I want my old life back

Call me vain but I wish to wake up and think of what to wear and how to dress. I want to look in the mirror and have my husband glancing my way, sharing his approval. 

I want to think of what to pack in my tiffin and slyly add in titbits to make me feel good. 

I long to get in my car and drive to work, cursing offenders and blaming traffic along the way. I wish to enter the school and see children running, shouting, studying, laughing, making excuses to visit the canteen and hear their inane stories. 

I miss my reception greeting me as I enter the office and offering me a cup of hot, delicious tea. I am waiting to meet my Vice Principal, Supervisors and hear them share their challenges and triumphs. 

I miss seeing my teachers joyous on conducting an efficient class and the anguish for inability to handle class discipline. I yearn to see the school physically back in action with movement, noise all around with chirpiness in every corner waiting at the end of the day to connect with my Management to share new updates.

I ache for the evenings where I drive back to home, stopping at places to fill in my daily home needs, entering my home and seeing my son working out. I crave to catch up with my friends on my daily gossip, discussing new fashion trends, movies, places to travel and dine. I pray that after long physical hours at work, I enjoy those few moments of movie shows, internet surfing, waiting for my husband to return home from work.

I look forward to those precious moments where my spouse and I shared our day routine, where I bicker on my son’s study habits, traffic and demanding people and where I am offered gyan which 75% of the time is discarded, where we end the day to begin another. I hunger for those weekends which actually meant ‘NO WORK DAY” and plan short trips to my father, my friends and of course my parlour. How I hunger for the roadside paanipuris, bhel, sandwiches which we ate as customary part of our shopping in the market and crossed people right , left and centre to reach our destinations?

How much I miss those days which had seemed so regular, where we hugged each other to demonstrate love and touched each other without a thought? 

My prayers are very simple and request the higher reality to please hear them, 

“God, I am very regular so please grant me those regular days back so that I cherish all of them once again. Yes, I promise to become more responsible towards nature and environment. Yes, I have learned to become more technologically savvy and will be better prepared for future crisis management but now let Corona go. She has taught us enough for this lifetime.”

ACCEPT THE UNEXPECTED

We walked into the New Year with hopes and aspirations; 🎉🎆

With renewed energy, we charged our routine continuations. 💼👩‍⚕️👨‍💼

Day and night, we worked towards personal illuminations, 🏆💲

Till a nano virus threw us off our guided administrations.😷🤧

Sharply destabilizing our well-defined lives; it compelled us to look inside,🕊️🙏

‘

What is the true purpose of one’s own existence?’ it asked. ❓❓❓

Within moments, the four walls of our house set a new boundary; 🏠🚪

Leaving our close family as the only tangible associations; 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

While the rest of the world amalgamated into virtual creations. 🥽🖥️📳📶

We grappled with the new hardships, we screamt at the causes; 🙀😱

But along the way we synced into the new practices. 🌈☺️

House truly became a home and workplace changed its definition; 🏠 🏡

We lived within our means with plenty for apportion,🥙🥦🥤

How beautifully we empathized, sympathized and metamorphized,♥️♥️🌈

For the world had never seemed so closer and never so secluded. 🌏🗺️

Corona - Let's fight its shelf life on Earth

I somehow marvel at life. Last week we were working 8 to 10 hours balancing 10th and 12th exams along with school inspection, sensitizing students , planning for next academic year and today we are completely house bound. Earlier, where our perspective in life was inclined towards work and growth, now shifted to basic survival. The earth is so large, its surface area is 510,072,000 square kilometers but now every inch appears  a risk zone. How could a virus measuring from 60 nm [1nm = 10^-9 m] to 140 nm control us completely? Who gave it the power to cripple us globally? Today majority of people are glued to the television sets listening to news and updates, panic has become a way of life.

My entire daily routine has changed incredibly. Now, I don the hat of a cook, domestic help, homemaker and professional as we all are even working from home ensuring teaching learning is not stopping for any one. Given the situation, I doubt anyone might be even opening their laptops or books. I am sure everyone's profile is along similar lines as every building committee has ensured minimum people enter the premise to keep it safe and secure which I wholeheartedly support. So, as I am sitting in my balcony in the afternoon reflecting on the past few weeks, there are some things which has hit the bull's eye. Do let me know the impact it has had on you.
1. We boasted of being technologically savvy, medically progressive and military wise superhuman then how come we fell to our knees in front of this virus? What deeper message is this pandemic sending us? I personally love this video and hope you do too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZmaSZjYzww
2. We always desired vacations and holidays but how come staying at home seems more of work than a vacation. Seriously, I am awaiting the day I go out in the market and see it bustling with people rushing towards their tasks or perhaps just a stroll on the beach. The fresh air and human touch MATTERS.
3. We believe that people who are completing their studies are educated but when you see people evading the truth, socializing, taking a paracetamol before their flights landing to lower body temperatures, you wonder, 'Are they?'  Today, I wish to rephrase and say they might be qualified but definitely not educated. True education teaches one to value every single body on earth.

