Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
floccinaucinihilipilification.
ശശി തരൂർ തന്റെ പുതിയ ബുക്കിനെ പരിചയപ്പെടുത്തിയതാണ്. അതിലൊരു വാക്ക് ഇതാണ്. floccinaucinihilipilification.
ഇതെങ്ങനെ വായിക്കുമെന്ന് ഒരു പിടിയുമില്ല. ഗൂഗിളിനോട് ചോദിച്ചപ്പോൾ അർഥം സിംപിൾ ആണ്, the action or habit of estimating something as worthless.-Rajesh Karippal
For those who wondered about the pronounciation of floccinaucinihilipilicication, here is it in Shashi Tharoor's own voice!
meaning : Noun. floccinaucinihilipilification (uncountable) (often humorous) The act or habit of describing or regarding something as unimportant, of having no value or being worthless.
pronunciation : /ˌflɒksɪˌnɔːsɪˌnɪhɪlɪˌpɪlɪfɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/
ഇതെങ്ങനെ വായിക്കുമെന്ന് ഒരു പിടിയുമില്ല. ഗൂഗിളിനോട് ചോദിച്ചപ്പോൾ അർഥം സിംപിൾ ആണ്, the action or habit of estimating something as worthless.-Rajesh Karippal
For those who wondered about the pronounciation of floccinaucinihilipilicication, here is it in Shashi Tharoor's own voice!
usage :My new book is more than just a 400-page exercise in floccinaucinihilipilification.
meaning : Noun. floccinaucinihilipilification (uncountable) (often humorous) The act or habit of describing or regarding something as unimportant, of having no value or being worthless.
pronunciation : /ˌflɒksɪˌnɔːsɪˌnɪhɪlɪˌpɪlɪfɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/
Monday, October 1, 2018
request - rebuild ‘God’s own country’
Sir,
This mail is an appeal to you to join in our efforts to rebuild ‘God’s own country’ which is facing the worst flood in its history.
Kerala is called ‘God’s own country’ because it is blessed with natural beauty where 35 million people live in harmony. Today my homeland is flooded with an unprecedented heavy rain, reaching 40-50cm in many places for several days on end! Nearly 7.5 lakh people were sheltered in rescue camps, lakhs became homeless. Bridges, roads and hillways collapsed and many places are still isolated. Even now in a high-range place called Nelliyampathy, about 3000 people are totally isolated and food and medicines are supplied to them by helicopter. Despite the heavy rainfall, wind and difficult terrain, common people in masses are showing a phenomenal resistance by joining hands with the state in rescue work. Common people from all sectors joined with state rescue efforts and provided food and clothes in rescue camps. Rescue operations by a group of 4000 fishermen (who earn 5-8 Dollors a day) in country boats saved 50,000 peple. Government, masses and national disaster management forces collaborated to move people from nearly drowned houses to rescue camps. Inspite of being from wide demographical patterns, everyone ranging from children to aged are staying together to survive the worst flood of the century. You can find heroic efforts extending from pilots landing a helicopter in terraces of small houses to lay fishermen in small boats moving through water with heavy undercurrents.
Sir, now rescue works are coming to an end. About a million have become homeless; means of living - cattle stock, agricultural lands, plantations - all are lost. Roads, bridges, water and power supply, everything needs to be rebuilt.
It is nearly a Herculean task since the means required to rebuild our homes is several times that of our state revenue. It may be impossible but we will !! You know, we were playing with death in the last few days. Floating deadbodies never scared common people in rescue works. After all we realized that ‘human’ is the most beautiful creature in the world. People risking their lives to save fellow beings and small children collecting food for rescue camps cannot fail. Minds of millions like His Holiness Pope Francis appeal to the international community to help us survive the calamity.
The Kerala State Government reiterated its commitment to rehabitate the homeless. But despite a strong will, we lack resources in this situation. I request you to join in our efforts to rebuild ‘Gods own country’ to all its glory. Any donation to ‘Chief Minister’s Disaster relief fund’ (http://www.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/) can ensure a strong and transparent support as it has a clean track record and comes under CAG audit (also ensures even distribution). Common people are behind the government to rebuild our homeland and we expect your whole-hearted support in our endeavours.
With lot of expectations and love,
Najeem M S
Kerala
This mail is an appeal to you to join in our efforts to rebuild ‘God’s own country’ which is facing the worst flood in its history.
Kerala is called ‘God’s own country’ because it is blessed with natural beauty where 35 million people live in harmony. Today my homeland is flooded with an unprecedented heavy rain, reaching 40-50cm in many places for several days on end! Nearly 7.5 lakh people were sheltered in rescue camps, lakhs became homeless. Bridges, roads and hillways collapsed and many places are still isolated. Even now in a high-range place called Nelliyampathy, about 3000 people are totally isolated and food and medicines are supplied to them by helicopter. Despite the heavy rainfall, wind and difficult terrain, common people in masses are showing a phenomenal resistance by joining hands with the state in rescue work. Common people from all sectors joined with state rescue efforts and provided food and clothes in rescue camps. Rescue operations by a group of 4000 fishermen (who earn 5-8 Dollors a day) in country boats saved 50,000 peple. Government, masses and national disaster management forces collaborated to move people from nearly drowned houses to rescue camps. Inspite of being from wide demographical patterns, everyone ranging from children to aged are staying together to survive the worst flood of the century. You can find heroic efforts extending from pilots landing a helicopter in terraces of small houses to lay fishermen in small boats moving through water with heavy undercurrents.
Sir, now rescue works are coming to an end. About a million have become homeless; means of living - cattle stock, agricultural lands, plantations - all are lost. Roads, bridges, water and power supply, everything needs to be rebuilt.
It is nearly a Herculean task since the means required to rebuild our homes is several times that of our state revenue. It may be impossible but we will !! You know, we were playing with death in the last few days. Floating deadbodies never scared common people in rescue works. After all we realized that ‘human’ is the most beautiful creature in the world. People risking their lives to save fellow beings and small children collecting food for rescue camps cannot fail. Minds of millions like His Holiness Pope Francis appeal to the international community to help us survive the calamity.
The Kerala State Government reiterated its commitment to rehabitate the homeless. But despite a strong will, we lack resources in this situation. I request you to join in our efforts to rebuild ‘Gods own country’ to all its glory. Any donation to ‘Chief Minister’s Disaster relief fund’ (http://www.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/) can ensure a strong and transparent support as it has a clean track record and comes under CAG audit (also ensures even distribution). Common people are behind the government to rebuild our homeland and we expect your whole-hearted support in our endeavours.
With lot of expectations and love,
Najeem M S
Kerala
Death the Leveller -M Mukundan
WHAT IS AN "OXYMORON:?
Collected from whatsup posts
WHAT IS AN "OXYMORON:?
An Oxymoron is defined as a phrase in which two words of opposite meanings are brought together....Here are some funny oxymorons :
1) Found Missing
2) Open Secret
3) Small Crowd
4) Act Naturally
5) Clearly Misunderstood
6) Fully Empty
7) Pretty Ugly
8) Seriously Funny
9) Only Choice
10) Original Copies
11) Exact Estimate
12) Tragic Comedy
13) Foolish Wisdom
14) Liquid Gas
And The Mother of all Oxymorons is-
15) "Happily Married".
There is oxymoron used in the poem DEATH THE LEVELLER.(11 READER,UNIT 2)
WHAT IS AN "OXYMORON:?
An Oxymoron is defined as a phrase in which two words of opposite meanings are brought together....Here are some funny oxymorons :
1) Found Missing
2) Open Secret
3) Small Crowd
4) Act Naturally
5) Clearly Misunderstood
6) Fully Empty
7) Pretty Ugly
8) Seriously Funny
9) Only Choice
10) Original Copies
11) Exact Estimate
12) Tragic Comedy
13) Foolish Wisdom
14) Liquid Gas
And The Mother of all Oxymorons is-
15) "Happily Married".
