Eco Friendship - Walk The Talk!

We teach in schools about environmental issues and stuff. We talk of environmental degradation. Before every festival, we talk about pollution being caused by various things we do and use.
Every Ganesh festival is preceded with how we are polluting the water through immersions,how the garlands cause utter waste, how the noise irritates the ear drums.

Is there a different way we can enlist happiness and peace?

So asked my heart!

Then began the Search for ways to make it meaningful for my children.

I had heard about Eco friendly Ganesha idols. Digging deeper, I found out we could grow plants in it too. So, I placed my orders to a sculptor who moulds them lovingly at home. She suggested to avoid glitter, shimmer and gloss so the mud could dissolve easily.
There we had our Ganesha idol, adorable and awesome! Sometimes things are that simple and that difficult. I had searched high and low at all the commercial places where idols are made. Not one place had simplicity that I yearned for. The general tone was "Bigger the better, Shinier the sweetest"
It was possible though to get the most arresting and loving idol possible.
It was imperative my kids learn to bypass the "Herd mentality" and looked at Ganesha idol differently. He could be simple and It was possible to connect divinely. The heavy rituals were sidelined by us. Getting a Priest was another exercise in futility. Well! The practical side asked "If he says 4:30 is the auspicious time, turns up at 6%30 and says it is ok!!??? Why not be your own priest???
Decided! We invoked Lord Ganesha's energies deep from our hearts and asked him to stay with us for a day and half, forgive our mistakes and Accept the Ladoos, Garlands and love we had for him.

Next was the Decoration. If we speak of being Environment concerned then using plastic flowers and Thermocol casings make no sense. As my children candidly put in "It takes nearly 3000 years for it to decompose!"

So, we decided to give a Green look. From the nearby nursery that sells organic plants we brought the lawn grass plates and plants to surround the idol. With a little home made paper and home toys a little "Ganesha Farm house" was ready.

Our children did get the purpose of being Eco friendly in totality. We brought Him without much fanfare and noise but lots of love and anticipation. Every Single one who visited was filled with awe at the concept and some even resolved to Replicate the same next year!

The immersion was too well thought out. The motto was to not waste a single scrap and give back what we took.

Since our clay Ganpati had fertilisers too, we decided to grow a Guava tree in it.
The immersion was therapeutic to say the least. We put the idol in the tub, and poured water gently to melt it. Each one of us took turns in letting it melt under our hands. The heavenly mud rubbing on our Fingers, absorbing the negativity and oozing out Relaxed energy.

We were in no hurry! No sharing Tempo rides with all Ganesha idols of compound stacked away.

No handing him over to hurried, uncaring hands.

We had loving family hands gently dissolving the Idol and ever so affectionately bonding. The children, too, silently partook of the loving ritual.

We had bought the Guava tree beforehand. Our mom planted it in the mud pot. Next day the remnants of the mud water went in all our other plants. The tree stood tall and proud.
The deco plants gifted to family and the lawn grass in our work place. The Garlands went into our compost bin to fertilise the soil.

Not one thing wasted. Not a bit of pollution of any sort!

Children learned what it meant to be environment friendly in literal terms and not just giving lip service to such concepts.

Just putting up status on Saving Environment will not serve the cause!

Just criticising others or Government will not change anything.

Each one of us taking a step in the direction and doing our bit to raise awareness in the Gen next will do the trick.

Each one at a time!

                  
                     -Sonnal Pardiwala

Upgrade Your Life Style with Easy & Simple Steps

We live in Urban spaces which translates into Pigeon Holes for rooms, competing needs, hurried days!

We still need to make style statements with the choices we make while doing up our homes.

Here are a mix of ways, we put up a home that is at once livable and elicits a "Wow" and extra enquiries as to,
"How do you do it?"
"Where can we get the same? "

1. A Green space

We live a busy lifestyle and so we need a green space in the house to De-stress and Relax. No matter, how less the space in your house is, create a Garden of fresh plants. Vertical gardening is an option. You do not need to spend a bomb. Make a shelf with Bamboo sticks. It will be easy on your pocket and give an earthy, forest like look to your Garden space.

A Cane Swing if the space allows it is all you need to sip your Green Tea and Mull over the Days events.

2. Earthen Cookware

Being exposed to pollution and junk food, eating Healthy is definitely a must. Cooking in Earthen cookware, retains all the micro nutrients of your food. Other than making a Style statement, you would also be making a Health statement.

