Women's Day - Whose Empowerment is it, anyway?

A well-meaning friend recently shared this ad with me, hoping to inspire me with the ‘depth’ of its message.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite share her enthusiasm. The ad is well made and will appeal to many, but for me, its message is yet another reflection of social chauvinism --- one that is so ingrained even in the mindset of women that they fail to recognise it in its most blatant form.

So, yeah, women can carry both – but what does that mean? Pile more on to us? Glorify us on Women’s Day and then forget to acknowledge us on the remaining 364? Praise us when we take over everything, more than our fair share, and let things go on as they are? And being women, frown upon other women who are just mundane ‘housewives’ (probably equivalent to the ‘lowly’ sweeper who is the only one who empathizes with the ‘poor’ mother) and then see the housewife suddenly catapult to being a showstopper, when she turns out to be the much more ‘exciting’ mother – an SSP? Is it enough to inspire the model, who thought pregnancy would ruin her career post motherhood, to score a hit by posing pregnant on the cover page of a magazine? What’s next? Post pictures of baby showers and walking the ramp with a toddler? Is it any different from the “type of roles” she was being offered post marriage?

Congratulations ladies, your perspective has changed. You’ve now learnt to accept ‘glory’ and ‘more work’ as the price/prize for your struggles, sacrifices and ‘carrying both,’ while those who typecasted or castigated you continue with their own old ways. Meanwhile, the sweeper who eulogized about her duty as a mother is forgotten, because she isn’t as exciting. And the working woman, who thinks motherhood is equivalent to sacrificing a woman’s identity, ends up as the villain of the piece because she says it’s tough, without a gracious smile.

My dear women, we DON’T need empowerment, and we certainly don’t need men (and other women) to define it for us, to live by their rules. We were, are, and will always be empowered. Empowerment isn’t a conscious choice for most women in a man’s world – simply because most of the choices aren’t real choices, rather they’re consequences of social conditioning, emotional makeup, and even evolutionary ‘gifts’.

Motherhood IS beautiful, but it’s also very tough. Women, who choose to prioritise motherhood over a career, with grace and happiness, are all empowered. So’re women who choose not to be ‘mothers’ or those who ‘carry both.’ Ditto women who’ve been thrust into any of these situations without having a say in it, but still live each day with their heads held high --- doing all they can to make the best of a bad situation. Because being a mother’s tough, being a working professional’s tough, being a housewife’s tough, and being a jack of all trades is tough. It is an individual’s capacity, circumstances, and preferences that define these choices; they’re gender independent.

Each choice calls for compromises, hard work, grit and courage ---  same as the standards by which any human being or living entity should be judged, if at all. There’s neither any separate shame nor any separate glory – it’s all to be equally praised, rather more to be recognised and commended; beyond gender biases that take a break on Women’s Day.

So, let’s NOT wish each other on Women’s Day. Let’s not look down upon other women whose choices differ from our own. Let’s take pride in being human on all days, in our individual successes and failures, in the battles we fight every single day irrespective of their nature, in every choice we’ve made and all the repercussions we’ve survived.

And, then let’s talk of empowering men. Yes, when will we women be able to say that men can carry both too? When will men stop taking pride in privileges that they’ve neither earned nor worked for? When will women stop feeling empowered when someone reminds them of it? When will they acknowledge, even to themselves, that their true identity doesn’t depend on bigoted glory bestowed upon them by the other sex, who in most cases, are yet to prove their worth in deserving the women in their lives – whether a housekeeper, a model, an executive or an SSP.

So what did you think? Do comment in the section below and as always, don’t forget to share, follow and subscribe to left right and 'thoda sa' centre!

 

 

Dubai – Much More than an Epitome of Modern Architecture

 

Though not much of a traveller but with the little I have explored, the one thing I have learnt for sure is that every place has a story to tell. A story with a novel revelation, a lesson to teach, and a realisation for a new beginning. This is something that came home to me when I made a short visit to Dubai, a city well known around the world for its marvellous modern architecture.

