Sunday 30 May 2010

Holy Trinity Church, Ghaziabad, U.P. Celebrated its 129th Foundation Day on the 30th of May 2010

The Holy Trinity Church, (C.N.I., Agra Diocese) Ghaziabad, celebrated its hundred and twenty-ninth foundation on the thirtieth of May - 2010, which was incidentally also the closest Sunday to Holy Trinity Day! The Presbyter in Charge, delivered a sermon to explain the meaning of “ The Trinity”. He compared the Trinity to Water which although one, has different physical qualities- solid liquid, and gaseous or the vapour. After the service,  Lunch was organized for the congregation, and after this, a Bhandara, or a charity lunch was organized for the underprivileged and the destitute outside the Church.

The Holy Trinity Church has a long history which goes back to the year 1881 when the foundation stone was laid. The church had been built for the British Railway officials who had a great need for a Church to offer prayers. According to the list of Presbyters put up in the Church, The first Presbyter in Charge, Revd.C.B.Webster Honel officiated from 1882 to 1907. The present Presbyter In Charge is Revd. Sushil Kumar.

The Church Building has an aesthetic beauty of its own and inspires awe and appreciation in the eyes of the viewer. The architecture is English in nature, and the building is in the form of the Anglican cross. The stained glass is very well executed and  in  good condition. I was really impressed by the up-keep and maintenance of this really beautiful building. I have every reason to believe that the Holy Trinity Church building of Ghaziabad is a priceless treasure, and it deserves the distinction of a National Heritage Monument!

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A Birthday Cake is Cut on the occasion:
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The Charity lunch included a refreshing sweetened  drink made of Rooh-Afza, milk, water , and Sugar, Pooris ( deep fried unleavened bread), Aloo ki Subzi ( a tasty treat of potatoes) and a sweet dish called Halwa.

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I happened to be present on the occasion to help my Brother in Law, Mr. Naveen Peter in organizing the event.

Tuesday 25 May 2010

Texture in Photography

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Sunday 16 May 2010

Mother’s Day Celebration in the Epiphany Church, Gurgaon.

Mother’s Day was celebrated in the Epiphany Church Gurgaon on the 16th of May 2010. The WFCS of the church planned out the programme very well. The readings were done by the members of the WFCS. A special song was sung by  Mrs Seema Rodgers Mall. Two of the senior members of the WFCS were specially honoured on the occasion. Mrs Scot was given a bouquet. At the end of the programme, all the mothers present on the occasion were given flowers as a token of honour to motherhood. The president of the WFCS, Mrs. Jasmine Samuel read out a most interesting account of some of the important and inspiring mothers mentioned in the Bible. Given below are some snaps of the occasion:

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Tuesday 11 May 2010

Why are Students in Schools of India becoming Violent?

The recent story about the gruesome incident of the beheading of a school boy in Pune was not only shocking, but also a warning about what is yet to come. Violence has finally caught up with the schools of India!

In a country where cultural values are undergoing a tremendous change, it is but natural to have a youth which is confused, and without the support of strong values. It is unfortunate that we are gradually moving away from our family customs, traditions and the values which have sustained us as a unique cultural entity, distinct and  exclusive.

A shift from the extended family or the joint family to the nuclear family in most urban areas is one factor which has brought a shift in values. In an extended family, the child lives with his grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. He learns to respect his elder, he learns to share with his siblings and cousins. The grandparents instil in him various timeless values, they provide him with a rich resource of stories from the scriptures,  fables and myths. These fables and stories often contain moral values and form a rich tapestry of culture. The child living in the joint family learns to respect others.

As opposed to the child living in the joint family, the child living in the nuclear family might be a loner, neglected by his parents who might both be working. Perhaps, the child learns to fend for himself and he becomes more selfish. Where both parents are working, the child might not have anyone to talk to or share his problems with. Excessive brooding,  might lead to a condition where the child becomes more of an introvert. The child might become more aggressive with other children at school. He might vent out his frustrations on fellow students in what is called  as a “compensation reaction”.The child might turn towards aggression in order to gain notoriety or acceptance in a wider social fabric. A child who is neglected at home might either become a loner at school (also becoming a victim of bullying by others), or he might himself become a bully. It works both ways! The child who has lived in the joint family is however better off, no doubt, because of his values, and because he has learned better coping strategies. He has lived with a number of siblings so he knows how to cope with other children! He has a richer experience because within the extended family he has come across all kinds of siblings, those who are bullies and those who are weak. The joint family provides him the perfect environment for growing social aptitude and social intelligence.

