Lamp of Life

**fn;k rsjk gks ;k esjk dHkh Hkh cq> ldrk gS(

  gok fdlh ,d dh ugh gksrh

lHk dh gksrh gSA**

Our life is like the light of a lamp.  The light shouldn’t be proud for its illumination as it can get extinguished at any moment without any prior intimation.

Signs of a Good Teacher

Signs of a Good Teacher

What are the signs of a good teacher?

All teachers outwardly can stand in front of the class and deliver their lessons. Whether they are doing justice to their job or not is a different matter. A mediocre teacher will try to finish his syllabus in time. A good teacher would love to put across as much as he can in the stipulated time. A best teacher along with doing what a good teacher does will also keep in mind that he is building the nation and preparing a seed that would be leaving an impact in life that would have global significance.

It is not very difficult to find out good teachers in a school. There are few clear cut signs that can reveal the presence of good teacher. Most of the good teachers carry a beautiful and comforting smile. Their bodies are not stiff. They wish back to students promptly irrespective of the fact whether they teach directly or not. They are often seen being followed by couple of students after the period gets over. These children follow them upto some point for getting their doubts cleared and then rush back to their classes when they see next period teacher approaching.

Basically, I believe, a good teacher should have the following three qualities:-

(1)   Good subject knowledge.

(2)   Good communication skill and

(3)   A good character.

Normally it’s not difficult to come across teachers who possess the first quality. Most of them, I would love to believe, have good subject knowledge. Second and third qualities are becoming rare.

A shallow river makes more noise specially while it is flowing across the rocks. Similarly a teacher with less knowledge is often seen losing his temperament while handling students who are either too weak or who are brilliant. Weak students irritate them and they dread the brilliant ones. 

A river that flows in abundance never makes noise. It flows atop the rocks effortlessly and in doing so smoothens their sharp edges.  With their buoyant energy and strength they help the boats, submarines and ships to sail well and reach their destinations. Similarly a teacher with his brilliant subject knowledge is able to help both weak and brilliant students to attain their goals.

A mother and a child communicate with each other through not just a language or two but also through signs and gestures. It is because they know each other well and love each other. Similarly students are able to comprehend the signs and gestures of their favorite teachers.

First and fore most duty of a teacher should be to ensure that he is the best in his field. And for this he needs to devote his time towards sharpening his tools.

For developing ones communication skills the only way that a person can adopt is to read and, if possible, one should attempt to write. Importance of listening and spoken skills can’t be rated less. In the present age of cell phones I would advise teachers to listen to the BBC News podcast everyday on their cells. This would help them to remain updated and at the same time develop their listening skills. As they will be exposed to good English they themselves will feel comfortable in using better and new words while speaking. Very soon people around them will also note the difference and will appreciate them. 

The word ‘character’ should not be limited to the physical aspects of life like how many affairs one has or whether one takes bribes or not. Unfortunately we have reduced this word to these things only which is wrong. Besides these aspects the word ‘character’ encompasses in it traits of a person which include punctuality, commitment towards a given task, love for the job, integrity, proactiveness, planning, adhering to good principles in life, inclination towards spiritualism, human understanding and so on. A good teacher is capable of delivering lessons as per “students” level and not ‘his’. A good teacher doesn’t act as a “know all”. A good teacher uplifts weak students  by asking them simple questions inside the class and not difficult ones in order to belittle him. A good teacher doesn’t  pretend to be a “sage” on the “stage” but loves to remain as a “guide” by the “side”. A good teacher doesn’t feel shy to say, “I don’t know, I will let you know in my next class.” A good teacher loves spending time with his students. A good teacher, like a parent, can never think bad or harm his students. A good teacher will always wish for his students upliftment, progress and success. A good teacher’s  main assets are his students. A good teacher feels  elated to see his students doing better than him in their lives.

A good teacher is the one who would get hurt if he comes to ever know that the class he has to go and cover is waiting for him in dread and with frowning faces instead of waiting for him with full enthusiasm.

It’s time if we as teacher may sit and introspect and see where do we stand as a teacher. Being teachers that we are we have the skill of dropping the worst that we have in us and pick up the things and habits that we consider will help us to become best teachers.

