In the name of sports facilities - children participating in hobli-taluk-divisional-state-national level tournaments are made to sleep on newspapers in class rooms with virtually non-existent toilets. Food is served in a most unhygeinic way. Compare this with five star facilties provided to our cricket players - past, present & future.
We call all budding sportsmen and sportswomen of District tumkur to come and talk to us about their careers. If you are SELECTED as a `promising basketball player' according to our parameters - we will provide you continuous support till school level. At college level, you have to VOLUNTEER for our programmes to enable us to support your sporting ambitions.
BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF TUMKUR DISTRICT SHALL NOT SUFFER - PROJECT SUMPOORNA WILL ENSURE PROPER FACILTIES.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
THE CALL OF SAVANDURGA !
It is difficult to tell the students at SUMPOORNA about some trekking experiences without being caught! So when inadvertently I mentioned SAVANDURGA there was virtually a clamour `WHEN ARE YOU TAKING US THERE'?
At 56, I am not what I was at 35 - we used to wander all over the hillocks and valleys of places around Bangalore. If I name them I will be in trouble again - so let us just stick to Savandurga. I must be selective and careful in making programmes - but how can I deny my students the same `joys' that I provided children two decades ago. So be it! The lure of the Kari Betta and Bili Betta will haunt these children and inspire in them a sense of joy that has endured in me even after having climbed it more than hundred times. I have climbed it with my wife and younger son - I have climbed it with more than fifty students at a time.
The discipline this hill demands - children climb on it the way a small baby tries to climb on the chest of its mother - I have to use this analogy because I have a grandson of five months who already climbs on to my chest probably practicing for its climb on Savandurga.
I have climbed Savandurga as a father - now I am going to climb it as a grandfather - WILL I CLIMB IT as a great grand father? As I write this piece - tears of joyful
memories flow down my cheeks - where are they - all those thousands of children with whom I climbed these hills. DO THEY STILL CLIMB OTHER HILLS - I don't know; yet I have a feeling that whenever they see a hill, they would remember me as the person who helped them climb their FIRST HILL at Savandurga.
At 56, I am not what I was at 35 - we used to wander all over the hillocks and valleys of places around Bangalore. If I name them I will be in trouble again - so let us just stick to Savandurga. I must be selective and careful in making programmes - but how can I deny my students the same `joys' that I provided children two decades ago. So be it! The lure of the Kari Betta and Bili Betta will haunt these children and inspire in them a sense of joy that has endured in me even after having climbed it more than hundred times. I have climbed it with my wife and younger son - I have climbed it with more than fifty students at a time.
The discipline this hill demands - children climb on it the way a small baby tries to climb on the chest of its mother - I have to use this analogy because I have a grandson of five months who already climbs on to my chest probably practicing for its climb on Savandurga.
I have climbed Savandurga as a father - now I am going to climb it as a grandfather - WILL I CLIMB IT as a great grand father? As I write this piece - tears of joyful
memories flow down my cheeks - where are they - all those thousands of children with whom I climbed these hills. DO THEY STILL CLIMB OTHER HILLS - I don't know; yet I have a feeling that whenever they see a hill, they would remember me as the person who helped them climb their FIRST HILL at Savandurga.
ADVENTURE & COURAGE - THE REAL EDUCATION!
So well `protected'[shepherded is more likely the word] are children today that they rarely have an opportunity to develop their sense of adventure and courage. For the past three decades I have been working with children to this end and for the past five decades I have been living a life of adventure & courage. AND I WONDER who will provide this education which is the essence of being human.
Slowly but steadily our children are becoming more and more helpless in adverse situations - preparing them early on is a must. At 13 years when I first traversed the snow bound pass of ROHTANG in the Himalayas - I promised to myself that when I grew older I would provide this opportunity to my children. The hundreds of treks, hill climbs and village camps that I conducted after becoming a father are a testimony to my unshakable belief that adventure and courage should be nurtured in younger children.
Few parents realise this - at enormous cost to the healthy development of the children. Sadly most of the children miss out on this real education. A harshly competitive world can be faced only by slowly developing the spirit of adventure and courage. And I shall continue this endeavor of mine for I know I am right.
Slowly but steadily our children are becoming more and more helpless in adverse situations - preparing them early on is a must. At 13 years when I first traversed the snow bound pass of ROHTANG in the Himalayas - I promised to myself that when I grew older I would provide this opportunity to my children. The hundreds of treks, hill climbs and village camps that I conducted after becoming a father are a testimony to my unshakable belief that adventure and courage should be nurtured in younger children.
Few parents realise this - at enormous cost to the healthy development of the children. Sadly most of the children miss out on this real education. A harshly competitive world can be faced only by slowly developing the spirit of adventure and courage. And I shall continue this endeavor of mine for I know I am right.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
THE LURE OF MAKALIDURGA - SETTING NEW RECORDS!
MAKALIDURGA hills are just 50 Kms away from Bangalore - I have visited it periodically in the last 25 years. IT IS A BEGINNERS' HILL. But it is better to go with a person who knows the topography.
