels! Mr Chairman, at this moment I stand astonished at my own moderation.”

Finally, in 1773, he was vindicated by the Parliament, which passed a unanimous resolution that found that Clive had “rendered great and meritorious service to his country”.

In 1774 Clive committed suicide.

Robert Clive was an energetic and larger than life character. There is no doubt that during his first governorship he presided over a period of corruption. However, he was later responsible to reforming the administration and army in India.

Moreover, he has an undeniable place in history as the founder of the East Asia Company’s rule in India, which was a forerunner of Britain’s colonial rule in South Asia which endured until the mid-20th century.

For further information on the British Empire in India, read the article at http://www.1902encyclopedia.com/I/IND/india-23.html

David Paul Wagner writes on history, politics and current affairs.

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