 

Let me make it known right at the outset that this blog is not going to take you to the streets, restaurants or malls of Dubai, but will get you acquainted with the feeling that the city inspired in me. Dubai does boast of being an excellent tourist spot as it has it all - amazing hotels, panoramic views of well-constructed buildings, eateries to enjoy any cuisine known to mankind, and of course, malls that instantly bring out the urge to go on wild shopping sprees. It encourages binging of all kinds! However, not given to indulging in extravagances, I went for discovering the essence that the conveyed to me. Celebrated around the world for its tallest building ‘Burj Khalifa’, Dubai has a hidden meaning, only if you can locate it; it conveys a message that is different for everyone.

 

Well, for me that message was – TENACITY – a combination of determination and persistence. I believe this is a combination that is rare to find and gives rise to extraordinary achievements wherever it exists. If you have ever felt that you are a loser, have not achieved much in life, and to top it all have gone on to make excuses such as I was destined for failure – all you need is a reality check. Take a break in Dubai – you can achieve anything or everything that you desire for, is the message that gets to you from every nook and corner of Dubai. We humans are capable of achieving the impossible!

 

Growing up, we all learn about the spatial achievements of man, how he reached the moon and explored space. But I tell you this city, built amidst the desert adds another feather to the numerous others in the cap of human existence. What made its construction possible? Not to undermine factors such as modern construction methods, structural engineering, and efficient equipment, but to my mind, the overriding factor has been human tenacity that went into conquering the desert – no matter what it took.

 

Of the many contemporary concrete marvels strewn all around Dubai, the ones which captivated me were the skyscrapers of different shapes and sizes. The towering ‘Burj Khalifa’ does top the list, but there are many less heard of, such as the Burj-al-Arab, Cayan Tower, and Dubai Mall, which I found equally as impressive. And as Dubai is still expanding despite all its attainment, this list became longer and never-ending. It is not a mere exhibition of architectural ideas but an amalgamation of science and art. In the concrete of this place lies an unbelievable display of aesthetics, not the usual one of bright colours, but a modest combination of grey and golden-beige. The grey comes from those huge high-rise structures and the golden beige is the sand under your feet. Again, the one thing that struck my mind was what does it take to make it? I guess I have already discussed the answer above.

 

Not being something that’s written or seen, this tenacity remained elusive. It’s something that one feels or senses – all I could do with my amateur photography was to capture the results of it. 

 

Here are some of my shots – my attempts at capturing this intangible x factor. I share them on leftrightcenter.blogspot.com in the hope that the intangible reaches out to the readers as it did to me!

So that was Eknoor on the spirit of Dubai. Do let us know if it touched a chord in the comments section below.   And as always, do not forget to read, share and follow leftrightcenter.blogspot.com and to hit the subscribe button at the top, if not already done!

About Eknoor:

Our guest author, Eknoor Sidhu, lives with her family in the rural countryside of the verdant state of Punjab. Other than being a hands-on mum for her two young children (a lovely girl and an energetic boy), she is an avid cook and a gardener, who thoroughly cherishes her rural roots, growing her own produce in her kitchen garden. 

Eknoor firmly believes “A healthy lifestyle is the best empowerment.” She leads a fulfilled life, balancing motherhood with her professional roles as writer and editor that allow her to indulge in her passion for writing.  

She switches roles at will, feeding her desire for accomplishment and meeting the demands of a busy family and home life, endeavouring to enjoy the best of both the worlds.

Image credits: Eknoor Sidhu

Disclaimer:  This is a personal blog. Any views or opinions represented in this blog are personal and belong solely to the authors. These do not represent views/ opinions of people, institutions or organizations that authors are associated with in their professional capacity.

ROLE OF A MODERN TEACHER POST COVID-19

It is said that Teaching is a profession that creates all other professions.  Teachers have earned the respect of those who are educated, as well as those who were less fortunate to have formal education over the centuries. They have occupied an exalted position in society which valued knowledge as a foundation for success in many or all aspects of life. So until the 21st century, the Teacher was a sage on the stage.

