The Deception of Ranking in Higher Education - NIRF 2024

The Deception of the Higher Education Ranking System

I was glad to find 3 of the Kerala universities - viz., CUSAT (Technology), Kerala University and MG University (the university under which I worked for 24 years, and from where I also obtained my 'hard earned' Ph. D - but of no significant value as far as method or addition to knowledge are concerned) were ranked in the National Ranking of HEIs respectively 9, 10 and 11. Glad for that position of our otherwise neglected universities of an otherwise neglected state in the top rank.  However, equally surprised - if these were the top-ranked universities, then I don't have much to imagine what would be the status of our universities in general. 

Based on my experience with the university system for 24 years, I had observed two things about the functioning of the university - 1) it was more of a clerical-dom than an academic centre, with clerks (some of them educationally well qualified, and apparently, disaffected) ruling the roost.  They dictated terms based on the rules laid down - almost measuring the various aspects of the university and affiliated colleges (admission, attendance, new programmes, infrastructure, evaluation etc.) as if they used a foot rule to measure them.  Most of them having been well qualified with higher degrees that would have made them eligible for faculty positions, had to end up as administrative staff - I am not sure why their general antipathy towards the academic staff, and assume it is either that of being sticklers to the rules, or that of letting their frustration out by frustrating those in academics.  They seemed to expect and relish that academics and academic administrators of the affiliated colleges stood in awe and deference of them, and addressed them 'sir', though they would not really insist thus.  And being generally under strong unions (especially the majority coming under the belligerent leftist union) they wield organisational power and political protection,which make them almost unchallenged. 

2) it was more of a political arena and less of an academic one - not implying that academics can be devoid of politics.  But in this case, it was merely a power politics based on political party affiliations - and the most powerful offices and bodies of the university were attained on the basis of such political affiliations or blessings, while academic and service merits were also taken into account. Hence, the decisions the university takes would depend less on academic advancement, and more on ruling party's political agenda. 

3) In addition, something common about the public sphere of Keralam would be that of a pharisaic socialism - that is socialism for all, except for the individual self and family.  In this matter, the difference between the two major political fronts and all other affiliated units under them was only in degrees and not in the thrust as such.  

The universities will not promote any new programmes or batches in the aided scheme - making the academic environment stunted. If anything is started in a self-financing scheme, it is capitalism.  The university, the state and the unions take double standards towards the self-financing stream - they permit such programmes, without any prick of conscience get per-head fees, and treat the colleges, staff and students of this stream as second-class citizens. Fortunately, for now, the students have access to be on the student bodies, and now in many colleges, they have come lead those bodies as well. 

I would like to recall some aspects of my experience with two universities having top ranks - MG University (11), Lucknow University (97)

Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam 

(i) The former till 2 years ago, invariably had the students suffering and exploited by the system, whereby the first semester results appeared almost at the end of the fifth semester or sometimes in the sixth forcing the students hopeful of higher grades to improve their scores by reappearing again, paying fees again. 

(ii) The semester system introduced almost thoughtlessly and aping some Western/American model, where it might be functioning well, is the bane in the learning-teaching process. There used to be, in those days, hardly anyone in the university administrative circles who had a grasp of what the credits meant, and why the semester system was being adopted. (Perhaps, it is different now!).  It is more exam-oriented than ever before, with test after test in an otherwise crowded semester scheme. In Kerala universities like MG, a semester holds 3 tests - 2 as continuous assessments (but, compulsorily in the form of test papers with specific percentages assigned - as a check on potential manipulation or intimidation by the teachers; besides assignments). There is very little trust in the teachers - an Indian phenomenon with the educational ecosystem reinforcing the same. Consequently, there is very little space for innovation in assessment, or autonomy in exercising creative ways of assessing continuously. 

(iii) The MG University VC Dr. Babu Sebastian deemed continuous/formative assessment (internal assessment) precisely as a way in which the affiliated colleges (or the university departments - perhaps, he conveniently forgets that the university faculty members are also Malayalee Indian human beings, and liable to corrupt behaviour attributed to the entire set of Indian educators) tried to promote their students by providing the entire allocated grades (scores).  At least that was his assumption and understanding based on which he accused Sacred Heart College which as an autonomous college decided to increase the weighttage of continuous assessment from 20% to 25% and for which he and his crony puppets of the left-union-led syndicate made a farce of allegation against the college for having violated the university norms, and withheld the degrees of the students, thus instigating the easily politically manipulable and manipulative Kerala students.  In the presence of his syndicate members, he asked me: Why did you increase that 5% in order to give added advantage to your students? It revealed his understanding of the provision, as a manipulative tool to give greater scores to one's students, rather than a provision for assessing multi-dimensional learning.  I can't say for sure that a few teachers at SH also would have made it a provision for a liberal score for their students, but they were exceptions - the faculty members, on the whole, made the assessment rather rigorous. 

(iv) Any creative initiative by a college is stalled by the university, by its draconian bureaucracy and reference to the letter of the university statutes.

