Equality and Freedom are like two estranged sisters. A parent like Democracy finds it difficult to maintain a balance between the two. Very often one grows at the cost of another.
Category Archives: English
Teaching Freedom
Teaching an abstract idea is always daunting in a classroom. I have experienced this year after year. Two years back something similar happened when I took the assignment to teach Political theory to the students of Grade XI. The topic was Freedom.
Security Council at 75
Security Council is the most powerful UN body with 5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent members who are elected from different regions after every two years. And we all know that it is the permanent members who call the shots with the power of veto. Various attempts have been made to reform the Security CouncilContinue reading “Security Council at 75”
The need of logical thinking in schools
There was a time when there were no books. #Knowledge and #skills were transferred orally from generation to generation. You didn’t need to verify and examine knowledge so much. You just had to accept what your elders had told you. The jobs and professions were limited. Then came the print industry and along with them, #books. Information, knowledge could beContinue reading “The need of logical thinking in schools”
A voyage to Sea of Poppies
My week-long voyage to Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh was full of excitement,adventure, learning and joy. Set in the historical backdrop of mid-nineteenth century the novel’s canvas is as wide as an ocean, carrying in its womb multitudes of stories, characters, themes, locations, languages…… yet remaining placid, cool and calm. I became interested in the book after reading aContinue reading “A voyage to Sea of Poppies”
How to improve Reading
Read, read and read. Read a newspaper, magazine, editorial, stories, novels if you want to enhance your skill of reading. This was the advice we used to get from our elders. And by and large it was correct. However if you want to achieve a certain level as a reader within a limited time, thenContinue reading “How to improve Reading”
Ustad Abdul Karim Khan
Ustad Abdul Karim Khan was one of the legendary singers of Hindustani classical music in India. He was the founder of the famous Kirana Gharana in the traditions of Hindustani classical music. Apart from his immense contribution to music, he represents the cultural unity and diversity of what we know today as India. He was from Kiryana in UP from whereContinue reading “Ustad Abdul Karim Khan”
My first encounter with humans
Yesterday was a painful day for me. I had come out in the open for an evening crawl. The hot day of the rainy season had been followed by a light breeze in the evening. I wanted to breathe the fresh air. I had lived in the dark fissures of my underground home for long.Continue reading “My first encounter with humans”
Dalrymple’s The Anarchy: a review
‘History is boring’ is a common refrain from students in schools. And one obvious reason is the history books have generally been written by the historians who are skilled in historiography but are unable to connect with the common reader. Very few historians have the ability to build engaging narratives in their books. And WilliamContinue reading “Dalrymple’s The Anarchy: a review”
Language is a skill
A language is a skill based subject. It is not like Science or Social Sciences for which understanding of concepts is more important. It is more like swimming, cycling or flying for which mere knowledge and understanding are not enough. The more you use them, the more proficient you become. It is very important, therefore,Continue reading “Language is a skill”
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