Back to School...

It is always a great pleasure going to my younger daughter's school in Bhopal. It is called The Sanskaar Valley School. Spread over nearly 37acres of rolling landscape surrounded by low hills. Spring time sees the blossoms of Kachnar, Gulmohur and Palash turn the earth into various shades of purple, red and yellow. Monsoons make the area verdant green. The drive is beautiful. On two occasions, I have let a cobra cross my path and a viper once. In fact I managed to click the viper. And those of you who are smirking, I say it aloud for you. The viper was scared. It would have been scared had it been you too.

Yesterday was the award ceremony and since she was one of the awardees I was invited. Dr Sumer Singh, the Principal of Daly College,Indore was the chief guest. In this blog I wish to take up one point that he made about scoring marks in exams is not the meaning of a meaningful education. He stressed upon the fact that "getting good marks is only a door which opens your path to to a reputed institution for higher studies". He continued in the same vein that how you evolve as an individual is the true measure of education.
I cannot help taking up the 'door' analogy a little further. A room with just a door will be dark and stuffy. We will need artificial means to light it up and also arrange for circulation of air.
A room with a door and a number of windows will be airy and will have natural light. It will be well ventilated and cheery. It will be a 'healthy' room.
So it is with any person. We find that a multidimensional personality is more interesting than someone who has only one facet.A person who has been exposed to myriad experiences has greater adaptability and dynamism than someone who has purposely restricted his fields.
Therefore, true education would lie in enriching ourselves through exposure to arts, literature, travel, meeting people from diverse backgrounds and imbibing their perspectives. I would say that developing culinary skills, a questioning attitude... oh... the list is endless, they all add to our personality and a well rounded education.
A room with a number of windows permitting light and air to come in during different parts of the day, is healthier to stay in.Similarly, a curriculum with exposure to aspects other than text books develops a healthier mind.
I am glad my kid is studying in this school. She actually looks forward to going there. In light banter if I tell her that we may shift to some other city, pat comes the reply, "Dad, you can go. Mom and I will stay here only." It helps that my wife is teaching there and enjoying herself.
Yes I am 'jealous' of the school. It gives my daughter more fun-time than I do.