Vasantotsav in Pune – 10 years of musical excellence

January 22, 2016

Author: Levine Lawrence

There is no doubt that Pune is the cultural capital of Maharashtra, which attracts a wide range of cultural events right from rock music to sufi qawwali to Indian classical. However, it is the Hindustani classical music that attracts music lovers in large numbers.

Pune hosts numerous Hindustani classical music concerts and events throughout the year; among them the Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav, Taalchakra and Vasantotsav attract the biggest crowd of music enthusiasts. I have been fortunate enough to attend Vasantotsav consecutively for the last three years and I have been blessed with a darshan of the best musicians in the country today.

Vasantotsav 2014 was the first event, where I was exposed to the Indian classical music scene in Pune and I was taken aback by the enthusiasm and response of music fans. I was enthralled by the music renditions by Niladri Kumar, Kaushiki Chakravarty, Vikku Vinayakram and Anindo Chatterjee. Since then, I have made sure of my presence in both Vasantotsav 2015 and Vasantotsav 2016. This year being the 10th anniversary of Vasantotsav, it was particularly special for loyal fans and organisers as well. Further, this event surely made me nostalgic about the big music and dance festival of yesteryears – Vasantahabba in Bengaluru!

Vasantotsav 2014: The audience arrives one hour before the concert begins to prove the fact that Pune is the national centre for Hindustani classical music!

Vasantotsav-2014: Niladri Kumar is no doubt the reigning star of sitar after Pandit Ravi Shankar. He is at ease in producing both classical ragas and fusion music notes.

Vasantotsav-2014: Hindustani vocalist Rahul Deshpande is a standard fixture at Vasantotsav, since he is the organiser of the event that was established by his grandfather Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande.

Vasantotsav-2014: Teejan Bai is a famous folk music artiste, who presented the episodes of the Mahabharata with musical accompaniment.

When Daler Mehndi and his team took stage in Vasantotsav-2015, many of us were apprehensive about his pop-star image. But his version of devotional sufi music named “Rabbabi” was truly celestial.

Vasantotsav-2015: Trilok Gurtu was supposed to be magical with his jazz percussion and fusion music, but a messed up sound-check session ruined the star’s mood and the audience’s experience as well.

Vasantotsav-2015: Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt performed melodiously on his Mohan Veena (slide guitar) along with Vijay Ghate accompanying him on tabla.

Vasantotsav-2016: Kumar Bose, the tabla maestro performed solo on tabla and enthralled the audience with his thirkit and taal that kept the tradition of Benaras Gharana alive.

Vasantotsav-2016: Wadali Brothers, Ustad Puranchand Wadali and Pyarelal Wadali mesmerised the audience with their gurbani and sufiyana songs.

The climax for Vasantotsav-2016 was the fusion of jazz music by and American saxophone master George Brooks and vocalist Rahul Deshpande.

Stage design was another spectacular aspect of Vasantotsav, which grabs the attention of viewers with Bollywood-like grand sets designed by Nitin Desai.

Factfile –
http://www.vasantotsav.com

Couples Visiting Paris for a Weekend, Here is Our Guide to Make it More Romantic

Caleidoscope

January 20, 2016

With an enduring reputation as the romantic capital of the world, Paris is an obvious destination for couples who want to share a special few days in each other’s company and enjoy some amazing sights.

Once you have browsed Paris tour packages and made your booking it is time to get excited about the prospect of what you are going to see and do when you arrive in the city of love. Yan can also use airport taxi transfers Paris to reach your stay at a affordable cost.

The Perfect Romantic Stroll

Romantic Stroll at Canal St. Martin — Canal St. Martin Jorge Láscar via Flickr

If you want to do something truly romantic in Paris it is hard to top the experience of taking a stroll along the Canal St. Martin.

Time seems to stand still in this part of Paris and there are plenty of opportunities to stop for a drink by the riverside and watch the world go by in the company of someone you love.

You Can’t Miss this Iconic Monument

If ever you needed reminding that you are in the beautiful and romantic city of Paris you only have to search out the iconic landmark of the Eiffel Tower to confirm where in the world you are this weekend.

