Ramesh Chander
(Asian independent) In the process of my routine activities to meet and interact with young school children in and around Jalandhar, on an invitation, I visited Ryan International School on November 5 for an Interactive Session with the students of 6th Grade onwards. There are two
schools of the Ryan Group in Jalandhar; One is located in down-town at Chotti-Baradari and the Second on the out-skirts of Jalandhar near Tajpur (Wonderland Resorts) at Ambedkar Marg (Nakodar Road). The School at Tajpur is spread over many acres of land with an impressive building having all facilities and amenities for good schooling with a futuristic approach in an environment friendly landscape without any hustle and bugle of urbanized life. It was gratifying to visit and see the school where my two grand-daughters; Suhani and Rupal are also studying.
My daughter-in-law, Sulekha accompanied me to the School. We were received by Headmistress of the School, Puja Puri and inducted to her office. Over a hot cup of coffee, we exchanged pleasantries and primary thoughts to know each other a bit more. I found Puja Puri was a simple and dignified educational administrator and a professional academic. I asked Puja ji whether they expected me to
speak on a specific theme. She said that it has been purposely kept as a free-wheeling interaction to motivate the young students.
Headmistress Puri led us to the Conference Room on the first floor of the school building through an efficient lift opening in the ‘Corridor of Educational Excellence’ thoughtfully inscribed with the Biblical dictums of ‘Moral and Spiritual Values’ for the benefit of the young students.
The Inter-active Session started with a right note of ‘Prayer to God’ by the well-groomed young Anchor, Atishi with a brief introduction of the Guest that is me, in a businesslike manner. Headmistress, without any speech, welcomed and presented the School Memento and a potted Money Plant to me, a good environmental and green gesture and handed over the mike to me. Thanking the hosts, I started by saying that I was there not to make any speech but to
speak and interact with young students with a view to learn from each other. I informed them that I generally tend to grab such occasions with some selfish intend – such opportunities help me in charging my own batteries by mingling and interacting with the young children around. In the process, I felt that my young audience was comfortable and at ease. It made my job easy. Referring to my career in diplomacy, I gave an overview of a Diplomat/Ambassador and his work, informed them about the Civil Services Examination to join IAS/IFS/IPS and other Services and the role of UPSC in this process. Coming to the schooling and studies, I referred to the Motto of Ryan Group of Schools as stipulated in their Website – KASSM Approach; Knowledge, Attitude, Skill, Social Values and Moral Values and said that it explained all. I advised them that with this Approach, you
need not run after big things and added that you simply take care of small things and big things will take care of you. Referring to the social and moral values, I said that these were more important than bookish knowledge. The big Mantra to succeed in life is to ‘Listen and respect your parents at home and teachers in school’. I spoke about simple and routine aspects of daily life. I felt children were fully attentive and involved. It resulted in a good inter-active exercise with several and diversified questions and remarks by the students – on Diplomacy and IFS, Civil Services, Moral Values, Development and prosperity of India and challenges ahead. With a sense of satisfaction about the interaction, I said that India, a large country with big problems, was on rails. It has come a long way but still we are to go a long way. One of the questions from a student about knowledge and morality really impressed me. It prompted me to invoke our fore-fathers. I asked the audience as to who was the father of our constitution? The spontaneous answer, obviously, was Dr. Ambedkar. On this, I informed them of the assertions of Babasaheb Ambedkar on the subject which I quote here for the benefit of my readers as these were as relevant before as these are today, “If I may use the words of Buddha he said that man requires two things; one is ‘Gyan’ and the other is ‘Sheel’. Gyan without Sheel is very dangerous. It must be accompanied by Sheel by which we mean; character, moral courage, ability to be independent of any kind of temptation, truthful to ones ideals.”
I purposely wrote this blog in a bit detail as I promised to my young audience that I will write and share with them. The other reason for this working at the back of my mind is to initiate and motivate children to write their day to day experiences.
