Education breeds Mediocrity

I read this article " Take a Right Turn " in Times of India where the author mentions about the brain tilt in India.I totally agree with his notions that Indians on average are left-minded people i.e they have a better logical and analytical thinking, but lack in terms of creativity and innovation which are the forte of the right-minded people.Why is that so? Do we truly lack original and creative thinkers?
Probably.And the reason for this is our redundant education system and also the upbringing to some extent.All kids are creative, inquisitive, explorers and love challenges.But as they grow up these qualities seem to vanish in thin air.Why? It is because we (society) curb their uniqueness, their creativity and push them to follow the 'safer path' , or a path taken by majority', or a path which gives good returns in terms of fame and finance but never a path which is of one's own calling.
It saddens me to say that most of our schools have become xerox machines which are producing loads of xerox individuals year after year.The kids are losing their originality and individuality.This kind of system breeds mediocrity and in present times we have started celebrating mediocrity! In fact this is the root cause of our failure to produce good leaders.We are conditioning kids from the very beginning to follow the footsteps rather than making their own footprints.Then, how can our nation expect the birth of any leader, forget good or bad.

colors/chaos of India

Yesterday! again I got this question why back to India? I heard about this new Nike commercial on cricket in India. I thought that it may aptly explain the reasons of why I completely belong to India and not somewhere else :).



True! urban India is completely chaotic and we all have contributed to it and possibly we all will solve this problem as well (I sincerely wish in my lifetime). However, you cannot discount the guts and never-dying-spirit of a common Indian who manages to smile amidst all this chaos. And, that's something that brought me back to my motherland.

Kids And Classical Dance - Part 2

In my earlier post I have listed some of the qualities which are imbibed during the training of classical dance.Let me elaborate on each of them.

• 1.Discipline: One can never master any art without strict discipline.The authentic guru always emphasize this aspect.
  
• 2.Regard For Teacher: The art of classical dancing is something which you can never learn on your own or by books or any other help.You are totally dependent upon your guru for that.This teaches you to respect your guru without whom you can never unfold the finer nuances of any dance form.
• 3.Scientific Nature: Classical dance has its own language and grammar.It teaches you to be methodical and organized and to some extent, inculcates scientific thinking.
• 4.Significance of Practice(Riyaz): Practice maketh you perfect.The best example for this phrase is the art of music and dance, where you can see the day to day improvement with rigorous training.
• 5.Graceful Expression: Dance is an excellent way of self expression.It helps you to shed your inhibitions.Classical dance does so with grace and elegance which are rather inconspicuous by their absence in most of the popular dances today.
• 6.Exercise: It is a good form of exercise.I don't think this needs any explanation.
  
• 7.Stress Buster: Classical dance is like meditation.After the dance session one feels calm and relaxed and the thoughts get streamlined.
• 8.Modesty and Simplicity: The authentic gurus are modest and simple.You tend to imbibe these qualities from them gradually.

My dance classes have not only enriched me with the art of classical dancing but have also inculcated in me the wisdom of life.This is my earnest request to the parents to gift their child an opportunity to learn a classical form of dance and open the doors to higher pleasures of life.And sooner the better.

Recruitment @ LSR

We would like to sincerely thank Dr. Rajashree and the entire Department of Elementary Education at LSR for their wonderful reception at LSR. We went to LSR to recruit students of B El Ed program and found them very promising and creative.

Everytime I have been to LSR in last couple of months, I wish for every Indian college be like LSR -- it has an energy of progress, of social change, of intellect and of tolerance -- salutations to the folks who have ensured such an institution of excellence exists and continues to be the beacon of light for the youth of the country.

We would strive hard to make buildingBlocks an institution that is eternal in existence and serves a role model for any institution (school/preschool/playschools etc) operating in the field of primary and elementary education.