It is also an amazing backdrop for a cozy picnic in the park and you don’t have to move too far away from the tower and the tourists to find a spot just to yourself where you can wine and dine and glance up at one of the most recognizable sights on the planet.

Step Back in Time

Paris is blessed with some stunning and inspirational gardens that really put you in the mood for love and right up there as one of the most romantic settings you can find in the city is Luxembourg Gardens.

The Jardins de Luxembourg seems to transport you to a different era, especially when you take a ride on the oldest merry-go-round found anywhere in Paris. The gardens are simply perfect for couples and if you visit just as the sun is setting it will deliver some amazing memories to take home with you.

Culinary Delights Everywhere

The French are famous for their culinary exploits and love of food and drink so it makes perfect sense to indulge your taste buds when you come to Paris.

Head to Le Marais, for example, and you will have plenty of amazing opportunities to sample what local food vendors and artisans have to offer, with so many different wines, cheeses and meats to choose from you will struggle to choose which ones to try.

Sharing new taste experiences is a romantic thing to do and enjoying the great food and drink is considered an integral part of your incredible Paris adventure.

A Great Way to End the Day

Paris is a beautiful city by day and after you have enjoyed a packed itinerary in each other’s company a great way to end the day would be to seek out a rooftop bar.

Head to the Terrass Hotel on Rue Lepic, for instance, and you will be treated to memorable views of Paris by night as you sip cocktails or champagne with the Eiffel Tower shining like a beacon of love in the distance.

Paris for a weekend? It’s the place to be for couples who want to enjoy an amazing 48-hours in romantic surroundings.

Homeopathy, Unani, Siddha: Is Alternative Medicine Credible?

Sahana Rajan

January 20, 2016

Author – Sahana Rajan

Image – Source

Alternative medicine is a field of diagnosing, treating and preventing disorders by using methods which diverge from the mainstream medicine. They are often claimed to be holistic at two levels: they offer treatments for almost every medical condition and in treating one condition, they also positively influence overall condition of the body.

What is considered alternative medicine will vary from culture to culture. While India does not view yoga as an alternative medicine and considers it an integrative approach to curing illnesses, it is seen as complementary and alternative medicine in USA. The main types of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) in India are: Homeopathy, Unani, Ayurveda and Siddha Medicine.

Often, people use complementary and alternative medicine once they realize that there are no other options left and don’t intend to leave any stones unturned. They might also wish to take control of their health. In alternative medicine, the practitioner often exhibits a greater humane spirit through conversation and dialogue about other (not related to condition directly) subjects. This might attract many to approach alternative medicine and consider it holistic (as it caters to their emotional needs as well).

The criteria to attribute credibility to any system are:

For the ingredients and apparatus- Through empirical findings based on scientific research/study.
For the effectiveness and impact- Through clinical trials.

In case of alternative medicine, no strict laws have been laid down to determine ways in which they must prove their credibility. Those who accept CAM follow it based on either a commonsensical (and often partial) understanding of the practice and its effects or on basis of reviews they might have received through others.

Here are three strands of alternative medicine and the status of their credibility:

Homeopathy Medicine

Source: Independent

Based on the principles of “like cures like” (that says those drugs which induce symptoms into a patient can be used to treat the patient) and “potentizing” (the process of shaking and diluting the medicine at every stage), homeopathy claims their preparations to be more effective than placebo, even though the original medicine is not present in their dilutions. The improvement could happen over weeks or years. However, in few rare cases, the condition of patients worsen (called “homeopathic aggravation”).

Many methods are used to shift “energy” from the parent concentrate to the diluent. None of these methods have been scientifically studied, neither has there been a rational understanding of what this ‘energy’ is and how it is supposed to treat conditions. While highly diluted preparations of the ingredients do not pose any serious threat, many solutions do not mention the level of dilution and thus, could posit adverse side-effects.

