A Season's End Visit to the Bharatpur National Park - Taking the RF-F/11 600mm STM Lens through its paces

A sudden late-night decision to visit the Bharatpur National Park resulted in my brother and me waking up early the next morning for a one-day visit to the Keoladeo National Park. We left Gurgaon at 3:15 a.m.,  on the last day of February, took the Mumbai Vadodara Expressway, took a left turn into the Yamnua Expressway, took a U-Turn from the Mathura Highway onto a narrow road leading to the National Park. Surprisingly, the route was clear, and we reached the national park at 6:06 a.m., barely three hours after leaving Gurgaon, having travelled 193.6 kilometres! For the return journey, however, we took the Alwar bypass road, avoiding the Mathura Road and parts of the Yamuna Expressway, and instead joined the Mumbai-Vadodara Expressway. We left Bharatpur at 1:06 p.m and reached Gurgaon at 5:00 p.m. Since it was a Saturday, there was less traffic.

Unfortunately, the sky on the 28th of February was overcast and cloudy, and it would soon rain. We hired an E-rikshaw (number 6) owned by Mr Raghubir Singh. Initially, I was disappointed when it started to rain, but then soon things changed, and the sun peeped through the clouds. We were guided by Mr Raghubir Singh as he knew the lay of the land. He took us through all the lanes and knew the hiding spots of animals and birds. It is often a good idea to hire an E-rikshaw driver who can double down as a guide. Interestingly, most of the e-rikshaw drivers owning rikshaws in single digits are veterans.

My desire to make a second visit to the Keoladeo National Park was also driven by my desire to test my Canon F/11 600 mm STM  RF lens mated to a Canon R-7 Camera body. Being an F/11 lens, the 600 mm STM lens needs a good amount of light. I therefore carried a tripod and a monopod, I did not use them and took photographs handheld. Amazingly enough, the photographs came out pretty well!

It was a joy to be able to spot so many birds and wild animals, including Wild Boar, Spotted Deer and a pack of Jackals. The Canon RF 600 mm STM lens did not let me down. The photographs of the Scops Owl came out quite well despite the challenging lighting conditions near the hollow cavity in the tree.

The visit to the Bharatpur National Park led to us being able to spot quite a large number of White-eyed Pochards and Red-crested Pochards, a special moment for me as I had rarely spotted these birds from so close at hand!

It was a joy to spot a Partridge while driving along the pathway. While Partridges are rather shy and difficult to spot, this one, however, gave me enough time to photograph it. Partridges in the wild are easily scared and rather difficult to photograph because by the time one lifts the camera to photograph them, they are gone with the wind, disappearing into the scrub!

Spotting a pack of Asian golden Jackals was a treat, while spotting a Brahmini Starling enjoying an early morning scratch was funny enough. Spotting a Cotton Pygmy Goose was a rare sight.

Of course, how can I forget sharing a photograph of the most knowledgeable guide and E-rickshaw driver, Mr Raghubir Singh. He knew each nook and corner of the park, and he had his favourite trees that were the residents of spotted owls, and other residents. He can be contacted at his mobile number: 7742635159, and his vehicle number is 6.

In the Company of Virtuosos - A Poem

 

In the Company of Virtuosos

Stepping into a room full of virtuosos can be overwhelming,

When one is in the company of savants, brainiacs and prodigies.

It is like coming face to face with a superior lot of human beings

Who will lead us into a trailblazing future full of glory and wonder?

 

But beneath the veneer of infallibility peeps out the vulnerable

Faces of children bewildered and lost, ready to weep in confusion.

Distressed minds forced to become a crunching machine!

Minds forced by a cruel world to exist but not live their own dreams.

 

They live in a world of competition and rat races, coaching and tuitions

To ace the magic number in the competition, laurels and tributes

Rewarded not by gold but by numbers, mere numbers, for an identity!

Alas! In our push for glory and success, we have created zombies.

 

If numbers were to mark us, so did the tattoos on the arms of the

Inmates of Treblinka, Auschwitz and Sobibor! We have forgotten to

Teach our students to surf the winds of dreams, hope and joy, and

Instead, trapped them in a cage of numbers and entrance tests.

 

Give them back their childhood! Teach them to live! Guide them

To savour the fresh morning breeze, or revel in the sights of the

Green fields stretching into the infinite. Let them taste the gifts of

Life, celebrate the innocence of childhood, prance and play!

 

Let us not impose our aspirations and desires on our children,

Just because we lost a battle. Let’s fight our battles ourselves,

And not impose them on our children. Let our children live

Their lives, let us not selfishly impose our baggage on them!

At Abhudhya - the Annual Day Function of the Virmani Public School, Roop Nagar, Delhi

It was an honour to be invited to Abudhya the Annual Day function of the Virmani Public School by none other than Mr Anil Virmani, Chairman of the Dhanpatmal Virmani Education Trust and Management Society, and Mr Amitav Virmani, CEO of Education Alliance and Manager of the Dhanpatmal Virmani Senior Secondary School, Roop Nagar, and the Virmani Public School, Roop Nagar. For me, it was like a homecoming to the first school in my teaching career.

I had first stepped into the premises of the Dhanpatmal Virmani Senior Secondary school more than three decades ago, after completing my Master's in Education from the University of Delhi, so it was an important annual event for me when I could meet a few of my colleagues like Mr Avtar Singh, Head of the school and my ex-managers under whom I had served!

