Who are they? A Poem

 

They come rushing down the corridor like a stream,

Brushing against its banks, moving ahead energized.

Unstoppable, free birds, owning the skies,  unhindered

By timelines and tasks, unaffected by the ways of the world!

Their voices sound like sparrows in the morning,

 Calling out to another as they flit in an out of bushes.

The walls thrum with energy,  like  powerful engines

Fueled by vitality, dynamism and youth.

One wonders if time will slow them down into old

Men who huff and pant while climbing stairs, or

The wisdom of years might weigh them down for

Better or for worse like overloaded trucks on the road.

My thoughts are interrupted by their loud laughter

Back to the present, I return, interrupted, to see them arrive

With a mind of their own. With a whoop, they drive

Past like triumphant winners of a match on the field.

A host of them I saw, like flocks of birds swoop past

Me. With the sounds of small feet striking the floor

Even as they waved their hands and nodded their

Heads in a joyous cacophony of triumph.

We were once children, without care and stress,

Climbing trees to look at birds' nests scraping shins

On the trunks of trees, muddied clothes and limbs

Clothes torn and shredded, to be scolded by parents.

Alas! Children today might stream down corridors

In great masses, yet they know  not the joys

Of climbing trees to look at eggs in birds' nests

Or, perhaps, fending off attacks by aliens.

But then, children will be children, like flocks

Of birds that congregate in large numbers

Chasing one another around the shallows

Until a time when alerted by elders.

Let not children be burdened by cares of the world,

Preserve their innocence and let them be fed

By the magic of spring, unburdened by the looming

Shadows of winter. Let adulthood wait its turn.

A Visit to Agra turned out to be a treasure trove of snapshots!

An unplanned trip to Agra turned out to be a boon especially as it combined sightseeing and meeting relatives. It being a long time since my Mom had visited her sister in law and her nephew and nieces we decided to leave early in the morning of the 19th of June. The route from Gurgaon took us through the Sohna Elevated route, the Eastern, Western Express ways and the Delhi-Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway. a total distance of 193.7 kilometers taking us 5 hours. This included a half an hour stop at a Dhaba for tea and an hour's stop at Sikandra, Emperor Akbar's tomb.

The Gateway to Akbar's Tomb-look at the archway, it looks like the letter A!

Akbar's Tomb

Seen here are two depictions of the tree of life.

Fresco adorning the ceiling and walls of the tomb of Akbar

An intricately designed fresco on the entrance to the tomb of Akbar

The intricate patterns in the frescos adorning the walls and the ceiling of entry to the tomb of Akbar are simply amazing. Two trees of life figures in one of the frescos. The actual tomb, however lies unadorned. Accessed through a tunnel or shaft that descends down a slight slope, the tomb lies in a chamber that is lit by two skylights. Also, I noticed that the gateway to the complex has a distinct 'A' for 'Akbar'. It is not that Akbar was not aware about the English language. Perhaps, it was a deliberate intention to have the letter 'A' on the arch and gateway to the complex.

This is one of the gateways to the Taj Mahal notice the intricate inlay work.

The Taj Mahal is set in the midst of green lawns and bright blossoms.

The entrance to the Taj Mahal complex is made of red sandstone inlaid with intricate inlays of white stone and red stone in geometrical and floral patterns. The Taj Mahal itself is made of white marble. Seen in the above photograph is a mosque.

There are many more monuments to visit in Agra, especially Fatehpur Sikri, I'timad-ud-Daulah and the Red Fort. I wasn't able to visit all of these monuments because I was in Agra for a couple of days. The best time to visit these monuments is early in the mornings, probably at about 6:00 a.m. when there would less of a crowd. The visitor to the Taj Mahal complex has to go through a stringent security check which might take some time. While visiting Agra and its monuments, one needs to be aware of touts, unscrupulous auto-drivers, people who will take you for a ride. Also beware of the spurious products being sold in all the shops close to the monuments. While Panchhi Petha used to be a big name in the making of Petha, now almost every shop is named Panchi Petha though the spelling might vary. My suggestion is for visitors to be careful why buying stuff. It would be advisable to buy things from Government Approved outlets.

