Teaching for a Purpose

Teachers are the backbone of any country, the pillar upon which all aspirations are converted into realities


--Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

Hello All....
Long time since my last post.Its been a while since I am here at Pune Symbiosis for TFI training and I am already loving it!!


Though I must say I had a bit of anxiety before coming but with the warm welcome that we all 2012 fellows received on our first day,the little bit of doubt flew out of the window .It was like we already are at home.It feels so fulfilling and happy to be working for a purpose,a need to see an educated India.


Never had I a chance to communicate with the society at such a micro-level,it gets us the reality of where our kids are,the issues due to which there is lack of support for education and the increasing rate of dropouts.
However I feel good to be a part of an organisation that believes that every single child on this earth has a right to education.Isn't it true,we speak of food,clothing and shelter.Doesn't education too become a fourth dimension to all the above rights that everyone should have???


Amidst our busy schedule we forget to do one thing,reflection.It can be a daily activity of thinking over all the things that happened over the day and what can be done to improvise for the next day.I feel that reflection has been a key learning for me at my days in institute.When we reflect silently we realise our strengths and our weaknesses,our ideas start flowing smoothly.I liked how after every activity we were asked to reflect on it and give our ideas.Probably had I not been here I would not have been pushed to think deeper.


A teacher is a leader and a strong support for students.As APJ Abdul Kalam has said 'The three societal members who can make a difference in a student's life are father,mother and teacher.'I find it so true.We as teachers have a huge responsibility of not only striving for our students academic excellence but also making them believe that they can do it.Here at the institute I met so many like minded people all working for a common cause that 'One day every child will gain an excellent education'.The best part of it was how our thought process gets a direction and how are thinking becomes profound.I certainly experience the inner change and am glad to have been through all this.


The coming days are days of daunting challenges,but a belief resides in everyones heart 'We can We will We conquer'.Yes time to see a new India, where everybody is educated and where the candle of excellence would gleam forever.

Finally would like to end on another quote by our revered ex-President (how I wish he becomes the President again) Dr APJ Abdul Kalam


When learning is purposeful, creativity blossoms,
When creativity blossoms, thinking emanates,
When thinking emanates, knowledge is fully lit,
When knowledge is lit, economy flourishes


Hoping to experience an eventful 2 years of tranformational teaching!!!!!
Would keep posting of my experiences in classroom and in the community :)

A Romance With Chaos by Nishant Kaushik -- Book Review

I read a review of this book in Tataworld and since then felt an urge to read it.After months of hunting in various book-stores I could finally manage to get hold of it at a book-exhibition in the office.Now that I have read it,can't wait to pen down the experience of reading it.So here it goes....

Do you feel you are stuck at the wrong place,you need to deal with a difficult boss,life has given you a strong blow,even destiny seems to overlook you,then this is the perfect book for you.

The story is about a young MBA graduate Nakul Kapoor who goes from being on bench to becoming a young achiever.The story is set in the background of a recession hit Mumbai,where Nakul works as an IT consultant in a well known Software company.He hates his boss for all possible reasons and discusses the hatred with his close friends and colleagues over lunch and tea.

The book depicts the idealism of a young employee stuck in the awe of a corporate world.The initial part of the book is quite funny and I am sure many of us belonging to the IT industry would quite relate to it.One such sarcasm being when the boss asks Nakul to help him with certain points for a presentation while he is just leaving for home(read his native).He also has to deal with his parents who are ready to get him married off,a girlfriend who can't think below a Gucci lifestyle and a room mate from Rajasthan who insists on early morning pranayam and who flaunts GRE words in daily usage.

Moments at Haji Ali,dinner at Sheesha,Marine drive,Bandstand,coffee at Hilton are certain pieces in the story that everyone from Mumbai would relate to.Also Nakul's inability to meet his sister even when they stay in the same city shows the busy life of the corporate world.

Another plot arises where Nakul comes across Payal (read it as a bride chosen by his parents) and her paintings which are a series of pictures depicting a person Eric in Chaos and how Nakul finds an exact answer to what he wants from life using the paintings as an aide.