3. Let go of Clutter

We had a sofa set, dining table and TV unit taking up all the space in the living room. What we needed was a tough decision to sell it off and go minimalist. A foldable Sofa that can be a Sofa, a divan when needed and sleepover bed. So easy to move around that it frees up the floor space giving enough walking and cleaning space.

4. Foldable Utilities

A small house needs foldable utilities which should serve the needs and yet be put away when not in use. Foldable Clothes Rack. The Balcony is supposed to be an aesthetic spot from where one gets a peek of the inside world as well as from where you can get a relaxed spot to sit and unwind. It should not be a forced go to place to hang your personal knick knacks for all to see.

A Foldable writing desk, one can take to bed for completing assignments and put away when not in use.

5. Invest in Air Fresheners

Burning Incenses and Aroma oils have been great ways to enliven the living space. Somehow they are relegated to religious rituals or special times.
We deal with unhealthy, unpleasant odours that emanate from various places in our pigeon hole houses and we need instant solutions. We are hardly likely to take our incense sticks to Washrooms where a certain smell makes our nose wrinkle between uses. Especially on a Day when guests use it once too often. At times, dirty laundry or unwashed dishes piling up would send a stench that is enough to give you a Headache.

It becomes well nigh impossible to work your way through that muck without feeling a little ill and resentful. Many an argument ensues as to whose job it is to mend the dirty pile or who is the cause!
The top servant visits once a day but stench seems to be a permanent companion. My Go to Air Freshener has been #AmbiPur. It helps me #SkipTheSmell in moments. It has now several fragrances to choose from. It is new and improved. A discreet spray between uses makes the washroom visitable so to speak.

On hurried days, when unwashed pile of clothes or dishes have to be left back, I spray the Citrus #AmbiPur. I do come back to a Sensible house and it lets me work through the mess with one less foe to conquer.

What is more, I carry the Spray in my Bag to wherever I visit. It helps me deal with few unpleasant visits to...well less said the better.

My younger 11 year old is a fan of #AmbiPur who realised its worth after the crowded Ganesha festivities at home. He took up charge to go and spray it whenever his sensibilities guided him. (It is safe for it is non inflammable)
He quipped happily "Mom our Washroom smelled heavenly even after so many used it, even after our washing machine had a two day pile of unwashed clothes! I do not need to fear my bad stomach days. I have a friend who will hide my secret! It saved the weekend, don't you think?! " All I could do is smile back in Affirmation as he sprayed it around the Shoe rack and Dustbin corner.

After cleaning the house, post mopping, a spray and a whiff goes a long way in improving the quality of space in which you can sink into and read a book or watch your favorite show.

A pre-shower whiff can enrich the whole clean up Experience one embarks on. The express purpose will not be met if you were to step off the shower into a ghastly smell or even gingerly fading one. Along with your shampoo and bathing routine, AmbiPur can heighten the senses to another level.

With #AmbiPur with us, we need not wrinkle noses. We can conquer the foe called Stench and wink right back with freshness pervading gently around you in seconds.

#SkipTheSmell Go for #AmbiPur 's breathtaking new and improved range of Air Fresheners.

-Sonnal Pardiwala

History Textbooks Revamped but Assessment?

It has become pretty fashionable to pick a textbook and find loopholes in it and get viral over its effects. 

Lately, the History Textbooks of Grade 7th and Grade 9th of Maharashtra State Board are under scrutiny and critical cynosure. 

Why? One may well ask! There have been changes in content. The Mughal Regimes and Sultanate Regimes have been Deleted and prominence given to Local Heroes and movements. 

In 9th Grade, emphasis is on post Independence movements and changes. 

One sees Glorification of one section and Relegates other sections into anonymity. 

The outcry is that such changes are sowing Divisive Tendencies through books in the minds of Children. 

The Children! 

Do the textbook makers ever give attention to the plight of the Children? Frankly, I as a Teacher, see the children saddled and burdened with the same assessment patterns that has been a source of Nightmare for them ever since History was introduced into their Curriculum. 

Let us take a look at a typical Assessment format of "History" papers. 

We have Fill in the blanks & Name the following amounting to remembering exact details like the year a certain King died to a certain ruler who made a certain city or monument or fought a war and won. 

One alphabet here and there and a mark is lost! If Shahaji is spelled Shahji, they definitely will get it wrong and Yes there is a monumental difference. Just an "a" missing changes meaning. Talk of Divisive tendencies!!! My kids scratch heads, bewildered, they sigh! 