Clinical trials carried out to verify the effectiveness of homeopathic medicines are either organised by institutions that support homeopathy (thus, making their results questionable) or are tests, which take check the effectivity in company of mainstream medicine. For this reason, one has to depend on self-reports of users. Such reports can be highly prejudiced by the users’ beliefs.

Unani Medicine

Unani is based on the belief that well-being of human body is dependent on harmony of seven physiological

Source: PsyTreasure

Principles (al-umoor al-tabiyah):

Elements
Temperament
Bodily humors
Organs and systems
Vital spirit
Faculties or powers
Functions.

It is believed that every person has the capacity to regulate herself (tabiyat) by keeping these principles in harmony. The treatment for any condition generally begins by setting up a regimen to balance these principles. Such a regimen is part of dietotherapy, which holds that food is the basic unit through which conditions can be cured. Other ‘regimental’ therapies include massage (dalak), opening of vein to let out blood (fasd), bath (hammam) and exercise (karat). Depending on the intensity of condition, natural medicines could also be recommended. The only function of the Hakim, who practices Unani, is to strengthen the tabiyat of his patient and recover the sense of well-being.

No stringent clinical trials have been carried out to check the efficacy of Unani Medicine. Moreover, Unani often uses kushta (fine powder containing toxic metals like mercury, iron rust, arsenic and mercuric chlorise). It is critical to undertake research and regulate its use to avoid adverse side effects. In October 2015, AYUSH began a series of clinical trials to check the authenticity of traditional medicine (including Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Unani and Siddha).

Siddha Medicine

Source: Siddha Life Care

Founded in Tamil Nadu, the central principle of Siddha medicine is the set of eight super-natural powers (ashtamahasiddhi). Those who attained these powers were called ‘Siddhars.’ The three basic elements (humours) of Siddha and Ayurveda are identical: Pitham, Vaadham and Kabam. The imbalance between them is claimed to cause diseases. Such an imbalance is said to be caused by environmental and internal conditions. Diet and way of living are the two major factors that trigger onset and cure a disease. Eight diagnostic signs are used: tongue, eyes, complexion, voice, touch, stool, urine and pulse. Three categories of medicinal treatments are meted out: Herbal, Inorganic and Animal. Along with these, a regimen is established to ensure the equilibrium of these three humours. In comparison to Ayureda, Siddha Medicine makes greater use of metal and minerals.

There are rarely any scientific research or clinical trials on Siddha Medicine. One clinical research to “evaluate the efficacy of two Siddha drugs, Sindhuvallathy Mezhugu and Kalladaippu Kudineer, for kidney stones” was last verified in December 2014 and fails to provide reports of the outcome.

So, is alternative medicine credible?

If the credibility of a system of medicines is based on clinical trails and empirical findings, then no system of alternative medicine is credible. Clinical trials have been held either from starting points that assume its success or have been left unreported halfway. The Central Council of Indian Medicine provides certification to institutions and individuals practicing Homeopathy, Unani, Naturopathy and Ayurveda in India.

The only way in which the alternative medicines’ systems can be deemed credible is the positive way in which they could affect the patient’s lifestyle by directing her to set up a disciplined regimen, consume healthier diet and physical exercise.

Factfile:

http://www.ijppsjournal.com
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org
https://nccih.nih.gov
https://nccih.nih.gov
https://nccih.nih.gov
https://clinicaltrials.gov

Trek to the Luscious Dhoni Falls, Kerala

Caleidoscope

January 18, 2016

Author: Veena Nair

Image – Veena Nair

When I was a little girl, I would wake up by the sound of a red-whiskered bulbul that perched on the tree next to my window. That used to be my morning raga at one time. And to this date, I have not found a lovelier way to kick-start my day. As I grew old and became entwined in the webs of college, work and family, the little girl in me yearned for her ‘morning alarm,’ which has now been replaced unceremoniously by a mobile phone.

However, last month, I met my good old feathered friend once again! This serendipitous meet happened during a drive to Dhoni reserve forest, situated in the midst of smoky mountains surrounded by the Western Ghats. Rapidly emerging as a favourite weekend spot for tourists from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the forest is situated 15 km from Palakkad.

