JNV Alumni – Invitation for Coordinators!

Hi Friends,

Some time back, we started to invite our alumni to act as coordinators for our Navodaya Vidyalayas: Coordinators Invitation. In continuation with it, We would like to send a message here.

Those who want to take the responsibility of representing their school, please let me know. Two persons from each school can take this responsibility to coordinate with their school. This will enable the continuity of the activities in case any coordinator is unable to make himself / herself available to fulfill the responsibilities. If the coordinators belong to different batches, preferentially with a difference of three batches, it will help us to cover all the batches easily.

Well, before giving this opportunity to anybody, we would like to have a commitment from our future coordinators. I think words without commitment is nothing! The coordinators need to be active after taking this responsibility. I think we all will agree to this. If we do not get the needed response from any coordinator, then we will send a reminder mail to him/her expecting a positive response. But if still he/she does not get active, then without further delay, we will be forced to remove that person from our coordinators’ list. We are little strict here, but if we want to do something good, we need to have zeal and readiness. If anybody has any question or any doubt, kindly let us know. We would try to clarify. You are most welcome here.

Now, let me list out the expectations from our coordinators:

1) The alumni (coordinators) representing their school will make coordination between (a) other alumni of the school (b) the present students & (c) Principal & Teachers of their school. They will visit their school regularly, at least once in a year and keep others updated about the particular Navodaya. In case, they are unable to go, they may send representatives who are well aware of the requirements there.

2) They must be willing to give 5 hours/week of their quality time in interacting with other alumni representatives in person or through internet/ phone calls.

3) They will undertake the responsibilty of coordinating other alumni of their school for the events, and meets organised by the alumni, after communicating them in due time.

4) They shall raise funds on behalf of their school alumni in case of serious needs. And in case of severe necessity they may contribute some small amount for the welfare of students themselves.

Looking forward to hear from you. You may kindly put your comments here or mail to me. Suggestions on any points referred above are valuable to us.

Regards.

A new initiative by Navodaya Family!

Last month, we had a Regional Science Congress for Navodaya Vidyalayas of south India at IIT Madras. With few alumni, I was very much happy to coordinate for this event for our navodaya children. We got a chance to speak with students, teachers and principals on the occasion. On the last day of the Congress, I could share some of my thoughts with Nageshwar Rao sir, the Deputy Commissioner of NVS Hyderabad regarding the need for value education in Navodaya Vidyalayas. I had been thinking of organizing a workshop for principals and teachers at JNVs since last year. Some reference in this regard can be drawn from the link: Let’s work for Value Education!

Last week, a Jeevan Vidya workshop was organised at IIIT Hyderabad from 20th to 27th. On 22nd, I was talking to one of our alumni from Hyderabad when I suddenly remembered that he could attend this workshop. When I requested, he appeared more than ready to attend it. Today, he told me that he attended the workshop since 23rd to the concluding day. He also appeared quite happy and enthused by the workshop. He showed his willingness to take this opportunity to other alumni, principals, teachers and students of JNV. So much is his enthu that he is attending the next workshop starting tomorrow at the same place. Just to add that this next workshop, like every year, will be organised for about 200 new entrants at IIIT Hyderabad and will be one of the four parallel workshops, one in Telugu, one in English and two in Hindi.

With all this at the background, I called Rao sir today morning. He was on his way to office but still he could spare time to talk to me. I proposed to organise one such workshop in January in Hyderabad JNV. He readily agreed to it. I informed Murali about this and he has agreed to help in organizing this workshop. I must thank Rao sir for his ever-readiness and vigor in going for any new initiative that could prove useful for Navodaya family. At the same time, I thank Murali for being so much sincere in such activities.

To conclude, let me express my joy to say that I am supported in all such efforts by my husband, Kumar Sambhav. Though he is not a Navodayan, he is always by my side in my JNV involvements.

काफिलों का शोर!

दिल भी बेकाबू होकर बहता है, कभी बहकता है
नदी की तरह ये बेवक़्त प्यार के हिलोरे लिया करता है!

बर्फ की चादर पर चलते कदम जाने कब ठिठक जाएं
कैसे कहें हम, ये दिल अक्सर हदे पार किया करता है!

अंधेरों की आड में, क़ाफिलों के चलने के शोर से
भागते हुए लम्हों को देख दिल अक्सर रो लिया करता है!