There is oxymoron used in the poem DEATH THE LEVELLER.(11 READER,UNIT 2)
Thursday, September 27, 2018
A brief explanation of the theme of the poem "stammer ' by Sachidanandan
"Stammer" can be read at least in 3 ways.
(1).It is about having different perceptions on life (of a drawback-stammering is a positive quality)
(2). It is about the way we are silent on social issues (Most of us were silent or not taking a clear stand during the times of emergency in 1976 or We are not expressing our opinion on demonitisation in a clear cut way.)
(3). It is about compassion( trying to understand the way people react and trying to communicate with them meaningfully) .
More intrepretations are possible.
( To average students ,I would stress the first reading.-If you can't get things right in your life, take a different perception on it,take a different option and face it boldly .)
A fourth reading is that
it is about imperfections in life.Even God stammered during creation. That is why we inherit that imperfection .Even a poem is imperfect ( Different meanings are possible.Any one of the interpretations can not be claimed or established as perfect.Hence the usage "like poetry". )
- CKR ( responding to a request from Surya Teacher,HSST ENGLISH,GHSS MATHIL)
(Readers are invited here to present your reading of the poem.Just comment below-CKR 27/8/2018)
ON POETIC DEVICES USED IN 'STAMMER'
1.A PARADOXICAL ASSERTION( STANZA 1- stammer is not a handicap )
2.Comparisons - stammer is like meditation (silence in speech is like lameness in walking)
stammer is like poetry.( different meanings / imperfection )
3.Biblical or mythical references - when we stammer ,we are offering a sacrifice to the god of meanings ;refers to God and the activity of creation
4. Strong Satire : (1).stammer is their mother tongue.
(2).Even linguists stammer
5.Self criticism and a touch of black black humour :
(1)."Even linguists stammer",
(2)."that why all the words of man carry different meanings"
6. Allusion to religions with their imperfect reading of life and God.:
"that why all the words of man carry different meanings"
FOR MORE IDEAS ON STAMMER PLEASE CLICK THE LINK
GIVEN BELOW
http://ckrenglishclass.blogspot.com/2015/11/sachidanandan-says-we-stammer-when-we.htm
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
It is in your hands
It can be used while discussing the chapter IS SOCIETY DEAD of the text for 11 th class.
more pictures
Sunday, September 16, 2018
VK Vismaya, A former student of GHSS MATHIL wins gold medal for India
A WARM RECEPTION WILL BE GIVEN TO
VISMAYA V.K IN OUR CAMPUS AT 10 AM,TOMORROW.
As a nation, we need to invest more in sports.-V K VISMAYA
Interview WITH VK Vismaya,
( from Online Desk,New Indian Express,PUBLISHED ON 07th September 2018 ;COPIED for educational purpose)
V K Vismaya, accidental runner who held off a world champ to seal 4X400 Asian Games relay gold
The Kerala girl, who took up
athletics without too many expectations and almost decided to sacrifice
her career for an engineering seat, talks about her finest hour and
shares her immediate dream.
The 4x400m Indian women's relay team's fifth consecutive gold medal at the Asian Games was one of most talked about wins in Jakarta. It was VK Vismaya, a second-year college student from Kerala, who sealed the gold by holding off Bahrain's world champion Salwa Nasser in the final leg. The 21-year-old girl from Kannur, who took up athletics without too many expectations and almost decided to sacrifice her career for an engineering seat, talks about her finest hour and shares her immediate dream.
In the final, Hima Das was supposed to be India's anchor while you were expected to run the first leg. Was the decision to get you two to swap places a last-minute one as is being talked about? What led to such a sudden change in strategy and why?
We knew that Bahrain is a strong side and the best strategy would be to gain a good lead in the beginning itself and maintain it till the finish line.
But it was only decided on the morning of the final that I will be the anchor leg runner instead of Hima. It was coach Galina Bukharina's decision, and proved crucial as Hima was able to generate a good lead in the beginning, which (MR) Poovamma and Sarita Gaekwad (the other runners before Vismaya) were then able to maintain. All I had to do was to sustain the advantage that I had while receiving the baton. To be frank, it made my job easier.
Were you not nervous about this last-minute change? How did you prepare yourself
The 4x400m Indian women's relay team's fifth consecutive gold medal at the Asian Games was one of most talked about wins in Jakarta. It was VK Vismaya, a second-year college student from Kerala, who sealed the gold by holding off Bahrain's world champion Salwa Nasser in the final leg. The 21-year-old girl from Kannur, who took up athletics without too many expectations and almost decided to sacrifice her career for an engineering seat, talks about her finest hour and shares her immediate dream.
In the final, Hima Das was supposed to be India's anchor while you were expected to run the first leg. Was the decision to get you two to swap places a last-minute one as is being talked about? What led to such a sudden change in strategy and why?
We knew that Bahrain is a strong side and the best strategy would be to gain a good lead in the beginning itself and maintain it till the finish line.
But it was only decided on the morning of the final that I will be the anchor leg runner instead of Hima. It was coach Galina Bukharina's decision, and proved crucial as Hima was able to generate a good lead in the beginning, which (MR) Poovamma and Sarita Gaekwad (the other runners before Vismaya) were then able to maintain. All I had to do was to sustain the advantage that I had while receiving the baton. To be frank, it made my job easier.
Were you not nervous about this last-minute change? How did you prepare yourself
Of course. I was supposed to start the race and was suddenly informed
that I will be running the final leg instead. I had to run against
Bahrain's world champion, who had clocked 50.09 seconds earlier in the
event, while my personal best was 52 seconds. But our coach was very
supportive. She told me not to bother about medals and to try and give
my best.
How was the experience of teaming up with Hima, who is India's latest sensation, and with Poovamma, one of India's most experienced athletes. How did you four prepare for the final as a team, particularly when there was so much legacy at stake? Was it stressful?
Everybody expects gold from the 4X400 m relay team at the Asian Games. Over time, the event has become a matter of prestige for the contingent. Even a silver or bronze-medal finish was out of the picture, hence there was pressure on us obviously. Fortunately, we were able to do well . Sarita and I were debutants at the international level while most other teams were packed with experienced athletes. But we still managed to do well. In fact, we missed the Games record by microseconds.
During practice sessions, we had given special attention to the baton exchange so that there would be no room for errors.
Like you said, it was a given that World Champion Salwa Eid Nasser would be the anchor-leg runner for Bahrain. For a beginner, did it not felt like a huge challenge? How did you cope?
I was initially very nervous. But the coaching staff and team was very supportive. Once the baton reached my hand, there was nothing else in my mind but the thought that I should not let my team down. I could feel that Nasser was getting closer but the tension gradually vanished as the race progressed.
How did the team prepare ahead of the Games?
Some of us were sent to Poland for training and later another camp was organised at Guwahati before we flew to Jakarta.
Of course the final must have felt special. But are there any other special memories of the Games?
India's final four for the relay was not pre-decided. I didn't even know if I was in the main team or not. The first three were finalised. But for the fourth spot, there was a selection trial involving me and three other athletes including Olympian Jisna Mathew from the Usha school of athletics (who Vismaya had earlier beaten in the Inter-University athletics meet at Guntur in 2017, to break a 25-year-old record). I had to do my best there in order to secure a place in the team and luckily I could. It was a great memory.
The kind of welcome we received at the Jakarta Airport was also very special. Many Indians living there came to receive us. The kind of support Indian sportsmen received across events from the crowd was amazing.
You were originally a hurdles runner, but later switched completely to middle-distance running. Why was this?
During the U-20 nationals in Coimbatore, I suffered a glute injury and was forced to stay away from the tracks for a year. Doctors advised that my back is not strong enough and suggested that I resume running.
Olympics seems to be the next big event ahead. How are the preparations going on?