After an hour’s drive from Coimbatore, we reached our destination, which is famous for its lush green forests rich in wildlife. However, the main attraction is the splendid waterfalls, which can be reached after a four-kilometre hike through a rocky mountain path within the forest from the base of Dhoni Hills. Though tiring for non-trekkers, a dip in the waterfall washes away all weariness.

Image – Veena Nair

We paid an entry fee of twenty rupees at the entrance guarded by the Kerala Forest Department personnel, who checked our bags for plastic bottles and wrappers that are not allowed. Private vehicles are also not allowed to enter the forest.

I walked through the zigzag rocky path surrounded by big tall trees on both sides and could hear the sound of water gushing down the hill. I also happened to notice different shades of green and wondered when was the last time I saw so many colours at once. Though there are many shortcuts at different levels, the climb can be a little arduous for non-trekkers. Therefore, make sure to be equipped with enough water and snacks.

After a nearly two-hour walk, a tired and a bit bruised me finally reached the waterfall. Though not a giant one, it is a series of cascading waterfalls at different levels, which creates a pool of water that then goes down the hill. We found a small pool above the waterfall where we could take a dip. My happiness knew no bounds when the cold water ran down my spine.

Image – Raghuprasad

We then walked back to the base and this time, I was accompanied by a forest guard who told me the forest was originally named as Dhwani (sound) but got rechristened as Dhoni over the years.

The best time to visit Dhoni Falls is between September and February when the flow of water is maximum.

As I drove back home sitting in my car staring at the traffic on the national highway, I could not help but wonder how man has embroiled himself in a world run by the sounds of raging automobiles, vibrating cell phones, blinking laptops, when he was born amongst swaying trees, chirping birds or just a rooster crowing!

Prayer : A Way to Reach God

Caleidoscope

January 17, 2016

The world is a mixture of many religions, races, castes, and creeds. Even in such a diversity, people tend to respect each other feelings. People believe that there exists some supernatural power above them that make the humans worship for seeking help for them. Prayer needs to be done with immense faith, belief and focus. Each religion has their own rules, regulations, traditions, customs, and rituals to follow. The method of worshiping varies from religion to religion and region to region. This made the people establish their own worship places so that people can pray according to their rules.

Achieving Inner peace

People do worship the idol, their teachings and follow the prayer rules to reach god to find solutions to their problems. Prayer acts as a medium of communication between us and god. By worshiping we get the required strength, peace, rest, and encouragement to face the daily problems they are having. Elders always say that in order to experience the supernatural power we need to do the prayers daily. God only seek the attention and time of ours in order to get us out of the problems we are facing. Prayer gets the desired inner peace and order in the mind and heart of the individual.

Private and organized space

To perform the prayers individuals need a private space which is free from all the disturbances. Having a private space at our home where all the prayer accessories are well organised help us to concentrate on what we are doing. Prayer cabinets provide us with the required things that are used for setting up of the prayer rooms. The cabinets need to be well organised so that praying can be done peacefully.

Praying approaches

Each religion has their own praying approaches. But the most common thing among all the religions is the holding hands and praying with either eyes closed or open. People want to have a calm and armistice environment while praying so that they can concentrate on the praying. With the increase in pressures and tensions in the life of the individuals, it is getting more difficult to visit the prayer house for praying. Even the prayer houses are getting more disturbance from outside as the city in which they are existing is increasing. This made the people establish the prayer houses in their homes. Prayer cabinets from urban ladder provide all the types of cabinets according to the religious needs of the individuals. They are prepared with various safety measures so that it won’t cause any trouble in the house. It becomes very essential that the praying cabinets are resistant to fire because many times we tend to burn small oil lamps inside it.

Custom made cabinets are also available to meet the specific wants of the customers. This makes the customers pray according to their desired taste and risen the deep religious feeling in the hearts of the individual. If we want to achieve inner peace, that can only be done in a beautiful and clean environment.

Why Do Indians Hate to Abide with Rules?

