Shikra spotted perched on a transmission line in the middle of Gurugram

It is rarely that you see a Shikra and definitely not in the middle of the city! You would be more likely to see a Shikra on the outskirts of the city, out in the open fields farms and forests. The sighting of the Shikra surprising though it might be, could be a sign about the impact of development and population explosion on the environment. Wildlife, birds and animals are being forced to move to the cities in search of food. 

While the sparrows have disappeared from the middle of the city, they can be still found in the outskirts of Gurugram, especially sector 57 and sector 62. Their place conveniently has been taken up by the thousands of pigeons that perch on the power lines. Strangely enough, the sparrows have been replaced by Tailor-birds, Kingfishers birds and now Shikras. This, in itself, could be as a result of the shortage of insects and grains for the sparrows. The arrival of the Shikras and Kites could be as a result of the presence of rodents.

All of these birds are forest or wetland dwellers and to see them in the middle of a bustling city is certainly surprising. Shikras are hunters and they can be seen diving for rodents and frogs. The Kingfisher too is a hunter that hunts if not fishes for fish. They probably can't find fish in the middle of the city, so they have probably switched to eating insects and small rodents instead of fish. The Shikra too must have been drawn to the cities in search of small rodents. The only other possibility is even more frightening, however! The increasing piles of garbage in the city could also have enticed these forest dwellers to easy food. If they are drawn to the garbage then there can be only one conclusion- these magnificent hunters have turned scavengers!

Knob-billed Ducks, Sarus Cranes, Herons and Painted Storks spotted at the Sultanpur National Park, Gurgaon

It was with a nagging feeling of doubt of finding any birds that I decided to spend my free Saturday visiting the Sultanpur National Park. It had opened a good fortnight before the usual date in October. While most of the migratory birds were yet to arrive (such as Shovelers, Sheldon Ducks and Ferruginous ducks), the mostly resident birds such as the two pairs of Sarus Cranes were present. The Knob-billed ducks were there, squatting on the grass submerged in water. They had trampled upon the grass making it look as if a larger animal had done it!

The Common Pond Heron seemed least bothered to see me, and the Painted Storks were busy carrying twigs and other stuff to build their nests with. Incidentally, I was able to spot a couple of Sarus Cranes serenading and  I got a perfect cross in one of the snaps.

Painted Storks though are quite common enough, and they seem to be clacking with their beaks, flying around with twigs in their beaks, busybodies but great to photograph while flying.

The stork that you see in the photograph above was photographed even as it passed by, a few stalks of grass obscuring part of it.

This is the same stork with a twig in its beak meant to build a nest. Painted Storks can be found in abundant numbers at the Sultanpur National Park, so much so that you might end up taking more snaps of them than the other species!

Bitterns and Common Pond Herons too can be found in large numbers at the Sultanpur National Park. The Heron in the above snap seemed quite comfortable in my presence. It remained on the log even after I'd passed it.

A Pair of Sarus Cranes Courting each other at the Sultanpur National Park

Sarus Cranes' Courtship Ritual

Today's trip had been planned well in time and I did inform members of CLICK about my plan to visit the Sultanpur National Park. Strangely enough, Tushar and his Dad were the only ones to reach before 7:00 a.m. and when I reached they had been waiting for me. We were eager to make an entry into the Park well in time to avoid the crowd. Tushar, incidentally, had been a member of the photography club some time back. An avid photographer, he has a very good eye for the unusual and a good zoom lens too! 

Veer was next to drop in and we met at the viewing point close to the large trees where the Painted Storks seem to have taken permanent residence. Unfortunately, to leave early. If he had stayed around, he'd probably have gotten the opportunity to photograph Sarus Cranes serenading! Seeing a Sarus Crane in flight is great, but seeing two of them sing a duet is simply outstanding! And of course, when they sing, it can be heard literally miles away!

Now I am sure you'd call that amazing coordination in these rather graceful birds. It certainly takes two to tango, but then this was simply mesmerising. They were not only singing a duet but also ballet dancing! And there we were mesmerised by the birds, sitting on the ground, shooting away with bated breath.

And then just as they had finished singing, in came an interloper flying right through them, a duck that was probably jealous of the singing and dancing couple. In any case, I'd give them a standing ovation if only I could be given the opportunity!

Since this was meant to have given members of the school photography club CLICK an exposure into wildlife photography, I am adding below a few snaps of those who turned up for the event. I would like to thank Tushar's father, Mr Deepak Jain for taking the first four photographs I have added below.

Veer found time for the visit, and I found him as enthusiastic as ever. He is indeed one of the best!

For more:

https://rodrickwrites.blogspot.com/2018/02/courtship-ritual-of-sarus-cranes.html

What Is It That Makes New School Models Successful?