A glimpse of the past position of a Teacher: 

In Ancient India, teachers were called Gurus (with knowledge of not only Vedas, Brahmanas, Upanishads and Dharmasutras, but also had knowledge of various arts and skills). They taught a select few of their choice in their Gurukul/Ashrams. In South Indian kingdoms, ghatikas, agraharas, temples, mathas, Jain basadis and Buddhist viharas imparted education.  Among the ancient Indian universities in the North, Nalanda 5th to 12th Century CE and Takshashila are most renowned. The then Chancellor of Nalanda University, Shilabadhra, was the highest living authority on Yogashastra. During the medieval period, maktabas and madrassas became part of the education system.

Dronacharya Banishing Eklavya from his Exclusive Gurukul for Royal Princes

In European nations during the medieval period, teachers were often called Masters. (Most were priests, often with knowledge of religious texts and only very basic general education otherwise) It is said that one of the most learned men of all time, Confucius (561 BC), became the first private teacher in history. 

Confucius: The Teacher was a Sage on the Stage

Teachers’ expertise mattered.  Hence the education system was teacher-centric until the early 20th century. The late 20th century marked the gradual transition from a teacher-centric to learner-centric education system. In 1960, UNESCO declared education to be the ‘birthright of the child.’ The principle of imparting education without discrimination on any ground, resulted in the policy of inclusive education being made part of education system. This called for a change in the role of teachers, a change in the mindsets of the administrators and management, a change in infrastructure of educational institutions, calling for a flexible pedagogy but a common curriculum for each grade in spite of the differential needs of the students in the inclusive classroom.  

Teachers, who until then, were trained to face a homogenous group of students with almost similar abilities, now had to deal with differently-abled children who were totally blind, totally deaf, etc. The teacher’s mastery over subject matter alone could not make him/her a successful teacher.  His success came to be linked to the success of his students. Thus teachers had to equip themselves to meet the ever changing demands of the education system.

There was also a gradual transition in curricula. The knowledge and examination-centric curriculum was replaced by environmental-centric, student-centric and community-centric curricula in tune with UNESCO’s education for sustainable development (ESD) goals.  ESD empowers everyone to make informed decisions in favour of environmental integrity, economic viability and a just society, for present and future generations. It aims to provide the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary to address the challenges of sustainable development.

Today We Need Education to Meet these Goals of Sustainable Development

The 21st century teacher counters a double-pronged challenge.  One, the massive invasion of technology into education, which has required the 19th and 20th century teachers to leapfrog into 21st century skills for which they were never trained. Twenty-first century learners are collaborative networkers and communicators who use adaptive and creative information; they are media and technology savvy, given to instant gratification and reliant on media in all its various forms.

Transitioning from Books to Online Teaching

The second challenge is the Post Covid-19 pandemic scenario which put a full-stop to the time-tested ways of face-to-face education imparted in educational institutions.  Though online education had already been gradually introduced in schools in recent years, with teachers almost successfully managing the blended-mode approach in the classroom, the necessity to maintain social-distancing during the pandemic has resulted in teach-from-home-online-only to scattered students; each in his/her own home.  This has complicated matters with the mindsets of teachers, students, school managements and parents requiring sea changes to accept the reality of the unexpected situation. 

Mastering TPCK: The Teacher must have Technological, Pedagogical Content Knowledge

Almost overnight, continuous electric supply, appropriate hardware, software, internet access at all times and training to use these online tools and above all, adequate finances for all these, have become critical issues to grapple with.  So the Teacher today is no longer ‘a sage on the stage, but a guide by the side’.  

