Ramblings & Rants

This may not be a popular view in my generation, but I find the shock and scandal that can be inferred from every line of this article just a bit ridiculous.

It has always been true that, in UK universities (and many other countries), if you pay the full tuition up front you get a 1-2% “discount”, where as if you pay in instalments, it’s the full amount.

Let’s also clarify that student loans ONLY begin charging any interest “from the day your first payment is made until your loan is repaid in full” (http://www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk/portal/page?_pageid=93,6678755&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL). Additionally, you are ONLY required to start paying back the loans after you earn above a certain threshold (I believe that’s currently approx £21,000 annually).

Now, just think about what this article is saying. Is there anywhere in the world, for large cost services, where you are not given incentive to pay upfront? Instalment payments exist for cars, homes, engagement rings, electronics, kitchen appliances like fridges, even the cost of surgeries (in private practise) has instalment plans. The reason these plans exist is to make it more affordable for those people that live paycheck to paycheck. It means you can pay smaller amounts per month. But is also true that overall, in pretty much every instalment plan I’ve come across, you will pay more total. Rather than it being shown as an “interest”, generally whole payment is incentivised as a “discount”. This is because it is riskier as a service/product provider to take on instalments and a lump sum payment is much better for cash flow issues. Also, as a consumer (see: student), even the wealthiest would rather pay in instalments if there are no discounts attached to a lump sum, because a large sum of money will always disrupt your own cash flow in some way.

Now, let also clarify that, if you choose to pay in instalments that are readily available at all UK universities, then it is NOT just “rich” students that can afford to bypass student loans, (although you won’t get the mammoth 1-2% discount 🙄). In fact the instalments, are created to be affordable to a significant percentage of the population.

If you do choose to take advantage of the, frankly incredible, student loan scheme (for a second pull your head out of the ground and check higher education options and costs around the world), then I just don’t see why it’s outrageous to charge interest after you can afford to pay it back. If there was never any interest added, what incentive do you have to pay back the “loan”. As it is, the default rate for these loans is shocking, because people that don’t actually want higher education but do want a fun filled three year uni experience, use student loans as a three year all expenses pId joy ride. Having been to university in Newcastle myself, I have personal experience of fellow students that blew the part of the loans and grants they got for “food and housing” on cigarettes (sub other substances) and parties, and then went on to moan about living off baked beans and not having rent money that month and that they were so poor. As an international student, I didn’t have an option for a student loan, but I was definitely living off less or the same monthly as these people. But when I could afford to go out for food occasionally, I was told “well you’re well off”. My reply was always the same “I also didn’t spend £40 on cigarettes this week...”.

I am by no means an atheist, although I generally dislike organised religion. In fact, I’ve always felt that it’s a bit arrogant to believe that there are no higher beings or powers than human ones.

However, what is happening today in India in religions name is frankly sacrilegious at best.

There are large temples that are stunning to behold and so I don’t mind paying “Darshan” to visit places like Tiroupati or The Golden Temple at Amritsar, because I know that the money that’s demanded by the pundits will at least partially go into maintaining these beautiful temples which constitute part of our national heritage.

However, I recently went to Udaipur with my family. There I had the horrific misfortune of visiting the famous Nathdwara temple. First, of course, the temple was only open for “darshan” for an hour or two. Then, or course the only way to get in quick enough was to buy a “VIP Darshan” package that gets you in a separate queue.

It is then demanded, well before walking inside the Mandir, that both shoes AND SOCKS are removed! Given that you then have to walk over uneven, cold, stone, the experience is akin to acupuncture on the feet. Not to mention that it was a cold time of year and my arthritic Grandmother was not allowed socks either (she carried them and put them on once past the guards, because she wouldn’t have been capable of walking otherwise). This doesn’t even take into account the unknown dirt on the ground we walked through.

