International Mindedness

International mindedness stems from the understanding of the humanity as a single race .When we recognize this cardinal principal we automatically forget differentiation on the basis of race and religion. History has evidence that internationalism had to and even is still undergoing a struggle against anarchist forces.But more than ever before international mindedness is today one of the vital forces than can tackle global problems.

Sri Aurobindo says:

"There are many tendencies in human life at present which are favourable to the progress of the internationalist idea.The strongest of these favourable forces is.......science".

Scientific thinking promotes the rationalist spirit of man, science draws the human community closer.Therefore an internationally minded individual has essentially developed a scientific temperament.The fact that today religion acts as one of the divisive forces it is imperative for us to realize it is we who have made it so . Historical speaking all religions in History emerged as an attempt to free mankind from tyranny, from dominance or pettiness.

Why is it so important for us as leaders in the field of education to promote international mindedness?

H.G Wells once wrote that human History becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.

The two ulcers that are slowly killing this beautiful world are violence and environmental problems.We will be able to solve these problems only when we foster internationalism. We must realise that the world is a global community, the problems are universal and so are its solution.We must realise that today's issues are no longer theirs only,' us and them' has to give way to only 'US'.Scientifically speaking the world is one planet- its problems are universal . Philosophically speaking God created the world , man created nations.

While it is undeniable that nationalism is a positive and strong sentiment, internationalism is the need of the hour. Let us move out of our national identities and let us consider ourselves as global citizens.

Thoughts on leadership

On the eve of elections let us define what true leadership is.Once while browsing through the net and reading blogs I came across this piece of writing…
“Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will be starved to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you better start running.”

We live in a world where leadership, flexibility and creativity are keys to excellent performance and –at times– survival.
What is leadership? According Sherman “… contemporary leadership seems to a matter of aligning people toward common goals and empowering them to take the actions needed to reach them.”
Value based leadership is increasingly becoming a popular concept and the current events that have rocked the IT World makes it is unavoidable and even imperative.
Leaders must know what they value. They must also recognize the importance of ethical behavior. Leadership ethics and values should be visible and leaders must live by them. “To lead others one must lead oneself first” said General Arjun Ray.
If leaders do not live by their values distrust among the led is inevitable. People would not know what to expect from their leaders, they would not have a vision to follow , a mission to achieve. Think of our leaders- Gandhiji, Netaji, Swami Vivekananda. These great men defined leadership with their lives.
When a leader chooses the values and ethics that he shall stand for , when he lives by them, he automatically connects with humanity. Leadership then becomes trustworthy. He then articulates a vision that is understandable to the common man. The leader exhibits a strong conviction and commitment in achieving that vision. Ethics and moral principles keep us aligned to our true self. A leader is a harbinger of change. A true leader rises above petty considerations of caste, creed and race. A true leader recognizes only one identity- that of ‘man’
Abraham Lincoln once said,
“Is leadership telling people what they want to hear or taking people where they need to be.”

Welcome Me, Adulthood

Welcome Me, Adulthood

Welcome me, Adulthood, I have venturedthrough childhood with all the wonders and dangers in it.
I have placed my childhood fantasies aside,and picked up hopes of becoming who I want to be.
Embrace me knowledge, I am ready to know more and add to what I know already.I have conquered my fear of the night,now I only fear of becoming nothing.I have stopped pretending to be what I thought I was going to be,and realized that I am only what I make of myself.
I have come down from the land of make-believe,and I have found the strength to believe in me.So when I come upon you, open your arms,and welcome me, Adulthood,for I am headed your way.

by Christina Cooper

The city of Joy

I was in school when I read Dominique Lapierre's The City of Joy.Life not having unravelled its many experiences as a girl in her teens I did not fully understand why Dominique Lapierre referred to Kolkata-a dirty, sweaty , ocean of humanity as a city of 'joy'? I had spent some childhood years in Pondicherry and was least fascinated by Kolkata.

As I grew up and entered into the threshold of Presidency College I got the first taste of freedom. My parental control was slightly relaxed. I loved my college days in Presidency. I began to discover a new love for Kolkata- College Street was filled with excitement- the smell of old books, the addas at Coffeee House and the best of places was ofcourse our own Presidency College Canteen.College Street happened to be the 'raison d'être' for the city of joy. Those who existed beyond the peripheries of Presidency and College Street were hardly considered to be a part of the city of joy.
In the transition from College to University half the charm of the city of Joy was lost - we moved to the Ballygunge Campus of Calcutta University.The Best of my friends had left for other universities or for Civil Service. Without Presidency and without my best friend life was not the same.
Soon I fell in love- real love not infatuation. I again discovered the city of joy- this time it was Gariahat ( our meeting points), Esplanade, Park Street. I rediscovered the city of joy.The city of joy gave us space, shielded us from prying eyes and weaved our dreams. I was happy , I was a new 'me'?
In two years I completed my post graduation, got married and entered into a life which for a time was confusing, less amusing and seemed to be so very suffocatingly serious. I learnt to accept reality, I learnt the values of compassion, humility, acceptability and the realization that I am the builder of my life- I have the choice to be either happy and adjusting or miserable. I was growing up in the true sense of the word. But what happened to the city of joy- it had become a city of day to struggle, apprehensions with very few surprises.
Then on the 11th of May, 2001 came my little bundle of joy- my son Aurodeep. The City of Joy had given an everlasting , eternal source of Joy. I rediscovered all the happiness of life when my baby smiled at me.
When my baby was about a year old I decided it was time to put into use all my education, it was time to go out and do what I always dreamt of since a child- I wanted to be a teacher. I again began a life of struggle - the crucial balancing of career and home . I had all the support of a wonderful family . But the city of joy was kind of disappearing. I heard stories from friends and relatives of the how happy life was if one went out of the city.How I wished we could move to another city for a change.
That is how we came to Hyderabad. I was excited about starting a new chapter in life. We were happy with new jobs and a new life.
But even in times happiness I was trying to understand what was missing. Every joy was incomplete, for days I would wander why was there this sense of loss even amidst so much happiness and comfort. I began to look for this in Tagore's songs- it was like magic, I was back to the city of joy. When out in the streets my ears would strain to catch a few words in Bengali while my eyes would try catching a glimpse of arms wearing the red and white bangles. Kolkata , Kolkata why do you pull me back? Why do you entice me with your magical charm? Realisation- what was it about? The City of Joy had always existed- the rush, the dirt , the traffic, the 'miccheels' , the acceptability, the tolerance made up the city. The joy is not without but within.Kolkata embraces and shelters all.Now when I attend workshops and training programmes I always come across a homesick Calcuttan whose ultimate wish is to go back . Every moment of one's existence outside the city brings a longing for its missing warmth, its cultural richness, its intellect and enlightenment.
My love for the city has matured with age, its a different level of longing. I too am a Calcuttan waiting to go back to my city of dreams, to my city of love.