The multiple roles today’s teacher has to play include:

• Be humane
• Have personal integrity
• Have good human relations with stakeholders in the work environment and in society
• Be adaptive and respectful of cultural values – your own and that of others
• Be a lifelong learner; with technological pedagogical content knowledge – TPCK 
• Be a facilitator for student learning
• Be a Researcher-Innovator-Inventor
• Be quick to adapt to changes in society and ever ready to face challenges
• Be a democratic administrator, policy planner and implementer at the ground level
• Be flexible in curriculum transaction
• Be an evaluation expert – with an ability to conduct online exams and evaluate online
• Be a guide and counsellor
• Have global competencies
• Be a collaborative networker and communicator
• Treasure the good old values of a teacher, eg punctuality, self-discipline, etc.
• But discard redundant values such as, ego over being the sole knowledge dispenser/expert
• Don’t sympathise, empathise with both learners and parents in hard times
• Be responsible for the all-round development and progress of the student besides intellectual development

Considering that during the pandemic, a majority of these roles were thrust upon the teachers almost overnight with little or next-to-no time for preparing themselves, it is a matter of pride that the members of our teaching community have adapted so well to these instant, while battling their own tragedies in the home front, economic crises in the family, fear of the uncertainties, and no digital support.

Image credits: Google

Disclaimer:  This is a personal blog. Any views or opinions represented in this blog are personal and belong solely to the authors. These do not represent views/ opinions of people, institutions or organizations that authors are associated with in their professional capacity.

About our guest author:

Prof. M S Padmini is a former Director of CES, Indian Institute of Education, Pune and former Professor and Head of the Dept of Education, Shivaji University in Kolhapur, Maharashtra.

Having done her schooling in Mysore and Talaserry in Kerala, she completed her B.Sc B.Ed. from RIE (Regional Institute of Education) formerly known as RCE, Regional College of Education, Mysore. The Institute is one of the five such Institutes set up by the Government of India nationwide, to cater to the needs of teachers and teacher educators in the States and UTs under their jurisdiction. The RIEs are also constituent units of the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training), New Delhi. She went on to do a PhD as a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) at the Educational Research Innovation Committee (ERIC) at RIE, Ajmer. 

Prof. Padmini has worked on various academic research and administrative bodies in different universities and organisations affiliated to the UGC and ICSSR in India. She has served as a member of the M.Ed. curriculum construction NCTE, New Delhi. She has undertaken several major and minor research projects of UGC and also served as a member-coordinator of peer team committees of NAAC, Bangalore.  She has presented a paper in an international conference in Valencia, Spain. 

Despite having retired from university service in July 2016, she is closely associated with activities of various academic groups besides delivering online lectures in reference courses, besides guiding her last research student for her PhD.  She remains an invited member of BOS of some institutions and a member of Internal Quality Assurance Cells (IQAC).  

With a lifetime of educational experience behind her, she believes in continuously enriching herself and keeping herself updated with the latest developments the field of education.

For He can Play His Drum Anytime

 

WE at leftright and thoda sa centre are mothers….. We can’t help feeling worried, actually saddened, at the disruptions this pandemic has caused to classrooms everywhere. Schools and colleges are shut down, with students being made to attend online classes. However, our children don’t find them engaging enough.  They’ve also realized that teachers can no longer keep as close an eye on them, and they’ve taken to neglecting their study routines, whether it be practicing their poems or cursive writing, their multiplication tables or the periodic tables, working out problems or making sentences with new words every day.

 

When we point this out to our children, they laugh at us for trying to sound like prophets of doom. “Just chill, ma…..there aren’t going to be any exams for a long time to come!” To them we wish to say, please remember that there will come a day sooner or later, when this pandemic will end.  And each passing day is bringing you closer to that end. Eventually when you get back to school, with all of you in higher classes and more to study, you will have to struggle a lot more if you don’t keep up with your daily routines now. Before you start comparing us to the boy that cried wolf, we’d like to share a story that we heard recently in an online classroom.  

 

Indra: The God of Gods

It is said that once Indra, the Lord of the Heavens, got annoyed with farmers on earth and declared that it would not rain for the next twelve years. Their fields would not yield any crops. In vain did the poor farmers beg and plead with Indra to change his mind – he stood unmoved.  When he got tired of listening to them, he  told them it will now rain only when Lord Shiva plays on His dumroo (his small handheld drum), having cleverly taken Shiva into confidence first. The harassed farmers then rushed to Shiva with their urgent pleas for mercy, but the latter had nothing to say to them except that He would not be playing His drum for at least 12 years!  