Caleidoscope

January 8, 2016

Author: Reeti Srivastava

Source: Flickr

Social media, TV channels were flooded with jokes and memes in the wake of the recent odd-even formula proposed by the Delhi government. The concept, an experiment to curb the dangerous level of pollution in the city, has not only lampooned the state government on several platforms but also made one wonder if Indians find it hard to accept change done for their own good. Clean air is every individual’s right after all, is it not? Agreed that it has its share of loopholes, but why not criticise it constructively instead of going out all against it.

Similarly, people seem to have a major problem with traffic policemen who stop riders when they are not wearing their helmets or fine drivers for not fastening their seatbelts. Instead of following the law, we curse them for implementing such rules. Weird again! We take the shortcut routes, tiptoe our way around traffic cops just to make sure that we don’t fall in their sight. High time we realised they are not doing it for themselves!

Meanwhile, If littering was to be banned, we would go to any extent to keep our surroundings clean, won’t we? However, the polite messages on the board, in parks and on the streets, seem to have no impact on us, for we are used to rules and regulations being shoveled down our throat. Perhaps, government imposing heavy fines on offenders is the only way to make us abide by the rules. Urinating in public and spitting on the walls still awaits heavy penalty.

There is a famous saying: Rules are meant to be broken. We, at some point in our lives, have broken rules that were meant to protect us. However, now it seems we have taken that adage rather too seriously, for that habit continues to linger with us in dangerous proportions. So much so that we have come to understand only the carrot and stick approach.

Source

India accounts for a very low citizen-police ratio and most of the men on duty are there to ensure that rules are followed by the citizens to make the society clean, peaceful and habitable for us. Getting people to follow some really simple everyday rules consumes most of their time. If only people could cooperate more! The chalta hai attitude of citizens has to give way to voluntary action. India has shown its voluntary spirit during a natural calamity, violence against women and various other social causes. It’s time we did it for other causes, where we take steps to bring more awareness about rules among our fellow citizens.

The need of the hour is a drastic change in our mindsets. That’s where the real change has to come from. We need to have a sense of ownership and respect even for the things we don’t own, only for the greater good of the society. Somewhere along the way, we all have to abandon the ‘Why only me’ approach.

Remember, little drops make the mighty ocean!

Macrobiotics – A diet for well-being

Caleidoscope

January 4, 2016

Author- Ruth Dsouza

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to a diet and perhaps that is why we have so many of them being advocated. Ideally, what you must look for in a diet is the well-being it assures you. A diet that ensures you to eat healthy, while not really giving up on the pleasures that good food can bring you. Perhaps, it’s time you gave the concept of Macrobiotics some thought.

Shonali Sabherwal, India’s first Macrobiotic Counsellor and chef, believes that Macrobiotics is more of a lifestyle than a diet. “The term diet brings up the imagery of being rigid and restrictive. However, the core principle of Macrobiotics is to give you the freedom to eat smartly,” she says.

The Macrobiotic lifestyle

The focus of the Macrobiotic diet is on grains. Generous amounts of grain along with lots of local and seasonal vegetables, forms the core of every meal in this diet. Does seem simple enough to follow, right? Well, an important tenet of Macrobiotics is that it completely eliminates dairy and its products from your life. Yes, contrary to popular belief, milk can work negatively on you. “Because after a point in life, our bodies are unable to break down milk,” explains Shonali.
The aim of the diet is to cleanse the blood and to remove clogs from years of unhealthy eating habits. A great diet can help not only with your health and well-being, but also makes you a well-rounded person. Your personality is bound to improve. Your diet must include fermented foods, starchy vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nuts and grains:

Whole grains give you a sustained 8 hours of good sugar and helps you maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Refined sugars can never do that.
The proximity of plants to the earth and its energy will give you a sense of groundedness.
Fermented foods like tofu will give you the digestive enzymes you need and help balance your pH levels.
Legumes break down amino acids into dopamine, making you energetic.

