'New
normal'
Once Maimonides famously said, "Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him a lifetime". The way Covid-19 has affected us in the last two years is not hidden from anyone. Especially, the students and the education field have faced a lot of challenges and hazards. Online learning was one of the things that were completely nascent, different and challenging. Students, parents and even the teachers had to face many difficulties but finally adapted to the new normal. Talking about the new normal, we can't deny the fact that going digital is the only alternative though it is yet to be developed and accessed by most of the people in our society. With changes, we have to accept the need of being digitally independent and educated. Most people don't know how to use a smartphone properly, especially people above forty years. It's maybe because of the generation gap and the lack of awareness. While the world is depending upon websites and other engines, we as the 'educated people' don't have the basic idea of web designing and developing. It is unfortunate to some extent. But students and children nowadays are familiar with the tech world and they are more tech-savvy themselves. As Elon Musk says, "Future of humanity depends on us merging with the machines." That is why their curriculum can't include proper training on the necessary digital courses like basics of coding, how to develop a website, software programming, VFX, graphics etc. We should make them prepare professionally and personally to stand in this tech era. This era of Artificial intelligence has made machines a lot more capable than ever. With this, AI can store, form and solve many technical issues. So, it is really important to learn how to use and manage AI for our prosperity. In this sea of data, it's easier to be misled and misinformed, but proper learning can prevent that.
We, humans kind have never stopped evolving. While the first world countries use digital devices like we use our pen, paper or kitchen utensils it's still a fantasy for many countries like us to go fully digital. Because going digital doesn't only apply to the metropolitans or the smart cities. It should reach every corner of the country. But again some problems which curtail the 'go digital' tendency are low GDP, poverty, high population rate etc. But it's the new normal. The first process to adopt the new normal is by the acceptance that it is the primary alternative in this era. The next step would be the application and proper training from a young age on the topic and should be included in the curriculum. Only in this way maybe one day we could also participate in the digital race with the other countries.
Dipsikha Barman,
Communication and Journalism Department, GU
Corruption
Buying a luxury car or building a palatial house for an honest government official is not possible in any world. The politicians of many constituencies in India are also government officials as they are drawing a salary from the government, but their salary and their lifestyle do not match. For them building a mansion or buying swanky cars is child's play. The property states that the politicians have to file before the election though not accurate still is a lot that a government salary could ever afford. I have never seen anyone questioning the politicians on their property statements. From all these facts and figures we can say that corruption is weighable. If you put more than the weighing scale can hold, you are labelled corrupt, but if you maintain the balance between corruption and good work you are labelled an honest politician.
Noopur Baruah,
Tezpur