(v) Vitriolic student politics is deliberately promoted by the university, which is more than often a puppet in the hands of the ruling party.  And they try to justify the political party-based student politics in the name of political education, and those who oppose this mode of political education as 'apolitical' (arashatreeyavadam) by regular attack on them for their shallowness of understanding and stand.  In the incident cited above, with university withholding the result of the first autonomous batch, the students got panicked, and the natural next step is to agitate and protest in a violent fashion. Though the college was making all out effort to help the students to get their certificates by the university, and issuing its own course completion certificate which was accepted by many universities for admission, the student leaders confided in me that the university power centres wanted them to do a strike (boycott of classes) and in a day the matter would be solved. I challenged them, and permitted them to go ahead.  Nothing resulted, except that power lobbies aligned to left union of the university felt glad that their unit at SH had successfully created ruckus on the campus, yielding no result. We were literally made to cow-tow before the university, and pay an unjust penalty of Rs 10 lakhs, (which was later squashed by the High Court), before the students could get their certificates.

(vi) There is hardly any quality control in the field of undergraduate or graduate level research, merely treating the same as a requirement, unless a particular teacher or a department of a college is determined to make it adhere to some standards of research. But as such, the university does not spell out any research-linked outcomes at the UG or PG level, at least till the implementation of the 4 year UG programme under NEP in 2023.

(vii) Eleven years of having led a senior and rather well-established college in the university, I have not found even a single academic year opening on a pre-planned schedule, having a pre-announced calendar indicating exam schedule, and a date for the results and other important academic and co-curricular activities of the university.  With the introduction of autonomous status to colleges, in spite of all the apathy, antagonism, virtual opposition on all fronts, and an all-out effort to torpedo the scheme, many of the autonomous colleges were able to demonstrate that this quality dimension of a planned implementation of academic and co-curricular activities within a year was possible, and can be scaled up. 

(viii) The university leadership had been consistent with their policies to defeat autonomy and not to let the autonomous college grow and bloom, by innovation, creativity and diversification.  Never having let the autonomy function beyond the design of curriculum (which would brook no deviation from the university norms even  ad experimentum), their notorious representative like the minister for H.E. Mr K.A. Jaleel, in spite of his having been an educator in that band, had the idiotic temerity to demand improvement on the research front, after one year of completion of the autonomous status (conveniently forgetting the research standards of the universities having full autonomy in all aspects).

(ix) In movies, we come across 'gunda raj' often - they tax the local people 'hafta' or 'protection money' for letting them earn their living without interference, basically from their gang; perhaps also from others. In M.G. university, with self-financing colleges it is kind of extortion money - 'capitation' fee by way of per-capita annual fee for every student admitted, and for every programme approved -  amount ranging from Rs. 2000 to 20000 per annum.  University could be justified to a certain extent as it has invested in designing the programmes, holding exams and bringing out the results (though there is a separate fee for the latter two, and it is also to be noted that the publicly funded university is sharing what they have developed for the government-financed colleges).  In effect, they discriminate between the students who are otherwise privileged to get into the government-secured stream, while the students who are to pay for their tuitions even otherwise are now exploited by this extortion system. 

When it comes to autonomous colleges also the norm is repeated, where the university does no other work than granting them degrees for which additional fees besides affiliation fees are extorted. This is in violation of the autonomy norms, but structured and transparent, though it is extortion all the same. 

(x) However, there was one thing sound about MG University, there was hardly ever any insinuation indicating the need to bribe anyone for any support - whether it was for approval of teacher posts, sanctioning of new programmes or enhancing of in-take capacity - things happened in the system, usually taking undue time - and a little faster, with a push from political higher-ups, or the unions (generally, the leftist union). A vacant faculty position usually takes a minimum of 2 years for the initial appointment, and another 2 years for the approval leading to the drawing of the first salary!! 

(xi) The politically leaning university bureaucracy - both academic and administrative - always favoured a violent political culture to colonise the higher education system, which was found to be invariably anti-establishment, generally having a stance that any private management is sinful, destructive (with main activity centred around protest strikes on any  and every issue around, accompanied by boycott of classes and elections to the students' union council) and divisive. The only consolation, could be that of not letting the parties typically stamped as fundamentalist not gaining much foothold (a common feature of Kerala higher education landscape). 

(xii) The university apparently tried to push the NSS forum in an aggressive and demanding manner in the past few years, with great thrust on the green agenda, and having transformed the university campus into a bio-diverse and richly green campus!

These are some of the shades of the quality experiences of a top-ranked university of South India. MG university is not even 50 years old. 

Lucknow University: Coming to Lucknow university with a fabulous campus with antique buildings in the heart of the ancient Lucknow city, and having a history of over a century, the university is graded by NAAC at A++. 

(i) 2 years of experience with it, with almost the odd semester getting over as I note this, an academic calendar is not available. Just before major festivals like Dusserrah or Diwali, or just around Christmas time (winter), holidays are announced, making it difficult for an institution to plan its activities and curriculum, if at all one has such planned activities. Exam days are hardly ever known beforehand - it is assumed it may take place sometime in December or January, and then the even semester would start somewhere around mid-January and end by mid-May, possibly having some summer holidays from mid-May to end-June; only to have the odd semester declared open early July. That would imply that even-semester is invariably shorter. 

(ii) The university gains high grounds with the partisan NAAC assessors - generally found to have a staunch Hindutwa slant by parroting the NEP slogans (from my own experience as an assessor - though not always - and our bitter experience with the assessment at Sacred Heart College, Kochi) and the newly discovered and imposed Bharateeyam agenda - by introducing courses in various Hindu traditions, promoting Hindu festivals to be celebrated on the campuses, even sending circulars to do the honours on the occasions like the inauguration of Ram Temple. 