The important thing about Macrobiotic food is that it can get very interesting. “It is a flexible diet,” says Shonali. Many diets propagate completely cutting out on carbs or proteins. Some advocate skipping meals, while others talk of liquid diets alone. Most of these approaches are not holistic and often do more damage than good. If you are in good general health, then Macrobiotics can make a world of difference to how you feel. All you need is to put in place a system of checks and balances. Even if you are ill, a stricter Macrobiotic diet can still help.

Source

Admittedly, Macrobiotics is not easy, but the system definitely seems smarter. “Perhaps, a way to help people identify with the diet is to see that it has its principles in the Ayurvedic dictates of diet and the Sattvic style of food, but may be not as strict.” explains Shonali.

Macrobiotics is about eating right, to open out your energies and have them pulsate through you in the right manner. Dairy and sugar is taken away from you, as are flours. However, these are replaced with products that will assist your digestive process, just as always, except without the negative aspects.

Macrobiotics helps you deal with several lifestyle issues like hair fall, anxiety, the need for weight loss and more. “It even helps deal with cancer,” says Shonali, who also said that a complete remission is possible in two years of following the diet. Though the international medical community is yet to validate this, she does have some cases on hand to prove her point.

Macrobiotics, Shonali asserts, is about creating a template for yourself and working within it to help your body function ideally. And the other great part about it is that this is a diet for the non-vegetarians as well. The emphasis is more on fish, than on white meats like chicken.

Begin small with the system and work your way up. Here is a recipe of chickpea salad to start with.

Chickpea Salad Serves 4

Ingredients

1 onion diced
1 each of red, yellow and green bell pepper diced (remove skin of red pepper)
2 cups of cooked chickpeas
2 bundles buk choy, cut long and steamed
Olives (optional)

Dressing

¼ cup olive oil
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
3 garlic cloves minced
Grated zest of one lime and juice
Sea salt to taste

Method

Get the ingredients together in a salad bowl
Heat oil and add garlic. Remove from heat and whisk in balsamic vinegar, zest, lime juice and sea salt
Toss into salad. Chill before serving.

Source: The Love Diet by Shonali Sabherwal (Random House India)

With Love from India – Sending Birthday Gifts to USA

Caleidoscope

December 31, 2015

Birthdays are the days when we receive the most number of phone calls, messages, and gifts, since people who love us want to make us feel special. For those staying away from India, birthdays are the times when you yearn for your family and loved ones. In the recent past, the Indian population in the United States has increased tremendously, making the US a massive importer of manpower from India. With this, the need for emotional support from family back home has also increased.

Birthdays are perhaps one of the days when you can send your love in the form of gifts. We have classified gifts on these four human emotional factors:

What we do
How we look
What we say
How we say it

The last one ‘How we say it’ is the most important one. Most of us find it hard to express our love for our dear ones. That is when one-of-a-kind gift ideas come in handy. Gifting is an art in itself and it shows your flip-side well if played with a bit of creativity. You can shower your love by sending some birthday gifts to USA that would brighten up the day for your loved one. Here are some unique ideas that you can use to send birthday gifts to your family in the US:

Newspaper Cuttings

Prepare a collection of newspaper cuttings of all important news happening all over the country since the last birthday of your loved one. Later, bind these cuttings to make a notebook, which would take your loved one on a melancholic journey with this gift.

Barbecue Stand

Barbeque stands or beer cabinets are a perfect gift if the birthday boy/girl is a grilling enthusiast and likes to throw parties for his/her friends.

Knitted Sweaters

You will certainly make the little ones happy if you gift them a knitted sweater featuring their favourite cartoon character. You can also gift this to your grown up kids reminding them of their favourite childhood memory.

Initials on handkerchief

If it is your spouse’s birthday, you can stitch his/her name on handkerchiefs. This will be treasured forever.

Laptop skin

You can also prepare a handmade laptop skin, the guidelines to which are easily available online. Try this

Painted mugs

If you are into clay art, you can make tea cups or coffee mugs and paint on it.

Try these gifting ideas and deepen your bond!

Bearing Fulfilling Lives: What is Right Education?