Some of the old and well-known schools today continue to be schools of choice for many parents simply because their stamp of success continues to glow! They were once well-known brands and admissions in them were much coveted. You graduated from them and then proudly announced your educational provenance. Stickers are proudly displayed on vehicles, a proof that you have been a proud student of so and so school. However, this hold on the minds of aspiring engineers doctors and lawyers has started to fade away with the emergence of quite a few upcoming progressive schools have begun to take centre-stage in the field of education in India today.

New schools are emerging that are innovative, experiential, progressive, and yet successful! They are successful because, in spite of criticism about the use of new -angled concept and ideas, their students are simply different. They are successful, creative, aware, open to new ideas, and appreciated by colleges they get admission to, and later in life, they tend to be more successful professionals. Transcend, a non-profit organisation believes that there are five prerequisites that make these new up-coming progressive schools succeed in educational innovation. These prerequisites include:

• Conviction
• Clarity
• Capacity
• Coalition
• Culture

A strong vision is often the basis for success! One needs to know where one is headed to. School leaders, teachers, students, parents community members and school partners need to share in the common vision. They need to constantly revisit the primary vision of the founding members of the school. It is important to be aware of the 'big idea', the philosophy or the 'Dharma' of the school.

Often it will be seen that there is a lack of clarity about the vision. Poor communication leads to chaos and confusion. The reason why new schools have begun to challenge established schools is that they have clarity about their pedagogical practices, they have clarity about the use of technology, they are clear about their policies whether they are disciplinary, related to admissions, or even teaching practises. The whole year is planned out to the dot, dates of exams, events, holidays, even outings are planned.

A lot of schools have failed to deliver because of over-expansion. Simply filling classrooms with too many students, stretching of resources, having too many classrooms and no fields for sports, all of them are recipes for disaster! Often having a successful record, or achieving fame goes to the head and stakeholders like to cash in on the success by increasing the strength of students while not having the required infrastructure. But then capacity is not just about having more students, it is also about having a work-schedule or a yearly plan that caters to not just teaching but also workshops, picnics, celebrations of success and even community programmes where the community and even family members are invited to the school. An academic calendar needs to have the capacity to accommodate all these events, and also have a buffer for unplanned and unforeseen eventualities. Graveyard shifts, an excessive number of stay backs and having too many workshops will only introduce tedium into the staff.

Strong. vibrant and sharing communities that collaborate without a sense of distress are assets that are nurtured by good schools. Often, good schools fail to deliver when there is a community of professionals who have a fixed mindset. When you stop collaborating with others you stagnate! Often established schools that have a strong hierarchical structure tend to drift away from the mainstream of research and progress in the field of education. One can't help but think about the Calvinistic system of education depicted in many of Charles Dickens novels. A hierarchical structure that is intimidating towards subordinates or even 'newbies' can be detrimental in its rigidity.

Culture is what marks a school apart from the others. Having a strong culture, a feeling of being part of the community, a family can only be possible where there is an atmosphere of clarity, transparency and respect for one another. Handholding, peer-support, buddy-systems, mentorship, and the art of listening rather than speaking can help. Cognitive-coaching and Social-emotional learning practices help to develop a culture of trust and respect. It helps develop a feeling of empowerment and encourages risk-taking.

To know more check out the link posted below:

https://hechingerreport.org/what-makes-education-innovation-succeed/

The Queen of the Night blooms only once in a year!

The Queen of the night blooms only once in a year and that only at night. By dawn it wilts away, lost for a whole year to those who'd not deign to look for beauty that defies expected rules! Yes, the cactus plant at home bears flowers once a year and only at night. The cactus flower is perhaps one of the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen!

White in colour, it has the softest hues of green, a hint of pink, no, I might have imagined it, and the softest yellow in the centre-the pistils, stamens, and the pollen grains that simply mesmerise you, the flower is amazing!

The Cactus flowers bloom only at night to avoid excess loss of water. These flowers need a lot of water while blooming and this would be disastrous for the plant if it happened during the day in the desert.

Quite a few myths are associated with this flower. Some people believe that it is lucky to have a flower at home. It is also a symbol of a mother's unconditional love, love that survives the hardships of life in a desert. 

Poets and Pancakes-Questions and Answers

How does the Make-Up section at the Gemini Studios display National Integration?

The make-up section at Gemini Studios is a perfect example of national integration. It was first headed by a Bengali. He was followed by a Maharashtrian who was assisted by a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and the usual local Tamils.

According to Asokamitran, 'All this shows that there was a great deal of national integration long before A.I.R. and Doordarshan began broadcasting programmes on national integration.'