क्या कहूँ, कई बार उदास दिल लफ्ज खोकर भी
कुछ सोच रोते रोते दो पल को मुस्कुरा लिया करता है!

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Note: The poem’s title is suggested by Ruchi. Thanks Ruchi!

A navodayan on the way to transform India!

Back at home, not only is she improving her family’s crop yield, but she returns when she can too help in the fields. She also spends time with her uncle, the only other member of her family with a formal education. To read more click on the link From Rural Village to Global Village.

Let’s see where Radha represents all girls like radha, and changing the life of rural children in India from a remote village to the global village of the 21st century. She belongs to a village nearby Bhilwara in Rajasthan.

We are a little far from the real result, but we have a start! Let us create more Radha….

Note: I feel it is a nice documentary if I exclude think.com promo.

A regional children’s science congress!

A Regional children’s Science Congress was planned by deputy commissioner V Nageshwar Rao sir this year for NVS Hyderabad region. After discussion with him over phone in the month of july, we sought the help of few IIT Kanpur & IIT Madras faculty in this regard. Thanks to the motivation by Rao sir that NVS Hyderabad principals showed readiness and enthusiasm. They met faculty and administration at IIT Madras and the dates and venue were fixed. Participation is expected to be over 150, atleast 100 studends and 30 science teachers from various JNVs have already confirmed for the event. Subsequently, a tentative program was finalized which I am appending here.

Tentative day-wise programme

03-11-09

10.00am to 11.30am : Inaugural Session. His Excellency, Dr. Abdul Kalam,Ex-President of India. Prof. Anand, Director, IIT, Chennai.
11.30am – 11.45am : Tea Break
11.45am – 01.00pm : Dr. Kesavan, Asst. Professor,Dept. of Bio-technology IIT, Chennai.Topic – Application of Bio – technology in Medicine.
01.00pm – 02.00pm : Lunch
02.00pm – 05.00pm : Visit to Labs in IIT, Chennai Physics/Chemistry/Bio-technology.
05.00pm – 05.30pm : Tea Break
05.30pm – 07.30pm : Visit to Library, IIT, Chennai (Dr. Harish Chandra, Librarian, IIT, Chennai)

04-11-09

10.00am to 10.15am : Dr. Mishra, Asst. Professor,Dept. of Physical Chemistry. Topic – Science as Career
10.15am – 11.30am : Dr. Santha Kumar,Dean, Academics, IIT, Chennai. Topic – Air Plane and How the Fly
11.30am – 11.45am : Tea Break
11.45am – 01.00pm : Dr. T.S. Natarajan, Prof. Dept. of Physics, IIT Chennai. Topic – Learning Physics through activity.
01.00pm – 02.00pm : Lunch
03.00pm – 06.00pm : Visit to Science and Technology Park
06.00pm – 08.00pm : Planetary and Observatory Session

5.11.09

9.00am-10.30pm : Dr.M.S. Swaminathan. Hon’ble Rajya Sabha Member (or) Head of the Dept. M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Chennai.
10.30am-10.45am : Tea break
10.45am-12.00noon : Dr.Hema A Murthy, Prof. Dept of Computer science. IIT, Chennai. Topic: ICT for education in Indian context
12.00noon-1.15pm : Dr.Arvind Krishnamurthy. Consultant Surgical Oncologist, Cancer Institute, Adyar, Chennai.
1.15pm-2.00pm : Lunch
2.00pm-3.00p : Interaction with Students by Scientist CLRI Chennai.
3.00pm-5.00pm : Visit to CLRI, Chennai.
7.00pm-9.00pm : Quiz by Alumni.

6.11.09

9.00am- 6.00 pm : Visit to Kalpakkam
9.00am – 01.00pm : BHAVANI Project, Kalpakkam
01.00pm – 02.00pm : Lunch
02.00pm – 05.00pm : MAPS Project, Kalpakkam
07.00pm – 08.00pm : Paper presentation by students.

07-11-09

9.00am – 01.00pm : Visit to M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai.
01.00pm – 02.00pm : Lunch
02.00pm – 03.00pm : Interaction with Alumni.
03.00pm – 05.30pm : Valedictory Function. Dr. Vishwanath, Ex-Vice Chancellor, Anna University, Chennai

There are a few sessions to be conducted by JNV alumni for which we need to get ready and assure its presence at IITM on the given dates. The sessions include quiz, paper presentation, interaction with students and career counseling. I will be participating in the sessions too. I invite all the navodayans those who wish to join us for the same. Additionally, we want such navodayans who are willing to do something for navodaya.

