LEARNING IS LIFE

  ESSENCE OF THE BHAGAVAD GITA IN SIX HAIKU  ~Lalit Kishore HAIKU Assume you are soul - Timeless nonphysical that's Neither born nor dies *** We're embodied souls Beyond body-mind-senses - Body dies, not soul *** Realise soulfulness - Incorporeal essence - Be worldly-detached *** Purify your mind Of worldly evils of mind - Darkness over soul *** Pursuits of desires Lead to anger, delusion Darkness and sorrows *** Just be - nothing's ours - Came empty-handed, so'ill leave - Be simple-n-self-know !

  THE BHAGAVAD GITA VERSE 2.20 AND INSPIRED HINDI MICRO-POEMS ~Lalit Kishore न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिनायं भूत्वा भविता न भूय: | अजो नित्य: शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे ||  Inspired micro-poems in Hindi आत्मा /  अजन्मी-है,   नित्य-है /  शाश्वत-है;  अजर-है; अमर-है I ***  आत्मा /  चिर-है,   कालातीत-है /    काया-मरे,  आत्मा-नहीं   -  कदाचित-नहीं I  *** बचपन /  जवानी,  बुडापा  /  अवस्थायें-हैं    नाशवान    काया-की I  *** आत्मा-है /  सनातन, चिर-नूतन /  संसार-का   मोह-त्यागो,    तटस्थ-बनो I  

 Bhagavad Gita as Vedanta Philosophy Text: Inspired Haiku ~Lalit Kishore The Bhagavad Gita is deemed as the foundational text of the school of Vedanta philosophy that propounds the ways to realise the Existential Truth and transcendental purpose of life as union of Embodied Soul with the Supreme Soul.   INSPIRED HAIKU   Existential Truth - The Eternal Absolute Is beyond our mind *** The physical world The material-sensual world Is mortal, unreal *** Outer, appears real 'Coz of ignorance of Truth - That we all are Souls *** The Gita rejects Material-sensual world being False, deluding, dark *** The Gita evokes - Truth is transcendental - Soulful, spiritual *** Body, mind, senses - They are transient, perishable Truth's timeless-n-unborn *** Dharma's soulfulness - Realization through Yogas - Jnana, Bhakti, Karma

  Improvised Bol-Taans and Bol-Alaaps can be vital tools for musicalised rendering of text adapted as short micro non-poems ~Lalit Kishore As a teacher, if you wish to teach with musical intelligence and improve your own and students' voice quality and spoken language skills, then you can combine Roopkalaap or wordless alaap with improvised bol-alaap or bol-taan with phrasal poetic lyrics of a few word. By stretching or expanding sound of words, the bol-taan can be created. For pedagogical purpose, even a group of Swara like a unit with straightforward Aroh and Avroh, called Pure Taan, can be used since taans allow improvisation and experimentation with no specification of continuation or order of swaras, which is called ‘Koot Taan’.   Also, initially 'Halak Taan, in which the tongue is twisted inside-out in order, can be used for voice clarity. Even the successive word-ending vowel expansions creates musicality. The non-music use of music with improvisation and experimen...

 True human dharma is to transcend tamas, rajas and sattva states of mind: Haiku Inspired by Bhagavad Gita ~Lalit Kishore INSPIRED HAIKU  World conditions us To acquire three features – Tamas, Rajas, Sattv ~*~ Tamas - darkness, gloom That’s slavery to senses Reckless chase of lust ~*~ Gross materialism – Tamas path causes confusions Dualities and strife ~*~ Rajas way of life – Passion, pursuit of gains-n-fame For wealth, opulence ~*~ Sattvic way of life Simple and minimal life Wise mindful life ~*~ Truth or Dharma is – Non-physical, soulfulness Beyond three Gunas ~*~ Transcend to state of No-mind, soulful, being-state For bliss, for Moksha ~*~ Own self-knowledge And self-actualization Are ways to Moksha    