A Catalogue of Lesser Seen Birds and Animals in the Wetlands and city of Gurgaon

Eurasian Spoonbills at the Sultanpur National Park

It is not often that you might spot Eurasian Spoonbills at the Sultanpur National Park in Gurgaon. However, when you spot a whole flock of these birds tending their feathers in the morning, it makes for a special moment! However, spotting a wild Hare running around might catch you unawares. If that is not enough, spotting a large Monitor lizard advancing towards a Peacock or even a Golden Jackal looking at you with a Peacock in the background might seem worth photographing. It was only after the Monitor Lizard had disappeared in the undergrowth that I spotted the Golden Jackal. It looks like the Jackals have taken residence in the Sultanpur National Park.

A Hare scampering around at the Sultanpur National Park

A Monitor Lizard rushes towards a Peacock at the Sultanpur National Park

An Asian Golden Jackal at the Sultanpur National Park

Hornbills and Owls might be less visible in the city, but they definitely make their presence felt at the Sultanpur National Park in Gurgaon.

A Hornbill at the Sultanpur National Park

A Spotted Owl at the Sultanpur National Park

Spotting Cotton Pygmy Geese and a brace of Whistling Ducks can be a rewarding experience when visiting Sultanpur National Park. Whistling Ducks are declining in numbers and they are usually found in North-East India as a resident bird. A few numbers of Whistling Ducks can be found in the plains of Northern India, however.

A pair of Cotton Pygmy Geese at the Sultanpur National Park

Whistling Ducks at the Sultanpur National Park

Bluethroats are most commonly to be found on the outskirts of big cities and towns. They can be found flitting from one bush to the other and in some cases even pacing on the ground. Bluethroats have a distinct bright blue band under their throats.

Blue-throat spotted at the Sultanpur National Park, Gurgaon

It is rare to spot a Black-headed Ibis in close proximity to a red-headed Ibis. Spotting the two will show how different they are in terms of the colour of their plumage.  I took a photograph of these two different species at the Basai Wetland a few years ago. I was also able to spot the Black-headed Ibis next to a Red-headed Ibis at the Basai Wetland. Spotting two different species of birds in close proximity to each other speaks volumes about the tolerance that different species of birds have for each other. This is a lesson for all human beings. I was able to spot a Black-headed Ibis in close proximity to a Cattle-Egret also at the Basai Wetland. Perhaps even spotting a Cormorant close to a Pond Heron might be special.

Red-headed Ibis next to a Black-headed Ibis at the Basai Wetland

A Cormorant in close proximity to a Pond Heron at the SNP National Park

A Black-crowned Ibis in close proximity of a Pnd Heron at the Basai Wetland 

Cuckoos are heard more often than seen. Cuckoos are shy birds and they are rarely spotted. These birds stay hidden within the branches of trees. I spotted this particular bird on the branches of a tree in Palam Vihar, Gurgaon from the balcony of my home.

A Cuckoo feasts on ripe figs at Palam Vihar, Gurgaon

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Some of my favourite birds that I enjoy photographing are Sarus Cranes. I took some amazing photographs of serenading Sarus Cranes at the Sultanpur National in Gurgaon. These birds are incidentally amongst the largest flying birds in the world!

A pair of Sarus cranes at the Sultanpu National Park

Sarus Cranes performing a courtship dance at the Sultanpur National Park

Citrine Wagtails will not be spotted in urban areas, however, they will be found in the outskirts where there is greenery, grass and bushes. This bird was spotted at the Basai wetland. Shrikes are a welcome sight.

A Citrine Wagtail at the Basai Wetland

A Shrike at the Sultanpur National Park

Sarus Cranes Performing an Amazing Courtship Dance

Sarus Cranes are amongst the most amazing birds I have photographed. They are the world's largest flying birds. They are known for being faithful pairs. Sarus Cranes care for their offspring with great dedication and affection. And of course, they perform some of the most intricate dance steps. Their show of affection for each other is reflected in their dance steps. I was lucky enough to photograph one pair of Sarus Cranes performing an amazing dance right in front of me at the Sultanpur National Park today. I was absolutely spellbound and watched these amazing birds profess their love for one another with bated breath!

This was, indeed an amazing display of affection and love expressed in dance as an art form. I am sure that there is so much that we human beings can learn from these cranes. Unfortunately, these birds are running out of space even as they compete with human beings for space. Human developmental activities in the area are driving Sarus Cranes towards extinction. Preserving these birds and their habitats should be of utmost importance, that is if we are not planning to trap them in cages inside Zoos. Nothing can beat the experience of observing Sarus Cranes in the wild!

The Education We Provide Is Not What GenZ Wants!