Few of us alumni had a meeting and discussed the ideas yesterday. The quiz will have 8 rounds and 9 groups of the students, and each round of ten minutes. Each group will have maximum four students with at least one girl student. Instructions for each round will be given before starting the round. Please suggest for some more rounds.

* Rapid fire
* Choice based
* Silly points
* Movies and Fun rounds

You may kindly send us some questions for quiz based on science and technology by this Sunday. You may also send a list of few great books to be presented to students. The books can be related to multi-dimensional aspects facilitating an all round accompalishment of students, eg. Science, Technology, Indian Culture and History, Economy, Polity, Adolacent fiction/non-fiction/Biography by good Indian/International writers. CDs too to be given on Science & Technology (documentaries). Prizes will be given to winner so suggestions for prizes are welcome too. Please get in touch with us writing a message here.

If you can not make it and would want to contribute to the event, contributions can be made to Trishul, SBI Bank account no 10620885653, Branch, IIT Madras. Make sure you add ‘JNV Regional Science Congress’ in the remarks column.

Dear readers, waiting for your prompt response. Thank you!

Regards.

Right to choose in the first place!

Yesterday I was talking to one of my juniors on phone and her mood was totally off. She had a fight with her colleagues. While talking to her, I realized that she had got hurt. She was very much angry and when I inquired her, she said,

“pata nahi ye ladke log khud ko kya samajhte hein. I don’t know why they take only themselves to be talented”. One of her colleagues said that “girls ko to aise hi select kar lete hein, tujhe padhne ki jarurat kya hai? Aise hi shakl dekhkar number or promotion mil jayegi. Waise bhi shadi ke baad to ghar hi sambhalna hai. Promotion ki tension chod aur homemaker banne ki taiyari karo. You will not have any other choice because you are a woman!”

Hmmm… first of all why should it be shameful to admit that we are homemakers? Why can’t we simply say, “Yes, I am a homemaker”. No qualifiers, no need to prove ourselves and no feelings of guilt. Instead, one needs to respond with a silent smile and see the great joy of accomplishment shrouded in that word, “homemaker”!

Actually, her embarrassment is not being called a homemaker. Rather in being told that she is “fated” to be a homemaker. The role of a mother in shaping the life of man cannot be omitted. No way. But, a woman needs to have the choice to play a bigger role in the society. The choices are not only made for a man. And its not so that a man only has the right to lead his life his own way. I too have a number of friends who say, “I don’t want my wife to work, so she doesn’t work.” That’s fine! But, the question is if a guy has the right to take his own decision then why can’t a girl? Do the guys only know how, when and what decisions are to be taken?

Women are well known for multitasking, then why can’t they take decisions? Why should a woman totally depend on somebody? Please don’t say that a woman doesn’t know better or doesn’t have the capability. I simply can’t accept it! I believe, no one is either fully dependent, or fully independent. We are rather interdependent. So how can a man expect that woman should fully depend on him? If a woman can run a country just as well as she can run a home, what sense does it make to deny her right of choice?

People use to say, “It’s so easy. Just make the right choice! It’s not a tough job!” Well, let me say that right now, it is a tough job for women. It is very tough to make the right choices even when everything seems to be going perfectly fine because our society has yet to give the right to choose to everybody. People don’t only need to upgrade their current systems but they do need to upgrade their mindset too!

We need a society where women are given the right to choose, in the first place. I don’t say that just given the right to choose, we will have a civilized society. The right to choose may be misued too, as we see with the lifestyle of women caught up in the trends of consumerism, vanity and page-3 culture. This is certainly not desirable. And the same holds true for a man. But denied the right to choose will not let a good society to emerge either.

Men and women can work together in all dimensions of life, and help each other to make this earth a better place to live in.

Men may feel worried at this today, but in the long run they will feel proud of us!

AINAA- the mirror…

“AINAA” got conceptualized for the first time in 2006 and finally it got registered this year.

What is AINAA?

AINAA- All India Navodaya Alumni Association, is a platform to encourage efforts aimed at “giving back” to society, navodaya and humanity by the members of Navodaya family. We promote all such endeavours which strengthen the family bond, knotted by the AINAA members bringing the alumni, teachers and students under one umbrella.