 

Shiva and his damru

The browbeaten farmers now resigned themselves to fate.  They had no option but to wait out the next twelve years. They thought what’s the point in even going out to their fields; without rain, nothing will grow. They began staying at home; the soil hardened, and all cultivated lands fell to rack and ruin.  But there was one farmer amongst them, who decided to keep up with the daily routine of tilling and ploughing his fields, and when the time was right, he even sowed seeds. The story spread far and wide among farmers everywhere; and soon he became the butt of much mockery and rude jokes.

 

However, he turned a deaf ear to all the insults and kept up with his daily labour as if it could rain any minute. To all who tried to reason with him, he had only one thing to say, “I know tilling, ploughing and sowing are all of no use without rain. But I am worried that by the time it does rain, I am going to forget all about farming! Even if I manage to remember, I would’ve definitely put on weight, become lazier and less prepared to work in the open fields under the scorching sun. So laugh all you want, but all this sitting around idly for 12 years, is not for me. Twelve years is a long time – what if I forget and cannot get back to farming even when it does rain?  What use will that be?  No sir, I am going to go out into my fields every day at the crack of dawn, work as usual, and return only at sundown!  

 

His words fell on the ears of Goddess Parvati as she sat beside her husband, Lord Shiva, on Mount Kailasa. “Did you hear that? I think he’s right…..12 years is indeed a long period of time. Please forgive me for saying so, but it’s quite possible that after 12 long years, you too forget how to play the dumroo. Have you thought of that?”  

 

At first Shiva laughed.  He was God; how could He forget anything? But as days passed, he began to feel perhaps there was some truth in what Parvati said.  After all, 12 years is quite a long period of time. He began to feel pangs of anxiety.  Suppose he forgot? He looked at the small drum in his right hand and felt he should play it – just to test if he remembered. He moved his hand and began to play the drum. 

Lo and behold! No sooner did the drumbeats roll out from the heavens that thunder crashed; there were flashes of lightning.  And then it began to rain.  Oh, how it rained!

 

The farmer who had kept his fields all ploughed and sowed with seed, ready for the rain, was rewarded with a bumper crop. 

The Farmer's Reward

His fields stood green and golden, fairly bursting with grain. All the other farmers, who had laughed at him for working in the fields, now rubbed their hands in regret.  How they wished they hadn’t stopped working in their fields! For if they’d spent that time in getting their fields ready for the rain, today their lands would also be filled with crops ready for harvesting. Instead, their fields stood brown and barren, with the top soil getting washed away by the rain water. 

 

What is the lesson to be learned from this story? This pandemic is definitely going to end – whether in two weeks, some months or a few years – so instead of wasting time in despair or getting disheartened in wondering when it is going to end, let’s shift our focus to that. 

Don't Waste Time Despairing

Let’s get to work on preparing ourselves to be ready for the time when it ends.  Let’s read up the unfinished chapters in the books we have.  Identify our weaknesses; work on getting rid of them; work on improving/building on what we know; think of ways in which we can become better than before. 

 

Work at Getting Better than Before

 How You Can Get Better: Constantly Review your Work

You never know when His drumbeats will begin rolling, so hold yourself in readiness. Practice is the key to improving oneself qualitatively.  It’s the secret that lies at the heart of success. If you want to rise to every challenge, know the answer to every question when the time comes; keep practicing. Because you see, He can play His dumroo anytime!

 

We feel sure this story would have struck a chord in all parents who are reading – let us know what you felt. Write your comments in the Comment section.  And as always, everybody please do read, share, follow and subscribe!  

 

  Image credits: Google

 

 

                                                                                                                                             

Motherhood Through the Eyes of a Daughter

There exists a natural bond between a mother and her child that is unparalleled.  This bond is a result of the nurturing care the mother offers and also the fact that she has willingly sacrificed her body and borne pain to create a new life.  This does not make an adoptive mother any less special.   She showers all her love on a child that would never have experienced a mother's love had she not embraced it whole heartedly.  This mother's day, while we were looking for ideas to come up with a post, Poonam (the author of Shivaji- The Virtuous Warrior King) mailed us another well written article on the "I love you-you don't love me" relationship she shared with her mother. Over to Poonam -- 

Mother and Daughter

Every mother makes some mistakes. Every daughter decides when I become a mother, I am never going to do that to my children. But inevitably ends up making some new mistakes of her own. No parent is perfect from the perspective of a grown-up child. But if we are questioned on it…we all admit to having a wonderful set of parents. Not because they provided us everything, but because we all realize they strived for it. They struggled.