(iii) The credit and semester system, grading system, four-year UG programme, skill development thrust etc. have been imposed taking credit for the first implementation of the government agenda, but with hardly any orientation or support for the HoIs, the faculty or the staff.  The University has made efforts to articulate, albeit clumsily, outcomes for each of the courses - again, with hardly any involvement of or introduction to the faculty members. 

(iv) When as a general trend, the classes themselves are not held, what to speak of faculty orientation or the outcomes.  Skill-based courses are listed, with hardly any directive or training as to how to implement them. Even with all good intentions and efforts, I find our campus not doing any justice to such claims - still exams come, students appear, and most of them clear the papers. On paper, they look good - with four such courses integrated into the curriculum in the first two years of UG studies.  We try to make amends, we plan ahead, we try to give inputs to the students, and then a month ahead of the exams, a new list is released, in which some of the courses chosen or introduced are not there, but something else is there. 

French is introduced as a compulsory skill add-on for the BBA programme, and the announcement comes almost two months after the admissions get over, and just before the exams are announced. Now the colleges have to go hunting for a French teacher. And French teachers are not all that easily available.  However, even without French teachers the students pass. They don't have to undergo any test. Some assignments have to be submitted and stored. (Then the exams get over, the results are announced. There is no exam for French. All students pass. However, by the end of II semester, it is revealed that some form had to be submitted by the college, and lacking this, all students of BBA have failed.)

(v) One quality indicator of Lucknow University is money - with money being spent, any quality can be bought. 

New courses - above and beyond fees, the movement of the papers at each stage is made easier and less time-consuming by pandering to the support staff, the clerk, the academic heads, and the academic experts who come for the farce of inspection - with the sole concern being whether they are being paid adequately - an approval visit for a new course would entail that each of the 3 experts is paid Rs. 50000.00 in cash (with no documentation - you ask for a voucher, you are doomed), besides their taxi fare (even when they might have come by a shared private car or bus) and sumptuous food.  These deities literally have to be appeased! One of them confides that a cut from the unaccounted fees, goes to the VC, who chooses his cronies from the university or from other universities with such tacit understanding (no proof, just an allegation)!  Finally, the course gets approved by end-July when, the admissions are almost over, and there is very little likelihood of getting students. 

(vi) Approval of the faculty is also an apparently good system on paper, however happens to be bordering around the farce of a few favoured seniors getting some 'family benefit scheme' by way of some unaccountable money every year for having a good time with their family in some attractive spot in India or even abroad.  Some critical or nastily intimidating questions are asked, but finally, everyone presented is approved provided the pro rata appeasement money (something like ransom money) is given to all concerned.  We had an expert from Varanasi - an associate or a full professor (Dr. Aman Gupta), after all arrangements for the farce of an interview were made - booking facility at the university guest house, refreshments, panel of experts, the candidates etc., he calls up and says the date he had agreed upon was not convenient to him, and alter the same. He is designated the chairman. Our manager responds by saying it will be very difficult to postpone now with candidates even appearing from other states, having booked their ticket etc. (which was only partly true). Finally, he agrees to be there online, as there was a provision for that.  Now after the interview was completed and all decisions made, he indicated that he would come to Lucknow on a particular day, and we could get the papers signed by him.  The administrator tried to get the papers signed, but he wouldn't, unless he knew what was being given to him as a fee. Now, a literal streetside haggling takes place - with the administrator starting the bid at Rs. 15000, and the expert not budging from his position of getting Rs. 25000.00. Having no other go, the administrator yields! The papers are signed. 

Comparison Corruption (read, Extortion) The way in which MG University and Lucknow University differ is the way in which they extort money, making use of the power the university exercises over the hapless institutions and their students - in Keralam, extortion is legalised and the benefits become a source of income for the university; in UP, the corruption is systemic but individualised, and organised systematically and subtly though illegally, caters to individuals' (all along the hierarchy?) benefit.  It is alleged that the corruption reaches up to the ruling party by way of cuts from the amount received by the individuals. 

Case Studies in Graft Assuming we had the right to take 10% additional seats (as was the case in the previous year), we admitted the maximum number of students to a particular programme.  The portal accepted their enrolment, however, the manual scrutiny led to the rejection of admission for the last 6, and by then, it was exam time. It would be a tough task to convince the students and their parents to withdraw admission.  We venture to the university.  We meet with the venerable dean of admissions, a senior professor (Prof. Anitya Gaurav). He comes after our prolonged wait in a very imposing manner, and giving an air as if mortal beings like us had no existence.  We were later ushered in, after the mobile phones being taken away from us at the door - for security reasons (a standard practice in all higher offices of the university), as they know that the public both their products and victims, can be as manipulative as they are. He makes some statements as if we had done some crime amounting to subversion. Finally, he says, I can do nothing - but I will help you. Abhi yah kaam tedhi ungli se lena padega... He appears to be making some consultation, and gives us an envelope and asks us to pay Rs 25000.00 for the six seats to be made legal - how this magic would happen in the e-governed system, shows the skill acquisition at the senior faculty/administration level, truly adhering to the national agenda and National Skill Quality Framework😀!