People from different regions, religions and linguistic groups had worked towards a common goal, namely to apply pancake (foundation) on the actors and actresses so as to make them look good in the films.

How was hierarchy maintained in the make-department?

A strict hierarchy was maintained in the make-department. The chief make-up man applied make-up on the chief actors and actresses. His senior assistant applied make-up on the second hero and heroine. The junior assistant applied make-up on the main comedian. The people who played the role of the crowd were the responsibility of the office boy.

Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the Gemini Studios?

Asokamitran's job was to collect newspaper clippings. He spent all day poring through newspapers, cutting up interesting articles for future reference. In today's times, we would say he did research. Seeing him sitting in his cubicle tearing newspapers all the time, people thought he was doing nothing.

Who was Kothamangalam Subbu? What is the author's attitude toward him? Why does the office boy feel angry towards K.Subbu?

The office boy's frustration and anger was directed at K.Subbu who was number two after S.S. Vasan. He believed that he had reached the number two position 'by virtue of being born a Brahmin'. Moreover, he had the ability 'to look cheerful at all times even after having a hand in a flop film.' He was loyal to the principal Mr S.S. Vasan and when there was a problem with the script, he could come out with four alternative options of the rat pouring affection on the offspring of the tigress that it had earlier killed!

It appears as though Subbu was a multi-faceted, versatile and a valuable asset for the Gemini Studios. He had apparently given direction and definition to the Gemini Studios during its golden years. But then, Subbu was also a writer. He had written several poems and a novel titled 'Thillana Mohanambal'. As an actor in subsidiary roles, 'he performed better than the supposed main players.' He seemed to be a philanthropist who had a genuine love for anyone he came across. His house was a permanent residence for dozens of relations.

Yet, Asokamitran expresses surprise that such a charitable man should have enemies! In a rather humorous and suggestive manner, he says, 'Was it because he seemed so close and intimate with the Boss? Or was it his general demeanour that resembled a sycophant's?' These questions seem to suggest that Subbu had risen up the ladder because of his being a flatterer, a sycophant and a 'yes man' for Vasan.

One might reason that the office boy's animosity towards K. Subbu could have been the result of not seeing his dreams of becoming a star actor or top screen-writer or even lyrics writer materialise into reality. Like Subbu, the office boy was even 'a bit of a poet' but then unlike Subbu he had failed to achieve the second position. The office boy was frustrated by his own inability to rise above his existing position in the Gemini studios and so he was jealous of Subbu.
Why was the Lawyer or the legal advisor referred to as the opposite by others? What made him stand out from the others at the Gemini Studios?

The lawyer who was grouped under the Story Department was also referred to as the legal advisor. But then he was called opposite by others because he was one of the reasons why a talented actress quit acting. He had recorded her tantrums and made her listen to it. She never recovered from the terror of listening to herself shout. The legal advisor, moreover wore pants and tie and sometimes a coat. Often he looked alone and helpless a man of cold logic in a crowd of dreamers.

What was the MRA?

The MRA or the Moral Re-armament army was a two hundred strong troupe of actors. They acted two different plays for the employees of Gemini Studios. The plays, Jotham Valley and the Forgotten Factor had very ordinary themes but the sets and costumes were very good. Asokamitran later learned that the MRA 'was a kind of counter-movement to international Communism'.


You might also like to visit:

https://rodrickwrites.blogspot.com/2020/02/poets-and-pancakes-critical-analysis.html

Why is some amount of Disruption important in Schools ?

A dose of disruption takes place when I start a new higher-order writing unit in class, discuss the format and then bear the brunt of an onslaught of, "But that is how we did it in the tenth class" or, "But that is how we did it in the  eleventh." This in itself could be an indication of why we do things in a particular way just because we did them that way in the past.

Students are often reluctant to "unlearn" what they had learnt earlier simply because they want to choose the least difficult path, the path of least resistance! When I come across the phrase, 'in reference to' I spend some time telling my students that it is 'with reference to and not in reference to'! Grown-ups too make mistakes while introducing themselves with words, 'Myself Rekha Rachna' and then you can barely control yourself from bursting out in laughter!
Strangely enough, most of the common errors in English Grammar might be defended by the contention, "But that is how we were taught and that is why we do it!" I asked at least twenty students in the corridor if it was OK to make their introduction with, "Myself, Aditya Khurana" and to my surprise, all of them thought there was nothing wrong in it.
A few days before their half-year exams my eleventh graders asked me to share a few tips on how to do well in the exams. I suggested that they answer the paper in chronological order, the Comprehension section first followed by the Writing section and then finally the Literature section last. The logic behind this was that since the Comprehension passages were "unseen" and had to be read carefully since they were new, the mind had to be at its best! The Writing section could be done next since the students already knew the format and conventions. They only had to create the content. The Literature section could be done last since they had already learned the lessons and the Mind would not be required to put in too much effort. To this, the students came out with, "But we always did it the other way round, we always felt that the comprehension passages were tougher and would require more time." What they didn't realise was that they had hit the nail on the head, the Comprehension Passages would require more effort to understand therefore they should have attempted them first while the mind was still fresh!
Fortunately, the "That's the way we always did it" attitude that is also an obstacle to new learning can be "fixed" according to Ryan Schaaf, Associate Professor of Education Technology at Notre Dame of Maryland University and faculty member in the Digital Age Learning and Educational Technology program at John Hopkins University. To fix this fixed mindset attitude, one should, according to him:

• Never quit learning
• Question every new idea you learn
• Be open to new ideas and experiences
• Read a ton (books, web articles, blogs)  -  {If only school heads realised the importance of libraries.}
• Challenge pre-existing practices
• Embrace change

Unfortunately, the biggest obstacle to change and progress is the habit of clinging to so-called time-tested methods, the tendency to take up the path offering the least resistance. Strangely enough, even so-called Progressive schools adopt time-tested norms and methods. Teachers avoid experimenting with pedagogy for fear of losing control over the class. Disruptive teachers are viewed with suspicion and doubt by others. The use of Rigid lesson plans and even more rigid timelines are the bane to progressive learning. Sometimes the very systems we introduce in schools for the furtherance of education are the systems that prevent new learning, experiential learning or even out of the box learning.

It is clear that the claim of precedence or even prior practice does not prove the rule in education today. We are living in chaotic times when disruption and change rule the roost. It is, therefore, in the context of the times we live in that the "We did it like that" argument fails to carry weight in an argument for educational practices. This goes true for the teaching of units and lessons in all subjects. In the teaching of English, it is important to make sure that past practices are reviewed to gain relevance. Rules of grammar need to be revised, formats need to be reviewed and conventions overhauled. Take, for example, the sentence once used in formal letters, "I beg to bring to your worthy notice" which today is out-dated and yet a large number of people use it simply because their fathers and grandfathers used them. The same sentence could be written as "I would like to bring to your notice....".
The fact of the matter is that times are changing and they are changing like never before. What was true last year is no longer true today! It is for this reason that there is an urgent need to keep doors open for new facts or even information. A minimum amount of disruption is the need of the day, though an excess of disruption can cause chaos. We need the right amount of disruption in our classrooms today so that we can maintain our learning edge. In his article, 'Overcoming a "That's The We Have Always Done It" Mindset in Schools', Ryan L. Schaf expresses surprise that most of the 'taken-for-granted ideas' have been part of human civilisation for ages. In fact, the 60 minutes in an hour, or even 60 in a minute was the result of a decision made 4,400 years ago in ancient Sumer. This was because the Sumerian Math system was based in 60.
There is no reason therefore, to have 60 seconds in a minute, or for that effect 60 minutes in an hour. We might as well have a hundred minutes in an hour! A lot of the things we take for granted in life today has no logic nor do they have any scientific reason. The only thing that goes in favour of them is that "That was how our forefathers did it!" Unfortunately changing the stoplight to green and go light to red might cause chaos and fatalities on the roads. But then a lot of things that our ancestors did were irrational and based on superstitions. It is for this reason that we need to break out of the silos that our forefathers, our ancestors built around us.

For more on this topic, check out:

Schaf Ryan L.: Overcoming a "That's The Way We Have Always Done It" Mindset in Schools
http://www.ednewsdaily.com/overcoming-a-thats-the-way-we-have-always-done-it-mindset-in-scools/

Amazing Snaps of Ibis, Herons and Egrets at the Basai Wetland in Gurgaon

Feels great to see a Cattle Egret take a good shake before starting its day in the morning at the Basai Wetland in Gurugram. 

A lone White Ibis looks at me with curiosity even as an Egret peeps from below. Egrets and Ibis seem to tolerate each other fairly well!

As I said earlier, Egrets and Ibis seem to have a fairly good relationship with each other. Moreover, they seem to be fairly at ease with human beings around!

A Red-Naped Bronze coloured Ibis stands before a White Black-headed Ibis at the Basai Wetland in Gurgaon. Both of them belong to different families but live in close proximity to each other.

A Heron peeps into the water for a meal of fish. Herons are quite commonly found in the wetland of India. They are tolerant of human beings.

A Bee-eater preens itself at the Basai Wetland in Gurgaon. Bee-eaters can be found in great numbers on the outskirts of the town.

A Purple-Heron soars high in the sky over the Basai Wetland. Purple Herons are quite common wherever there is water on the surface. They happily consume fish and other amphibians, frogs and snails.