It’s easier to accept our parent’s love and take their discipline and criticism in our stride, but their mistakes never get our sympathy. Maybe because despite attaining parenthood, the child within us is unable to come to terms with the fact that parents are humans too.  And humans are a compilation of all sorts of individual emotions, expressions and acts, including mistakes that are unique to them.

Grading parenthood is somewhat similar to our education system. An artistic mind is compelled to undergo mathematics enrichment classes while being tagged as ‘WEAK’ in the subject. It’s something that can’t be helped. That’s how the system works. But then, is every parent a failure according to his child? ‘NO’. It’s just the child’s perspective; every child has his/her own vision of perfect parenting and grades accordingly. But those are grades that come up for a sometimes reluctant, sometimes whole-hearted re-evaluation once the child writes the parenthood exam himself. The questions might vary. Previous experiences do help to a certain extent. But as the generation changes, the situations change. And then the same old story of grades comes in.

On looking back at the two previous generations and forward to the one ahead of me, I see a process of gradual change and improvements. My mother must have had a progress card for grandma. I had it for my mother and I’m sure my daughter will secretly treasure one for me. But the grading card that I carried for my mother never made me happy. The more mistakes I pointed out, the more I got buried deep inside. And our relations got more strained. And then one day suddenly, I came into my own and decided that I don’t want to judge her. I would rather be happy to ‘accept’. After all, a mother’s age is the same as the age her kids are. She was not a mother before. She was learning, struggling yet feeling small, comparing herself to other self-proclaimed perfectionists. I realized I was ignoring her efforts just for the sake of grading.

Time went by, and a person I had never known began to emerge. The mother I knew had no hobbies; the person I discovered was a voracious reader. I started seeing the unexplored side of my own mother. She was a wonderful friend. Till date our friendship has seen many seasons, bright and gloomy both. And I cherish every moment of it. I’m a mother of two daughters now. And yes, I know my report card must be having many red marks. But I’m not worried. Because there is one mistake that my mother had made, which I still consider a mistake and avoid making.

Apart from being a doting mother, a disciplinarian and a friend to my daughters, I have kept reminding them and myself that I am human. I might make mistakes but I’m ready to hear them out and at least I’m willing not to repeat them, even if rectification is not possible. I might not be a great cook. Maybe I won’t understand their choice of literature. I might fail miserably in some other subjects as well. But the silver lining here is I will never stop trying.

Mother and daughters next gen!

Not for the sake of being a perfectionist, but for giving my daughters the reason to love and accept me for what I am. The mother will never fail if the individual residing inside her succeeds. After all, I can be wonderful parent not because I can provide my children everything, but because I strived for it.

Do let us know your opinion in the comments section below.  We would also love to learn of your memories of your mother and your own experience(s) as a mother.  If any of our readers want to submit their work for publication, our email address is left.right.tcenter@gmail.com.  Also, do forget to follow, share, and to hit the subscribe button at the top, if not already done!

Disclaimer:  This is a personal blog. Any views or opinions represented in this blog are personal and belong solely to the authors. These do not represent views/ opinions of people, institutions or organizations that authors are associated with in their professional capacity.

About Poonam:

In spite of being busy with family commitments and almost in love with all of it, I still grab some time for myself. Teaching Math gives me the necessary adrenaline rush and words, the coveted peace. Every time I pen down a quote, poem or an article it leaves me with heartfelt satisfaction. Words and thoughts are my most loved toys to dwell with.

A lot of people think Math and creativity don't go hand in hand. Maybe. But they definitely are the best of both the worlds for me.

Go not to the temple -- Rabindranath Tagore

 

On his 160^th birth anniversary, I doubt one can write anything on Rabindranath Tagore which has not already been written before. 