Before the Olympics, we have the World Championship coming up next year. As I said earlier, our team is a young one and hence need great exposure and workout sessions to ensure a good show. The final training plan is yet to be confirmed.
How was the reception back home on your triumphant return?
On our way back, Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore welcomed us and later the PM himself also met us. We were received really well at the Airport. It was truly motivating.
Coaches play an integral part in the success of sportsmen. Who are the coaches you would like to thank?
There are many. I became a competitive athlete thanks to Raju Paul sir of St George School, Kothamangalam. I was watching my sister Vijisha's practice when he asked me to join the trials. I am grateful to him for identifying the athlete in me. I had decided to join an engineering course but it was my teachers who convinced me otherwise.
I was a mediocre performer and could fetch only a bronze at the prestigious Kerala school meet. I improved a lot under Paul Sir at Assumption College.
My current coach Vinayan Sir's lessons were vital in my record-breaking performance at the university level, and of course, national Coach Galina's role goes without saying. She is very caring and supportive.
India returned from Indonesia after registering its best-ever medal haul. But still, the divide between us and first-placed China is astonishingly huge. Personally, what do you think is holding India back, and what can be done to establish ourselves as a serious competitor on the international sports circuit?
We are improving. People like Neeraj Chopra are now serious competitors at the global level. Foreign countries have better facilities than we have here. Be it the tracks, gyms, physio treatments or anything, you can feel the divide between us and them during the exposure tours. As a nation, we need to invest more in sports. We are a big country and have many talented youngsters. It is all about bringing them up in the right way.
How has your College helped shape your career?
Assumption College, Changanacherry is among the finest colleges in Kerala for sports and athletics. The Physical Education faculty, especially Dr Jimmy Joseph and Suja Mary George madam have been very supportive and helped me make many important decisions. Our college has one of the best basketball, fencing and athletic teams at the national level. (Assumption College is a two-time recipient of the Award for the Best College in Sports and Games in the state of Kerala. So far they have produced two Arjuna Awardees, one Olympian, 30 International medals and 41 athletes and players for India.)
What about the part played by your family?
Thanking parents would be awkwardly formal. All this would have been impossible without their love and support. They give equal importance to my academic and athletic needs.
Any job offers from the government so far?
Not yet. A good job is anybody's dream but I want to complete my post graduation first. I wish to be employed in Kerala itself. National Games winners were assured of Gazetted posts by the government. So yes, I also hope to get a decent job.
What are your other big dreams?
A house for my family is one. We have been living in rented houses till now. But my biggest dream now is to run for as long as possible and take the country to greater glories, not only in the relay but also in individual events.
Being a post graduate from a school of science was a dream of mine. I had 95% marks for graduation. The thought of doing MSc Mathematics faded as Assumption was not offering the course. Also, most MSc courses include practical classes that could clash with my training schedules. Hence I was convinced by my coaches to continue at the college as it was the best place for my athletic career.
Finally, who is your biggest inspiration?
All people with whom I have practised and competed so far have been an inspiration to me in one way or another. My compatriots, friends and colleagues have taught me a lot. And then there are the icons like Usain Bolt, who is an inspiration for athletes all around the world. We all need inspirations to keep us going, don’t we not?
*******************************************************************************
story of vismaya
If the Indian women's relay team is a chain, there's little doubt that 21-year-old Vismaya Velluva Koroth is the weakest link. And on Thursday, she had to withstand the sledgehammer charge of the one of the greatest runners in Asia, who was trying to break India's longest running athletics streak at the Asian Games - four-time champions in the 4x400m relay.
This athletic mismatch would take place in the most critical segment of the race - the anchor leg. No matter how the race has been run until then, the last lap is decisive. Contests can be turned around, razor-thin leads stretched by the strongest runner in the squad. The last runner is a final show of cards and very logically, that's where Bahrain would play their trump.
They had positioned her royal swiftness Salwa Eid Naser, the Asian queen of the single lap, to run the final turn of the race. Naser sprints the 400m in 49-odd seconds (her best is 49.08s) like it's nothing. She has run the five fastest races by an Asian this year without breaking a sweat. She is a silver-medalist at the World Championships and expected to win it in the not so distant future. On Sunday, she had even blown past the best Indian runner at that distance - Hima Das - to win the 400m gold with a Games record.
Standing alongside Naser is a skinny 21-year-old from Kannur, Kerala, who has never won anything at international level. Heck, this final is her international debut. She glances across at her rival and her heart pounds.
"My heart was going dhad dhad dhad. She (Naser) is one of the best runners in the world. I'm running my first international race and it's the final of the relay," Vismaya says later.
Prior to the race, Vismaya would have been almost impossible to google. In contrast to the riches of Naser in the single lap, Vismaya has a lone silver medal at the National Inter-Universities in the same event. That's it. Nothing else. Nada.
That's not unexpected because Vismaya wasn't interested in an athletics career until she was in class 11. The daughter of a construction labourer, education has been the priority for most of her life. She considers herself a student first, with A+ in her class 12 and another perfect grade in her BSc Mathematics degree. She has only run inter-school and junior national championships. She only ran the inter universities because it was mandatory for her college.
That medal got her a place in the national camp. Vismaya says she is acutely aware of her inadequacies.
"I'm not as good as the other runners. Poovamma didi has so much experience, Hima has won so many medals and runs so fast. I'm nothing like that," she says.
But Galina Bukharina, the mercurial ex-Soviet runner, ex-US college coach, who is now working with the Indian team, sees potential in her.
"She was a wonderful girl but so weak. But she runs beautifully. She runs so smoothly, That is natural," says Bukharina.
Vismaya soon travelled with the team to the Czech Republic where the other members tried to make her feel at home, even though she was shy and stayed to herself. Vismaya managed a personal best of 54.21 seconds, but it still wasn't nearly as good as her teammates' timings.
Vismaya is only in Jakarta because of Bukharina, who backed her even when she clocked a disappointing 53.30 seconds at the Inter-State Athletics Championships that were meant to serve as qualifiers for the Asian Games.
Many questioned her inclusion. A couple of athletes even went to court. Ahead of the relay, no one really seemed to believe Vismaya would be included in the high-pressure race ahead of someone like Nirmala Sheoran, who ran the final of the women's 400m.
"The selection committee asked me if I was sure that I wanted to take her. I said I insist that Vismaya will come to the Asian Games," says a beaming Bukharina. It was also Bukharina who insisted Vismaya run the relay anchor. "Hima wanted to run the anchor. But I said no. Vismaya will run."
It was a risky gamble. A day before the race, Vismaya says she asked her family to pray for her. In a straight race with Naser, that's about all the chance she had.
But there was bit of deception that Bukharina had planned. She made India's best runner Hima run the opening lap, and its most experienced runner MR Poovamma run the second, against two of Bahrain's weaker runners. By the time Poovamma handed over her baton to Saritaben Gayakwad, India had a sizeable lead. It extended to about 50 yards by the time Vismaya tapped in.
If there's anyone who can chase down a fifty-metre gap, it is Naser. But Vismaya didn't give her the chance. And her team-mates did their best to spur her on.
"I could see that she was nervous. I just yelled at her in Malayalam. Race yedithu wodu (Take the race and run)," says Poovamma later.
It was a near perfect performance. Vismaya clocked her split in 52.30 seconds, nearly a second faster than her previous personal best. Naser did her best, but the lead remained intact.
"I just wanted to make sure that I didn't let the team down," Vismaya says. "So I just ran my hardest until I got to the finish line."
She crossed the chalk and collapsed along with her teammates on the track. India's weakest link had withstood Bahrain's best efforts, and kept her country's legacy intact. While the whole crowd held their breathe at the David vs. Goliath contest, just one individual, coach Bukharina, was unperturbed.
"Before the race I told Vismaya, today you have the chance to show India just what a good 400m runner you are. You have to go do it."
And she did.