I would say I liked the way the author used these paintings to help the lead protagonist come up with a solution to life's problems.I won't describe all of them in detail here as it would be best understood when one actually reads it.Another incident that made me shell-shocked was when Nakul is in the immigration counter to go onsite and he suddenly receives a call from his boss asking him to back off and that his opportunity onsite has been put to abeyance.On reaching office he realizes its one of his very close colleague who betrayed him by revealing some of his private conversations with him to his boss.

Further Nakul stands up to face these problems and finds a social cause come to his rescue which actually leads him to the pinnacle.

I liked this book because of its simplicity and the message that was thrown to  young professionals.I would recommend reading it and I am sure you would enjoy it.

What My Parents Say!!!!!

'Matro Devo Bhava' ,'Pitro Devo Bhava'.These are the first lessons taught to a child according to our Hindu scriptures.We say God is omnipresent but he is not seen and so he came to us in the form of our parents.
  Parents have an important part in the upbringing of their children.They love,care for their children,at times they even shout at us,but even then its their love and affection that speaks.Still it really hurts when many young people these days commit suicide when their wishes are not fulfilled by their parents.When they do so,don't they even feel how such an extreme step must be hurting their parents??They have put in endless efforts to bring up and is this the way to repay them?We all know 'Experience is the Best Teacher'.When they say something for our good,it is their experience that speaks  and should be taken positively.
  So today I would like to speak my parents words.Some important qualities of my parents which teach me a lesson everyday;and which will give me the right kind of confidence to face this world one day.
   My parents always have believed in 'Simple Living and High Thinking'.You will always find them quoting great people and making people believe into living life in a simple manner.
   My mother is a Gandhian in a true sense.By Gandhian I mean,the way she supports non violence.I am a very hot-tempered person and can't tolerate insults at any cost(though I don't speak,it remains in my mind), at such times I go to her with complaints and her usual words are 'Let people speak.It's their right to speak.Listen calmly.You need not fear if you are right.If they are wrong,your silence will make them realize their mistake.Unnecessary verbal clashes would increase tensions.'Such calm and cool is her temperament that it has the magical effect on me and yes needless to say the situation does turn right.Revenge is a very bad word.In a world where we can't guarantee we would come back alive in the evening after leaving home in the morning why hold grudges??Is there a need to seek the wrong of others.It's just a matter of Live and Let Live and this I have learnt from no one else but my mother.Her silent attitude is also seen when she deals with her tuition kids.I may get angry sometimes if the kids behave wrongly;however my Mom manages to tackle them intelligently.
   Another thing I like about her is her selfless attitude.Give whatever you can but expect nothing in return.Always help those in need.Sometimes my business mind makes me argue with her and then she gives me the example of Jaikishan the sculptor.Yes this was a lesson we had in our school curriculum which I  forget but my mom avidly remembers.In the story all sculptors work for the sake of getting praises from people but Jaikishan is the one who works alone in a dark secluded room.When asked why is he working alone in the dark and that there is nobody to see his work,he says 'Who says there is no one;God is there and he is seeing me work,that's enough for me'.This is her favourite example  she always gives me whenever I fail in my attempt to do anything or when I don't get the desired results.She has a treasure of such short stories,some from her own experience and some from the books that she reads and with these she always gets me back on the right track.
  My Dad,a strict displinarian.Even today not only me,my cousins too fear him.It is very much a military environment at our home.Discipline rules.I hate it and many times there are heated arguments.You come home and you will always find him correcting me ,shouting at me for not keeping things in order.Sometimes it really irritates me.However when I give it a second thought,I realize that  discipline is needed.We may not realise it's importance now but some day it would be needed.He would always be heard saying 'Man does not grow without struggle.Only when he struggles he experiences life in a real sense'.Maybe, I feel,it is due to all the struggles that he has undergone throughout his life,he has become tough and disciplined and as he has seen those hard days he wants us to be displined too to face life's situations boldly.
  Another quality that is seen in him is Independence.He always cribs that I haven't become fully independent but I must say yes this is one quality that I am learning from none else but himself.Bank related work,passport,pan card stuff or for that matter any new things that I had to know,he has always asked me to find out for myself.Never would there be any help.You have to learn yourself.Make mistakes,never mind,you will learn from them but don't be dependent.It's like the baby taking the first walk.No support,the baby falls but ultimately learns to walk.
  Such are the lessons I get daily in my life.I really feel proud and thank God for giving me such great parents.I don't claim I have mastered any of their qualities mentioned above but yes I am a learner and learning daily and one day,at some later stage in my life I  am confident that these values that they instill in me daily will help me face the world with courage and confidence.