"Miss, one alphabet I forgot and I lost a mark!" "Hmmm!" 

Then we have Historical reasons. Explaining why a certain event happened. "So and so king was defeated" "League of nations failed" which runs into meticulous and long sentences. 

Then there are Short answers which are anything but short. The amount of content has the eyes of kids rolling. "So muchhhhh!" 

Next question which I am so so used to "What difference does it make? If League of nations failed, it failed why are we supposed to mug up such long answers?"

"Effects of Cold War" has children jesting "Trembling minds, waste of time memorising exact words, less marks, shivering nights." 

Now as a Teacher in my initial years, I lectured that it was an important aspect of our life and we must know it. Taking a compassionate view however on the impact it had on their psyche, I stopped doing that and encouraging them to do their best. Some of them even had fevers before the History exams. 

Pick a seventh Grader or ninth Grader and ask them the difference between Communalism and Communism. They might recite the exact definition but ask them what it actually means!Chances are you will get a blank stare. I have spent Considerable amount of time in the company of kids from Grade five to ten. Their Retention for Historical facts is as long as the tests last. They would like to relegate to anonymity this particular long exercise in futility somewhere back in the mind as necessary and fatigue inducing. 

Where in the world will the divisive tendencies have a place in their minds when their conscious mind does not even focus on the matter? All their concentration is on simply getting on with it. 

Concepts like "Freedom of Speech" has them asking me "Miss, Can we have freedom of leaving this subject?" 

I have seen three varieties of students. Smart ones who have superb memorising skills. 

They mug up the answers

The average kind who pick and choose what will get them to get a decent score leaving few answers here and there! 

The not so smart ones! They give up and accept below average or failing marks. They just cannot remember. 

In all this, let us ask where in kids mind it matters which part was added or deleted? Whatever happened their Life still revolves around mugging up answers which have no relevance to them! If majority of students are given a choice they (many of them) would like the whole subject to disappear! This ain't my opinion. Just a long standing observation of Children over the years.

The brief answers &  Give Historical Reasons have them dizzy in the head and some trembles in the spine. 

If anyone sensible ever gets around to asking the students, they would want that the Government  should rethink the assesing of History tests. No matter what they add or Delete the brief answers remain "not brief" but looonnnnng! 

Short Answers are not so short! 

Verbatim details to be produced. 

Hilarious moments arise when children of tenth Grade forget the year India got Independence. They know the date for it is a Holiday but year???!!! 

They do not know the difference between Republic and Independence day. 

Do quiz your kids to know how much of what they mug up they actually understand. 

One alphabet here and there and they lose marks in fill ups &  Name the followings. 

Smart ones Mug up. 

Average ones drag on.

Not so smart just "Give up" today. Their angst and dilemmas do not change with changing textbooks. 

I would have welcomed if the students got a chance to do away with these long winding answers and rather give their interpretation of various events as they understood it. If they commented with understanding of how they would have avoided an Alexander from entering India. The role of Ruler of Ambhi and Deception therein may well merit discussion on treachery and its results. They could have reflected on formation of United Nations, its subsequent rule of Self determination and stance of Anti Colonisation bringing an end to Imperialist era, it would add so much to understanding world politics and its ramifications. 

Instead  children scratch heads on who led the White Revolution and Green Revolution. In the light of effects of milk, vegan movement and effects of pesticides on vegetal world, they may well question if it was all worth it! According to them, it exists in textbooks and villages. 

Makers of curriculum may well benefit if the textbooks change narratives to discussions  instead of only informing facts. Assess in a way that allows children some modus of control than the utter helplessness, they feel when they have to mug up long answers which lose their meaning in the process of retaining,till they can purge in the answer sheets. Forget all about it in the next hour while mobile game beckons or a friend calls out for a walk. 

They do not ever discuss historical details or their results therein. If at all they do question

"What is the use? Why do we have to remember this? "

I request Makers of Syllabus

Give a thought to Changing assessment patterns and making it student centric. Adding or Deleting will not affect their psyche. 

A child absorbs the political ideology from family ideology and not textbooks! Not definitely at the tender age when the only aim is "Exam marks".
When every single detail is to be delivered as it appears in textbooks, the focus beams on mechanical act of remembering during exams and not remembering for a reference while dealing with friends of various faiths.