What does GenZ want from education? We, educators, might have made a mistake about what GenZ really wants from education, and we might have made a terrible mistake! What they want from education is answers! Answers that will help them figure out why there is so much polarisation in the world, why nations are fighting each other, why Covid happened, and why society is pushing them into a rat race. Why can't we let them be and give them an education that will help them figure out what they want from life? When I read a poem titled 'Keeping Quiet' by Pablo Neruda and switched off all the lights in class, and reduced the speed of the fans, the whole class went quiet! It was a sublime moment and intentionally contrived in order to make them understand how keeping quiet can help them meditate, introspect, and get to terms with their inner selves. This is what GenZ wants from education the means to help them understand their purpose in life, to take a break from a hectic and stressful life, and to be calm and peaceful in their minds. They want to be changemakers, and social activists and to be more responsible stakeholders who can be given the responsibility of mending and undoing the wrongs done by their predecessors.

Education has to be a support system a system that provides our students a nurturing environment that provides a feeling of security, safety and calmness. Unfortunately, the race for marks, rank, merit and excellence has made education a virtual battleground where mental well-being, emotional health, social relations and spirituality are destroyed. If it is not about marks in board exams, then it is all about acing the college entrance exams. Parents enroll their children in coaching centres to prepare them for entrance exams as early as grade 7! Education has literally taken away their childhood and their innocence. A typical school day begins with students yawning in class because they had to stay up all night, completing their work. By half time they are already zoned out. Then they rush home and get ready for the coaching centre. They return home at 8:0' clock, have a quick bite and then it is back to completing their assignments and homework. Most of our students might not afford a paid seat in a foreign university so their only hope is to get admission to a decent college at home. The only way they can get admission to a good college is by acing the entrance exams whether it is CUET, JEE, CLAT, NEET, SAT, GMAT, LSAT, AP,...etc. If the only purpose of education is to prepare a student for admission to a prestigious college in the country or abroad then we have failed, miserably.

The true purpose of education is to provide learners with an environment where they can learn life skills, be better human beings, and be responsible global citizens. Moreover, if our students have to take coaching classes for entrance exams then it means that the education that we provide them in school is simply inadequate! The lack of standardization in assessments at the board level has necessitated the need for further assessments. If the only purpose of education is assessments, assessments and more assessments, then it means that we have failed in preparing our students for life. Or, perhaps the noble purpose of education has been hijacked by coaching centres, assessment bodies, and organizations that want to take a share of the huge sums of money that parents would like to spend on their children. Is it society that is to blame for the chaos that has crept into our system of education, or is it the coaching centres and the assessment bodies? Is it the teachers who are to blame or is it the parents? Is it even our students who are to blame or is it the entire system? Have we even listened to our children and tried to find out what it is that they want from education?

In this confusion of not knowing what it is that GenZ wants from education, it is, unfortunately, the students who suffer the most. The true gainers from this chaos are the coaching centres and entrance assessment bodies. The lament of not knowing what to do after school rings loud everywhere. Some students are smart enough to have their career paths chalked out for them, but others are as confused as fish stuck on trees. The advent of AI, ChatGPT, the pandemic, and the lack of global security have all changed the meaning of education for everyone. Almost two years of lockdown highlighted the need for an understanding of mental health-related issues. The growing polarization between people of different religious beliefs has highlighted the need for tolerance and inclusion. The prospect of a nuclear war, a fallout of the war between Russia and Ukraine has highlighted the need to develop a more mature and rational approach towards problems in life. These are the things that we need to teach our children and students in schools and colleges.

Education has not moved with the times and somehow this is why AI and technology might soon rule our lives (That is as long as we have electricity and energy to drive them). We have not been smart enough in planning a future where survival will be more important than passing an entrance exam, a time when family relations will be more important than attendance in a coaching centre, and a time when mindful eating will be more important than eating for energy. What would happen if there were no power or internet? AI would barely survive, our machines would stop working and we would have to use our own feet for transportation. 

We are simply not educating our students to think out of the box! An example of this emerged in a recent scenario where students were divided into crews and told to devise strategies for surviving on a deserted island for twenty days. They were given a list of items to use for their survival. One crew came up with the idea of using a bucket to catch fish, and another crew decided to kill a camel for its meat. The third crew decided to catch or feed wild animals dry fruits. A boy in yet another crew asked me if the Axe in the list of items referred to the Deodorant.