Sutured Dreams

      It's human nature to be drawn into groups. And if you're in college, fitting in is a priority. Take a quick wander around any campus and you'll see people in groups, mostly based on serendipitous criteria like being in the same hostel, the same batch etc. It's convenient to get along with people you're likely to see most days, otherwise things can get awkward. With time, you can see how someone might prioritize being a part of the group ahead of moral values. This is how you get ragging. Nobody rags anyone without backup. There are basically two types of ragging. The so called harmless type where the junior is simply pranked or frightened. Many people approve of this since it has been around for ages. One cannot imagine college life without it. And then there is the serious type which can get you jailed.    When do the fun and games end and serious issues begin? Physical assault is obvious, psychological bullying is more subtle. The scary part ...

    Regardless of your views on the Sabarimala issue or the amount of cash spent on the "Vanitha Mathil", the inescapable reality is that in spite of the incredible progress Kerala made in terms of education, health and sex ratios, we still don't treat women with as much respect as they deserve. Kerala, though better than most states when it comes to women's rights, is not immune to the malaise that still affects much of the country. A recent ICRIER study has shown how the number of women with jobs has actually decreased in the country despite high literacy ( https://www.google.com/amp/s/ www.thehindu.com/news/ national/no-rise-in-working- women-despite-high-literacy- levels-icrier-study/ article25814467.ece/amp/ ). Some of the reasons cited for this peculiar finding is that girls are given a good education not because their parents think deserve a good job, but because they think it will increase the chances of them getting a good marriage. The fairer sex is...

      There is a notion amongst the general public that an MBBS degree pretty much guarantees a good income and a luxurious life. There is a certain lifestyle expected from a doctor. But the reality does not always match up with expectation. First of all, the cost of an MBBS degree is continuously increasing. In order to afford this, you either need to have very good financial support from your family, possibly sell some old family property or take an education loan. The last option means that you will effectively be working to make someone else money once you get your degree. Secondly, the early 20s is a difficult phase to go through. Responsibilities increase. From a relative carefree life as a student, you have to start worrying about being competent at your job and managing things at home. And if you're like me, a single child who lost one parent and saw the other become bedridden within the space of a year, then you are always trying to make ends meet. Sur...

“ That is the one unforgivable sin in any society. Be different and be damned!” ― Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind Every person on this planet is born unique. But that depends on what you mean by unique. Are we each unique in terms of fingerprints and DNA (excluding identical twins)? Yes. But it would be extremely unsatisfying to refer to the ridges on your fingers as the most unique thing about yourself. Once man has secured the luxuries required to ensure survival, he turns his attention to deeper thoughts. He begins to search for self-identity. He yearns to stand out from the rest. He sets out on his own path. The desire to be unique is an essential trait from an evolutionary viewpoint. If everyone was naturally contented with the way everyone was living their lives, the human race would never have been able to reach where it has today. Some of the most influential people in history were the ones courageous enough to stray from the beaten path. But then why doe...

Manchester United have now appointed their 5th manager since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. While managers have come and gone in this tumultuous period for the club, one thing has remained constant. And that's the club's executive vice chairman, Ed Woodward. After taking over from David Gill, Woodward never appeared to be a perfect fit in his role. His football background was questionable. But while his record in terms of managerial appointments and transfers is unconvincing, there is no doubt that he knows how to please the fans in the short-term. It is arguable that United's malaise began even earlier than his appointment. After years of frugal business in the transfer market, the club was  poorly prepared to deal with the inevitable retirements of club legends Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs. The decline of other senior players like Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Robin van Persie and even Wayne Rooney did not help matters in the slightest. ...

After almost 2 and a half seasons at Manchester United, Jose Mourinho has left the club. This makes it yet another club that has sacked Mourinho in his 3rd season. For United fans, it has not come a moment too soon. Jose had managed to suck the enjoyment out of the club with his lifeless brand of football and his toxic personality. I was one person who believed that Mourinho was the right person to take over when Sir Alex Ferguson retired back in 2013. United needed a big personality to handle the pressure of being Fergie's successor and Jose's methods did not seem so outdated back then. Instead, United (with Sir Alex's recommendation) went for David Moyes who found himself out of his depth at the club. When United did hire Mourinho back in 2016, I thought it was the wrong call. United were a club in crisis after not qualifying for the Champions League. And Mourinho seemed to be in a crisis of his own, with his final season at Chelsea going horribly wrong. A club ...

They say the songs you listen to while growing up stay with you more than any you will hear later in life. I have to agree. Some of the songs I heard during high school certainly played a role in shaping who I am today, for better or worse. 1) Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees She lives with a broken man A cracked polystyrene man Who just crumbles and burns In contrast to bands that sing about hope and fantasy, Radiohead through their music has always served as a reminder that we live in the real world and its inadequacies. Fake plastic trees is a song ahead of its time. It is a lamentation of the increasing dehumanization of the modern world. On a simpler level, it's a tragic love song. Thom Yorke's lyrics convey the thoughts of a man clearly dissatisfied with his relationship because he doesn't feel any genuine emotion in a world which seems to be becoming more and more plastic with each day. The greatness of the song lies in the fact that Thom does not us...