So, it reaffirms that somewhere our value education system is weak and needs strong redirection. I request the respective education boards to assign it somewhere in the Board exams as we all are so mark driven, if we do not see it as a subject, we never study.
Further, every religious, social organization to use the establishments further for inculcating and strengthening these values within the larger community. Humanity is important, cooperation and support is profound and not simply ringing a bell or bowing down.

I am no magician just a simple educator. I do not know the future and neither do most but I do know that the theory of Karma holds true, you reap what you sow and everything that goes around comes around. So, send positive thoughts to the universe because theory of reflection says angle of incidence = angle of reflection and the same amount of positive reactions will be reflected back.
Together, we have a huge ground to cover but we will as the resounding claps of 22nd March was evident proof for those few minutes truly seemed spiritual. Nature is supreme and very soon the vaccine will be available for one and all.

Rann of Kutch - Nature's secret

For every working individual, a long weekend feels like a breath of fresh air. It is a time to regroup your energies, dedicate time to your personal life and focus on new areas. This weekend, we booked ourselves at the Rann of Kutch, Rann Utsav Tent city for a two night, three day package and let me share with you it was nothing less than spectacular.

It is located in the Thar desert, in the Kutch district of Gujarat. It is about 7500 square km in area and reputed to be the largest salt deserts in the world. We travelled by train towards Bhuj and in the morning we entered a special tent built outside the station by the Tent city staff with amenities offering good care.

Once the crowd gathered, we were whisked off in a bus to travel towards the Tent City. Along the way, the guide shared a very interesting incident which happened during Indo - Pak was in 1971. The airstrip had been destroyed by the Pak army during airstrikes and the Air Force people were very perplexed as to have to get the runway repaired in so short a time. They asked for help but none came forward as they were apprehensive and scared. 300 women of Madhapur village in Bhuj Tehsil came forward, worked day and night and in 72 hours reconstructed the air strip for the Indian Air Force. Salute to these inspiring women. A movie is coming soon on their story. Truly women power!!!!
Read more at:

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/war-memorial-for-women-who-rebuilt-airstrip-for-iaf-in-1971-war/articleshow/48702014.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

We reached Rann Utsav a good one and half hour later and the sight beholding us was spectacular. The entrance was grand and band of people you find yourself amidst men and women dressed in traditional Kutchi clothes regaling you with folk music.

In the evening we visited the white desert and standing between the huge expanse of white salt all around you humbles you. Temperatures here can vary from 12 degree Celsius to fifty degree Celsius. The rains arrive in Kutch by the end of June and last all the way till September. Nature is truly astounding and its secrets never fail too surprise you.
The questions pounding my head were:
Q. How was this vast expanse of salt desert created?
Q. How do people harvest this salt under such harsh conditions?
Q. What variety of plant and animal could survive these scorching temperatures?

Video - https://youtu.be/Hi-v-nyBfGI

If you are as curious as me, then this site will offer you many answers. https://www.thebetterindia.com/73603/agariyas-salt-farmers-rann-of-kutch/

The next day we travelled towards Kala Dungar, a hill located near Khavda town, 46 km from Rann of Kutch.  It is famous for the 400 year old Dattatray temple and how he observed a band of starving jackals and offered them his body to eat and as they ate, his body regenerated itself.  

Even today, the jackals and humans live in coexistence and are fed twice a day by the local community even though with expanses of barren land, food is a real challenge.
https://www.thebetterindia.com/5163/the-jackals-of-kala-dungar-where-a-community-has-kept-them-alive/

While returning home in the bus, I kept looking right and left for concrete developments which have become a part of our daily life but all I saw was vast lands of flat grounds interspersed with clusters of greenery every few kilometers with animals grazing away. Life seemed to have come to a standstill with nature beckoning us to relax. You know that this is how the earth might have looked hundreds of years too without the advent of humankind. Fortunately with technology and river Narmada, water is no more a scarcity but reaching every common man's house. Sometimes step out of the concrete jungles and soak in nature's presence for only when we tune in to its vibration will it share it's secrets.

