Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
`There's so much social pressure on kids'
PHOTO: M. PERIASAMY
He rattles off words with practised precision. She waits a while before coming up with an observation completely different from the worldview. Both have famous parents. Karti P. Chidambaram and Kanimozhi have been friends for long. And both advocate freedom of speech. Less than a year ago, they started www.karuthu.com, a free-style blog to allow people to express their opinion. In town for a `Karuthu' meeting, where the topics range from the reservation policy to the ban on the Da Vinci Code, the two take time off to indulge in some friendly talk.
Subha J Rao listens in.
Karti: I love sports. It is only next to my daughter and politics. (He used to play tennis at the national level) And you?
Kanimozhi (laughing): No football for me.
(The talk then meanders to Karuthu and people's responsibility)
Karti: The idea was to give people a platform for freedom of speech without any agenda or editorial policy. Where I can speak as myself. Anything outlandish, controversial... . but no slander.
Kanimozhi: And, people are generally responsible when it comes to their posts. They put up decent stuff. Occasionally, we have had to censor language because they have written in anger.
(How does it feel when people pass comments about their parents on a website?)
Karti: Our names are not there on the website. And, we don't post often too. And, remember we encourage people to express different views.
Kanimozhi: It is an outlet. I believe in freedom of expression. It will never go out of fashion. Of course, there is occasional interference from political parties and the government.
(They then get talking about their friendship that cuts across political barriers)
Karti: Just because our respective parties have a problem, it does not mean I will stop being your friend. Or that Karuthu will go defunct. (What do they discuss when they meet up?)
Karti: Lots of things. Mostly our kids. Your son Adithyan is older than my kid.
Kanimozhi: Actually, I share a lot of interests with your wife (dancer Srinidhi Chidambaram), who is into Tamil literature and your mother (advocate Nalini Chidambaram), who loves music.
Karti: They are all artistic people. For me, sport is an art by itself. It is terrible that the nation does not have the concept of `sporting families', where the entire family involves itself in some activity.
Kanimozhi: Most think it is a waste of time.
Karti: I think there must be a legislation that any school without a playground will be de-recognised.
Kanimozhi: There is so little place for kids to play; even where there is, no one encourages them.
Karti: And, tuitions take up so much of their free time. In my opinion, tuitions, exams and homework are the three biggest curses in a student's life. We talk about cut-off marks and entrance exams. I don't understand how someone who has scored 99 per cent is considered inferior to someone who has secured 99.5 per cent.
Kanimozhi: They approach Class XII exams like it is the only deciding factor, as if there is no second chance.
Karti: There is always a second chance in life. In politics, you can win another election, in films, there will be another Friday ... By the way, how were you as a student?
Kanimozhi: I was all right till Class X. Then, I chose subjects I was interested in and did well.
Karti: Don't you think there is no all-round development in education these days?
Kanimozhi: Yes. In the present set-up, things come to a standstill during exams. When kids come home, there are no friends, no ice cream, no television, no sports. It is only tuition, exams and practice. How will they be interested in real education?
Karti: Exactly. Some of these regular school toppers are not articulate and cannot write a page well either in English or Tamil. The school system is improper.
Kanimozhi: If you ask questions, it is not taken too kindly. It is only mugging now.
Karti: And, you don't get marks if you answer in your style. Luckily, I never did homework after Class VI. I got away as I was good in sports. There needs to be serious overhauling in the way we run schools.
Kanimozhi: Yes. We must teach kids to think. They should be happy to go to school.
Karti: Schools should be fun, no? Why must children come up with aches on a Monday morning?
Kanimozhi: Every parent wants his kid to do only engineering or medicine.
Karti: I think a liberal arts education must be made compulsory. I am yet to come across a complete holistic education here.
Kanimozhi: Social pressure is such a big problem.
Karti: And, parents treat their kids like performing artistes. Why should they be made to sing and dance for everyone?
(They talk about growing up as children of famous parents. How have they coped with the pressure?)
Karti: I guess you just learn to tolerate these things. People think that every time you do something good it is because of your father and every time you fail, it is in spite of him. My point is that I am not his clone. I'd like to succeed and fail at my own pace.
Kanimozhi: I have no complaints. Of course, you get to enjoy some privileges.
Karti: Actually, once you learn to live with it, it is not so bad.
Kanimozhi: It exposes us to a different world. The experience is beautiful.
Karti: That way, the world of tennis is egalitarian. There is no sense of insecurity because you are someone's son.
Kanimozhi: In my case, I chose the same line as my father. My style is different and it took time for people to warm up to that. Some people compare, others appreciate. Every child goes through trauma while growing up. Ours was just different.
(How does it feel being in the limelight from such a young age and meeting people?)
Karti: I like meeting people, interacting with them.
Kanimozhi: I think before I talk. I take time to open up.
Karti: You mean, I don't think before speaking (laughing)
Kanimozhi: No. I just meant I need my space.
(They talk of their respective careers)
Karti: You worked? I didn't know that.
Kanimozhi: Yes. For about four years.
Karti: My biggest regret is that I have never worked under someone. How was it working in an office?
Kanimozhi: After the treatment at home, it felt different taking orders from people. Not just at office. In any place, perceptions mattered. If they liked my dad, they would be good to me. The most difficult part was that people had preconceived notions about how someone from a background like mine will behave.
Karti: I think that if I had worked under someone, the learning process would have been much easier. I would have been a better person. And, would have developed mudalali thimir (arrogance of an employer) much later. If there is something in life that I can change it is this.
((Any regrets in life?)
Karti: I wanted to be a tennis pro. At 17, I knew I would not be able to make it. I was playing my best, but not well enough to make the cut.
Kanimozhi: I have no regrets.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
|