Then came the real show. We were stood in front of a closed door, carefully guarded. Batches of people were let in every 2 minutes or so. When we were finally let in, it was to a blank white walled corridor leading towards the Darshan room. This would be disappointing but ok, except that the 2 minute time limit created a hysterical stampede to the Darshan (not an exaggeration I was literally shoved deliberately multiple times). By the time we made it to the tiny Darshan room, it was like being taken by a flood, think rush hour on the tube and multiply by 10. Not only could I not dictate my movement through the room, but I had to keep a firm hold on my grandmother who is a bit fragile and was LITERALLY lifted off her feet at one point because she was pushed over but there was no room to fall. So realistically I saw nothing (though I’m told there’s a big emerald in the idol’s beard (frankly there are easier ways to view gemstones).

In all of this madness the pundits were using there scarves to whip people along through the room and get out (so that the next batch could come in). At one point, they drew curtains down on the idol (like a theatre) and asked the crowd for an encore.

When, we made it to the other side and were pushed out, I had to hug my terrified and shaking grandmother for a good five minutes before she was calm enough to proceed. Of course, this is when a large bronze tray comes into view where you are meant to place your Darshan (although Darshan as a phrase encompasses any gift, here it really only means cash). I’ll be honest, I don’t believe that god lives in places such as this, and as such I didn’t give a donation at all. Instead I took the money I had allocated and bought breakfast for a few of the hoards of children outside the temple that either beg for a living or sell balloons and carvings.

Given that individual people donate thousands of rupees to the temple everyday, I’m sure they didn’t feel the lack of my 200rupee (£2/$3)donation. But, for those kids, people like me are probably the only way they get fed through the day. I’ll be frank and say that’s the ONLY part of my visit that made me feel like a good person in any way.

This ramble has turned into a retelling of one experience as apposed to an article on the monetisation of religion in India as a whole. However, it gets the point across. Nathdwara is NOT the only place of “worship” to operate in such a way. This experience doesn’t even take into account the followings and cash drawn in by living, human gurus that fashion themselves as Gods. Their followers so rabid that they are physically violent towards anyone that is sceptical or “disrespectful”.

When demonitisation occurred a few years ago, gurus and pandits where found with Crores (£/$ millions) in cash in their home. How do you make millions as a priest? Well monetise everything (especially your blessings) and make it clear that the more money people give you the better their karma will be. Not to mention no cash income is reported (just hidden away in cupboards) and a large part of religious donations are not taxable in the first place.

Disclaimer: One persons opinion piece! If you agree or you don’t and have a constructive comment to add, then please do!

I have been wondering since registering this account, what to write my first entry on. Indian media decided me today.

Two top level Cricket Players on the Indian National team are facing the wrath of BCCI (cricket board) after going on a prominent Indian talk show, “Coffee with Karan”. They made sexist and derogatory remarks in front of the country and will be punished accordingly.

Everyone’s reaction to this was predictable...Rightous comments along the lines of, “Great! They should be taking this behaviour seriously!”

I had a similar first reaction. Then I sat down and watched the interview. The comments (I don’t promise exact quotes but am paraphrasing what I remember!) included admissions of sleeping around, and having casual sex in other players hotel rooms, on tour. The comments that stuck with me include, Hardik Pandyas methods of pulling at clubs by watching how the girl moves from afar but also “spanking” the occasional derrière within range. Not to mention he then boasts about sleeping with many of the cheerleaders that perform at IPL matches.

So frankly after hearing all this what really gets to me is this. For him to have mentioned all of this in an interview, clearly this is not unacceptable behaviour amongst the cricketing fraternity. The sense of entitlement with which everything was said, showed that this behaviour is acceptable, if you are a successful sportsman with enough celeb caché in India.

I find myself annoyed now that everyone is outraged that these two players “dared to say these things on national television”. That’s not why you should be angry.

Be angry that the cricketing fraternity is still chauvinistic enough to normalise the behaviour. Be angry that these players think that they are bestowing favours on the women who’s ass they choose to grab at clubs. Be angry that they seem to assume that all women are easy and should be grateful for their attention if given.

The interview is just saying things. Yes, it has an impact. But the punishments given should be for the disgustions actions and behaviours enacted by the men, not for talking about those actions publicly.