Discipline, Financial Penalty and Success

Every educational institution is primarily a training house. Good institutions transfer good values to the students/trainees that are good for the future of the student/trainee. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:11).

Disciplinary action is an essential tool for managing unwanted behavior in the workplace. In ancient Indian political and strategic philosophy, the four actions of Saam (dialogue), Daam (persuasion), Dand (coercion) and Bhed (alienation) were very significant. These are processes through which training can be implemented. They were also used in bilateral relations among nations, employer-employee interactions and training houses.

Although there are many processes involved in instilling discipline among the students/trainees in comparison to mature employees, monetary penalties, like fines, are always justified to be most effective. Compared to any other steps, it discourages people from repeating the offence by making it financially undesirable. A significant fine can temporarily limit an offender's ability to continue her/his carelessness due to financial strain.

As a means to deter future misconduct by imposing a financial cost on the offender and thereby acting as a punishment proportional to the offence, financial penalties have brought stability and quality to many nations and organizations. However, its effectiveness can be debated based on factors like the offender's ability to pay and the severity of the violation.

Some of the following points are worth considering in relation to financial penalties.

1. A student/trainer/employee should be aware of the pros and cons of offence

2. An educational institution/government/firm/trainer should make the policies transparent at least through an internal note

3. Decisions on financial penalties should be objective. 

4. A student/trainer/employee should not take anything for granted. For, St. Paul writes, ‘but I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified’ (1 Corinthians 9:27).

In a transparent system where the penalties are not arbitrary, one must note that the penalties are not income-generating mechanisms for the institutions. If people comply with the rules and regulations, there will not be a fine.

I like the way credit card companies use penalty policies. They have a combination of late payment fees, higher interest rates, and over-limit fees. Additional charges are levied when cardholders don't pay their due on time as late payment charges. Late payment charges can damage one’s credit score and lead to interest accrual. Many credit card companies levy a penalty interest rate if a payment is due for over 60 days. The penalty rate may be as high as 50% of the outstanding bill amount. A penalty is charged by credit card companies when cardholders' purchases exceed their credit limit. All these are imposed after one enjoys the privilege of purchasing without cash in hand. Does a credit card company accept any apologies for the late payment or for crossing the credit limit? If students are going to face the world, they should be aware of the things in the world. Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid (Proverbs 12:1).

If a student’s/trainee's performance remains unsatisfactory, she/he should receive penalties of various levels depending on the expected outcome of the training. However, the student/trainee can always leave the training if she/he is unsatisfied with the system. It is said, “if you throw peanuts, you will get only monkeys”. If your discipline is diluted, you will not get the expected outcome.” Mr Narendra Modi, is the prime minister of India for three consecutive terms. It is heard that he works for nearly 19 hours a day. Ms Mamata Banerjee, the West Bengal chief minister for the third time, is also working around 20 hours a day. Many successful sportspersons, including some Olympians, engaged in financial penalty-based training. A well-disciplined hard work, with a clear view of what is at a loss if they do not work hard, is the simple justification for their success. It is said in the Bible, ‘whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him’ (Proverbs 13:24).

Jesus said, ‘Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and God what belongs to God (Mark 12:17). If you want to be smart in the world, do smart things of the world and get trained in the hardest way.

Develop a skeleton for each day

One has to develop one's own habit of writing. One important  characteristic of habit is that one may not realize what one does in a habitual action. This has positive and negative impacts. 

In skill oriented works, this provides speed and perfection. Even at home we do experience some of these habitual actions that make us happy.  In my  mind the most noticeable habitual action at home is my mother's cooking. She cooks like a magician. All our mothers do this. Mothers are miracles. They are miracle workers. 

Nevertheless, habitual actions may not always be good. Prayer is the best case. We do not even sometimes know what we do during the prayer time. Another less impactful action is our relationships and gestures at home. We take things for granted and lead life without enjoying the thrill of it.  Do we appreciate what our family members do? Do we express it publicly?