Sahana Rajan

December 28, 2015

Author – Sahana Rajan

The World Book Fair comes to Delhi on 11th and 12th of January 2016, bringing with it pertinent questions about education and the role of reading in it. Reading is an integral part of any English class of a school. In the same way, many habits form together the apparatus of a school classroom. Is classroom the rightful locus of education? What is the purpose of education? This piece talks about current condition of education system, the motives of education and practice of alternative education.

Where are we now?: Education as a pathway to livelihood

What is Right Education — Source: Sense Internationa

At the most basic level, education is viewed as a pathway to achieving a livelihood. School is seen as the locus of education. In this sense, education is the transfer of information from an individual of expertise (teacher) to an aspirant (student), which would enable the student to eventually earn adequately (amongst other optional motives of fame, prestige and honour). Such an individual generally specializes in specific subjects. The entire schema of education is developed in order to prepare the child for a career which would enable her to lead a fulfilling and decent life eventually.

Is education about a fulfilling life?: Ethics and Education

If the end is a fulfilling life, then can education be only about livelihood? Even if it were about livelihood, should the system need not explore the child in multiple dimensions before even beginning to prepare him for later fulfillment? Most of the educational institutions have an ordered set of subjects which become the only menu for livelihood. For that matter, philosophy was never a subject in my school and I only came to read about philosophy before choosing a subject for graduation. This relates to the need of creating conditions to allow child to explore diverse livelihoods to choose one which would be fulfilling.

Apart from livelihood, what would be expected of an education? Essentially, the birth of ethical persons. Such a birth is generally alleged to take place through moral education, which in itself, is only normative. This means that moral education does not stimulate the child to ask questions for which the answer would be: “That is why it is best to be honest.” or “This is a case of loyalty.” Children are only given moral norms which they are expected to blindly follow. Such a blind following could be broken in adverse conditions as they are not based on principles or experience, but on passive acceptance. In any educational system, it is important to remember that any obedience is only respectful when it is an acceptance of understanding and not of passivity.

Source: PinInterest

How does an education system create ethical persons? By creating conditions where children recognize values as central to living a fulfilling life. This would require that students be seen not only as students alone but as human beings first. Such a transition from student-to-human perspective can occur when education focuses on inculcating sensitivity as an educational need.

When children are exposed to instances of sensitivity (like a video of cow feeding calf or dogs being rescued from abuse), they react positively and imbibe the importance of recognizing others’ needs. Of course, we must teach children that doing good is an end-in-itself. The movement from first way of receiving ethical values (for self-satisfaction) to the second can occur in stages beginning from practice of sensitivity followed by exploration of situations which question this sensitivity. What would you do if your brother stole from parents? What would you do if you found money on the road and you could use it to save your mother? And so on. Ultimately, through such questioning, children reach the destination of instilling ethical values to their lives.

Most educational institutions never explore the stage of sensitivity and for this reason, their execution of the last stage (dictating which moral values are ideal) is unproductive. Once the child practises sensitivity, the first concern of a fulfilling livelihood is also handled. How? Because the child gains capacity to recognize her own abilities and thus, chooses a career which would fulfil her mental needs as well.

An education system for which the basic unit is child, as a human being holistically preparing for a fulfilling life that would answer to his/her physical and mental needs, is considered alternative education. Such a system does not receive the classroom alone as locus of education and explores different practices for unfolding the potential of children.

The practice of alternative education

Mirambika Free School Source: Blogspot

The practice of alternative education involves inclusion of following tools (amongst others) to create ways for the

child to explore, to understand sensitivity of life and eventually, to choose a way of living which would be fulfilling:

An exposure to social and cultural causes through world happenings

Visit to NGOs and animal shelters to understand the diverse ways of living

Regular educational trips involving stays at different cultural set-ups

Introduction to India’s philosophical background (to nurture originality)

Robust crafts and arts regime

Exploration into everyday habits: Eating, washing of utensils, way of dressing (not with intention to homogenize their lives but to question inherited tendencies and discover ways which would most express oneself).