Every individual has some idea to do good for the society. Listening to them and if found useful, helping individuals to enterprise is one of our aims. AINAA promotes yoga, creativity, value education, use of teaching aids in education, conducting workshops to train teachers and support students etc. To provide access to resources, we follow the concept of globalized teaching whose major task includes connecting all the students to all the teachers and alumni of navodaya so that talented teachers and alumni can help all needy students, the website navodaya.net being helpful in the process. AINAA gives the platform to the students where they can look for solutions to their problems and seek career guidance or roadmaps for their future planning.

There are so many persons who have recently worked for the association with strength and wisdom. Suffice it to say that the growth of our association has been the work of many loving, caring navodaya alumni. We have grown from a small group representing a true national level association with a wonderful representation from all the regions of our country and abroad. When I think of the growth of the association, I am really impressed. Of course this has all become true because of the devoted and long-lasting efforts of many alumni who gave their precious time to thrive and fulfil its early mission.

It would not be feasible and appropriate place to name those wonderful people who have helped and are still helping AINAA grow what it is today, but I would like to mention one name here. Shri Rama Rao was the Joint Director of academics (NVS, Delhi) at that time when we presented our idea- “give back to Navodaya” back in 2003. After listening to the proposal, he just said “I was waiting for you people only…Welcome back!!!” and this was the beginning of our role in navodaya vidyalayas. One very eye-opening statement was given by him in our Kanpur meeting – “I don’t feel proud of the number of IITians and IAS we produce, I am proud of those only who can live for others!”

Serving others is “our Culture”, serving others is in “our Nerves” and living for others is “our Mission!”

On behalf of AINAA, I would like to express gratitude to all those who guided and nurtured us, directly or indirectly, during this gestation period and with whom we plan to take our society into a new future.

Hami Navodaya hon…!!!

Living to love you!

It was quite windy when I was walking down the street in my colony today. Lined up with Gulmohar trees on both sides, the street was soothing to my eyes and soul. Painted in red with flowers, it seemed to be all prepared to welcome my Palaash!

Sometimes you have a fear in your heart which inhibits expression in words of the feelings you have for someone, a fear that expressing your feelings openly may wear it out. I kept looking on the red flowers lying on the street, and wondering if the fear could be reasoned out.

I reached home, remembering the moments I spent with you. Those moments keep flashing in my eyes as if they have become an innate part of my being. I want to live forever all those moments that bound us together in just a few days…

…Spending my evenings with you after my office hours, going for dinner and a long walk, and the pain which I had when I left you at the railway station with tearful eyes. It was really so hard to let you go. It made me feel all-alone. Getting down from the auto, I just closed the door and all the windows of my house, lied down on the bed and cried a lot. It was so tough to eat, to sleep, and I was thinking only about you continuously.

I paused! I knew we have to walk a long way…I wiped my tears. I never knew and I still don’t know how to say, how much I love you, and all I know is our love will grow, on and on till the end of time…

Wait…there is a ring at the doorbell, probably somebody is knocking at the door.

Excuse me please…..!

An Insight Into Navodaya!

Book Information:

Name: An Insight Into Navodaya
Number of pages: 128
Language: English
Writer: Navjeet Singh Sandhu

The book describes the life of the students, teachers and all other concerned with one of the biggest and most successful schooling system of India. It’s not a story of an individual but an image of the system itself. It tells how the students are groomed in the institute, the obstacles they face, the struggle they do and the voices they raise. Book enables the reader to visualize the scenario of the schools pointing out the reasons of failure and success of the system. It’s the very first book of its kind giving out firsthand experience of growing and learning in the prestigious institutes.

For more information, please contact Navjeet. His mail id navissandhu@gmail.com

Regards.

चुपके से चली आऊँगी!

चेहरे पर शिकन तक ना देख पाओगे,
हल्की फुहारों में जब भींगती चली आऊंगी!

तेरे बज़्म में है ज़न्नत, तुम ये समझ पाओगे,
सबसे नज़र बचाके जब भागती चली आऊंगी!

सुलझे रिश्तों के धागे को, यूँ ना उलझा पाओगे,
असलियत बयाँ करने जब हर बार चली आऊँगी!

बहते आँसू में दबी दर्द को, तुम ना पहचान पाओगे,
पिघलती बर्फ की चादर जब ओढ़ती चली आऊँगी!

चाँद की चाँदनी में बैठ, मुझे ना आज़मा पाओगे,
गुमसुम बैठा चाँद के साथ जब चुपके से चली आऊँगी!