Today, when I entered the premises, I was pleasantly surprised to see the newly painted corridors and classrooms. The pleasing colour scheme, the redone washrooms, and a swanky new computer lab were signs of change. The hard work of the Manager, Mr Amitav Virmani, was evident in every nook and corner! The whole school exuded positive vibes, and it had a welcoming aura. I learned that students and parents had stated that it had become a place where students were eager to visit.

The icing on the cake, however, was the Virmani Public School! As always, it was spic and span, the corridors had meaningful display boards, there was an air of excitement as students, teachers and all the stakeholders set out to showcase their achievements during the academic year. I was welcomed by Mr Anil Virmani, Mr Amitav Virmani, Dr Rekha Sharma (The Headmistress) and other teachers of the school with great warmth. 

Two of the highlights of the event included the inauguration of the Dhanpatmal Virmani Senior Secondary School and the release of the Virmani Public School Magazine, 'Darpan'. The computer lab is equipped with the latest high-end desktops and is headed by a newly appointed, dynamic teacher who has great potential. The Virmani School Magazine is an expression of the Philosophy that drives the school. 

I am so happy that both schools are in responsible hands, and I am glad to witness the potential of true leadership that can transform a platform of learning into an experiential model. Speaking after the release of the school magazine, Mr Amitav spoke about the four elements of the school's learning philosophy. He stated that the first element was the 'Head', the ability to develop knowledge and understanding. The emphasis is on building a strong foundation in language, early literacy, numeracy, and environmental awareness through meaningful experiences. The second element in the philosophy includes the 'Heart', which includes 'Nurturing Values and Mindsets'. Mr Amitav stated how the heart is central to early years in education. Emotion matters! The third principle was the 'Hand'. According to Mr Virmani, the 'Hand' encapsulates 'Building Skills Through Doing'. The 'Hand' represents skill development through 'active participation' in the learning process'.  developing psychomotor skills is an aspect in the learning experience. The fourth and the last element in the Virmani learning Dharma is the 'Soul'. According to Mr Virmani, the 'soul' focuses on building relationships, connections, and a sense of belonging. Mr Virmani stated that 'Children learn best when they feel emotionally safe, accepted and connected to their learning environment.' He went on to state that 'learning should prioritise building strong trusting relationships between children, teachers, peers and all important stakeholders.' I was indeed touched by the inspiring words of a passionate educationist and transformational leader!

My visit to the Annual Day Function was an emotional moment for me as I was able to connect with everything that was said, displayed and presented. It was a transforming moment for me as an educationist, and I was able to connect with everything that was said. It felt as if the event was aimed at helping me understand what the purpose of education is and what it is not! Sometimes it takes decades and ages to understand what our purpose as educationists and teachers is. It made me feel enlightened and emotional to see how a philosophy can lead to an understanding of one's purpose in life as a teacher.

Funds have always been an issue with Government-Aided Schools, and it is indeed surprising to see how the Dhanpatmal Management and Education is not shying away from its generosity. The infrastructural upgrades, including the funding of the new computer lab at the Dhanpatmal Virmani Senior Secondary School and the Virmani Public school speaks volumes about the philanthropy of the Trust and the family members of the Virmani family. The legacy of the founding fathers of the trust is being kept alive by the descendants. The school that existed in Lyallpur before the partition is an example of the legacy kept alive in today's times.

The cultural program was well conducted, and it spoke volumes about the efforts put in by the teachers. The children were amazing, and they performed with zest and zeal!

In his address to the gathering, Mr Anil Virmani, an educationist par excellence and a visionary unparalleled, spoke about the challenges introduced by the advent of AI. He spoke about the challenges of unlearning and relearning in the learning process. He talked about how learning is a continuous process, not only for the students but also for the teachers. He thanked Mr Amitav for bringing about the transformation in the school. Mr Anil Virmani referred to Alvin Toffler, who had once stated that "describe the psychological distress caused by rapid technological and social change and he stated that 'Knowledge is the central resource of modern learning, eclipsing physical violence and wealth.

I took the liberty of taking a few photographs behind the scenes, and sure, I was well rewarded!

Spotting a pair of Legendary Surkhab, a Family of Cranes a Flock of Geese and a Pied Kingfisher

It was a pleasant surprise to spot the legendary Surkhab, or the Ruddy Shelduck, at Chandu Budhehra; however, in poor lighting, with a lot of fog enveloping the whole area. I was using a Canon R7 body with a Canon 600 mm, STM, F/11 lens. Unfortunately, the 600 mm lens needs a lot of light. It has taken me quite a few years to understand what my elders meant when they mentioned the term, 'Surkhab ke par'.

However, the Chandu Budhera wetland can offer some amazing sightings ofSarus Cranes. It is rare to spot two Sarus Cranes together, but spotting two parents along with their offspring is pretty rare! The wetland is now a favourite nesting ground for Bar-headed Geese. They prefer the  Chandu Budhera wetland for the lush green fields. I was able to capture a few family moments with the Sarus Cranes. The father-infant bonding is very touching indeed! There is so much to learn from nature.

Spot-billed Ducks can also offer a study in colours, especially when it comes to those bright red spots on both sides of their beaks. I spotted a few Spot-billed ducks on the way to the wetland. They appeared to be enjoying the warmth of the rising sun.

There are times when even the most common birds, like the Spot-billed Duck, can give you a pleasing shot. The preening duck in the photograph pasted above has come up nicely. The warm tones of the rising sun (during the golden hour) have given the photograph a unique effect!

Chandu Budhera is also a winter home to a large number of Greylag Geese. One can often find these Geese in the early morning, feeding on roots, stubble and tubers.

Chandu Budhera is home to the Pied Kingfisher, and it is a treat to spot it diving for fish. I was lucky enough to photograph it while hovering.