In India, the following schools practice alternative education: Rishi Valley (Andhra Pradesh), Mirambika (Delhi), Riverhouse Academy (Goa), Aurinko Academy (Bangalore), Roopantara Center for Learning (Bangalore), Shikshantar (Haryana), Pallikoodam (Kerala), Adarshila Learning Center (Madhya Pradesh), Gram Mangal (Maharashtra), Anugriha (Tamil Nadu) and Vidyashram (Uttar Pradesh). You can find more detailed list of alternative educational schools here.

Thus, a right education would enable a child to explore herself, create conditions to practice ethical values (and realize its significance) and ultimately, to lead a fulfilling life.

Basic Etiquette to Teach Your Dog at Home

Caleidoscope

December 23, 2015

Author- David Lyod

Source

It’s always exciting when one brings a new puppy at home. However, a new pet always comes with some challenges. Dogs may be a man’s best friend, but there are times when they don’t act wisely. Mentioned below are some good manners that you can teach your dog at home.

Walk calmly on leash

Many dog training schools may never help your dog master this art. You must first ask the dog to sit still before putting on the leash. Every time your dog gets out of control, it is essential that you instantly stop the walk, stand still and wait for them to calm down before continuing the walk. It will take a tremendous effort on your part, but it will pay off if you persevere. Initially, practice indoors and once the dog is under control, proceed to the great outdoors.

Pet commands

Every dog should understand five basic code languages: sit, stay, lay down, come, and heel. All these commands will help one to communicate with dogs and will also serve as a groundwork for further advanced training. Try to keep all the training sessions indoors or at quiet places to avoid distractions. After your dog has learned the commands well, have sessions at different places so your dog learns to listen in spite of distractions.

Teaching your dog to relax

Many a times, dogs feel stressed when there are fireworks and thunderstorms. One would be surprised to know that calming behaviour can be taught to the dog. Take breaks from your play time to teach your dog how to relax. Physical exercise, yoga, body wrap and counter-conditioning are some of the things that can help the dog to remain calm. Make sure that you take the training process calm and slow.

Control barking

Dog barking is a good sign as it is the way it communicates and alerts the owner. But excessive barking may not be good as it shows that your dog is uncomfortable around new people. Try reducing dog’s exposure to strangers if it barks too much. Avoid encouraging your dog to bark at people at the door by saying ‘Who’s there?’ This will cause your dog to be on guard and will likely lead to alert barking. Even after following these steps, if your dog continues to bark, then it would be better to contact a certified dog trainer.

House training

House training is the most important thing when it comes to having a pet. Teaching dog to relieve itself can be an arduous task and one must have the patience to understand their schedule to avoid embarrassing ‘accidents’ in the house. It is harder in case of puppies as they do not have bladder control. To ensure that your dog defecates properly, take him to a place that is relatively quiet and without too many distractions. Get your dog acquainted with that area. Allow him to relieve without any disturbance. In case, your dog has urinated or defecated indoor, clean it up immediately. Do not yell at the dog for doing that.

Meal & dining etiquette

It is necessary to teach the dog to have some patience before having food. Keep them in sitting position while the food is being served. Use commands like ‘okay’ and ‘eat’ to communicate with your dog. Have a feeding schedule to predict when your dog will have to go to the bathroom. This will make the whole process of house training easier. It is important that one should feed their dog as per their age and weight. Consult with your veterinary for specific recommendations for your dog. If there is a puppy at home, schedule feeding three times a day. Usually, dogs hog a lot at the dinner table. Pet disturbance is not a good behaviour and it even embarrasses the owners in front of the guest. Also, the food that we eat should not be served to the dogs as it is not good for their health. It will take a lot of patience to teach your dog dining and meal habits, but the end result will be less stressful and embarrassing. However, if the dog is showing no sign of improvement, then it would advisable to look for some better solution. Consult the pet behaviour specialist in case of any problem. It takes a lot of patience to train a dog but one should have a control over their temper. Above all, have fun and enjoy with your pal.
Have a happy dog training!

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