To Teacher with Love.........

Being a teacher for the last thirty years of my life has been a wondrous experience that has taught me new lessons of life each day.I have always considered it my good fortune to have taken up this profession.I am proud to be a teacher and hope to be one all my life.Even as a teacher I am also a learner for life as we all should be.

Teacher's Day is celebrated in India on 5th September each year though International Teachers Day is celebrated on 5th October in most countries.I have always had great regard for teachers.I still remember my school days when we  had such wonderful teachers teaching us at the Convent Girls High School at Dadar. In fact I had a major crush on one of my teachers(who doesn't?).Those were the days when we tried to get into the good books of the teachers and waited to run errands for them.It was an honour to be called to clean the blackboard,carry books or give our textbook to the teacher.I am in touch with many of my school mates and they too agree that our teachers have inspired us to make us what we are today.I thank all my school teachers who taught me, right from those who taught me my A,B,C's to those who helped me with complicated Math and Physics problems in my SSC year.

Cut to my college years where I did my Diploma in Education.The teachers there gave me my first lessons in teaching.I can not forget my first classroom teaching experience at a school at Malad.From there there was no looking back.I realized that teaching is what I have always wanted to do and I pursued it with unbridled enthusiasm.I remember all my D.Ed college teachers with utmost respect and I thank them for initiating me into the world of teaching and making me capable of pursuing my goal to teach.

Years later I was back in college for my Bachelor's degree in teaching.It was here that I met some of the most fantastic teachers who inspired me and made me realize that there was so much I could do in the field of teaching to change lives of children for their betterment.It was here that I learnt to search myself and accept new challenges.I met some truly inspiring teachers and  I will always remember them with great respect.Hats off to all my teachers at Bombay Teachers Training College(BTTC) for their support and inspiration.

Life is a great teacher and we are always learning new lessons from her.It is upto us to remember those lessons and act accordingly for a better life.Life is not just about making the most money,attaining the highest position,or gaining new and expensive things, but about imbibing the true values of life.

I salute all my teachers who have made an impact in my life and have made me what I am today.
Thanks for being my strength and inspiration.
I hope I too inspire my children like you have inspired me.

Chak De India!

Just watched a re-run of the movie 'Chak De India' on television yesterday.This movie never ceases to amaze me.It is wonderful to see how a coach manages to bring together a young women's hockey team to play for India even as there are distinctions in the team based on the states the members belong to.In the beginning he sees that each one is bent on focussing on the state they belong to and the coach ,in his own unique way, teaches them that in unity alone lies true power.This is done when a bunch of lecherous boys try to act fresh with one of their members.That is enough to get them all together and bash the living daylights out off the boys.

There were many a special moments in the flick which has made it an endearing one.There is the mega moment when the coach tells them to introduce themselves and when they do so by highlighting the state they belong to, he makes them do the introduction once again introducing themselves as Indians.The one that is one of my favourites was when the women's hockey team plays against the men's hockey team and is appreciated for its performance in spite of losing for their sheer grit and determination.One was when the coach sees a Briton hoisting the Indian Tricolour at the game venue before the big match..Another one that was super was when one member rejects the proposal of her cricketer boyfriend to discover herself and her game.The camaraderie among the team members is noteworthy and it showcases how a team compartmentalized by states , religion, language or caste can never win while a team that is united can beat all odds.What a lesson for us!

This movie was a blockbuster and everyone raved about it.How I wish everyone watched this and learnt the big lesson in it for all of us!This movie teaches us that unity is indeed strength.If you have not yet watched this superb movie I recommend you do so.This is one of my favourite 'Mera Bharat Mahaan' wala feeling type of  movie like Swades and Rang De Basanti .

India is passing through trying times.Each day we read  and hear abut the violence and hatred incited by religious,caste,state and language differences.It saddens me  to see our own people fighting with people from other states like sworn enemies.It is this disharmony that will be the hurdle in India's progress.No nation can prosper when its people are not bound together by unity.

In fact ,I would go a step further and say that unity is needed amongst all the countries of the world .Mahatma Gandhi has rightly said,The world will live in peace only when the individuals composing it make up their minds to do so'.So,are we ever going to make up our minds to be united???

Be a Sport!!!!

The London Olympic Games drew to an end and there were accolades galore for all the medallists who made India proud with their haul of 6 medals at the games.To some it may seem- What is the fuss all about???It was only six medals won by a country of 1.2 billion,so what!
There is much more to the wins than that meets the eye.

These medals were not an easy win to say the least.I agree even the participants from other countries have put in their best efforts to win but there is a huge difference.Sports in India has always been given step-motherly treatment.Right from the school days,young children are weaned into believing that it is marks they score in academics alone that will take them far so they are not to take sports seriously.Even if the child is exceptional and does well at sports,he does not get the support he should to pursue it diligently.Lack of resources from the government or sponsors and the need to earn makes it impossible for him to continue with his dream to excel at the sport he is good at.At times even when this hurdle is crossed there is the red-tapism and political clout which works against him moving up further towards his goal.Compare that with the support the government gives the sports persons in other countries and you will know the difference.

In spite of all the hardships after conquering all obstacles the winners  have done their country proud and hence the medallists'feats are highly commendable.What's more awe-inspiring is that most of these medallists were from the interior villages of India which live in poverty and lack even the basic amenities of life.It is not that we lack the talent as that is in abundance but we need to tap this talent,nurture it and hone it for future success.For that the government,financial companies,corporates etc. should willingly come forward to provide assistance to groom the sports persons.Proper training and resources can make a world of difference.

'Catch them young' should be the motto.For that the parents and teachers have to take initiative and groom the child from a tender age.The schools must make it compulsory for all students to pursue at least two games and master them.Parents should recognise the importance of sports and games for children.They should be allowed to choose the games they want to play and master them.The exceptional ones should get the desired coaching and sponsorship to pursue their game and compete at all levels.The media should give sports and sports persons the desired coverage so that people take interest in it.

If we give sports the importance it deserves,the day will not be far when India too will come back with many medals and be a country to reckon with.Sports is much more than cricket,cricket and more cricket.Even our national sport -Hockey is going through a terrible phase now.At this Olympic they were at their lowest low as they did not win any of the matches it played.What a shame!

Let us hope that sports is given due importance and the government ,policy-makers ,sports academies,corporates,media,schools parents and society at large collectively come together to make the required change.We have the talent we need ,what we need now is the push for sports in the right direction.

So,are we ready to do that???
C'mon ,be a sport and do your bit to propagate sports in your own little way.