Writing can be meaningful even when it becomes a habitual action. It might be boring too after some time. One way to improve writing as a meaningful habitual action is  to have a skeleton for everyday writing. For example, at least invisibly you can have the following points whenever you write.

• Introduction
• Inauguration
• Examples
• Major stress
• Narrative style
• Story
• Pictures
• Quotes
• Comparisons
• Conclusion

Once you have these kinds of points to focus, take a permutation of them on each day. Let your writing be a flow. Let it be a dance of words on your paper.

Computer and Internet can wait

 As a toddler, I started writing with my fingers on a spread of rice.

Now, when I look behind, the tool and the platform I left on the road less travelled by were  many. They kept changing as I grew up even without my knowledge. Each of these tools and the platform brings in nostalgic memories. Much more are the various thinking processes I had gone through while handling them. Each of them takes me through my formative years from being a toddler to a teacher. Let me list down the writing tools and platforms I used over the last four decades.

1. Finger and Rice
2. Pencil and Slate
3. Graphite Pencil and Paper
4. Graphite Pencil and Paper/Notebook
5. Fountain Pen and Notebook
6. Ballpoint Pen and Notebook
7. Typewriter and Paper
8. Keyboard and Computer
9. Mobile
10. Voice
11. Stylus and tablet

I still use the graphite pencil and sheets of paper to draw and sometimes to write. It gives us the flexibility to correct our errors without any hurt. Many authors used to tell me that they use graphite pencils for writing. It is quite a challenging task to leave computers and the Internet. On some days you can experiment with the pencil and paper. Do not forget to keep an eraser next to you.

Tips for writing regularly

It is wonderful to write. It is even wonderful to write on a regular manner. Here are some tips to make writing as a habit.

#Tip 1

Computer and Internet can wait: Write in a paper using a pencil without looking at a computer or using the internet.

#Tip 2

Develop a skeleton for each day.

#Tip 3

Focus on some keywords.

#Tip 4

One day at a time.

#Tip 5

Include a minimum of three new words.

#Tip 6

Aim a sentence of 11 words at a time.

#Tip 7

An explanation is not a luxury.

#Tip 8

Infuse positivity in writing by intentionally inserting pleasant words.

#Tip 9

Email what you have written, to some of your best friends.

#Tip 10

Believe in yourself. You are an excellent writer.

The Rereading

I feel like reading it again and again.
Then, I did it again and again.
I feel I can't reciprocate line by line.
Then I did try in vain again.

Out of me, I doubted, you were born.
Out of mind, I know, when I blow horn.
For me too, I guess, you were born
For all you do, I think, I blow my horn.

I have felt from the day one the bond.
I felt I had this supernatural connection.
I've knelt never to someone else's perception.
I feel proud to see you are on your own.

You could write, things, of your own,
On your life and on your imagination.
On your books and MacBook, and religion.
On your grandma and on your passion.

I am here to read, from dusk to dawn.
I am there to comment line by line,
And sometimes to commend a line,
Or two, but be confident of this bond.

I can't label you in this special connection,
For any label is limiting a bond.
As for me, unbounded is every bond
Spanning the boundaries of every imagination.

Religion of legions

A human being who perpetuates hatred is worse than the stinging nettles.
A religion that is not tolerant is worse than a terrorist organization.
A God who is nothing but love is the evil, if it exists.

I struggle with those who have religion for their hands and heads, than for their hearts and hence,
It is better to be alone than in a bad company.
I may die starving rather than sharing the cup of blood of my brethren.

Knowing that someone else loves what one loves

A night has passed

With a bite of shock.

Nothing seriously did I do,

But the act of night, sleep.

I am fresh, but with the tremors

I am at shock even after a night.

Hearing that you are a hoopster

Is what made me motionless.

Hearing about you singing,

Dancing, Writing, Painting

Drawing, Acting, Chanting

Would never give me shock.

What a wholesome person

One can be with a taste

For letters, stories, thoughts,

Art and a fine mix of sports!

Nights and days can't stay

So the tremors will recede

And happiness will succeed

Knowing a wholesome person!