Hats Off to the 'Loud Speaker' Crew!

Sundays are holidays, sundays are also lazy days, once in a while!!!!!!! 

Usually, Sundays are more hectic than the week days!

Today, I guess, was a lazy day!

I had a lot of school work to be completed, so I dedicated some time for that and later sat down to watch a movie. YouTube has become a real blessing these days, as visits to the theatres are very rare! Dhanesh suggested “Loud Speaker”, an award winning movie – I was not for it, I thought there was no use wasting my time on such a movie, I had not read any reviews too. Anyway, after a while, I agreed to his suggestion and made up my mind to watch it.

It was no waste of time, on the other hand, I felt, I have never been touched by a movie, for quite sometime. It is a real movie, with real emotions, it is a kinda movie that viewers get sucked into. It is the kinda movie, which is all about being human. It's is all about the relationship that develops between a donor and a receiver of a kidney ,a NRI menon, who is in need of a kidney and Mike, the donor. Mammootty is just ‘wow’ and lives the role of Mike superbly. Sasikumar, the veteran Journo, too gives a convincing performance. The remixed version of yesteryear melody 'Alliyambal kadavil....' adds to the charm of the movie!

It is sure to move you, make you smile, make you laugh and make you thinkkkk! If you are a mallu, you ought to watch it, it is never a waste of time!

Kudos to Jayaraj for this wonderful movie!

On a personal front, I feel good films make us sit and think about our own lived ways. It’s only through this sort of introspection, can one find the meaning of one's own life. A good book, a good film, a good friend , a good hobby and a good sacred space can be some of the ways by which we can meet with own being, in our busy lives. After all, we’re the only caretakers of the little space we live in.

Two Days at Auroville!

I don’t really know how many times have we visited Auroville! Every time we go there, we talk about spending a weekend there and visiting the Matrimandir! It had been quite some time we were planning this, but it was only last week it materialized, when I got a Saturday off! This academic year has been very tight till now, with almost all the Saturdays as full working days. It had been a really good weekend at the Auroville, specially because I got a chance to just leave everything behind and have a few hours of mental peace.

Matrimandir

Auroville is a global village where people from allover the world live. It is the vision of the Mother, a place where people from allover the world can live in harmony. In Mother's words, " Auroville wants to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace, progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity."

We have been fascinated by this place ever since we read articles by people who have visited and are staying in Auroville. In our previous visits, we had just seen the Matrimandir from the viewpoint. Not all the visitors are allowed inside the Matrimandir, which is the real centre of Auroville. It is not a place of worship, it is a place for personal concentration. This time, Dhanesh wanted to visit the Matrimandir too! 

Auroville has numerous guesthouses and each one is unique in its own way. We stayed at “Athithigriha”, a guest house which is austere, elegant and simple, be it the facilities or food.This is one of the best, made on Indian styling. Auroville does not see itelf as a tourist spot and does not promote itself as such. But, it welcomes all visitors. For those looking for a break, it is a great place. Wonderful buildings, numerous farms, dense woods, bicycle tracks, friendly and interesting people.

'Athithigriha'

We also enjoyed the company of an old couple from Israel! It was really great sharing their views about India and Auroville in particular.

Savitri Bhavan

The first day, we just drove around, and made visits to Savitri Bhavan, the Solar Kitchen, Bharat Nivas, the shopping mall etc. The next day, Dhanesh had to go for ‘concentration’, I could not go bcoz, they don’t allow small kids inside the Matrimandir! Gauri and me decided to go to the view point! But when he saw Megha (a girl who also stayed at Athithigriha), he refused to come along, finally we landed at visitors' centre again. There is also a cafeteria and some boutiques at the visitors' centre, with things that are highly priced. 

Visitors' Centre

After so many awful weekends, it was just fine, and now I am looking forward to the day when I can make it to the Matrimandir!

Sanjna, Sammy - You Made My Day!

There is a quiet joy in being a teacher that cannot be measured by marks, awards or achievements.

It is the joy of knowing that, somewhere in your students’ memories, you have left an imprint - that years from now, they may look back and remember that there was someone who truly cared for them, believed in them, encouraged them and, in some small way, made their school life a little more special.

I think that is the kind of joy every teacher secretly aspires to. 

There is something special about the moments spent with students who understand you - who notice the effort you put into teaching, guiding and moulding them. More special still are those moments when you realise that, somewhere along the way, you have found a little corner in their hearts.

And perhaps the most precious moments are those when they express, in their own innocent and unfiltered way, what they really think and feel about you as a teacher.

Gone are the days when teachers were held at a certain distance and looked upon with unquestioned reverence. Today, students often see their teachers as friends, mentors and hv people they can connect with. And perhaps that is not such a bad thing after all. Whether we are seen as strict, friendly, funny or serious, what truly matters is that students try to take the best from every teacher who crosses their path.

Yesterday was our Teachers’ Day celebration at school, and I was completely caught up in the arrangements. Most of the children came by to wish me - many with the sweetest smiles, and some even carrying homemade cakes and little gifts.

My students had wished me during the very first period, and after that, we were all swept up in the preparations for the afternoon programme.

Somewhere in the middle of all that hustle and bustle, Sanjna and Sammy, two sisters, came up to me with a card.

“Miss, a very Happy Teachers’ Day!”

I remember Sammy proudly telling me, “Miss, I made the envelope for the card!”

And Sanjna added, “This is specially for you, Miss!”

I smiled, thanked them and, honestly, thought it was just another sweet Teachers’ Day card. I took it with me and went into the staffroom.

After sitting there for a while, I opened it.

And oh my! ❤️

It was NOT one of those usual cards we receive on Teachers’ Day.

It was adorable. So thoughtful. So personal.

I could see the effort they had put into making it, and that alone made me smile. But then I read Sanjna’s poem.

It was simple - just a few heartfelt words written by a child. Yet, to me, it was so much more than a poem.

It was one of those little things that quietly find a permanent place in your heart.

In the midst of all the celebrations, preparations, noise and excitement, those two little girls gave me something I will treasure for a long, long time - a glimpse of what I mean to them.

And that, I think, is one of the most beautiful gifts a teacher can ever receive.

They just made my dayyyyyy! ❤️

Sometimes, it is not the grand gestures that stay with us.

It is a handmade envelope.

A little card.

A few innocent words.

A poem written especially for you.

And the beautiful realisation that, somewhere in the heart of a child, you matter. That is the magic of being a teacher. ❤️

To Sunita Miss!

You not only taught me “Last Leaf”

But also a new way of life!

By being an example yourself

You showed that one has to strive hard

To prove oneself!

You taught me conjunctions

And organized many functions

You opened the “Voice of Primrose”

So that we could blossom like a rose!

You corrected my grammar

And asked me not to murmur!

Ms.Rita, Ms.J.C.Das and Ms.Mamta-

They are some of my favorite teachers

And to this list I now add Ms.Sunita

This poem I dedicate to you

And on this Teachers’ Day

I would like to ‘Thank You’

For everything that you have taught me!!!!!

Thank You!