Love is life

Sonia was on cloud nine, her office had hosted a party for her at a flamboyant farmhouse to celebrate her rise to the position of CEO in the company. The party was in full swing with glasses clattering with each other and people grooving to the lively music. She found herself moving from one pair of hands to another on the dance floor gushing with joy and happiness. Around midnight she felt her legs giving away and quietly slipped away to find a comfortable lounge area giving herself a few minutes to gather her strength. As she closed her eyes deeper she suddenly felt a movement on her toes, she shrugged her feet but the the movement continued. She opened her eyes seeing a flying cockroach and screamed, rushing out of the area. The cockroach followed and she ran further and further till she could no more feel its presence. She glanced around and realized that she was among grove of trees with rich envelope of darkness and faint sound of insects. Suddenly she felt fear and nervous of being all alone in the presence of nocturnal creatures.

Stealthily, she took steps forward towards the farmhouse but in the pitch of darkness stumbled and fell breaking her ankle. She moaned in pain but there was no one to hear her pleas. She felt movement around her toes, waist and hands but there was no escape this time. She belonged to the creatures of the night now and daylight was many hours away. She clung on to hope and began praying loudly to any passerby who could offer a beam of sunlight.

As minutes passed she gave into exhaustion and drifted off to sleep. Someone kept calling her but the voice seemed from so distant till hands began shaking her vigorously and she peered her eyes open. She saw a looming figure in front of her offering her support. The next few seconds she was filled with apprehension but when he spoke to her as if he knew her well and was truly concerned, she walked beside him holding his hand till they reached his car. Once inside the car, she could see him clearly and found him immensely attractive with smiling eyes and gait of confidence.
For the first time in many years, Sonia blushed and whispered, "Thanks so much, I wish to know who you are, how you happened to be here, I had actually given up hope'.
He peered at her and looked surprised that even though he knew her so well she did not seem to recognize him. Nevertheless, he replied, " I am Raj, I organize all your events and you have been speaking to me on regular basis and interacted with me physically on an occasion or twice. At the party, I saw you seeking few moments of privacy and later came around to check in but could not locate you and hence came looking".

Sonia felt embarrassed, obviously they had interacted often, his voice seemed familiar but how come she never recognized him. He dropped her home and they went their separate ways. The next day she got back to the routine and the time flew but every evening she felt a longing to see Raj again. She still could not digest the fact that she never gave him a second's notice at her workplace, he was honestly worth a thousand looks or maybe the situation had made him more appealing. The dilemma had to be resolved so she called him up on the pretext of returning the favour and requested for a dinner date which Raj reluctantly agreed to.

The next evening Sonia dressed to her best waiting for Raj to show up at the restaurant. He walked in a few minutes later and her heart skipped a beat. Within a few minutes, they were talking and laughing as old friends and the compatibility was so comforting.

Many times at work she found herself daydreaming about him and was amused. At the height of her career in her mid thirties, her mind was drifting in another direction.

In the midst of her meeting, he called her and they met again at a cafe and she wanted to take it further and out-rightly asked Raj for a vacation together. He gave her his phone and told her to call up the special woman in his life for permission. Suddenly Sonia felt the earth shift, she had never once asked whether he was married or in a relationship. How could she have been this dumb? She rose up, apologizing profusely to Raj for treading his personal life and began moving towards the door.

Raj caught her by the arm and spun her around. 'You can go but before that see the special person". She resisted but he put his mobile in front of her eyes and saw the cutest girl in a fashionable school uniform and hugged Raj never to lose him again. "Take me to your daughter, I wish to know her". They held hands walking towards paradise where only love mattered.

Whoever thought that an insect could act as a catalyst for love to blossom between two adorable souls?

The Martian - What can we take from it?

On returning from work after a busy day, I switched on the TV for some relaxation and on browsing narrowed down the movie, ‘The Martian’ a 2015 movie starring Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain with excellent supporting staff. From the very beginning, the story had me gripped on my seat feeling the emotions as Matt was stranded on the planet Mars with few resources, wondering whether he would ever return back alive or the captain ‘Melissa’ who felt guilty for leaving him behind or the NASA space stations officers who are working out the Math and Physics to bring the whole crew back.