We had decided [as we usually do] to divide the group into two - the juniors will climb the CHIKKA MAKALIDURGA and the seniors [or the fitter ones] will climb the imposing MAKALIDURGA. I faced the group and looked at the hill and instinctively KNEW that the mother hill MAKALIDURGA was beckoning all of us. AND WE SET OUT on this hill that has kept calling me and my students.
A RECORD HAS BEEN SET - sixty students climbed the Makalidurga as a single group. Two volunteer mothers provided able support to the group. EVERYONE CLIMBED THE HILL - a unique feat.
CONGRATUALTIONS V.S.C. BASKETBALL CAMP AND CHILDREN OF SHISHU MANDIR.
We had decided [as we usually do] to divide the group into two - the juniors will climb the CHIKKA MAKALIDURGA and the seniors [or the fitter ones] will climb the imposing MAKALIDURGA. I faced the group and looked at the hill and instinctively KNEW that the mother hill MAKALIDURGA was beckoning all of us. AND WE SET OUT on this hill that has kept calling me and my students.
A RECORD HAS BEEN SET - sixty students climbed the Makalidurga as a single group. Two volunteer mothers provided able support to the group. EVERYONE CLIMBED THE HILL - a unique feat.
CONGRATUALTIONS V.S.C. BASKETBALL CAMP AND CHILDREN OF SHISHU MANDIR.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
THE BEGGING BOWL! - NO - ITS' SCHOOL NURTURING
To go and beg for food was the greatest humbling act for the sanyasins of ancient days. It had a specific purpose.
The education department of karnataka state has found a new word for begging - nurturing. Schools are places of learning - in recent times they have kitchens - experimental education has been introduced with a vengenence - teachers have become part time cooks - and whenever they are free they are supposed to attend `training' of this and that. When would they put this training to action - next year or next to next year. I have seen hugely bored and disinterested faces at such training centres.
NOW the govt. says that 95% of budget goes for salaries of staff so they have no money for other things. THEN WHY OPEN MORE AND MORE SCHOOLS which are producing third rate students anyway. Blame the private institutitons for providing good education at a HIGH COST - but inspite of that - even a peon or a sweeper wants to admit his child to a private english school. WHY?
Cycles are a largesse with the vote bank in mind. Colour televisions to each student - the next mantra OR even the parents of the student can come and have food in the school itself. FUTURE IS DARK INDEED if schools are to remain SCHOOLS.
The education department of karnataka state has found a new word for begging - nurturing. Schools are places of learning - in recent times they have kitchens - experimental education has been introduced with a vengenence - teachers have become part time cooks - and whenever they are free they are supposed to attend `training' of this and that. When would they put this training to action - next year or next to next year. I have seen hugely bored and disinterested faces at such training centres.
NOW the govt. says that 95% of budget goes for salaries of staff so they have no money for other things. THEN WHY OPEN MORE AND MORE SCHOOLS which are producing third rate students anyway. Blame the private institutitons for providing good education at a HIGH COST - but inspite of that - even a peon or a sweeper wants to admit his child to a private english school. WHY?
Cycles are a largesse with the vote bank in mind. Colour televisions to each student - the next mantra OR even the parents of the student can come and have food in the school itself. FUTURE IS DARK INDEED if schools are to remain SCHOOLS.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
USE SPORTS AS A MEANS TO DEVELOP CHILD'S PERSONALITY
In the past three decades I have seen children coming to our camps with different purposes. Some of these goals are achieved while others aren't. Some of these children give up very quickly and retreat into their `routines'.
BUT THE ONES THAT STAY TILL THE END ARE THE REAL HEROES. They are able to transform their personality to a very great extent. These are the ones that do well in every sphere of their life for they have learnt the great lesson of PERSISTENCE & RESOLUTENESS.
For this one reason alone, children must be made to compulsorily attend SPORTS CAMPS during holidays.
BUT THE ONES THAT STAY TILL THE END ARE THE REAL HEROES. They are able to transform their personality to a very great extent. These are the ones that do well in every sphere of their life for they have learnt the great lesson of PERSISTENCE & RESOLUTENESS.
For this one reason alone, children must be made to compulsorily attend SPORTS CAMPS during holidays.
ARE YOU VIOLATING THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE CHILDREN TO PLAY
THIS is an extract from DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD AS ADOPTED BY THE GENERALASSEMBLY OF U.N.O. India is a signatory to this historic document.
Principle 7
The child is entitled to receive education, which shall be free and compulsory, at least in the elementary stages. He shall be given an education which will promote his general culture and enable him, on a basis of equal opportunity, to develop his abilities, his individual judgement, and his sense of moral and social responsibility, and to become a useful member of society.
The best interests of the child shall be the guiding principle of those responsible for his education and guidance; that responsibility lies in the first place with his parents.
The child shall have full opportunity for play and recreation, which should be directed to the same purposes as education; society and the public authorities shall endeavour to promote the enjoyment of this right.
Read this as many times as you wish to - then go and stand in front of the mirror and ask yourself whether you are violating this fundamental right of your own child/student. I wish to repeat
The child shall have full opportunity for play and recreation, which should be directed to the same purposes as education; society and the public authorities shall endeavour to promote the enjoyment of this right.
THINK ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU GO TO SLEEP - now you cannot run away from your responsibility!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)