(vi) In this region and this A++ university, the generally accepted norm for HE is that the student has to register, pay the fees and appear for the final examination. All the rest would depend on the students' goodwill!  So if a college insists on regular classes and activities, the typical response is: Arre, we have to pay money, and then come for the classes too! 

(vii) Comparison of University Environment: A blessing in comparison with the aggressively politically (il)literate and explosive (not merely active) Keralam is that for a typical college, there is hardly any political activity - but our professorial political pundits of Keralam, would correct the politically illiterate like us saying, 'but that is their politics'!  Even if you would just brush aside the provisions of student participation there would not be much concern among the students.  Typical party activities are hardly ever there, except perhaps in very established grant-in-aid colleges or on the university campus. Even there, it is hardly anything when compared to the virulent Kerala scenario.  However, with a minimal amount of promptings, the students are found to get awakened to the politics within them and can be educated to be politically alert and critical, with or without party affiliations.

The Rank Illusion - I have narrated the experience as an insider in Higher Education in two top-ranking and well-rated universities, ranked and rated high. If this is the status of top-ranking universities, it is only left to the imagination as to the plight of higher education in those one thousand-odd universities, generally not ranked or ranked lower! In spite of all the glorious Indianisation of the Americanised NEP, this is the hard reality today - to be on the optimistic side, I hope with 2030 or 2035 NEP dreams may turn into reality. 

Some simple steps to ensure minimum quality in H.E. in India

1. Ensure POs - PSOs - COs are articulated, and the teaching community is familiar with the framework and the outcomes, and the basic methods or steps to attain them. 

2. Ensure that there is a pre-announced schedule for an academic year (start, exams, holidays, sports & cultural activities, if any, and the end - semester wise), and it is adhered to. (When this is absent, permit the affiliated colleges to set their calendar except for the common semester exams and carry on with their programmes in a planned fashion).

3. Ensuring that the entire process of awarding courses is an online process, accessible in the public domain, and experts are given prescribed fees which are accounted for.  A panel is provided from which the individual institution is free to choose the experts and pay the prescribed fees. 

4. Every aspect of the academic progress of the student is entered and available online, including the aspects of overall development. 

5. Guidance and support provisions at the university level to all applicants (and their parents, where warranted) regarding the choices of major, other courses etc. offered, within 24 hours of the online request. 

6. Making provisions for credit transfers easy with pre-announced fee and requirements and maximum duration by which  an online application is processed, and if rejected, reasons provided for the same. 

7. Adequate stress on co-curricular aspects for well-rounded development, with the university providing the personnel support for the same - NSS, NCC, Talent clubs etc. 

8. Adequate autonomy in managing the courses and the formative assessment, at least up to 40% within the given schedule ensuring that the minimum stipulated working days are ensured. Quality assurance through study feedback and monitoring mechanisms. 

9. Provisions for experiential and field-based learning for overall and professional development with mandatory or additional credits, based on verifiable evidence. 

10. A timely merit-cum-need based scholarship scheme - with the entry level score/CUET score being reckoned for the first year, and the annual average performance for the subsequent years. 

11. An academic culture not led by partisan politics while ensuring a critical political education as the citizens of a nation and members of the global family.

12. Flexibility to complete the chosen courses through varied options ensuring the stipulated outcomes, with the course teacher having the key role in ensuring them. 

13. Mandatory teacher orientation at the university level for all freshly inducted teachers before they start engaging sessions; and mandatory orientation to all the teachers before new schemes are introduced. 

14. Mandatory outreach programmes at the university/college level with minimum annual contribution to be made by both the students and the teachers. 

James George - the rooted rebel with outstretched arms

My dear James, 

I remember the interview of your intake, and the good souls who vouched for you and said that you would be an asset to the institution. 

I also recall the confidence you had in yourself, in your subject - though I did have differences with you, that your use of Malayalam in the class was more excessive than I preferred. 

The most important 'stakeholder', namely, your students, I

guess, cherished you. You had a way with them, and you definitely appeared to be on their side. However, what I did observe was your concern for those students who seemed to be losing their hold - for them, you were a support. The efforts you made for a student from Idukki, who was struggling to cope with the city life and the academic rigour, and the desperation you had in the process, reminded me of the Biblical Good Shepherd, who was willing to go after the lone sheep gone astray.  (I hope that the student could obtain the degree!) 

And that kind of support did not confine you to your class or department - it went out to your neighbourhood in Nagapuzha/Thodupuzha, to child care homes; and to children in Idukki and Marayoor, where your initiative led to collaborative ventures with the anti-narcotic cell, in a creative fashion - including people, and initiating agriculture.  For SH, your arrival gave the right boost to the theatrical skills of the students, and your accompaniment brought laurels for the college in that domain. Indeed, your presence was a stronghold for SH in the university youth festival outings!

Your academic and social engagement did not prevent you from engaging with the earth and family

farming - a very rare trait for these times. 

In spite of my persuasion, you were determined to travel back home, almost 80 odd kilometres, to be with your parents and at home. And yet, managed to be back the next morning, in time, having found a daily commuting senior company from your neighbourhood. In my interactions with you and your family, I sensed a deep bonding, especially between you and your parents. They seemed more like your friends, and you did care. Yes, the unexpected departure of your fitness-conscious father was indeed a shock! 