He was a rare kind genius, the kind that is seen once in hundreds of years. If he wrote poetry, he became the first non-European and lyricist to win the Nobel prize for literature; if he wrote songs and composed music, he did so in a style that was never heard before, so unique, it came to be known as Rabindrasangeet; if he wrote stories, he invented the Bengali-language short story genre; if he wrote plays, they were not in prose, they were an unheard-of combination of dance and poetry where characters emoted in dialogues that were poems and actions that were dance; if he was an educationist, he gave to the world Viswabharati at Shantiniketan, a revolutionary experiment in education; if he stepped into political life, his views even when contrary to those of  the Mahatma were revered by the latter, who hailed him as “Gurudev”; if he was a philosopher, he moved a man of science like Einstein to think of spirituality; if he was a nationalist, he gave up the knighthood in protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre; if he was a social reformer, he came close to being assassinated because of wanting to blend Indian tradition with western philosophy, and if he was a painter; he experimented with letters of alphabet as works of art, he began the tradition of creating unnamed paintings that he wanted viewers to view through their own sensibilities and experiences and feel, interpret, understand them in their own way.

He is probably the only poet in the world who has written the national anthems of two countries; Jana Gana Mana which is India’s national anthem, Amar Shonar Bangla Bangladesh’s national anthem;  and, heavily inspired a third, which is Sri Lanka’s national anthem.

On the 160^th anniversary of his birth, we can only be grateful that such a luminous soul, who was a source of inspiration to commoners and princes, Nobel laureates and villagers alike, who taught future prime ministers, who has statues dedicated to him in cities and countries as far apart as England, Astana, Havana, Dublin, Vancouver, Fiji, Ankara, Tashkent, Budapest, Bucharest, Berlin, Paris, New York, Mexico and Mauritius – was an Indian. 

At Leftrightthodasacenter.blogspot.com we remember Gurudev with his own poem, which we feel is deeply relevant to the times that we live in.  Please do read and share and as always, do let us know of your views and thoughts in the Comment section below.  

 

Go Not to the Temple 

 

Go not to the temple to put flowers upon the feet of God,

First fill your own house with the Fragrance of love and kindness.

Go not to the temple to light candles before the altar of God,

First remove the darkness of sin , pride and ego, from your heart...

Go not to the temple to bow down your head in prayer,

First learn to bow in humility before your fellowmen.

And apologise to those you have wronged.

Go not to the temple to pray on bent knees,

First bend down to lift someone who is down-trodden.

And strengthen the young ones. 

Not crush them.

Go not to the temple to ask for forgiveness for your sins,

First forgive from your heart those who have hurt you."

                                                Rabindranath Tagore

Image Credit: Biswajit Debnath/The Hindustan Times

 

Thailand, Blending Modernism with Natural Beauty

Continuing our series of guest contributions, leftright 'thodasa' centre brings you Eknoor Sidhu's post on her trip to Bangkok.  Over to Eknoor -- 

Sometimes I ponder on the extent of destruction we humans have caused in nature, by building smooth highways, comfortable homes and huge malls for ourselves. As a human, I suffer pangs of  unrest and guilt thinking about it. But travelling to places like Thailand shows me the flipside of us humans. It fills me with a sense of pride to see how we, in some parts of the world at least, have succeeded in achieving a fair balance between our manmade fabrications and natural splendour. Thailand proudly boasts of this achievement — it is a reminder of how man has bridged nature and artifice in some aspects of his existence.

Sea waters at one’s feet and skyscrapers reaching out to the heavens   

Fierce and aggressive at times, and silent and serene at others, the sea on Pattaya Beach is a spectacular sight that the eye can never get enough of. The immense scenic beauty of nature one witnesses here is beyond words. As the cool, clean sea water splashes over your feet, you are overcome by the sudden urge to bend and feel it with your hands. And should a gust of breeze blow in that moment, one comes quite close to being transported to heaven! 