How was the experience of teaming up with Hima, who is India's latest sensation, and with Poovamma, one of India's most experienced athletes. How did you four prepare for the final as a team, particularly when there was so much legacy at stake? Was it stressful?
Everybody expects gold from the 4X400 m relay team at the Asian Games. Over time, the event has become a matter of prestige for the contingent. Even a silver or bronze-medal finish was out of the picture, hence there was pressure on us obviously. Fortunately, we were able to do well . Sarita and I were debutants at the international level while most other teams were packed with experienced athletes. But we still managed to do well. In fact, we missed the Games record by microseconds.
During practice sessions, we had given special attention to the baton exchange so that there would be no room for errors.
Like you said, it was a given that World Champion Salwa Eid Nasser would be the anchor-leg runner for Bahrain. For a beginner, did it not felt like a huge challenge? How did you cope?
I was initially very nervous. But the coaching staff and team was very supportive. Once the baton reached my hand, there was nothing else in my mind but the thought that I should not let my team down. I could feel that Nasser was getting closer but the tension gradually vanished as the race progressed.
How did the team prepare ahead of the Games?
Some of us were sent to Poland for training and later another camp was organised at Guwahati before we flew to Jakarta.
Of course the final must have felt special. But are there any other special memories of the Games?
India's final four for the relay was not pre-decided. I didn't even know if I was in the main team or not. The first three were finalised. But for the fourth spot, there was a selection trial involving me and three other athletes including Olympian Jisna Mathew from the Usha school of athletics (who Vismaya had earlier beaten in the Inter-University athletics meet at Guntur in 2017, to break a 25-year-old record). I had to do my best there in order to secure a place in the team and luckily I could. It was a great memory.
The kind of welcome we received at the Jakarta Airport was also very special. Many Indians living there came to receive us. The kind of support Indian sportsmen received across events from the crowd was amazing.
You were originally a hurdles runner, but later switched completely to middle-distance running. Why was this?
During the U-20 nationals in Coimbatore, I suffered a glute injury and was forced to stay away from the tracks for a year. Doctors advised that my back is not strong enough and suggested that I resume running.
Olympics seems to be the next big event ahead. How are the preparations going on?
Before the Olympics, we have the World Championship coming up next year. As I said earlier, our team is a young one and hence need great exposure and workout sessions to ensure a good show. The final training plan is yet to be confirmed.
How was the reception back home on your triumphant return?
On our way back, Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore welcomed us and later the PM himself also met us. We were received really well at the Airport. It was truly motivating.
Coaches play an integral part in the success of sportsmen. Who are the coaches you would like to thank?
There are many. I became a competitive athlete thanks to Raju Paul sir of St George School, Kothamangalam. I was watching my sister Vijisha's practice when he asked me to join the trials. I am grateful to him for identifying the athlete in me. I had decided to join an engineering course but it was my teachers who convinced me otherwise.
I was a mediocre performer and could fetch only a bronze at the prestigious Kerala school meet. I improved a lot under Paul Sir at Assumption College.
My current coach Vinayan Sir's lessons were vital in my record-breaking performance at the university level, and of course, national Coach Galina's role goes without saying. She is very caring and supportive.
India returned from Indonesia after registering its best-ever medal haul. But still, the divide between us and first-placed China is astonishingly huge. Personally, what do you think is holding India back, and what can be done to establish ourselves as a serious competitor on the international sports circuit?
We are improving. People like Neeraj Chopra are now serious competitors at the global level. Foreign countries have better facilities than we have here. Be it the tracks, gyms, physio treatments or anything, you can feel the divide between us and them during the exposure tours. As a nation, we need to invest more in sports. We are a big country and have many talented youngsters. It is all about bringing them up in the right way.
How has your College helped shape your career?
Assumption College, Changanacherry is among the finest colleges in Kerala for sports and athletics. The Physical Education faculty, especially Dr Jimmy Joseph and Suja Mary George madam have been very supportive and helped me make many important decisions. Our college has one of the best basketball, fencing and athletic teams at the national level. (Assumption College is a two-time recipient of the Award for the Best College in Sports and Games in the state of Kerala. So far they have produced two Arjuna Awardees, one Olympian, 30 International medals and 41 athletes and players for India.)
What about the part played by your family?
Thanking parents would be awkwardly formal. All this would have been impossible without their love and support. They give equal importance to my academic and athletic needs.
Any job offers from the government so far?
Not yet. A good job is anybody's dream but I want to complete my post graduation first. I wish to be employed in Kerala itself. National Games winners were assured of Gazetted posts by the government. So yes, I also hope to get a decent job.
What are your other big dreams?
A house for my family is one. We have been living in rented houses till now. But my biggest dream now is to run for as long as possible and take the country to greater glories, not only in the relay but also in individual events.
Being a post graduate from a school of science was a dream of mine. I had 95% marks for graduation. The thought of doing MSc Mathematics faded as Assumption was not offering the course. Also, most MSc courses include practical classes that could clash with my training schedules. Hence I was convinced by my coaches to continue at the college as it was the best place for my athletic career.
Finally, who is your biggest inspiration?
All people with whom I have practised and competed so far have been an inspiration to me in one way or another. My compatriots, friends and colleagues have taught me a lot. And then there are the icons like Usain Bolt, who is an inspiration for athletes all around the world. We all need inspirations to keep us going, don’t we not?
*******************************************************************************
story of vismaya
Weak link Vismaya anchors India to relay gold-
If the Indian women's relay team is a chain, there's little doubt that 21-year-old Vismaya Velluva Koroth is the weakest link. And on Thursday, she had to withstand the sledgehammer charge of the one of the greatest runners in Asia, who was trying to break India's longest running athletics streak at the Asian Games - four-time champions in the 4x400m relay.
This athletic mismatch would take place in the most critical segment of the race - the anchor leg. No matter how the race has been run until then, the last lap is decisive. Contests can be turned around, razor-thin leads stretched by the strongest runner in the squad. The last runner is a final show of cards and very logically, that's where Bahrain would play their trump.
They had positioned her royal swiftness Salwa Eid Naser, the Asian queen of the single lap, to run the final turn of the race. Naser sprints the 400m in 49-odd seconds (her best is 49.08s) like it's nothing. She has run the five fastest races by an Asian this year without breaking a sweat. She is a silver-medalist at the World Championships and expected to win it in the not so distant future. On Sunday, she had even blown past the best Indian runner at that distance - Hima Das - to win the 400m gold with a Games record.
Standing alongside Naser is a skinny 21-year-old from Kannur, Kerala, who has never won anything at international level. Heck, this final is her international debut. She glances across at her rival and her heart pounds.
"My heart was going dhad dhad dhad. She (Naser) is one of the best runners in the world. I'm running my first international race and it's the final of the relay," Vismaya says later.
Prior to the race, Vismaya would have been almost impossible to google. In contrast to the riches of Naser in the single lap, Vismaya has a lone silver medal at the National Inter-Universities in the same event. That's it. Nothing else. Nada.
That's not unexpected because Vismaya wasn't interested in an athletics career until she was in class 11. The daughter of a construction labourer, education has been the priority for most of her life. She considers herself a student first, with A+ in her class 12 and another perfect grade in her BSc Mathematics degree. She has only run inter-school and junior national championships. She only ran the inter universities because it was mandatory for her college.
That medal got her a place in the national camp. Vismaya says she is acutely aware of her inadequacies.
"I'm not as good as the other runners. Poovamma didi has so much experience, Hima has won so many medals and runs so fast. I'm nothing like that," she says.
But Galina Bukharina, the mercurial ex-Soviet runner, ex-US college coach, who is now working with the Indian team, sees potential in her.
"She was a wonderful girl but so weak. But she runs beautifully. She runs so smoothly, That is natural," says Bukharina.
Vismaya soon travelled with the team to the Czech Republic where the other members tried to make her feel at home, even though she was shy and stayed to herself. Vismaya managed a personal best of 54.21 seconds, but it still wasn't nearly as good as her teammates' timings.