You didn't forsake the revolt of the youth/student even when you were on the other side of the table. Though you did not complete your research programme, as I would have desired you to do, you did bring in inputs for sharpening research in the department and created a space for such engagements in the department. 

And you had that special art of 'mimicking' people, showing a keen sense of observation and theatre skills - though you did not always come forth with a performance of that talent - perhaps, you did, in closed circles. 

From what I learn, after my departure from the scene, your involvement was much deeper and committed, that the students and the staff sensed the void you left, and they felt pained. And you deservedly get the best tribute an individual can get - You are missed! 

Your departure - though we all count it untimely, was a grand exit befitting one of my ideal figures in history - the Tathagata, the one who went thus!! I hope I too will be able to go thus - exiting in full engagement (though, I would love that it be at the age of 100 - shataayu purusha:, isn't that our ancient adage?)

As someone professing the communion of saints, dear young friend, I hope you are there in communion with us, and hope the passionate spirit of service and involvement you showed will be shared with those of us who were blessed to be in your company! 

May the nitishatakam (20) be fulfilled in you: 

Jayanti te sukritono... naasti tesham yasha kaaye, jara maranajam bhayam! 

Those virtuous (poets) are triumphant (immortal) ... there is no fear of death and decrepitude in their bodies of fame!

US trip - 2025

Greetings!

Summary of my trip to US: 

Lucknow - Delhi - Istanbul - New York

New York - Sacramento - Los Angeles - Houston

Houston - Mexico - Guadulupe - Guadalajara

Guadalajara - New York

Maryland - Baltimore - Alumni Gathering

Rhode Island - Providence - friendly visit

Cincinnati - Dayton (Ohio) - Chicago - New York

Details for those who have time and energy: 

This was a prolonged peregrination. I also note that this is my 25th year of visiting the US. The first was the longest one, way back in 2001 - from May to December. I experienced one of the most traumatic events of the modern history of the US and the world, the terror attack on the world tower. 

I set off on Sat July 19th night and arrived at Lucknow airport 100 kms away using public transport. I was well in time for my flight to Delhi. My plan to go to Delhi by bus was cancelled, as it was relaibly leanrt that the government sponsored kaavad jatras were likely to create major road blocks. Delhi - Istanbul, almost 5 hours at the IGA lounge thanks to a priority card in possession, then another 9 odd hours to New York, JFK. Indigo the first phase partner was generous to provide one warm vegetarian meal, with no entertainment whatsoever for the long 7 hour flight.  But the Turkish people, though not any that pleasant, were a bit more generous with food and entertainment.

No major questions asked at the immigration, though there was some unprecedented scene (for me) resembling the last judgement, where the sheep would be separated from the lambs, here, the. citizens being separated from the visitors! I was received at the airport by my 'sponsor' and friend, Fr Liju, formerly, my junior in CMI, and presently of the diocese of Brooklyn. O was to be at his parish of St Theresa of Lisieux (Little Flower) for the month of August as a resident.

There was an apartment all set for me in the rectory. As Turkish people had fed us well, I was soon in the bed.

Next day, Fr Liju briefly introduced me to the church routine and I took part in the daily morning prayer and mass at 8.45 am.  Soon I got ready and I was dropped off at the airport by Fr Liju for my trip to Sacramento, CA. This was a long trip - 2 hours to Detroit and another 3 to SA. There, the parish priest and the CMI cultural centre in charge Fr George Thadathil, received me with the young CMI, Fr Bibin Padiyara. We had some food - typical Malayalee kappa & meat, and then retired for the night. As per my request Fr G had arranged Mr Roy, a former CMI trainee, to take me around to San Francisco. The ride was good. San Francisco, especially the classical Golden Gate over the Pacific, was misty and cold, and I caught a cold. But relished the bridge. The weather, the view, and we liked around - enjoying unique flora and avian fauna. At the town, we had a typical British lunch of fish and chips. 

We returned. Had some food, and then I was dropped at the Greyhound bus stand, as suggested by me, making it comfortable and affordable for all concerned. Fr George took my ticket to LA and also gave me some pocket money. 

The bus ride was fine and the lady who was at the wheel for the fairly long trip of about 400 miles, reached us before time. I was received there by Bella and Garry, faithful senior parishioners of Fr Sebastian Vettickal. They took me for breakfast, which was heavy, but to which I did full justice. 

Then we arrived at the rectory - I was glad to see Fr Savience, my predecessor at SHC, with his brother there. He was on a personal visit. We exchanged pleasantries. He was to leave that night itself. 

 After a while, Sebastian arrived, he is negotiating with some problem with his heart. We were meeting after a long time - almost 30 years. According to his arrangement, Bella and Garry came again, took me aaround the Botanical Garden, the Hollywood area, and then a fabulous exhibition of a 18th century painting of Crucifixion and a modern sequel of Resurrection - something really worth seeing. We returned. We had some dinner. And next day, after the mass, I was taken to a bus station, from where buses ply to the airport for a very reasoanble rate (USD 12). This is a great arrangement to reduce traffic and the burden on the commuters and their friends as well.