  भीतरी आनन्द; बोल-आलाप अकविता ~ललित किशोर इच्च्छाएं   उपजें - संसार - पोषित मन - में , पूर्व - ग्रहित मन - में इच्च्छाएं जगाएं - द्वन्द्व भावनाएं  - सुख - दुःख - की , राग - द्वेष - की , ईर्ष्या - परिग्रह - की  l ~*~ संसार   -  बाह्य - जगत , भौतिक - जगत द्वन्द्व - जगाए , क्रोध - जगाए , क्लेश - जगाए बाह्य - जगत - से   - नाता - तोडो , मोह - छोडो भौतिक सुख - भोग क्षणिक - हैं , भन्गुर - हैं , मिथ्या - हैं  l ~*~ भीतर - जाओ , विवेक - जगाओ , अन्त : करण - जगाओ समभावी - बनो , स्थितप्रज्ञ - बनो , साक्षी - बनो - परमानन्द पाओ ll  

  National Science Day 2024 Theme: Indigenous Technologies for Viksit Bharat ~Lalit Kishore National Science Day is observed each year on February 28 since 1987 with a theme. The theme for National Science Day 2024 is 'Indigenous Technologies for Viksit Bharat' The observance commemorates the discovery of Raman Effect along with appreciating the contributions of our scientific community. Sir C.V. Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for  his work on scattering of light in 1930. I recall my ‘National Award for Science Popularization among Children’ being conferred at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi in 1989 by then Prime Minister VP Singh.  At that time, I was working as Principal, Kendriya Vidyalaya-2, NFL, Bathinda. A set of 20 films was made on my work by the NCERT at its Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET). I was deemed as a major contributor to science education by a book on Indian Science. Also, the NCSTC of Department of  Science and Technology...

    Inspired haiku: Special on Guru Ravidas Jayanti-2024   ~Lalit Kishore Guru Ravidas (around 15th century) was a mystic, a humanist and a poet who belonged to Indian bhakti movement. In 2024, his birth anniversary, also called Ravidas jayanti - is being celebrated on February 24.   He was also social and Hindu religion reformist, who preached that one should not be distinguished by one's caste or creed but by one's actions or deeds. He believed that every person had the right to worship God - image or formless eternal supreme soul - and read holy texts irrespective of caste, creed and gender. He also raised voice against the system of untouchability prevalent among the Hindus during his times.   Some of Ravidas' devotional verses have been included in the Guru Granth Sahib of Sikhism and the Panch Vani text of the Dadupanthi tradition within Hinduism. He taught removal of social divisions of caste and gender, and promoted human unity in diversity of p...

  Kishore’s paper related to emergent mass media landscapes and its implication for institutions and families to get media literate and wise accepted for national conference ~Lalit Kishore While thanking the Jaipur based educator and researcher Dr Lalit Kishore for submitting the paper entitled “Are we heading towards risk and sick society!: Content analysis of four critical studies on digitisation and dissemination of information,” and conveying its acceptance after a peer review for presentation in the NCMLS’24, the organizers of conference wrote, "The paper is good in the present context of information disorder which is inflicted by misinformation, disinformation, hate speech and so on, due to this prevailing discourse on digitisation and dissemination of Information. The presentation of the author is quite appreciable." The one-day National Conference on Changing Media Landscapes and Society (NCMLS) is going to be held at the Department of Mass Communication, Manipur ...

    Multilingual education – a pillar of learning and intergenerational learning Multilingual and multicultural societies thrive through the preservation of their languages, which serve as conduits for traditional knowledge and cultural heritage. However, linguistic diversity faces increasing threats as more languages vanish. Currently, 40% of the global population lacks access to education in their native language, a figure that exceeds 90% in certain regions. Research underscores the benefits of using learners' native languages in education, fostering better learning outcomes, self-esteem, and critical thinking skills. This approach also supports intergenerational learning and cultural preservation. International Mother Language Day-2024 (21 February) while underscoring the role of languages in promoting inclusion and achieving Sustainable Development Goals, is being is being observed with theme “Multilingual education – a pillar of learning and intergenerational learning.” ...