Sukhwant Singh Thaper

Principal

DPS Nigahi

18.04.2015

"De shiva bar mohe ehe..." Bikram Singh Majithia's Ordeal

 

Power and money makes us blind.  Over enthusiasm at times takes away our thinking capabilities.

LS14 is witnessing leaders at their worst irrespective of parties they belong to.

Development issues have all gone under the carpet.  Personal attacks have become the bane of the day.

 

It must have been out of over enthusiasm that in order to please his seniors (so that he may get fovoured upon at a later date) one so called Majithia in Punjab election campaigning in Amritsar committed an error which in the realms of Sikhism is unpardonable.  He modified the lines which are attributed to none other than Guru Gobind Singh in favour of Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Amritsar Mr. Arun Jaitly. The original version is as follows :

“De Shava bar mohe eheh subh karman to kabhu na darun;

Na darun aur so jab jai larnn; Nische kar apni jeet karun.”

(Oh Lord, bless me with the power that I should never shy away from a noble task and in doing so enable me to be always victorious).

Mahitha modified the last line to, “Nische Kar Arun Jaitly Ki Jeet Karun.”  He not only read out these lines but also made the crowd repeat the same.  This has made the Sikhs furious not only in Punjab or remaining part of India but also all around the world.

 

The anger of the Sikhs can be understood and appreciated only after knowing about the reverence that is paid by them to the sanctity of Gurbani.  During the times of Shah Jahan the Mughal Emperor.  Shri Guru Har Rai Sahib (7^th Sikh Guru) had deputed his elder son Ram Rai to visit the Emperor and explain the banni written in the Holy Granth Sahib which the Sikhs used to worship.  Infact the need to do so had risen because few of the Hindu Kings of the Northern Hills of India had complained to the Emperor of Delhi that the Sikhs had compiled a Holy Granth which contained verses against Islamhood. The Hindu Kings of the Hills were both disappointed and worried at the tenets which were adopted and followed by the Sikhs like giving up of the age old rituals (Karamkands) like not wearing the jenue (The sacred thread), not performing shrads, not observing fasts, not believing in holy baths and visits and most important of all was giving up of casteism.  This was proving to be a threat to their age old traditions. Hence they had complained to the Emperor. Against all these odds Guru Har Rai Saheb had deputed his elder son to visit the Emperor and clarify certain portins of the Holy Granth. On page no. ……… of the Holy Granth Guru Nanakji had written  in ‘Aasa Di Vaar’ :-

 

Mitti Musalmaan Ki (the clay from the tomb of a Muslim)  Pedhe Pai Kumiaar (has reached the wheel of the potter) Gadh bhaande itta kia (and he made utensils and bricks out of it) Jaldi kare Pukaar (while being backed in the furnace it makes hissing sound) Jal jal rove bapudhi (the clay is getting burnt and it cires)  Jadh jadh paveh angiaar (fire sparks are falling off from the utensils & bricks) Nanank jin karte kaarann kia (Oh Nanak, the Lord who has made this world)  So jaanne kartaaar (He only knows what consequences the person is going to face).

Through these lines Guru Nanak had cleared the doubts of the people that it is immaterial whether a persons dead body is cremated like the Hindus do or it is buried like Muslims or Christians what matters is the deeds that he has performed while he had lived.

 

Ram Rai while trying to explain the above lines to Shah Jahah had got awed by the Emperor’s valour and luxury so much so that he not only misinterpreted the lines but also gave his opinion that actually Guru Nanak had wanted to write ‘Mitti Baiman ki’ (fraud) instead of ‘Mitti Musalmaan Ki’.

 

 On coming to know about what Ram Rai had done Guru Har Rai ji disowned him and thereby deprived him of next Guruship.  Ram Rai was informed never to show his face to his father Guru and all Sikhs were ordered of cutting all relations with Ram Rai.

 

Shocking impact of Bikram Singh Majithia’s misquote can even be realized from its video clipping.  Few of the Sikhs seen in the video along with Bikram had repeated the first three lines with total enthusiasm but the last modified line, with Arun Jaitley’s reference on it,  was not received well.