Kids And Classical Dance - Part 1

Today I am reminded of my childhood days , when I used to take a short nap after coming back from school and my mother used to wake me up in the evenings for me to go to my Kathak dance classes.I used to feel very lazy and made all kind of excuses.Somehow my mother always managed to coax me, and eventually I used to go with a long face.But once I would start my dance steps, I would feel rejuvenated and would shed all my laziness.

I started my classical dance training at the tender age of five and then onwards it became an obsession and also a stress-buster.I continued till my Guruji died(when I was 15 years old).

This is something I want to share with my readers that classical dancing , be it Indian or Western is an education in itself.The training in classical dance not only teaches the art of dancing, but also the art of living.It endows you with the following qualities:

* Discipline
* Regard for Teacher
* Scientific Nature
* Significance of Practice(Riyaz)
* Graceful Expression
* Exercise
* Stress Buster
* Modesty and Simplicity
I will elaborate on each of these aspects in my next post.

Keeping busy

We have got some good direction over last couple of months and have some tangible tasks to achieve in next couple of months. I feel very excited to see everyone in the team really getting charged up to go out and achieve what we have envisioned.

Taking a step back and looking at our team, I always get the feeling that I got when I saw the movie sea biscuit. Somehow, our team also reminds me of the same -- not that our team has anyone crooked or broken barring me of couse :), just that all of us are from very diverse backgrounds - its hard to believe how we came together under one roof.

In case if you know a thing or two about design or plain simply creative and have an interest to join this team of diverse people, please send me an email at tarun dot bhalla at buildingblocks dot in.

Self Realization

Hello folks.Please excuse my long absence.
Today, lets talk about spirituality, enormity of universe, existence of God and significance of our existence, all wrapped into one. Talking about spirituality, the first step in its direction is letting go of one's self ego.Being spiritual is like becoming a formless liquid which takes the shape of the vessel; like a spiritual person blends himself according to the laws of nature and the voice of inner self.A spiritual being has no entity;he makes himself a channel for the energy of the universe to flow through him and guide him in his actions.

I will try to explain this in another way.Stretch your perspective a bit.Imagine yourself to be on the moon or any other planet apart from the earth from where you can look down upon the earth.How does it look?A tiny ball,isn't it? Imagine your existence and its significance in that tiny ball.Just wonder about it.It makes you realize the vastness of our solar system and this is just one solar system; there are hundreds of solar system beyond ours, in this universe.Just sit back in solitude and absorb the magnitude of the universe.What does that make you feel about your existence? Significant or insignificant? I will say both.

Let me take the liberty to explain this strange answer later.Right now,let me take you into another direction.Just wonder, at this point of time when you are at the zenith of your feelings;does it really matter what kind of a mobile you carry?Or whether you have a Baleno or a Maruti?Or whether your flat is luxurious or what your bank balance is?or whether you wear branded clothes, and so on and on.I guess your answer will be a big NO.You will realize that such frivolous , inconspicuous things do not matter after all.

At this point of time and space when you feel your existence in relation to the vastness of the universe, you will understand the shloka in Bhagwad Geeta about Nishkam Karma; and believe me you will be encompassed with such peace and joy that you have never experienced before; joy which is as vast and infinite as the universe itself.It is at this moment you will experience the true meaning of spirituality.

Now coming back to my earlier question whether the vastness of the universe makes you feel significant or insignificant?I had said both.Let me elaborate on this.It makes you feel significant since you are part of this great existence;but at the same time you are just acting as a channel through which the energy of the nature or say the universe flows.As someone has rightly said "I am God and God is me".So what is God? It is You and Me and the Universe.

Entrepreneurship -- money or salvation?

After reading few articles of contemporary Indian entrepreneurs, I am forced to write about my view of entrepreneurship. The focus of this piece would be talk about where does the power, to handle the ambiguities that entrepreneurship has to offer, comes from. Further, please take the content of this article with a pinch of salt as this is from a struggling entrepreneur who has not got even a single product out of the door yet:).