  Infographics: Synoptic description and ABCs ~Lalit Kishore An infographic is the communicative layout of collected information in the form of visual symbols (imagery), numerical data and minimal text to provide a synoptic overview of a topic or piece of communication more like a story-line. It has been found that infographics makes even the complex information quick, understandable, and engaging since more like a visual storytelling by the presenter. ABCs of infographics A: Actual information or content reimagined as main points through dual codes (textual   – words & numericals - and visual) B: Best infographic techniques are those which   make use of statistical data presentation through graphs along with time-line, process charts, flow-charts, pie-charts along with dual code information C: Communicating complex information that is visually rich through dual coves as an overview of a topic in dual codes to make it understandable to large and diverse...

 Rules for some common reduced forms or words and phrases to improve spoken English Reduced forms of written words and phrases are often  shortened by dropping certain sounds by the native speakers during conversation and discourses.  For people learning English as second language, efforts are to be made and practice is to be done to catch reduced forms of English words and sound more natural while speaking English.   Common rules and examples   Ending with /a/ sound = gotta, wanna (to as a); S houlda, woulda, coulda, oughta, mighta (have as a); Kinda, sorta, Lotta, lottsa (of as a); couldya, wouldya (you as ya)   Two-word phrases ending with:  ing+to= nna ( e.g gonna ); ve+me=mme (e.g gimme ); t+me=mme (e.g lemme ); t+no=nno (e.g dunno )   Three-word phrases ending with are+you as  ayu) : How ayu Three- word phrases ending t+do+you as addya (e,g   Whaddya do)  Other examples Because= ’Cuz    Come on = C’mon

  Woman are still the most deprived societal group: Special on India's National Women's Day  In India, February 13 is observed as National Women's Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu who was a freedom fighter, political leader and poetess. She had a sweet and melodious voice and was often called the “Nightingale of India”.  The observance is meant to recognize the significant contributions in various walks of life besides raising awareness about gender disparities, insensitivity, inequities and challenges being faced by women. Many countries celebrate both their women's national days and international day. Even in the western world gender inequities exist. Some women activists and supporters raise question like: What does it really mean to observe a special awareness day? Is it a day when by some fake signal are given that women have been given their rightful place in society by organising events of honouring few of them? Many others feel ...

  DO MEN AND WOMEN LEARN DIFFERENTLY: WHAT DOES NEUROSCIENCE TELL US AND WHAT ARE  ITS EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS ? ~Lalit Kishore Note: The paper which was once the part of a course at Harvard School of Extension  is being reproduced on the occasion of National Women's Day, February 13, 2024 Abstract The research in neuroscience has shown the subtle differences in the functioning of the brains of men and women. Women's left and right hemispheres of brain get activated when exposed to new concrete experiences in an emotional setting. While in the case of men, it is the left hemisphere that gets activated whether experience is concrete or abstract. This has implications for learning environment and teaching techniques both. The emotionally charged learning environment coupled with cooperative learning and multiple intelligences approach to instruction are seen appropriate for making science and mathematics learning compatible to both girls and boys, a case for this posi...

  Make paradigm shift toward feminist pedagogy to bring about gender equity in education: Special on National Women's Day 2024 I n India, on the 13th of February each year, the National Women's Day is commorerated  to mark  the birth  anniversary of Sarojini Naidu - an eminent poet, stateswoman, freedom fighter and advocate of gender equity.  Besides paying homage to Sarojini Naidu's noted efforts in promotion of women's rights, the issues of gender parity, gender sensitivity, gender equity and women's empowerment are high-lighted. Here,  on the occasion of National Women’s Day-2024, I  reproduce my article “What is good for girls is good for boys bu not vice versa” which was earlier used by citizen journalism portal ‘mynews.in’ and circulated by Azim Premji Foundation through their  ‘Active News’ website. For gender equity in general education and more so in STEM education areas.   “Feminist pedagogy begins with the premise that gender ...