 

In the present times of social networking it didn’t take much time for the news to spread across the world.  Fakth Shri Hazur Sahib (Bidar) paused its verdict and declared BSM tankhaiya (on outcast) which is worse than death for a true Sikh.  In case one realizes his / her mistake he / she needs to get himself / herself redeemed by presenting himself / herself to the congregation of Panj Pyares and Sangat and go through the punishment imposed.

 

Yesterday Fakth Sahib Amritsar heard BSM’s case.  On the basis of his written apology and also his presence the Panj Pyaras have extended conditional forgiveness to him.  In order to redeem himself BSM has to offer langar in all 5 takths and organize Akhand Path at Harmandir Sahib Amritsar and participate cleaning utensils on all the three days of Akhand Path and have imposed a fine of Rs. 501/- and Rs. 101/- in the treasure of the Gurudwara. Doesn’t it seem to be a mockery of everything seems Panj Pyaras have become more liberal that Guru Har Rai Sahib who had refused to see his son Ram Rai again.

 

It was much later that during his visit to Dehradun Guru Gobind singh ji had paid a visit to the descendants of Ram Rai on their request and had forgives them.

 

From the other videos of BSM available on net it doesn’t appear that he is a good person to know.  Because inspite of being a political party he is yet to learn proper public behavior.

 

Only if this incident can make BSM humble we can say that something good has come out of this event or else.  William Shakespeare ‘s lines from Macbeth can sum up the whole incident wherein in Act 5, Scene 5, lines 27 / 28 Macbeth says “It (life) is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing’.

 

 

Self Respect

19^th March 2014

 

My nanaji Bhagat Narayan Das Lamba used to work as a Contractor in Nairobi, Kenya.

 

During the period he and his two elder brothers had constructed three houses in Bombay (now called Mumbai), Africa House, India House and Bombay House.

 

My nanaji and his brothers were friends of Prithvi Raj Kapoor.  According to my nanima and other senior relatives they used to visit each other often and supervise the construction work of the three houses mentioned above as well as that of R.K. Studios.

 

Unfortunately due to some epidemic attack my nanaji had lost both his elder brothers in Nairobi.

 

As the earning members were no more present my nanaji had handed over his house to Taijis (his Bhabijis) and had shifted his base to Rawalpindi around late thirties.

 

In Rawalpindi my nanaji had built a huge house with sprawling garden called Harbhajan Gardens.

 

After a little more than a decade of stay in Rawalpindi my nanaji was compelled to move across the newly drawn border which had divided the nation.

 

On 15^th August 1947 they had left all their belongings and had started their journey towards Wagha Border.  During the time of migration my nanaji married off one of his daughters Ram Kaur masiji to Gopal Singh Mukole who have lived at 1/20 East Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi since then.

 

In a camp called ‘Waha Camp’ one of my manaji Harkishan Singh Lamba was born.

 

My nanaji alongwith his family could manage to shift safely and had reached Tatanagar.

 

After the impact of the tragic partition had started waning down a bit many people who had migrated from Pakistan had started writing to the Govt / Authorities regarding the details of property which they had left behind for seeking the compensation.

 

When friends and relatives had persuaded my nanaji to do the same he had bluntly refused to do so.  On being asked for the reason for not claiming for the compensation he used to say that before leaving the home at Rawalpindi he had called upon the Lord and sought His assistance for safe migration of all his family members.  He had committed to the Lord that once all his family members reached across the border safely he will not ask for anything more.  So now with what face should he again pray and claim for his property.  Everyone used to call him mad for this but he had never bothered about such comments.

 

After my nanaji had migrated to Tatanagar from Rawalpindi both of his Bhabijis (Taijis) in Bombay had offered him to take his house back.  Neither did my nanaji ever agreed to take the hosue back nor did any of my mamajis ever claim for the house.  Children of both of his Bhabiji have shifted to Birmingham, England and settled there long before.

 

While in Rawalpindi my nanaji had helped a friend to open a cloth shop in Ludhiana. After the migration his friend called on him and requested him to take over the shop but he had denied to do so by saying that it would be totally immoral of him to have any claim over the shop.  The impact of this was such that whenever any of my mamajis or masijis or my parents visit the shop in Ludhiana the elderly person as well as his sons get up from the main seat and make them sit on it.  It is a kind of respect which can’t be put across in words.