Seaside Panorama: A  Breathtaking View of Bangkok from Pattaya

It is quite an experience to stand on the beach at Pattaya and look up and beyond at the skyscrapers of Bangkok city, roughly 90 miles in the distance. The panoramic view has the effect of making you turn your head all around as far as it can go. The sight of  all those skyscrapers rising ever upwards can give quite a jerk to the neck and induce a feeling of dizziness, making one feel as if the sky has come closer. These opulent constructions in bricks and concrete are a standing testimony to how man has risen above all challenges and permanently marked his place on earth.

Modern architecture at its best in Bangkok

Indigenous handicrafts versus high-end brands

While expensive brands have always been a craze in the market, the handicraft industry all over the world is seeing a revival and rising from ashes like the proverbial phoenix. And so it is in Thailand. Big malls stuffed with high-end mass produced brands are a great attraction. But offering these branded goods stiff competition are the not-to-be-missed handcrafted products, with their unique, one-of-a-kind individual appeal that defies mass production.  Popular shopping areas in Bangkok are dotted with outlets selling captivating ceramics, bamboo and seashell crafts that beckon temptingly at tourists and do tickle your pocket!

 

Canal and road transportation

Like many other cities everywhere, Bangkok, one of the oldest metropolitan cities in the world is struggling hard to cope with the demands of its ever-increasing traffic. Well-connected metro rails and flyovers dotted with traffic signals crisscross the city like spider-webs, keeping the traffic organized. But truly unique to Bangkok are the boats and ferries on its traditional waterways. For a truly romantic and unique-to-Bangkok experience, one can dump the metro rail and choose to travel via ferries on canals that trail the city, offering a charming yet efficient  means of transportation. A popular tourist attraction, this water transportation has bridged the gap between the classic times and the modern era.

 

Foods of the World

A melting pot of delectable cuisines from all over the world, Thailand is a veritable foodies’ heaven. Not only is there a mind-boggling variety of cooked foods available to choose from wherever one goes, there is a distracting array of natural foods on display everywhere too. It is difficult to keep oneself from gorging on the variety of tropical fruits one sees, like the sweet and delicious pineapple or the marvellously refreshing tender coconut.

Bangkok:  The Street Food Lover's Paradise 
 

You can indulge in your heart’s desire, for beginning with authentic Thai cuisine, and exclusive seafood, you can find Italian, American food too that tastes as good as any you could find in the country of its origin. Starvation is a stranger in places like Bangkok and Pattaya. At every nook and corner, at all times of the day and night, one can follow wafting aromas from mouthwatering varieties of street foods. These are the stuff of unforgettable food memories, the kind that linger on your taste buds forever and are an exciting option to explore, whilst saving on money.

This is how the country of Thailand, once known as Siam, gives its visitors a vision of diffusing modernism in the natural environment, without much disturbing the latter; shining some much-needed light on how to bear our collective responsibility towards Mother Earth. A trip to Thailand is worth every minute of your time and every dime of the money you spend – a trip that shows how to make new friends, but never forget the old, be it technology, means of travel or consumer goods or foods.

So what did you think of Eknoor's first-ever travel blog? Don't forget to leave your much-awaited comments in the section below, and as always do share, subscribe and follow us at leftrightthodasacenter.blogspot.com

About Eknoor:

Our guest author, Eknoor Sidhu, lives with her family in the rural countryside of the verdant state of Punjab. Other than being a hands-on mum for her two young children (a lovely girl and an energetic boy), she is an avid cook and a gardener, who thoroughly cherishes her rural roots, growing her own produce in her kitchen garden. 

Eknoor firmly believes “A healthy lifestyle is the best empowerment.” She leads a fulfilled life, balancing motherhood with her professional roles as writer and editor that allow her to indulge in her passion for writing.  

She switches roles at will, feeding her desire for accomplishment and meeting the demands of a busy family and home life, endeavouring to enjoy the best of both the worlds.

Image credits: Eknoor Sidhu

Disclaimer:  This article is a reader contribution and all views and opinions in the article are those of the writer alone.  Other readers who may be interested in contributing to this blog may mail their articles with a short biography and a profile pic to left.right.tcenter@gmail.com.  The right to publication rests with the blog owners.