 Be mild and moderate with worldly desires to lead life for higher purpose and  happiness: Sanskrit verse,  purport  and inspired haiku   SANSKRIT VERSE अतितृष्णा न कर्तव्या तृष्णाम् नैव परित्यजेत । शनै: शनैश्च भोक्तव्यम् स्वयम् वित्तमुपार्जितम् ॥ ATHI TRSHNA NA KARTAVYA TRSHNAAM NAIVA PARITYAJYETH.. SHANAI SHANAICHA BOKTHAVYAM SWAYAM VINAMUPAJITHAM.   PURPORT We must shun extreme and insatiable desires. However, we must not give up desires totally. Better, be modest, mild and disciplined by keeping physical-sensual desires to bare minimum. Spend surplus wealth and means earned through fair means and hard work for rising to higher levels of consciousness and development of endless potentials.   INSPIRED HAIKU  Be moderate in life Keep your desires bare minimum Invest in self-growth ** Chase not worldly wants Avoid, shun materialism - Comfort, convenience *** Desires degrade you Look beyond sensual desires To explore i...

Teachings of Swami Dayanand:  Quote and Haiku QUOTE While Dayananda, by projecting the Vedic religion as the repertory of eternal universal truth, met the challenge of sectarianism at the theoretical plane, he successfully used the orthodox Hindu doctrine of Suddhi, ritual purification, for reforms in Hinduism from within, and for meeting the challenges from without. As a consequence of the tool of Suddhikaran developed by Arya Samaj founded by Dayananda, Hindu religion had become enriched with yet another dimension. ~Ashok Vohra INSPIRED HAIKU Strive for self-knowledge Deem yourself eternal soul In perishable body *** Never transgress Detach from sensual pleasures To realise life's truth *** Worship and rituals - They are farce and misleading They never atone *** Purify your mind To act nobly in the world For equity-web

 Satyarth Prakash: An extract  Satyarth Prakash (The Light of Truth) is an 1875 book written originally in Hindi by Vedic scholar,philosopher, thinker and social reformer  Swami Dayanand Saraswati - to take society back to the Vedas to live a purposeful and noble life. The book was written in Hindi first, revised in 1882 and is currently available in 20 odd languages worldwide. 1. Jivatamas (Embodied Souls) or Individual Eternal Souls of different persons are apparently different yet have the same common characteristics and are capable of reaching the same peak level of Happiness or Bliss in the state of Moksha or Liberation which implies freedom from birth-rebirth karmic cycle 2, Prakṛti or Nature, which is the material cause for the Creation, is also cyclically eternal and is characterised by Sattva (pure existence), Rajas (Rajah means to shine, light or that which conveys information about existence) and Tamas (existence unknowable in its form or ignorance coupled wit...

 Haiku on Tenets of Arya Samaj: Remembering Swami Dayananda Saraswati on his 200 th birth anniversary ~Lalit Kishore In India, on February 12, 2024, the 200 th birth anniversary of Swami Dayananda Saraswati (1824-1883) is being commemorated. He was a great Vedic philosopher, thinker, social reformer and founder of the Arya Samaj. As we remember him on his birth anniversary, let us revisit the basic tenets of Arya Samaj through the following haiku. Haiku: Faith in the Vedas As scriptures of life's truth Is humans' Dharma *** Know Veda-tenets Read, recite, hear vedas To learn and live by *** God is existent - Omniscient and immanent - To be prayed, worshiped *** Ego and doership They are ignorance, darkness Dispel your darness *** Formless Holy God - The real cause of true knowledge, Learning potential *** Do good to all beings Guided by love and righteousness Live simple, care for all *** Just, fair social life With soulf...