 

My nanaji had a deep love and regard for Sikhism and had brought up all his sons as Sikhs and married all his daughters with Sikhs.

 

He had passed away in 1972 on the day of colourful festival Holi.  He has left behind a legacy of honesty and a family which is known for being imbued in the true colours of Sikhism. 

 

We will all remain indebted to him for leading a life of self respect and integrity.

 

Misconceptions About Eating Meat

Guru Nanak wrote a passage of very lengthy bani where he clearly and precisely ridiculed any connection between vegetarianism and religion.The bani in question appears on page 1289 to 1290 of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Bani of Guru Nanak

Pahilan masuhn nimmiya masai andari vasu (Guru Nanak, Pg1289-1290 Guru Granth Sahib, Raga Malar)

Born out of flesh, in flesh does man live.
With life comes love of flesh, bones, skin, limbs
All are flesh.
As from flesh the living body issues, the breast that is flesh,
It grasps in mouth.
Of flesh is the mouth, of flesh the tongue,
Through flesh is breath drawn.
As is man grown up, matrimony he enters,
And brings home flesh.
Of flesh is born flesh,
With flesh are all relationships established.
By the touch of the holy Perceptor is the Divine Ordinance realized,
Whereby comes fulfilment.
Not by man's own effort comes liberation:
Saith Nanak: Such talk only to perdition leads. (1)

Sloka Guru Nanak
Over eating meat dispute blind fools,
Of enlightenment and contemplation ignorant.
Which is flesh, which vegetation?
Which to sin leads?
After the tradition of the gods, was the rhinoceros slaughtered,
And of its flesh burnt sacrifice offered.
Those that at night-time gobble up flesh,
Pose to discard flesh and stop their noses.
A great show of piety they make before others --
Of enlightenment and contemplation ignorant.
Saith Nanak: What avail arguing with the purblind.
Neither would they say anything sensible,
Nor follow whatever is told to them.
Truly blind is one whose actions are blind --
The mind's eye he lacks
From mother's and father's blood are they born,
Yet flesh and flesh they abjure.
As at night come woman and man together,
Foul is their conduct.
Of flesh are we begotten, from flesh born;
Of flesh are we vessels.
Brahmin! ignorant of enlightenment and contemplation,
Thou art yet reputed to be wise.
Revered sir! the flesh that is brought from outside dost thou discard,
But those in thy home, of flesh made, thou thinkst good.
From flesh are all living objects made.
In flesh is life lodged.
Those by the false perceptor instructed;
Consume what is forbidden and discard what is lawful to each;
Know, that of flesh are we begotten, from flesh born;
Of flesh are we vessels.
Brahmin! ignorant of enlightenment and contemplation,
Thou art reputed to be wise.
In Puranas and in Muslim books is consuming flesh commended;
In all Four Ages is flesh in general use.
In sacrifices and in fine wedding ceremonials
Is use of flesh in vogue.
Women and men, of flesh are born,
As also are kings and great potentates.
Shouldst thou feel to hell are they wending their way,
Receive thou not their charity.
What absurdity that the donor to hell may go,
While the recepient to enter heaven is believed.
Brahmin! ignorant thyself, others thou dost instruct --
Strange that thou art declared wise!
Brahmin! thou knowest not where from is flesh born:
From water grows grain, sugarcane and cotton;
From water is the world reckoned born.
Water claims to be pure, yet from water comes much that arouses evil.
Saith Nanak after contemplation:
Shouldst thou discard all such delectable objects,
Mayst thou claim to have exercised true renunciation. (2)

Commentary

In the first stanza Guru Nanak establishes the fact that we are a creation of flesh, being composed of flesh and being born out of the flesh of our parents.