Vismaya is only in Jakarta because of Bukharina, who backed her even when she clocked a disappointing 53.30 seconds at the Inter-State Athletics Championships that were meant to serve as qualifiers for the Asian Games.
Many questioned her inclusion. A couple of athletes even went to court. Ahead of the relay, no one really seemed to believe Vismaya would be included in the high-pressure race ahead of someone like Nirmala Sheoran, who ran the final of the women's 400m.
"The selection committee asked me if I was sure that I wanted to take her. I said I insist that Vismaya will come to the Asian Games," says a beaming Bukharina. It was also Bukharina who insisted Vismaya run the relay anchor. "Hima wanted to run the anchor. But I said no. Vismaya will run."
It was a risky gamble. A day before the race, Vismaya says she asked her family to pray for her. In a straight race with Naser, that's about all the chance she had.
But there was bit of deception that Bukharina had planned. She made India's best runner Hima run the opening lap, and its most experienced runner MR Poovamma run the second, against two of Bahrain's weaker runners. By the time Poovamma handed over her baton to Saritaben Gayakwad, India had a sizeable lead. It extended to about 50 yards by the time Vismaya tapped in.
If there's anyone who can chase down a fifty-metre gap, it is Naser. But Vismaya didn't give her the chance. And her team-mates did their best to spur her on.
"I could see that she was nervous. I just yelled at her in Malayalam. Race yedithu wodu (Take the race and run)," says Poovamma later.
It was a near perfect performance. Vismaya clocked her split in 52.30 seconds, nearly a second faster than her previous personal best. Naser did her best, but the lead remained intact.
"I just wanted to make sure that I didn't let the team down," Vismaya says. "So I just ran my hardest until I got to the finish line."
She crossed the chalk and collapsed along with her teammates on the track. India's weakest link had withstood Bahrain's best efforts, and kept her country's legacy intact. While the whole crowd held their breathe at the David vs. Goliath contest, just one individual, coach Bukharina, was unperturbed.
"Before the race I told Vismaya, today you have the chance to show India just what a good 400m runner you are. You have to go do it."
And she did.
Sunday, July 8, 2018
Do you have an interesting innovative idea ? Send it now.
COPY OF THE LETTER FROM National Innovation Foundation – India!AS RECEIVED
Dear Sir
Greeting from National Innovation Foundation – India!
As
you may be aware that National Innovation Foundation - India (NIF -
India), an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology,
Government of India aims to recognize, respect and reward grassroots
technological innovators, outstanding traditional knowledge holders and
creative school students.
We request you to motivate students of your school to actively participate in the Dr APJ
Abdul Kalam IGNITE competition and possibly win an award at the
national level. The dream of an innovative and inclusive India cannot be
fulfilled without making our children creative and compassionate and
for this we
seek your active support. The relevant background materials about Dr.
APJ Abdul Kalam IGNITE Competition are attached with email.
The
ideas/innovations can be about improvement in any existing machine or
product, which increases its efficiency, output, or reduces drudgery or
about an entirely new machine or gadget aiming to improve life of
people. These should be original problem-solving ideas/ innovations of
the children and not guided by teachers and parents. The competition
will accept entries till August 31, 2018.
Looking forward to your kind cooperation and participation of children from your schools in Dr APJ
Abdul Kalam IGNITE competition. The idea/innovation may be submitted
along with complete name, age, sex, class, school name, school address,
home address, contact number, email (if available) through mail at ignite@nifindia.org; submit online http://nif.org.in/submi
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam IGNITE competition 2018
National Innovation Foundation - India
Grambharti, Amrapur, Gandhinagar-Mahudi Road
Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Pin: 382650
Grambharti, Amrapur, Gandhinagar-Mahudi Road
Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Pin: 382650
Tel. 02764261131/ 32/ 38/ 39
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
SPACE OF WOMAN IN A FAMILY-BY DR.SAJEENA SHUKKOOR
Throughout history, the space occupied by women has undergone a dramatic
change. The attitudes of the society towards her role in the family were shaped
mostly by the different religious texts. The first pairs of couples - Adam and Eve
and Siva and Parvathy introduced by the three religions - Christianity, Islam and
Hinduism throw light on the fact that Man and Woman together make one and the whole. Hence religions present woman’s role neither lesser nor inferior, but her role is to complete the other half. But what later history relates is the deterioration of her role in a patriarchal society.
Woman was confined within the four walls of the house. Child bearing and rearing became her sole responsibility. Her voice could not be heard even about the matters related to her future. She became the victim of many atrocities.
Thanks to the efforts of many reformers, gradually women could break the walls.
Education liberated them and gave them dignity. They began to assume the role of bread winner and family head. She started finding a space in the public too. This public space won her worthy position in the private also.The twenty first century witnesses a redefinition of woman’s role in the family. From the traditional roles of housewife and mother she has marched ahead. Her voice is heard in matters regarding marriage, procreation and so on. The disintegration of joint family and formation of nuclear families resulted in the crumbling of family as an institution.
Now woman enjoys rights regarding when she should marry, whether she should marry, when she should have children, how to plan in favour of career etc. Side by side we can see that premarital and extramarital relations are on the rise. This results in the erosion of values of love and compassion. Children became the worst sufferers. The broken families have generated crimes and violence.
It is high time man and woman extended their hands in mutual support and mutual respect to hold family safe and secure. At a time when woman finds a space even in space, her role rolled from submission to autonomy. Still, in some quarters, she is tarnished, while in some other quarters, she forgets what she can do in shaping a generation. Love is the noblest feeling one can cherish and it can be profusely found in the set up of a family only. Only a woman can restore the family within the bondage of love. Therefore, her space within in the family has become all the more vital.
-Dr SAJEENA SHUKKOOR, HSST (ENGLISH), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
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change. The attitudes of the society towards her role in the family were shaped
mostly by the different religious texts. The first pairs of couples - Adam and Eve
and Siva and Parvathy introduced by the three religions - Christianity, Islam and
Hinduism throw light on the fact that Man and Woman together make one and the whole. Hence religions present woman’s role neither lesser nor inferior, but her role is to complete the other half. But what later history relates is the deterioration of her role in a patriarchal society.
Woman was confined within the four walls of the house. Child bearing and rearing became her sole responsibility. Her voice could not be heard even about the matters related to her future. She became the victim of many atrocities.
Thanks to the efforts of many reformers, gradually women could break the walls.
Education liberated them and gave them dignity. They began to assume the role of bread winner and family head. She started finding a space in the public too. This public space won her worthy position in the private also.The twenty first century witnesses a redefinition of woman’s role in the family. From the traditional roles of housewife and mother she has marched ahead. Her voice is heard in matters regarding marriage, procreation and so on. The disintegration of joint family and formation of nuclear families resulted in the crumbling of family as an institution.
Now woman enjoys rights regarding when she should marry, whether she should marry, when she should have children, how to plan in favour of career etc. Side by side we can see that premarital and extramarital relations are on the rise. This results in the erosion of values of love and compassion. Children became the worst sufferers. The broken families have generated crimes and violence.
It is high time man and woman extended their hands in mutual support and mutual respect to hold family safe and secure. At a time when woman finds a space even in space, her role rolled from submission to autonomy. Still, in some quarters, she is tarnished, while in some other quarters, she forgets what she can do in shaping a generation. Love is the noblest feeling one can cherish and it can be profusely found in the set up of a family only. Only a woman can restore the family within the bondage of love. Therefore, her space within in the family has become all the more vital.
-Dr SAJEENA SHUKKOOR, HSST (ENGLISH), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
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EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT-Dr.Sajeena Shukkoor
“If you educate a boy, you train a man. If you educate a girl, you train a
village”.
Women’s education is the foundation upon which everything else must be
built.
Education elevates the status of people and helps them to break down the
divides that separate and isolate in terms of gender, sex, caste, race and so
on. At its best, education is a breaker of shackles—the shackles of exclusion
and insularity. Without good quality education, one can still be at the
starting point with severe disadvantage. Education has always opened the
wide doors of opportunity.
According to the 2011 census, male literacy rate in India is 82.14% while
female literacy rate is 65.46%. This low level of literacy has a negative
impact on the lives of women and their families. Moreover it adversely
affects the economic development of the country too. Numerous studies
show that illiterate women have high levels of fertility and mortality, poor
nutritional status, low earning potential, and little autonomy within the
household. A woman’s lack of education also has a negative impact on the
health and well being of her children. For instance, a recent survey in India
found that infant mortality was inversely related to mother’s educational
level.
The Government of India is committed to women’s empowerment as evident
in the constitutional provisions. The Constitution guarantees to all Indian
women equality (Article 14), no discrimination by the State (Article 15(1)),
equality of opportunity (Article 16), and equal pay for equal work (Article
39(d)). In addition, it allows special provisions to be made by the State in
favour of women and children (Article 15(3)), renounces practices
derogatory to the dignity of women (Article 51(A) (e)), and also allows for
provisions to be made by the State for securing just and humane conditions
of work and for maternity relief (Article 42).
Under the Rights to Education Act which was passed in the year 2009, every
child between ages 6 and 14 was guaranteed a free and compulsory
education, which saw enrollment figures spiraling at record high of 98%.
Still there is alarming difference in literacy rates among different states and
regions.
The state of Kerala has the highest female literacy and the lowest infant
mortality rates and the highest life expectancies of all the states. The state
of Bihar has the lowest rate of female literacy rate and the lowest life
expectancy. This shows the relationship between female literacy and health
standards.
Ultimately, when women do well, society does better. A study of 60
developing countries estimated that the economic loss from not educating
girls at the same level as boys amounted to $90 billion a year.
Women are more likely to spend their resources on health and education,
dispersing its benefits across society and across generations. One study
suggests that women invest up to 90 percent of their earnings this way, as
opposed to just 30-40 percent for men.
So we must carry the banner for women’s education. Women’s education is
not a threat, it is a blessing. We must make it a global priority, because it is
one of the leading causes of our day.
Education produces the ripple effect in the progress and development of
humanity. So let us let loose an earnest plea: Respect our girls and educate
them.
Dr SAJEENA SHUKKOOR, HSST (ENGLISH), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
click here to download this file
village”.
Women’s education is the foundation upon which everything else must be
built.
Education elevates the status of people and helps them to break down the
divides that separate and isolate in terms of gender, sex, caste, race and so
on. At its best, education is a breaker of shackles—the shackles of exclusion
and insularity. Without good quality education, one can still be at the
starting point with severe disadvantage. Education has always opened the
wide doors of opportunity.
According to the 2011 census, male literacy rate in India is 82.14% while
female literacy rate is 65.46%. This low level of literacy has a negative
impact on the lives of women and their families. Moreover it adversely
affects the economic development of the country too. Numerous studies
show that illiterate women have high levels of fertility and mortality, poor
nutritional status, low earning potential, and little autonomy within the
household. A woman’s lack of education also has a negative impact on the
health and well being of her children. For instance, a recent survey in India
found that infant mortality was inversely related to mother’s educational
level.
The Government of India is committed to women’s empowerment as evident
in the constitutional provisions. The Constitution guarantees to all Indian
women equality (Article 14), no discrimination by the State (Article 15(1)),
equality of opportunity (Article 16), and equal pay for equal work (Article
39(d)). In addition, it allows special provisions to be made by the State in
favour of women and children (Article 15(3)), renounces practices
derogatory to the dignity of women (Article 51(A) (e)), and also allows for
provisions to be made by the State for securing just and humane conditions
of work and for maternity relief (Article 42).
Under the Rights to Education Act which was passed in the year 2009, every
child between ages 6 and 14 was guaranteed a free and compulsory
education, which saw enrollment figures spiraling at record high of 98%.
Still there is alarming difference in literacy rates among different states and
regions.
The state of Kerala has the highest female literacy and the lowest infant
mortality rates and the highest life expectancies of all the states. The state
of Bihar has the lowest rate of female literacy rate and the lowest life
expectancy. This shows the relationship between female literacy and health
standards.
Ultimately, when women do well, society does better. A study of 60
developing countries estimated that the economic loss from not educating
girls at the same level as boys amounted to $90 billion a year.
Women are more likely to spend their resources on health and education,
dispersing its benefits across society and across generations. One study
suggests that women invest up to 90 percent of their earnings this way, as
opposed to just 30-40 percent for men.
So we must carry the banner for women’s education. Women’s education is
not a threat, it is a blessing. We must make it a global priority, because it is
one of the leading causes of our day.
Education produces the ripple effect in the progress and development of
humanity. So let us let loose an earnest plea: Respect our girls and educate
them.
Dr SAJEENA SHUKKOOR, HSST (ENGLISH), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
click here to download this file
3LS OF EMPOWERMENT- NOTES BY DR.SAJEENA SHUKKOOR
1. The role of educated empowered women in building a strong nation.
Education is the foundation upon which any change is built. It helps women
to help themselves and break the shackles of exclusion. Women represent
half the world’s population. But they contribute far less than 50 per cent of
economic activity. In some countries, per capita income lags significantly
because women are denied equal opportunity. Numerous studies show that
illiterate women have high levels of fertility and mortality, poor nutritional
status, low earning potential, and little autonomy within the household. A
woman’s lack of education also has a negative impact on the health and well
being of her children. For instance, a recent survey in India found that infant
mortality was inversely related to mother’s educational level. Women are
more likely to spend their resources on health and education, creating a
powerful ripple effect across society and across generations. One study
suggests that women invest up to 90 percent of their earnings this way, as
opposed to just 30-40 percent by men. Thus education and empowerment of
women can work wonders in building a strong nation.
2. The role of learning, labour and leadership skills in making a woman
liberated.
Education is the foundation upon which any change is built. It helps women
to help themselves and break the shackles of exclusion. Labour facilitates
women to flourish and achieve their true potential. It helps women to
become independent, bold and resourceful. Leadership enables women to
rise and fulfill their innate abilities and talents. Here there is plenty of room
for improvement.
3. Women should step outside their comfort zones. Discuss.
When women lead , they do jobs in a better way . They are more likely to make decisions based on consensus building,inclusion, compassion and with a focus on long term sustainability. Butwomen sometimes lack the confidence to match their competence. So they need to change that mindset and reset the narrative in their favour. Some women though educated and qualified for a job tend to be comfortable with child bearing and child rearing. They feel happy inside the home and never step out to express their talents. Their talents cannot be tapped in this context. Some women become satisfied with a small job though they are
capable of more competent job.This is not good enough.Women should step outside their comfort zones.
4. Women sometimes lack confidence to match their competence.
Comment on the statement.
Women are gifted with so many talents and abilities. But circumstances
pose certain constraints in their lives. They do not realize their talents.
Sometimes at home, sometimes at school, at other times at workplace,
women are bound by so many limitations. Right from their childhood, they
are chained. They suffocate under the heavy pressure of don’ts. This blocks
the free flow of their powers. Women are actually strong and tough. More
than men, they are capable of multi tasking. They are competent enough to
lead and take up responsibilities. But most of the times, they stay back.
They hesitate to take up responsibilities. It is their diffidence which pulls
them back. It is high time they realized their innate potentials. Then only
women can contribute their due to the nation building process.
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Education is the foundation upon which any change is built. It helps women
to help themselves and break the shackles of exclusion. Women represent
half the world’s population. But they contribute far less than 50 per cent of
economic activity. In some countries, per capita income lags significantly
because women are denied equal opportunity. Numerous studies show that
illiterate women have high levels of fertility and mortality, poor nutritional
status, low earning potential, and little autonomy within the household. A
woman’s lack of education also has a negative impact on the health and well
being of her children. For instance, a recent survey in India found that infant
mortality was inversely related to mother’s educational level. Women are
more likely to spend their resources on health and education, creating a
powerful ripple effect across society and across generations. One study
suggests that women invest up to 90 percent of their earnings this way, as
opposed to just 30-40 percent by men. Thus education and empowerment of
women can work wonders in building a strong nation.
2. The role of learning, labour and leadership skills in making a woman
liberated.
Education is the foundation upon which any change is built. It helps women
to help themselves and break the shackles of exclusion. Labour facilitates
women to flourish and achieve their true potential. It helps women to
become independent, bold and resourceful. Leadership enables women to
rise and fulfill their innate abilities and talents. Here there is plenty of room
for improvement.
3. Women should step outside their comfort zones. Discuss.
When women lead , they do jobs in a better way . They are more likely to make decisions based on consensus building,inclusion, compassion and with a focus on long term sustainability. Butwomen sometimes lack the confidence to match their competence. So they need to change that mindset and reset the narrative in their favour. Some women though educated and qualified for a job tend to be comfortable with child bearing and child rearing. They feel happy inside the home and never step out to express their talents. Their talents cannot be tapped in this context. Some women become satisfied with a small job though they are
capable of more competent job.This is not good enough.Women should step outside their comfort zones.
4. Women sometimes lack confidence to match their competence.
Comment on the statement.
Women are gifted with so many talents and abilities. But circumstances
pose certain constraints in their lives. They do not realize their talents.
Sometimes at home, sometimes at school, at other times at workplace,
women are bound by so many limitations. Right from their childhood, they
are chained. They suffocate under the heavy pressure of don’ts. This blocks
the free flow of their powers. Women are actually strong and tough. More
than men, they are capable of multi tasking. They are competent enough to
lead and take up responsibilities. But most of the times, they stay back.
They hesitate to take up responsibilities. It is their diffidence which pulls
them back. It is high time they realized their innate potentials. Then only
women can contribute their due to the nation building process.
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DIDI -NOTES BY DR. SAJEENA SHUKKOOR
DIDI
What kind of problems did Shaheen face when she settled in India?
Shaheen Mistri, the Indian social activist and educator was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. It was her trips to Mumbai that showed her the inequity rampant in India and that helped her to identify her life mission. The first difference she noticed was about the academic system in India which prioritized
bookish form of learning. So she realized that she would be able to learn more in the city, beyond the classroom. In the city, she walked into a low-income community buzzing with life. She was astonished to know that an estimated 10,000 people lived there with no running water, no system of waste disposal, and shared six dark cubicle toilets. When she entered a home of the native in that community she saw, that home was smaller than the bathroom of her house. Illiteracy, poor housing, sanitation etc are only a few among the myriad problems Shaheen faced in India when she settled.
What was the inequity that she found in India?
To Shaheen Mistri, life in her lovely white colonial home in Jakarta was a pleasant, almost perfect life.But in India she was dazed at the unfair conditions. Through the window of her air-conditioned car, she saw children begging in the streets. She would see piles of wasted food at a friend’s party and when she
left, she would notice a woman sitting on the side of the road, sharing out the meager amounts of dal and rice for her family. She noticed the wide disparity that existed in different people’s lives. On the one side life abounded in abundance and affluence while on the other side life strangled with impoverishment and destitution.
Why, do you think, the principals of different schools refused to give a space for the children from the slum?
The principals of the different schools refused to give a space for the children from the slum for the most illogical reasons. The fear of spreading diseases, scratch on the desks with glass bangles worn by the daughters of the fishermen were only a few rubbish kind of excuses. It is clear that the rich takes care of
the rich only. Only a few like Shaheen Mistri is an exception to them. The children of the affluent get ample opportunities for their better bringing up while the children of the poor are always underprivileged. In a world where education has become business, the principals of the sophisticated educational
institutions are motivated by the huge sum of capital offered for the children of the rich. They are least bothered about the marginalized lot who live in the fringes of the social structure.
Shaheen refers to the Indian education system as ‘bookish’. Comment on this.
Shaheen Mistri noticed that in India bookish form of learning replaced the academic rigour and intellectual stimulation she had received in the U. S. So she realized that she would be able to learn more in the city beyond the classroom.
Indian educational system is still teacher centred with more of the TTT or Teacher’s Talking Time. Its main objective is to help the students achieve high marks in the examinations. Students in a classroom are taught the same material in the same traditional method. Direct instructions and lectures given to the students and the students receive these instructions seated on a permanent seat. Their social development is given little attention. Interaction with peer groups for discovery learning is seldom possible in such acurriculum. Socializing is largely discouraged except for extracurricular activities and teamwork based
projects. The curriculum is single and unified one for all students, regardless of ability or interest. The scope for practical examination and its scores is minimal and hence the students fail to gather practical expertise. Instead they get theoretical knowledge which does not generally make them proficient and
skillful. This kind of system produces only certificates and not experts.
Learning experiences which involve hand on activities, student led discoveries and group activities help in better assimilation and reinforcement of knowledge. But this system is not practised in most of the schools in India. Hence Shaheen Mistri is right in her observation. I personally feel that she became a great educator with her experiences outside the classroom.
PREPARED BY DR SAJEENA SHUKKOOR, HSST (ENGLISH), TRIVANDRUM
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What kind of problems did Shaheen face when she settled in India?
Shaheen Mistri, the Indian social activist and educator was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. It was her trips to Mumbai that showed her the inequity rampant in India and that helped her to identify her life mission. The first difference she noticed was about the academic system in India which prioritized
bookish form of learning. So she realized that she would be able to learn more in the city, beyond the classroom. In the city, she walked into a low-income community buzzing with life. She was astonished to know that an estimated 10,000 people lived there with no running water, no system of waste disposal, and shared six dark cubicle toilets. When she entered a home of the native in that community she saw, that home was smaller than the bathroom of her house. Illiteracy, poor housing, sanitation etc are only a few among the myriad problems Shaheen faced in India when she settled.
What was the inequity that she found in India?
To Shaheen Mistri, life in her lovely white colonial home in Jakarta was a pleasant, almost perfect life.But in India she was dazed at the unfair conditions. Through the window of her air-conditioned car, she saw children begging in the streets. She would see piles of wasted food at a friend’s party and when she
left, she would notice a woman sitting on the side of the road, sharing out the meager amounts of dal and rice for her family. She noticed the wide disparity that existed in different people’s lives. On the one side life abounded in abundance and affluence while on the other side life strangled with impoverishment and destitution.
Why, do you think, the principals of different schools refused to give a space for the children from the slum?
The principals of the different schools refused to give a space for the children from the slum for the most illogical reasons. The fear of spreading diseases, scratch on the desks with glass bangles worn by the daughters of the fishermen were only a few rubbish kind of excuses. It is clear that the rich takes care of
the rich only. Only a few like Shaheen Mistri is an exception to them. The children of the affluent get ample opportunities for their better bringing up while the children of the poor are always underprivileged. In a world where education has become business, the principals of the sophisticated educational
institutions are motivated by the huge sum of capital offered for the children of the rich. They are least bothered about the marginalized lot who live in the fringes of the social structure.
Shaheen refers to the Indian education system as ‘bookish’. Comment on this.
Shaheen Mistri noticed that in India bookish form of learning replaced the academic rigour and intellectual stimulation she had received in the U. S. So she realized that she would be able to learn more in the city beyond the classroom.
Indian educational system is still teacher centred with more of the TTT or Teacher’s Talking Time. Its main objective is to help the students achieve high marks in the examinations. Students in a classroom are taught the same material in the same traditional method. Direct instructions and lectures given to the students and the students receive these instructions seated on a permanent seat. Their social development is given little attention. Interaction with peer groups for discovery learning is seldom possible in such acurriculum. Socializing is largely discouraged except for extracurricular activities and teamwork based
projects. The curriculum is single and unified one for all students, regardless of ability or interest. The scope for practical examination and its scores is minimal and hence the students fail to gather practical expertise. Instead they get theoretical knowledge which does not generally make them proficient and
skillful. This kind of system produces only certificates and not experts.
Learning experiences which involve hand on activities, student led discoveries and group activities help in better assimilation and reinforcement of knowledge. But this system is not practised in most of the schools in India. Hence Shaheen Mistri is right in her observation. I personally feel that she became a great educator with her experiences outside the classroom.
PREPARED BY DR SAJEENA SHUKKOOR, HSST (ENGLISH), TRIVANDRUM
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THIS FILE
Sunday, June 17, 2018
Video classes for 11 and 12 phy che bio and maths
Video classes
for 11 and 12
The IIT-Professor
Assisted Learning (PAL) video lectures for Class XI and Class XII can
be accessed on YouTube through the links below. Many faculty members
from various IITs have contributed to these lectures. Prof. Ravi Soni
from the Dept. of Physics, IIT Delhi is the National Coordinator and
IIT Delhi has coordinated this entire effort with funding from MHRD.
Over 600 hours of lectures in Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology
are available for students.
Please pass on the
information to your friends/relatives and their needy children.
Biology: Channel 19
Chemistry: Channel
20
Mathematics: Channel
21
Physics: Channel 22
These videos can
also be accessed on Doordarshan Freedish DTH. Complete list of videos
is available at (Channel 19,20,21 and 22)
-contributed by SUSHAMA T M ; HSST BOTANY ;GHSS MATHIL
sasthracheppu :science for up classes sasthracheppu.blogspot.com
sasthracheppu :science for up classes sasthracheppu.blogspot.com
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Sunday, March 25, 2018
11 ENGLISH MARCH 2018 QUESTION AND ANSWERS
11 Eng March 2018 QUESTION PAPER
click here for a p d f file
11 Eng March 2018 ANSWERS
click here for answers( value points )
Detailed Answers
( Only to the members of this blog.Link will be provided to the members soon by email.)
CLICK HERE FOR OTHER QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
click here for a p d f file
11 Eng March 2018 ANSWERS
click here for answers( value points )
Detailed Answers
( Only to the members of this blog.Link will be provided to the members soon by email.)
CLICK HERE FOR OTHER QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Monday, March 19, 2018
12 ENGLISH MARCH 2018 QUESTION AND ANSWERS
12 Eng March 2018 QUESTION PAPER
click here for a pdf file
12 Eng March 2018 ANSWERS
click here for answers( value points )
Detailed Answers
( Only to the members of this blog.Link will be provided to the members soon by email.)
click here for a pdf file
12 Eng March 2018 ANSWERS
click here for answers( value points )
Detailed Answers
( Only to the members of this blog.Link will be provided to the members soon by email.)
WELCOME TO HAI ENGLISH PROGRAMME IN GHS MAHE ON 2/4/2018
*REVISED STUDENT FRIENDLY MODULE .
*TEACHERS TRAINED FROM REGIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENGLISH , BANGALORE.
*FIVE DAY INTENSIVE PROGRAMME.
more details available at 9446675440
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
CONCEPTUAL FRUIT - A PPT FOR REVISION
A ppt of Conceptual Fruit
*for revision and to help special needs learners
*prepared on 07/02/2o18
*for revision and to help special needs learners
*prepared on 07/02/2o18
- discusses the theme
- The plot
- The story
- The character of GRETA
- SPECIAL SCHOOL or MAINSTREAM SCHOOL-debate
- The character of GRETA'S FATHER
- designed with ample provision for self learning and practice.Send your request with comments and suggestions to seakeyare@gmail.com to download a ppt of this work
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
A brief summary of cyberspace( unit 6-reader 11)
Cyberspace
important ideas-
1.Cyber space is a vast , boundless virtual real estate.
There is a general notion that some regulations are necessary in this space.
2.Esther Dyson is against the idea.Censorship in cyberspace is not practical .It is because the entry to cyberspace is optional and it is easy to by pass them.
3.Self rule is the best rule in cyberspace.The users of cyberspace must show responsibility and self control.
4.Cyberspace is an attractive territory as it consists of three important arenas-private email conversations, sources of entertainment and information and possibilities of real communities.All these are self regulated.THEY DON'T NEED ANY RULES FROM AN OUTSIDE AGENCY
5.Cyberspace has a unique quality.It gives importance to individual freedom and choice.You can love it or leave it.
6. There will be a formation of self contained communities in cyberspace which cater to the needs of the members and do not interfere with others.
The future of cyberspace will be marked with the evolution of new regulations on intellectual property,content and access control and free speech.
7.The society must grow up and respect the freedom of the individual and the right to choose WHILE USING THE CYBERSPACE
-Radhakrishnan C.K,16/01/2018.
important ideas-
1.Cyber space is a vast , boundless virtual real estate.
There is a general notion that some regulations are necessary in this space.
2.Esther Dyson is against the idea.Censorship in cyberspace is not practical .It is because the entry to cyberspace is optional and it is easy to by pass them.
3.Self rule is the best rule in cyberspace.The users of cyberspace must show responsibility and self control.
4.Cyberspace is an attractive territory as it consists of three important arenas-private email conversations, sources of entertainment and information and possibilities of real communities.All these are self regulated.THEY DON'T NEED ANY RULES FROM AN OUTSIDE AGENCY
5.Cyberspace has a unique quality.It gives importance to individual freedom and choice.You can love it or leave it.
6. There will be a formation of self contained communities in cyberspace which cater to the needs of the members and do not interfere with others.
The future of cyberspace will be marked with the evolution of new regulations on intellectual property,content and access control and free speech.
7.The society must grow up and respect the freedom of the individual and the right to choose WHILE USING THE CYBERSPACE
-Radhakrishnan C.K,16/01/2018.
Saturday, January 13, 2018
THE CYBERSPACE BY ESTHER DYSON;11 TEXT
" Cyber space is the world created by the Internet. The Internet grew out
of an American military project called DARPAnet. You can look at all the
things people do in this 'world', like banking, insuring their cars,
socialising (Facebook etc), finding things (Google etc). You can also
take a look at some of infrastructure that makes the internet work, like
domain name servers, ISP's, ICANN and the like. There are figures
available for the size of the Internet economy and there have been a
number of high profile news stories, such as Wikileaks, that demonstrate
the pervasive influence 'cyberspace' now has on our lives. ........"--
(TAKEN FROM https://affiliates.tutorhub.com/question/what-is-cyberspace-and-its-advantages-and-disadvantages )
FOR MORE READING :
1. http://www.brillianttermpapers.com/samples/a-critical-analysis-of-esther-dysons-cyberspace-if-you-dont-love-it-leave-it/
2. https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-uses-and-misuses-of-the-Internet
3.https://www.ukessays.com/essays/media/cyberspace.php
4.http://thecomplexgroup4.blogspot.in/2016/05/advantages-and-disadvantages-of_27.html
5.https://www.slideshare.net/nightseem/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-internetpdf
(TAKEN FROM https://affiliates.tutorhub.com/question/what-is-cyberspace-and-its-advantages-and-disadvantages )
FOR MORE READING :
1. http://www.brillianttermpapers.com/samples/a-critical-analysis-of-esther-dysons-cyberspace-if-you-dont-love-it-leave-it/
2. https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-uses-and-misuses-of-the-Internet
3.https://www.ukessays.com/essays/media/cyberspace.php
4.http://thecomplexgroup4.blogspot.in/2016/05/advantages-and-disadvantages-of_27.html
5.https://www.slideshare.net/nightseem/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-internetpdf
Sunday, January 7, 2018
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