I flew to Houston, where Biji and Aniyan came to receive me. It is a one hour drive. At their home in Sugarland, familiar to me from several visits now, Aleena had prepared some food in spite of her busy schedule of job and volunteering in the Church.  It was salmon and shrimp! Good effort, though there is room for improvement. 

The next day, I was taken to St Thomas Aquinas by Aniyan and I had meetings with the acting President, the vice President for international affairs and Dr Beena, the head of the business school, who is the daughter of the erstwhile chief engineer of our Rajagiri Engineering College. Later on, I attended the regular mass of the campus at 1200. It was St James' Day. And then I was treated to the classic texan steak at the very famous local restaurant, and sent off with promises of follow-up.  In the evening, Palakkappillil (Kiliyatt) Paul hosted a local alumni gathering.  Though the food was good, the giant steak of the afternoon would not let me eat anything more. The gathering was cordial and informal, and I got to know them better. The next day, Brigit also gave me some gifts, and they dropped me off at the airport. 

MEXICO - GUADALAJARA - IFCU I flew to Mexico and waited almost 4 hours for my colleagues from Christ University - the VC and the in-charge of the international office - to arrive. The local resident Malayalee, Augustine, introduced to us by Fr Jobichan was there and was very obliging. He took us too the place of our residence at the seminary of the the Scalabrianos. Fr Rector received us well. We retired for the night in the comfort of a religious home, and woke up to offer mass. 

Guadalupe: After a breakfast, we were led by Augustine to the famous (and perhaps, the oldest) Marian pilgrim centre of Guadalupe, about an hour drive from where we were lodged.  The history of its development into a pilgrim centre is interesting - with an apparition to a farmer/shepherd Juan (pronounced Huan, meaning John) sometime in the 17th century. After much testing the bishop was convinced of something extraordinary there, and it got established as a Marian centre, with Mother Mary in a typically Mexican attire. 

Pilgrims throng in thousands, and there are masses - one after the other. The devotion is palpable. There are groups coming from different parts of the country or the continent, and camping on the premises, reminding me of the melas of UP; the drastic difference seen in cleanliness and orderliness, in spite of the rush; and very minimal littering. 

We were invited for the birthday celebrations of Augustine's son - and were the chief guests.   The next morning, we left for Guadalajara (pronounced gWadalahara) about 500 kms away.  There we were received by a deacon Lalo of Scalabrianos, who is to be ordained this year. While the Christ University people were lodged in a top hotel, I chose the seminary accommodation of the Scalabrianos, as the hotel accommodation would have been around 75 to 100 USD per day.  

The assembly of the Catholic Universities began with a simple inaugural function - 2 cardinals and 3 bishops, besides several other Vatican dignitaries. It was followed by solemn Eucharist with the university choir making a powerful impact. And then there was cocktail dinner by the host university. 

The conference was costing me about 850 euros, which was funded by Bijnor province, for which I work now. That was gracious of them. This included just the conference and accompanying programmes, and meals on the site.  It amounted to Rs. 87000 in Indian rupees. The cost of travel and accommodation, extra. Perhaps, this is the last time I attended this gathering.  I had always been critical of it, saying that it was not being 'catholic' but rather an exclusive club - highly Eurocentric. But those criticisms had fallen on deaf ears. 

The five-day gathering was engaging with presentations, reflections, sharing and also election for a new committee. Now, Christ VC would represent Indian Catholic universities (read, Colleges) on this board. Prior to him, I was representing them.  There are some 400 Catholic Colleges in India.  One special feature of the programme was an outing to Tequila (a region which makes the popular Mexican alcohol - Tequila. It is made out of Agave - a thorny desert plant, resembling pineapple. It grows large enough to have a stem weighing 30 to 40 kilos in about 3 years. Shorn of all its leaf-blades, it would resemble a huge pineapple, and is called its 'heart', which is cut, dried, processed to make Tequila).  We were introduced to the drink and had a fabulous lunch on the factory dining hall. 

St. Therese of Liseux Parish - Brooklyn, New York From there I hurried back to Brooklyn on August 2nd morning, and managed to reach the rectory  flying across the middle of US for almost 3 hours.  Next day onwards, I remained practically stay put there - regular mass at 9 am, confessions on Saturday evening, sick calls and annointing as and when required, baptisms - pre-arranged, and some funerals. 

My friend Sajan made his bicycle available and that kept me mobile.  The beautiful Prospect Park was just 3 miles away, and in that there was well laid bicycle tracks for bicyclists.  Good many of the city roads in New York have provision for a bicycle track, and it is safe that way. However, I still found it safer to ride a bike in Kochi and/or in India than anywhere else.  As we are a free country, and since we don't follow any rules, it is easier for us here😜😜. 

We had a gathering at Manikath Sunny's place of former SH students and a few turned up. I went there by bus after the mass, and returned by a late night bus to arrive well in time for the next day's mass. 

