The Project Manager's Life 16

It seems that nowadays our industry has become obsessed with certifications. There are certifications for quality control, for program management, and for almost every programming language or packaged product. Without a doubt, some associates spend a tremendous amount of time hitting the books and studying for certification tests, the positive results of which are recorded in personnel records and in CV’s. Clients, in turn, scrutinize these while assessing the qualifications of individuals for acceptance on project teams. Sometimes I wonder whether or not real world experience counts any more. I still think it does. So, hit the books and take the tests, but get out and bathe in experience as Nidaa Fazli proposes.

धूप में निकलो घटाओं में नहा कर देखो
ज़िन्दगी क्या है किताबों को हटा कर देखो

शायर : निदा फ़ाज़ली

دھوپ ميں نکلو گھٹاؤں ميں نہا کر ديکھو
زندگی کيا ہے کتابوں کو ہٹا کر ديکھو

شاعر : ندا فاضلی

Likewise, we are constantly encouraged to approach problems with open minds, to “think out of the box.” In a different ghazal, Nidaa takes another jab at the kitaabi life.

बच्चों के छोटे हाथों को चांद सितारे छूने दो
चार किताबें पढ़ कर वो भी हम जैसे हो जाएंगे

सितारा = तारा

शायर : निदा फ़ाज़ली

بچوں کو چھوٹے ہاتھوں کو چاند ستارے چھونے دو
چار کتابيں پڑھ کر وہ بھی ہم جيسے ہو جائنگے

شاعر : ندا فاضلی

Perhaps it is the balance of the two perspectives that will enable us to perform better. A certain amount of book learning gives us a platform on which to stand if we aspire to reach up and touch the moon and stars, but we have to be willing to push the books aside and learn from experience if we are to be able to reach them.

We have cited numerous ashaar by Nida Fazli in these postings. If you would like to hear his poetry rather than read it, check out his recordings on The South Asian Literary Recordings Project Site ( http://www.loc.gov/acq/ovop/delhi/salrp/fazli.html ). Wa, wa!

There are also recordings in other Indian languages.