Every movie stays with you much after it ends and this movie is still lingering with me because it has got me thinking about many parameters.

The main protagonist, Watney was all alone on the planet but survived 560 sols [Martian solar days] using his wits and immense emotional and mental balance.

In our current educational environments, we give into almost every demand of the students and parents to keep them happy and ensure peaceful coexistence. The pertinent question that looms up is; ‘Will our students be able to survive even a fraction of Watney’s rigorous survival journey?

Are they prepared to respond to mental and emotional turmoil awaiting them at their work and home?

2   Watney has limited food and as a botanist utilizes Martian soil fertilized with crew’s faeces to produce potatoes which help him survive for around 500 sols. Watney applied his theoretical knowledge to practical situations and was able to stretch his survival. The question is, 'Is it possible to extend the knowledge we have of Planet Earth to Planet Mars? Currently, our education system is focused on marks and content but rarely do we focus on skill development. As per World Economic Forum, dated 22^nd Jan 2020, 1 billion jobs will be transformed by technology in the next decade. The world is facing a reskilling emergency but are our education boards ready for the challenge? Are our students ready to translate knowledge into practice? How do we prepare them for the ever-dynamic future?

3    In the movie, China National Space Administration has developed a powerful booster rocket and shares it willingly with NASA’s scientists even though it was to be classified.

Watney's crew were on their way home, excited to be united with their families and completely unaware of Watney’s existence. On hearing about him, they decide to change their course entirely, acknowledging the dangers and risks to their own life and progress to rescue him.

To me, this was the best part of the movie as the entire team risked their own lives to save their team member’s life. Similarly, one country walked up to collaborate with another for saving mankind. Aren't these profound emotions?

Why can’t we instill these values in every human being from day one? It should be reinforced that, " First comes ‘US’, then come ‘I". Wouldn’t the world be a much happier place?

I definitely love movies and always feel that good ones should be shown to our students so that we may have a healthy discussion thereafter. ‘Values cannot be taught but are caught’ and what better way than using the most powerful medium we have amongst us.

Now let us review the STEM learning in the movie and delve deeper. I have put it as a project which can be conducted synchronously or asynchronously. 

Science Project

Evaluate the movie ‘The Martian’’ and categorize the scenes, events, and activities within the

movie as scientifically least probable, scientifically high probability, and complete fiction. Support

all your analysis with evidence and experiments.

 The Martian movie launches astronauts on the Aries missions from a refurbished and state-of-the-art space center. How close and far are we from this probability of having humans

land on Mars? How are spacecraft and rovers supported to land on Mars?

 Watney has limited food and as a botanist utilizes Martian soil fertilized with crew’s faeces

to produce potatoes which help him survive for around 500 sols. – does Martian soil

support the growing of food?

 ‘’There was a high Mars wind of 100mph which destroyed Watney’s crops’’. Explore Mars's

climate to support or negate the statement.

 The space explorers are wearing a heavy space suits and struggling with the weight. Should

they be struggling with the heavy load? Support answers with reasons.

 Matt Damon’s character took hydrazine from the rocket fuel and dissociated it into

nitrogen and hydrogen and he burned the hydrogen with oxygen to make water. Is the

technology sound? Can you suggest any other alternatives?

 Watney is shown to be sweating a lot in his spacesuit at times and sometimes he also gets

cold easily. Explore Mars temperatures to explain this variation.

 To leave the Red Planet, each Ares crew uses a Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV). In the book,

it’s explained how this plucks methane out of the Martian atmosphere to create fuel. The

rocket then accelerates to an orbital velocity that allows it to rendezvous and dock with

the Hermes spacecraft, which then brings the astronauts back to Earth. Is it truly feasible?

 Watney returns to Earth with no possible health concerns. Evaluate the possibility of the

radiation effects after spending 560 sols [Martian solar days]

 The main protagonist, Watney was all alone on the planet but survived 560 sols [Martian

solar days] using his wits and immense emotional and mental balance. How can our

current educational system empower and support the augmentation of these much-needed

balances?

Another site to visit is https://maththrills.com/movie-math-the-martian/

Everything in the movie is not scientifically true. So another project could be, The inaccuracy of STEM concepts in the movie.

Bibliography:

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/reskilling-revolution-jobs-future-skills/

https://g.co/kgs/L3ywP4 - The Martian

Kindle the light within you - Poem