Dayton of Wright Brothers I had a vague idea that there was something to see in Kentucky - other than the fried chicken. There were quite a few CMI brothers working there, however, my only available free days of Saturday and Sunday would be the busiest days for them. Hence, I switched to a Plan B without delay. There was our alumnus, Mr Bejoy John, who had welcomed me that side and promised to link me to a Catholic university in his neighbourhood. He was quick to respond and instead of my proposal to drive from Dayton to the Chicago meet, he decided to fly and booked ticket for me too. So, winding up on the 5th of September with the usual mass, followed by a funeral mass, I rushed to airport - and with a stop over at Chicago Midway, proceeded to Cincinnatti, where I was received by Bejoy and his family member Cuckoo (a mix of Golden terrier and something else); a very very friendly and intelligent dog. The next day we spent in exploring the feats of Wright brothers and other Dayton pioneers. Visiting the original bicycle workshop of the brothers from where they flew to the heights of atmosphere. Then we visited the Airforce Museum - a great show of the growth of air defence from the earliest to the latest times. It is worth exploring for a whole day!! 

The United flight to Chicago insisted that the only handbag be checked in, for USD 40.00. However, there were just 5 passengers, and the only air crew on board decided to treat all of us as first class passengers. Offering us a free drink and refreshement on the house during the 40 minutes flight. 

Chicago: The Chicago gathering was all the more enriching thanks to the efforts made by the senior alumnus Herald, and the young alumnus Allen. Allen's whole family was involved and was almost overwhelmingly hospitable to me - though I am unused to any such niceties. But I had no choice. Allen's excellent PR work led to a good coverage on the media. The small programme got some sponsorship as well. The gathering was informal - all those who wanted to share something had time for it. Then we had a singing session with two of the sponsors from IDF (India Development Foundation) regaling the audience with their talent. 

Pope Leo's Chicago Neighbourhood - Dalton The next day, Allen and Herald took me around - on their plans, I had to cancel my planned visit to Fr John Kizhakkedan (hope you all remember him), who had established a scholarship for SH in my name.  We visited the childhood home of the present Pope Leo, a very ordinary, almost run down neighbourhood and home. Now a black settlement in a very neglected part of the Chicago suburb of Dolton. His parish church of St Mary's was found dilapidated and abandoned.  His home has been given a facelift after he was elected pope.  People have started visiting the place. There is a friendly policewoman on guard. The next door neighbour, Dana, who confessed herself to be an Evangelist, has taken upon herself to host the visitors, providing them directions, and for those who need some refreshments for the usual price. She also gathers prayer requests and get them blessed by some priest coming to visit the place. While the visit in itself was not of any interest to me, the possibility of a backward neighbourhood developing and becoming a better place thanks to someone from that neighbourhood being elected Pope is appealing to me. 

Broken Wagon Bison Farm Then we went to visit a farm rearing the Great Buffaloes (Bisons) of the 

native Americans.  The species almost on the verge of extinction due to the exploitation by the colonisers - killing millions for their skin, and also as a political strategy of depleting resources of the natives, so as to force them out of their localities - saw a great come back, thanks to the conservation efforts from the early 20th century including those by the leaders like President Roosevelt (himself an avid hunter turned conservationist).  Birde's Broken Wagon Bison (BWB) farm, which began about 20 years ago with just 4 cows, have now more than 120 animals.  This is the American national animal, and almost a sacred animal for the native Americans - however, that does not prevent them from rearing them and eating their meat!! The souvenir shop offers the skulls of buffaloes with horns, ranging from $75 to $200. They were generous enough to take the three of us on a farm wagon to the farm, where we remained amidst the herd of buffaloes grazing on the 160 acre ground - some of them really huge.

 

Heartian Family of Allen: After an Onam meal at Allen's home,  with kids of Allen's sister Anu (also our alumna - their maternal Grandfather, maternal uncle etc were also Heartian alumni) becoming unusually friendly with me, I had to bid good bye. Allen took me for a night ride of the down town around the River Chicago. I posed for a picture at the Art Institute of Chicago, where Swami Vivekananda made history by presenting the greatness of Vedanta to an American audience.  The street is named after him. 

On my insistence, Allen drops me at the airport. Flight is at 6 am, and they would not do the security clearance before 3 am. So we wait. Security cleared, the rest of the matter is normal.  At Laguardia, I rely on public transport - bus to subway (Metro), subway to Times Square, changing to No. 2 train, getting down at Newkirk and Little Haiti, then bus B8 to 45th street. Next three hours are spent in washing and packing, and by 4 pm, Fr Liju drops me at JFK. With sweets for friends and  staff my minimal baggage is overloaded.  For the permitted 46 kilos, I had just 28 kilos, but I felt overburdened by that. The major components were sweets/dry fruits for students & staff and the CMI house, and about half a dozen fiction books (received free) for the library. 

The Indigo connection from Istanbul was significant only for its near empty vessel, which permitted all those who wanted to stretch and sleep, a provision for that. Otherwise, there was nothing to do in that - no in-flight entertainment, no-food-or-refreshment-flight, except one warm meal for the entire stretch of the 7-hour flight! 

Arriving at 5 am in Delhi, I try to extend my air trip to Lucknow to gain 4 to 5 hours and show my face at the office for the day - but the price for the only flight that would suit my purpose is prohibitive - more than Rs. 10000 (usual fare around Rs 3500), plus Rs. 1200 for every kilo of the additional check-in baggage.  Though it was a tough task reaching and loading the four bags I was having, I thought it was trouble worth to save over Rs. 20000.00.