It might therefore be stated that a child with a richer resource of cultural  and moral values might be less likely to be a bully in school. Also, a child with better coping strategies is less likely to be victim of bullying in school.

The drastic changes that the social fabric of the country is undergoing is a likely contributor to the problem of violence in the schools of India. Vulgarity in serials being shown on prime time on cable T.V., the kind of images carried in magazines and the internet are all to blame for violence in the schools of India. Popular films in the country popularise eve-teasing and bullying.The anti-hero is a much regarded and important character. The Hero himself might be a gangster or a criminal who keeps out of reach of the law because of his wit. Such characters ensure that the film becomes a box office hit! Many films are based on get rich quick schemes, and the Hero undergoes a transformation from rags to rich in very little time! Our students try to emulate the Anti Hero in the Indian film. Students think they too can become rich and famous like their favourite heroes. Many children want to be Chotha Don or Little Don.So, why is it that our students wish to identify themselves with the Anti-Hero? The answer to this question is that the Anti-Hero or the Vamp as in the case of the Heroine is more adventurous, daring and and courageous! The Hero and the Heroine of the movie are bland, unromantic and traditional, so nobody wants to emulate them! Our films seem to market violence and vulgarity in order to make the film a box office hit! Violence and vulgarity sell like hot cakes!The films make the Anti-Hero larger than life! It is these Anti-Heroes that our students emulate and this is one major reason why violence is increasing in our schools!

Overcrowding of class rooms is a major concern today. Where the number of students exceeds the capacity of the classroom there is bound to be friction. Fight for seats is a common issue in the overcrowded class room. In an overcrowded class room, the teacher is helpless and unable to prevent fights between students. Poor ventilation, and  competition among students for the attention of the teacher  are aggravating factors.

We are all responsible for the increase of violence in our schools. It is high time our policy makers took into consideration the various factors responsible for the increase of violence in our schools! Our film directors should make more films which promote culture and values! We need more films like Tare Zameen Par, Iqbal, and Three Idiots! Prime time television should telecast more serials which uphold our cultural  and social values! Our film censor board should mark all those films as Adult which contain vulgarity and violence. Unless these steps are taken, we will continue to have more and more violence in schools of India!

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Wednesday 5 May 2010

Teacher, teacher, what do you make?

An unending debate rages off and on. A common opinion of most people is that people who fail to become CEOs. or Doctors or Engineers become teachers. Many look  at the teacher with sympathy, and an overbearing attitude. He is the one who couldn’t make it. They regard him  as a cranky, eccentric species! They know however, deep within their hearts that they cannot perform his duties  without having a total nervous breakdown! Parents find it difficult to handle even one child at home, so, how would they fare if they were to exchange places with the teacher who handles a class of forty-fifty lively, energetic, and fun loving children?

 

I am very sure that the hero-worship, the idolatry, and the fan following of hundreds of students is the teacher’s reward.  This, unfortunately is something the CEO will never achieve! The CEO only has rivals ready to take his seat!

 

To enthral a class of fifty for forty-five minutes, to make the lesson so interesting, to describe the abstruse principles of Quantum Physics, and Einstein’s Theory of relativity , these, are the skills of a teacher, skills the CEO will never develop! The teacher goes one step ahead of the parents. The parent may motivate his child to be a doctor, but it is the teacher who develops goals and ambitions  which are realistic and achievable.

 

Need I say more? Mr CEO, what do you make? The teacher makes Engineers, Doctors, Scientists, Great Thinkers, Policy Makers, but Mr CEO, what do you make? Money?

 

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Sunday 2 May 2010

An Ode to a Sparrow


Today, while driving back home,
I saw a little boy in shorts and tee shirt
Carrying a cardboard box with holes cut into it!


The little boy living in me was curious,
And I drove close to the little boy,
Carrying a cardboard box so tenderly!


I peeped into the box,
and was surprised to see a little
Brown Sparrow lying on its back lifeless, dead!


I saw the little boy shake and tap the box to
Revive the brown sparrow, but the bird
Was far gone, dead of thirst or some other reason!


The sadness in the little boy,
Touched  me no less, but boys will be boys,
While one throws stones, the other shows tenderness!


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This is self composed poem of something I saw which touched me, and reminded me of the child I once was!