Several people have claimed that entrepreneurs take this risky venture with a strong motive to accumulate wealth. Fewer others have alleged that the entrepreneurs are after fame and success. Let me first address these two claims about entrepreneurship. I think people who become entrepreneurs for money have it completely wrong – because however money you can earn – their will be someone richer than you – so what’s the point in slogging so much. Now, the second one if entrepreneur is doing it for fame – he/she is more disillusioned than the first one as you are soon going to be a football of other’s opinions and you will have to every now and then live upto someone else’s expectations – I am sure not a good proposition.

Now let’s look at it with another lens – entrepreneurship as one optimal way of attaining the divine. If we read Geeta, it is clear that the first stage of attaining salvation or God is Nishkam Karma Yoga (Yoga of self less action) followed by Jnana Yoga (Yoga of knowledge) and Bhakti Yoga (Yoga of Devotion). One can never be ready for the stage of Bhakti Yoga till the time he/she has become completely detached – the essential outcomes of Nishkam Karm Yoga and Jnana Yoga. So, where does entrepreneurship figure into this complex web of spirituality?

Well if you view entrepreneurship as another way to produce something (product or service) for societal good (without expecting anything for yourself) you are in some sense taking the purest form of Nishkam karma Yoga - essentially readying you to for the future stages of Bhakti Yoga. Entrepreneurship, due to its sheer nature (your choice of products), provides you more degrees of freedom to do societal good. Additionally, higher societal pressures test your perseverance to detach yourself from the results of your venture. So, all in all this freedom that entrepreneurship inherently provides and the testing situation that it produces for you, proves to be a great place to practice Nishkam karma yoga – one of the pre-requisites to attain salvation.

Some may argue that since you are completely detached from the results of your actions, how would you give everything that you have to the venture. I will argue about the pursuit of excellence without expectation of anything in my next post.

Be Yourself

Just the other day , I was going through my collection of old editions of Reader's Digest ,when I stumbled upon an article -Finding Yourself Again By Arthur Gordon. It was a story about a successful man who felt a loss of energy and enthusiasm in his life.He felt despondent without any reason. Have you ever shared the same feeling at some time of life? If the answer is yes, then take a look at this story by Arthur Gordon which I have tried to summarize in my own words.
This man ( say Mr.X ) then consulted the doctor who advised him to go to the beach the next day and not to read or write or listen to music or even talk to anyone. The doctor had given him four prescription notes which were to be opened and read at 9a.m, 12p.m, 3p.m and 6p.m respectively. Mr X , at first thought the doctor must be crazy; nevertheless he went to the beach the next day.He then opened the first prescription which read as follows:
LISTEN CAREFULLY
He concentrated on the sounds of nature.He listened to the growl of sea , the lapping of waves against rocks and wondered about the enormity of nature.It was then that he realized he was feeling and thinking of things bigger than himself and that gave him immense relief. Moreover he found that by shifting his focus from inner problems to the outer world(nature), he is able to it calm his frantic mind.At 12p.m when the sea glittered in the golden rays of sun, he read the next prescription which said:

TRY REACHING BACK
So Mr. X peered into the well of past and basked in the happy memories of his childhood.He realized that by reaching back, he had virtually touched happiness which released little flashes of power and emotional strength.He felt very light-hearted. At 3p.m , he opened the third prescription which read:

RE-EXAMINE YOUR MOTIVES
Mr. X followed the instructions and realized that earlier he used to derive pleasure while working ,which later starting fading and what remained was just the material benefits the work rewarded.It was at this point of time that the boredom & lack of energy started seeping into his work life.He understood the problem and pledged to himself that he would work not just for money but also for the sense of joy , sense of contributing to society and also for the sense of productivity.At 6p.m,as he gazed at the setting sun , he read the last prescription which said:

WRITE YOUR WORRIES ON SAND
And that's exactly what he did He then turned his back and walked towards the city with a spring in his steps and music in his heart , as the tide behind him came in and washed his worries.