But connecting to public transport was not all that difficult - Airport express line takes you to New Delhi station in about 25 minutes, you shift to the Yellow Line to the next station (Rajeev Chowk), from there you get the blue line going to Vaishali, and you are there at ISBT Anand Vihar - all these stations accessible by lift! Even though I was willing to engage a porter (perhaps for the first time), I didn't have to do that - nor did I find porters readily available.  I get a Haryana Roadways bus to Sitapur by 8 am.  The conductor is quite friendly having guessed that I have travelled from abroad. Wants to share his share of US stories of his nephews and cousins who go there in 'the no. 2 channel', still finding it a risk worth taking!! He owes me Rs. 72. I wait to see if he asks for that after all that friendly chat. But he conveniently forgets it, but backed with dollar power, I treat it as a tip!! There are any number of trans-gender people out there in begging trade, and they coerce men to contribute.  Though never yielding to any such pressures, this time, I check my wallet and finding a 20 rupee note, donate the same. At the stop-over Dhaba, I treat myself to 2 masala kulhad tea and 2 packets of potato chips. I notice that he is charging Rs. 10 extra on each packet.  The usual me, either argue for the MRP, or decide not to purchase, making it known to them. But I don't. I am changing, or I am just getting old!!

At Sitapur, I get an e-rickshaw - the driver is not willing to fix any rate and insists on 'aap ki marzi'. He takes me to the monastery door, and I pay him a generous fee of Rs. 100.00 (usually 50 or 60), and he does not stand for any argument. 

Thus ends my trip of 1 month and 20 days. 

Children of Wisdom

Sep. 17, 2025 Wed. 

Wisdom is vindicated by all her children. Lk 7:35

We are often tossed between opinions around us, and easily swayed in those directions, as often we ourselves are directionless. I like Jesus the man who walked the land of Palestine 2000 years ago, because, he realised this human predicament, analysed that and decided to walk coolly, giving it a go-by.

When Fr Vattoly Augustine resigned from the office of the parish priest of Kadamakkudy, there are opinions in favour and against his action. While I too feel there could have been several alternatives to tackle the issue, based on his own argument – that these matters are not fundamental; not a matter worth fighting, as what is of primary importance is to bring about the ideals that Jesus stood for. Then, the whole thing could have been tackled without so much of fuss.

However, this has now been used by him to drive a point home that a Church insisting on ritualism as something fundamental cannot be a real Church, and that has to be resisted.  It is that conviction that leads to such a boldacious action, and I salute that.

Now Jesus speaks about wisdom and vindication of wisdom by her children.  

What could this wisdom be?

Like truth, Wisdom is God herself! And her children are endowed with wisdom.

In presenting the levels of getting to know the truth, typically we are faced with data, collated to give information, analysed to produce knowledge and sifted and assumed to make befitting decisions. At this final level, perhaps, we can speak of wisdom. And in the Sanskrit tradition, we have a beautiful description for that: ‘nityanitya vastu vivekam’ – the skills that enable one to distinguish between what is sustainable/permanent and what is transitory.

Wisdom in our day-to-day interactions is easily inhibited by the typical human tendency to ‘judge people and situations’ based on one’s perceptions and prejudices. We jump to conclusions regarding the motives, attitudes or decisions of others, without even trying to see what would have made them act in a specific manner. So, a typical child of wisdom would be able to suspend or hold one’s judgement on a particular phenomenon (person, event, interaction) and look into the various aspects of it, and arrive at a conclusion.

Second, s/he would have the skill to air that opinion or judgement in such a manner that it builds up rather than breaks.

Those not trained in the school of wisdom are the people generally referred to as ‘opinionated’ – i.e., having one’s opinion on anything and everything in a dogmatic fashion.

Even St. Robert Bellarmine, whom we celebrate today, while being bold enough, could not finally take a stand on the side of Galileo, on whose side was indeed the truth, as we know now, though he did oppose punishing him.  Such a stance requires the combination of wisdom and conviction, from which emerges the courage to side with truth as dawned on oneself.

O wisdom eternal, be you my guide in my steps to discern what is lasting and what is passing; what builds up and what breaks down, and choose always what is right and what adds to the common good.  Amen.

A SORROWFUL MYSTERY

Sep. 12, 2025

I sleep, thinking that I am dead tired!

And in the middle of the night, I wake up to find:

I am a sorrowful mystery!

I am true!

Not a figment of imagination

But truly a presence on this planet.

But, true?

I find myself a pack of lies

Built on a wall of lies

Ready to collapse at any whiff of a wind!

But I am a sorrowful mystery!

Walking, fancifully thinking I am happy

But finding myself wretched at those rare moments of truth

And still go about floating, gloating about nothing

Woe is me, a pathetic, sorrowful mystery

Not even realising that I am a sorrowful mystery!

But I am joyous mystery!

Going about cheering myself and cheering others

In spite of the lies around me

In spite of the sorrows around me

Because I am! In spite of all the odds, on this beautiful Common Home

Which forgets sorrows and rolls on, moves on

Bringing a different cheer every season - hot and cold, warm and cool. 

Oh I am gonna be a glorious mystery!

Yes, I can, in spite of the odds

Wrap the sorrowful in a sheath of joy

Clear the mass and mess of lies, ringing the hard wretchedness in truth

And still find I can be joyful

Because, in spite of my rebelling thoughts

I BELIEVE and HOPE I am born to be glorious in yarning joy from the threads of sorrows

Ever re-creating myself anew.