At the beginning of the second stanza Guru Nanak decries the duality of vegetarians who expound against eating meat. Guru Nanak says that these people have their priorities mixed up, they fight about the virtues of not eating meat, yet they do not instead spend their time contemplating God. He says that everything is a living thing, whether one is killing an animal or a plant, he says that can the vegetarian please tell him where the sin lies? If he is killing living things whether they are plants or animals. Then Guru Nanak follows this right away talking about how animal sacrifice (rhino) was such an integral part of Hindu worship, one is willing to sacrifice animals for religion, yet say do not eat flesh for religion, another contradiction exposed by the Guru. Guru Nanak then talks about the duality of these people who commit countless sins and then make a public show of their "great piety" by saying that they don't eat meat because it is a sin, another contradiction. Guru Nanak then talks about how the Brahmin vegetarian is a creation of flesh, yet he holds the flesh from outside as being sinful to eat, Guru Nanak is saying that aren't you Brahmin vegetarian a creation of flesh as well as your family also something to be abhorred if you are following your own criteria that flesh is sinful? Guru Nanak talks about these false preceptors who are wrongfully telling people to consume what should not be, and telling people to not eat what should be eaten. Guru Nanak then establishes the fact that eating meat was a historical fact of both the Muslim and Hindu faiths and it has been a part of daily life for many ages, yet why is the Brahmin vegetarian denying his own history? Then Guru Nanak talks about the absurdity that the kings who eat meat should all go to hell, yet the Brahmin vegetarian who lives off their donations and charity shall go to heaven. Finally Guru Nanak concludes by saying that all vegetables and meat are the same because their basic ingredient is water and that the Brahmin vegetarian if he really wants to practice his religious renunciation instead of not eating meat he should give up water altogether.

Tears Help to Blur the World!

Ratan was extremely happy.  It was a great day in her life.  She had given a performance on the stage along with her classmates.  She was sure that her father & mother would be extremely happy to see the photographs of this dance performance.

Ratan is a student of Nursery class. She stays away from her parents.  She lives with her maternal aunt and coping up with the difficulties of separation.  She remains happy and involved and always looks forward to a smile or a pat from the teacher.

When the audience clapped she took the applaud all for herself and along with her friends walked back into her class room.  She was helped by her teacher to change from her dance costume into her uniform. She envied her friends who were being helped by their mothers.

She went out to sit among the audience to witness the Intra Class Hindi Story Telling Competition.  She found that all the ‘kid chairs’ were occupied.  She looked hopefully into the eyes of her classmates.  Probably expecting one of them to offer his or her chair to her. But such things do not come into the minds of children of Nursery class.  Rather few of them held on to the arm of their chairs by making their grips stronger. She turned her eyes towards one of the Pre Primary teachers who stood among the students for maintaining discipline but probably was lacking the concern to look around and see if all were having the chairs.

Meanwhile one of the boys got up in order to bring back his bottle's cap which had rolled under the front seat.  On seeing the vacant chair Amarpreet went and sat on it.  She was not able to even rest her back on the chair when the boy returned towards his chair and demanded to get it back. He was supported by both children sitting adjacent to him.  Without much fuss she got up and offered the chair back to the boy.  Now she was once again looking here and there for a chair for herself.

She saw from her place that  few participants were being made to sit on the carpet.  So she thought at least by going towards it she will be able to sit on the carpet with them.

Without wasting any further time she started moving towards the area.  Still happy in the mind and heart because of the beautiful and melodious dance performance which she had performed a little while ago.

Before she could reach the students sitting on the carpet she got caught by the eyes of another teacher who had got a long stare, a little while ago, from the Principal of the kind “you-are-not-minding-the-children”

She took this as an opportunity to prove her skill-of-vigilance.  She called her towards her.  Ratan went towards the teacher presuming that she would be patted by her for her great performance and also told where to get a chair for herself.  But instead she got her ear twisted by the teacher and scolded for not being with her classmates.  

She was made to stand near the wall holding her ears. She did that without understanding the reason of her punishment. 

She desired to have the tears stay in her eyes for a longer time so that the vision of her classmates happy and mocking faces remained blurred.

Report of Sept 2011

Report regarding activities/programmes/functions held during the months of September 2011.