  Finally a bit modified marathi poem,

       Jagi Aaibabansarkhe kon aahe

       Jyanche janmantariche run aahe

      Ase run he jyas vyaz naahi

      Tya runavin jeevanas saaz naahi.

  Dear Amma and Anna,I pray to God that he bless you both with happiness and a great health always.Thank you very much for giving me wealth in the form of values,love and affection which is priceless in front of any kind of money.Love you!!!!

Holi Ke Rang Barse.......................

Holi khelen raghuveera avadh me,holi khele raghuveera...

The above song and many other such Holi-songs play loud on this day as the nation rises to celebrate Holi--The Festival Of Colours!!!
     I,though averse to colors and water thought of celebrating this festival in a different manner this year.How??? Well (apart from relishing my favorite Puran Poli),I tried reading about the traditional aspect of this festival.So here I present the various ways that this festival is celebrated all over India.It's not from my own mind but what I read about the festival from various sources.Just an amalgamation of all to one.

      Everybody knows the tradition behind the name of the festival.Hiranyakashyapu a demon king (and an enemy of Lord Vishnu) wanted his son Prahlad (who was a devotee of Lord Vishnu) to be sentenced to death.He therefore summoned his sister Holika to carry out the task for him.She was blessed with a boon that no fire could destroy her;and so with the evil intention of killing her nephew,she sat in the fire alongwith Prahlad.However the fire instead of hurting Prahlad reduced Holika to ashes thus marking the win of good over evil.Thus the festival gets its name Holi.So on the eve of Holi,people light bonfires in their localities and every household makes an offering to the fire God.
   There is also a reason behind celebrating this festival with colors.Lord Krishna who was very mischievous and was known for playing pranks on gopis once becam jealous seeing Radha's fair complexion(he himself being dark) and complained about this to his mother Yashoda.To pacify his little son,Yashoda asked him to go and apply color on Radha's face.The mischievous Kanha indeed heeding his mother's advice went and applied color on Radha's face making her look like himself.So this tradition of applying colors on this day.
  Moving on,this is one festival which is celebrated all over India be it North,South,East,West and is known by different names.
  Dulandi:-Holi receives this name in the state of Haryana.Here the bhabhi(elder brother's wife) gets an upper hand on this day and the devars (younger brothers) need to watch out.Bhabis sort of take revenge on their devars by making them pay a price for all pranks played on them.They roll up their saris and chase their devars.In the evening devars bring home sweets for their bhabhis.
  Rangpanchami:-Holi is popularly known as Rangpanchami in the state of Maharashtra.On the eve,the traditional bonfire is lit.The second day calls for some fun.People apply color and throw water on each other.The main delicacy for this festival is 'Puran Poli'(Ohho my favorite!!!!)
  Basant Utsav and Dol Purnima:-Holi is known by the name of Vasantotsav and is clebrated in grace and a dignified manner in the state of Bengal.It is known as the 'Spring Festival' and was started by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan.Boys and girls welcome Spring with songs,dance and chanting of hymns in the serene atmosphere of Shantiniketan.Another name for it is Dol Purnima.Students wear saffron coloured clothes and wear garlands of fragrant flowers.Idols of Lord Krishna and Radha are placed in palanquins and processions are taken out on the streets.Throughout the procession,women dance and sing traditional songs while men spray coloured water or apply abheer to them.
  Lathmaar Holi:-Of all the places in India,Holi is celebrated with great fervour at the birthplaces of Lord Krishna and Radha .ie. Nandgaon and Barsana respectively.It was Krishna who started the tradition of applying color on Radha's face.So as a sweet revenge to this prank,women of Barsana fully charged with lathis(the name Lathmaar no doubt comes from the word lathi) in their hands thrash the men of Nandagaon and the men have to save themselves.Men are also made to wear female attire and are asked to dance in public.The next day the men of Barsana invade the  village of Nandagaon and drench its women with coloured water.All of this in the spirit of Holi.
  Hola Mohalla:-Holi gets this name in the state of Punjab.The festival is celebrated for three consecutive days(mainly in Anandpur village) in which members of the Sikh community display their physical strength by performing dare-devil acts like bareback horse-riding, standing erect on two speeding horses, Gatka (mock encounters), tent pegging etc,followed by music.Langars(community kitchens) are arranged by local people as a part of seva(service).Foodgrains,vegetables are provided by the villagers and women volunteer to cook and cleanse the utensils.Food is served to pilgrims who eat while sitting in rows on the ground.
  Shimgo:-The Goans celebrate Holi by this name.Here too people play with bright colors to welcome the arrival of spring which is followed by rich,spicy mutton curry called shagoti.A huge procession is carried out on the streets of Panjim with performances of troupes on cultural and mythological stories.People of all religions participate in this procession.
  Kaman Pandigai:-Known by this name in the state of Tamil Nadu,Holi is celebrated to mark the sacrfice of Kamdeva.Legend goes that after the death of Sati,Lord Shiva goes into deep meditation;due to Shiva's indifferent attitude,god become tensed and worried.Also Parvati is meditating at the same time to get Shiva as her husband.To get Shiva to this original self,gods seek the help of Kaamdeva--the God of love.He strikes the arrow at Shiva.Enraged and disturbed by this interference Shiva opens his third eye and reduces Kaamdeva to ashes.However the arrow produces it effect and Shiva agrees to marry Parvati.Rati ,Kamdeva's wife however gets sad at the loss of her husband and requests Shiva to revive Kaamdeva to which Shiva readily agrees.In Tamil Nadu,people sing songs depicting Rati's sorrow and apply sandalwaood to Kaamdeva to ease the pain of burning.People believe that Kaamdeva was revived on this day and hence the name.
  Kullu Holi:- Holi is known by this name in the state of Himachal Pradesh.Thousands of people gather at the shrine of Ponta Sahib in Sirmour district on the banks of Yamuna to gather divine blessings.Colours are mixed with snow making it an Ice-Holi.
  Phagwa:-Holi is known by this name or Phagu Purnima in the state of Bihar.Phagu means the traditional red powder and Purnima is the full moon day.It actually marks the end of one year and the commencement of new year.For this reason Holika Dahan here is also known as 'Samvatsar Dahan'.

  These are some of the traditions associated with this festival of colours.Indeed our country is vast and the traditions are wide-spread,such that Holi is now being celebrated even abroad.Proud am I to belong to such a great nation so rich in its culture.May the colors of this festival bring the colors of happiness and peace in everyone's lives. Wishing all A Happy,colorful and a safe Holi !!!!!!
 

Board Exams.....

               I was having my breakfast when my father who was reading the newspaper suddenly announced  '12th Std exams would commence on the 22nd of February'.Naturally as a flashback,the day I gave my HSC exams appeared before my eyes.Though not exactly the same day,the trend was to have the board exams plus or minus 22nd Feb.
          I remember how not only my family but even relatives were excited about board exams.You go to a wedding,a thread-ceremony or a GSB function,people were always there to question your preparation.Which classes you go to?,how many hours you study,Do you take regular tests on and on... the questionaire never seemed to stop.Their excitement and anxiousness would sometimes make me feel if I am going to a war.Exams though scheduled to start from the last week of February,phone calls conveying best wishes were received almost a month in advance.
          One thing very true about HSC exams were the regular sincere efforts that were being put to studies unlike further  in Engineering where books were meant to be opened only during vivas and practice leaves.Almost two years were spent slogging(yes two years because lessons for 12th started in 11th class itself),attending classes(college attendance was close to nil) and in test taking.I still remember those days when I enjoyed solving Maths/Physics problems,somewhat used to be bored dealing Chemistry equations and was least bothered about Biology diagrams.(How I used to hate Biology!!!!!...Even now many a times I regret wasting my two years learning something I was least interested in).Sorry Bio lovers for making harsh comments on the subject but such was my mindset then,that even in the final Bio exam I remember I gave the paper somewhat hesitantly.
          The exams,how can I forget them?What was learnt for the entire year had to be reproduced in the span of 3 hours(How unfair!!! I feel now).Parents even waited for those 3 hours outside the examination hall just to give moral support to their children in case they did not do well.Thus the month of February and the start of March was one heavy period for students.

          The last day of exams however was one memorable day.(a day to party and relish one's favorite ice-cream or go for a movie).Also "SLEEP" which was a sign of distraction during the entire exam period would  go on a vacation on the day exams got over.(Why??? neend hi nahi aati exams khatam hone par)
          Seven years have passed since I passed my 12th Std exams but the weightage the  word 'Board exams' carry remains the same even today.The same excitement and anxiousness prevails but only for those who are currently in that phase.For us who have moved beyond that,anyone else speaking excitedly about board exams brings a smile on our faces and takes us back to those memories like today!!!!

 Finally a  quote  by Charles Caleb Colton before concluding.

“Examinations are formidable even to the best prepared, for the greatest fool may ask more than the wisest man can answer.”

All the Best To all taking exams this February season!!!!!

My Daily thoughts

A joke,a talk,a smile,a laugh....many a times these simple and light things make us forget the stress that we usually cling to :)

 Life is so weird and weird are moments,one moment derz depression and in the very next I find myself cheering and encouraging me up.God let there be balance in my life!!!!

 Too much relaxation is also quite stagnating,another week on bench and I am dead,God gimme work,I wanna be a Rails developer!!!!

 Books and Music have this magical effect on me;they know my emotions;when happy they add to it;when sad they console me;when confused they show me the right path;All in All they are my best friends.Just can't live without them :)

 Life gives us hits be it in career,relations,health etc.Are they failures?,NO NOT AT ALL,even a perfect statue is a result of various hits;And then if a spider can climb a wall after 99 unsuccessful attempts why can't we human beings succeed,its just one attitude that matters at the EOD ;'NEVER GIVE UP'

 Even a seed sown takes time to grow into a tree and bear fruits,how can we human beings expect the fruits of our deeds ,actions and efforts immediately???Perseverance is the rule of Nature!!!!

 We should be grateful we are not in China!!!!! and the Chinese Government does not rule us.

 This mind is an ocean of thoughts,thoughts that are rushing in randomly,such that a mechanism is needed to control and hold them in place .Preferably writing them down somewhere could help :D

 A woman's true beauty is seen when she is compassionate,organised,strong-willed,intelligent,smart,determined,confident and above all INDEPENDENT. :)

 Dancing to the tunes of favourite numbers when nobodyz at home.....experiencing the fabulous feeling after so many days as if the energy to study has come back!!!! ;) :D

Giving all the MBA entrance exams this year has taught me one management technique definitely---shortlisting;choosing between which one's to give and the one's to skip for the next year if ever I would have to try my hand at them again ;)

We girls have got to thank God for one thing definitely;fortunately we do not receive those terrific birthday bumps aka blows that these boys get ;)...what say???

 Somethings happen very rarely and by chance,like Travelling the world,meeting one's favourite star,sitting in a luxurious car;and aaj 'Jo khwabon khayalon me socha nahi tha wahi hua :D',sat in a Mercedes Benz today;awesome car and a super cool experience ....yipeee!!!!!

Retrospecting the year 2010:-It's been a year of Soul searching,Learning new lessons in Life,Listening to some intrstg music,Having fun with friends,Reading inspirational quotes,Too much facebooking,Attending treats,Studying,Teaching kids,Forwrding mba prep mails,And last but not the least Giving Too Many exams on weekends ;)

Keeping oneself busy helps control anger.Music,ruby and keeping my mouth shut saved me today!!!!!!

One day i'll be a stone-hearted person devoid of any emotions and I am sure about that if my quota of tears end up so rapidly!!!!

Things beyond imagination:- 'Ask people for a dustbin to throw a banana peel into and they point at the road' ;)

Without the God Of Cricket is there any meaning to the game...Tendulkar You truely rock!!!!!!!

I wanna read good books,make music,travel around the world,create websites,write to my hearts content,interact with many people,fight for a good cause.....in short do everything that I am not doing now...but dunno how ;)

Even to simply walk on a road one has to overcome hurdles and obstacles ;and LIFE is a journey,can it ever be smooth-sailing without struggles???

'AAL IZZ WELL' 'AAL IZZ WELL' 'AAL IZZ WELL' 'AAL IZZ WELL'...I need to repeat this to encourage myself after the unexpected interview.

A company's productivity and it's employees' aspirations should go hand in hand;and to make this happen,are there people called as MANAGERS ;)

What are the Ambani
brothers trying to prove with 'Competition Bungalows'.Does a person
now require 7 storeyed building to stay??.Instead had they used the
amount for the education or accomodation of the vast majority of poor
people in our nation,that would have gained them more respect.Its no
...use being the richest person if one can't be benovolent.

Wow what a day today!!!!,a gloomy morning,relatively silent afternoon and a really really fun filled evening;today was a perfect blend of emotions.Hope to have such mixed days in the future too :)

Just like a rainbow is
never complete without its seven colours,so is the world never complete
without each of its citizens.Its for an individual to realize that
he/she is unique and has an independent existence.And the day when the
realization would occur,the world will be a peaceful place to live in.
...:)

As Life takes a serious turn at the age of 24-26,its time to prioritize things,lest one loses out on both personal as well as professional fronts.

Feel like going back to school....but this time preferably a B-SCHOOL ;) :D

I get delighted when many people refer to me as 'Chandu' as it reminds me of my school friends who used to call me by the same name. :D :P

As years go by new people come in to our lives,we make new friends; but the happy memories of the days spent with childhood friends especially school friends remain with us forever.Meeting a school friend after many years brings back those days in a 'flashback' form. :) :)

Every single idle moment is depressing;tends to bring in worries;indulging oneself in any kind of constructive activity is the only way out.:)

Earlier
there were demons,devils,murderers,criminals,trolls etc etc.....now
they all come under one class and that is POLITICIANS ......such a
shame to have corrupt politicians who constantly try to defame our
country :( :( :(

I really really really want to go to some isolated place(Himalayas would do) and listen to calm and serene preferably divine music;set my moods right;get answers to all questions that keep on bothering me every now and then.

Sometimes I get quite surprised with the positive vibes that are created when one remembers the happy memories of the past;be it those connected with home,school,college,workplace,just cherishing those makes one feel more elated.
:) :) :)

When nothing else seems as if it can get us through life - an understanding friend can make a major difference.!!!!!!! God Bless You All My Dear Friends :) :) :)

I guess half my life would go searching for things at their right places and listening to my Dad's yells for not keeping them at places where they could have been found easily!!!!!Thanks to my super weak memory ;)

When too much stressed or tensed,watch a cartoon,laugh to your fullest to the jokes shown,doing so brings out the hidden child in us and the stress, woah!!!just vanishes :)

Sometimes when I walk on the road thinking high of myself,I actually stumble upon any object lying on the road ;its as if God gets me back to my senses by telling me;child don't let pride take over you,stay humble;know your roots..hawa me mat udo... :)

Sometimes we don't get answers to life's questions when we want them,but at a later point of time they appear to us crystal clear as a solved jigsaw puzzle,so never get tensed hunting for answers to life's problems coz they got to be revealed some or the other day. :)

I thought thought thought and thought and then I thought ...don't think too much....itna mat socho ki dimag fat jaay... ;)

I was wondering one day what evidence supports Darwin's 'Survival of the fittest' theory and it suddenly dawned upon me;I was like Oh My God!!!!! what better proof than the current IT industry. ;)

Never be too excited in happiness;too gloomy in sadness;and too proud of your achievements;because TIME always flows by;Maintaining a balance at all times is a true way of living. :)

As a child one craves for toys and sweets,then comes pocket money,good college,excellent job,higher pay,luxurious house,success,desire to reach the top and on and on ....and then only at the last stage of life does one realise that what we actually wanted was inner peace of mind and nothing else. :)

Patience Patience and Patience alone is the road to a calm and peaceful life :)

I bet Rains do
have a conspiracy against me.It has to rain the moment I step out of
house or office as if the dark clouds have a pre-monition that that I
would be moving out.And then there's the battling of self with the
umbrella,bag and the awful awful awful crowd of Mumbai.Oof its
...irritating!!!!!!!

Critics are your best friends;When someone criticizes you for something,listen to them calmly and you would know your weaknesses,knowing them,strive to improve so that the next time someone criticizes the same mistakes aren't repeated.

'Stop Expecting that things would work the way you want Chandrika.Just do your best and leave the rest to God.'This voice has been ringing in my sub-conscious mind for the past few days,be it related to career,work,family or friends.Just a sincere prayer,Oh God,I do not know what lies in store for me in future,please give me the courage and strength to stand... up and face this battle called as 'LIFE'