The following were the main activities/programmes/functions held in our school during the month of September 2011.
International Assessment of Indian Schools
About 103 students took part in the Exam conducted by Macmillan on 1st September in Maths, Science, English and Computer Skills.
Intra Class English Poem Recitation Competition [02-09-11]
The competition was conducted for the classes Nursery, Prep. and Class I. The students recited beautiful poems with actions and voice modulation and enchanted the audience which comprised of parents of all participants. The judges of the competition were
Dr. Ratnesh Sinha, Ms. Jasbir Kaur Mann and Ms. Divya Srivastava. The prize winners were:

Nursery

1st Achintya Pandey Nursery A

2nd Aparna Dwivedi Nursery A

3rd Visharad Kumar Nursery B



Prep.

1st Ilham Zareen Rahman Prep B

2nd Shourya Sinha Prep B

3rd Sakshi Suman Prep A



Class I

1st Udita Sen I B

1st Sneha B. John I A

2nd Kushagra Trivedi I A

2rd Harshita I A

3rd S. Sai Harshini I B



INTER- HOUSE COMPETITIONS:



Inter House Hindi Speech and Debate Competition [03-09-11]

The competition was held in two parts. The students of Group A presented speeches on a given topic and for the other three groups it was a debate competition.The students had prepared very well and performed excellently. The judges for Group A and B were Ms. Sanchita Banerjee, Ms Shivi Thapliyal and Ms. Rashmi Singh. The judges for group C and D were Dr. Ratnesh Sinha, Ms. Mukesh Sharma and Mr. B.P.Dwivedi. The prize winners were as follows :-



Group A : Topic : Hamari Dharti Mata



1st Niharika Mishra Ravi House

2nd Anshree Ganges House

3rd Sanchita Das Jhelum House



GroupB : Topic: Grihkarya : Sahi Vikas ke liye Jaroori



For :

1st Khushi Ambastha Jhelum House

1st Aakhya Verma Sutlej House



Against:

1st Anshika Singh Jhelum House

2nd Sahila Nigar Sutlej House



Group C: Topic : Face Book mein rehna anivarya hai



For

1st Vishwadeep Sen Jhelum House

2nd Stuti Kumari Ganges House



Against:

1st Manjeeta Singh Jhelum House

2nd Harshita Kushwaha Ravi House



Best Interjector

Srijan Triwedi Sutlej House



Group D : Aaj ke sandarbh mein apna hit sadhane se hi tarakki ka dwaar khul sakta hai.



For:

1st Suveksha Sahay Jhelum House

2nd Midhat Aejaz Sutlej House



Against:

1st Amritansh Tiwari Sutlej House

2nd Kumar Ankit Ganges House



Best Interjector:

Shaurya Shankar Ravi House



05-09-11: Teachers’ Day

Teachers’ Day was celebrated by the students with a lot of enthusiasm. The day began with an assembly presented by the teachers. After the break students presented a beautiful cultural programme for the teachers and also organized some games.



05-09-11: Inter House Pupil Teacher Competition

The Competition was held for two groups- Group B and Group D. The students of the Classes V and XII represented the teachers and taught in the classes allotted to them in the time table. They were judged by a panel of judges who visited their classes while they were teaching.

The judges for group B were:

Ms. Ila Gupta, Ms. Ajeeta Ranjan and Ms. Shubra Biswas

The prize winners were:

1st Divyanshi Class VB

2nd Abhay Tiwari Class VB

3rd Shruti Kumari Class VB





The judges for the group D were:

Mr.Bishalaksha Sen, Mr.Ramesh Jaiswal and Dr.Ratnesh Sinha.

The prize winners were:

1st Pallavi Shukla Class XII B

2nd Kumari Pallavi Singh Class XII B

3 Navleen Kaur Class XII B



National Science Olympiad [08-09-11]

48 students participated in the competition organized by Science Olympiad Foundation.



WORKSHOPS:

[05-09-11 to 09-09-11]

The Headmistress Ms. Sarmistha Gangopadhyay attended a workshop on ‘ Quality Dimensions for Child Development’ at Primary School Level at HRD Centre, DPS Dwarka Campus, New Delhi.









[27-09-11 to 29-09-11]

Mr. Amit Singh, TGT Biology, attended a ‘Biology Olympiad Exposure Camp’ at the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai.