ENGLISH MONTHLY
12
JUNE 2020 - VOLUME 12, ISSUE 04
Nature Resets
80/-
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June 2020 | CULTURAMA
EDITOR'S
NOTE A
paradox is a statement which is seemingly absurd or contradictory. The optimistic will fail, the pessimistic will also fail. But someone with the right blend of both will succeed. This paradoxical statement was made by U.S. Admiral James Stockdale. He was the seniormost U.S. Prisoner of War in the Vietnam war. He is probably the longest survivor of captivity in these camps. He returned to the United States after seven years of intense torture. When asked how he survived, he said that he did so by being both an optimist and a pessimist. He optimistically told himself that these difficult times would pass. He also pessimistically told himself that he did not know how long this unfortunate situation would last. He was thus prepared for and had the patience and courage to face adversity, but he was also confident that he would come out a winner. The people who were just optimistic died because they expected to be released in a month or in three months or in a year. They could not handle the disappointment when this did not happen. The pessimists could not handle the stress and fear and died of broken hearts. Rear Admiral Stockdale survived because he found both the patience and the courage to last through adversity. He also had the belief that he would come out on top and finally prevail. We can all learn a lesson from him in these hard times. We need to understand that these difficult days are not in our control and hence we need to have patience, resilience and endurance.
We also need to know that we will come out victorious and that good times will come back. As long as we have these two thoughts and as long as we have each other’s back, there is nothing that can harm us or stop us in our march forward. God bless all of us. Rohini Manian rohini@globaladjustments.com CULTURAMA | June 2020
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Rohini Manian Editor-in-Chief
INBOX
Meera J Pillai Deputy Editor Shobana Sairaj Business Head V. Kathiravan Creative Head S. Rajthilak Graphic Designer
Dear Editor,
Contributors Susan Philip | Elizabeth Mathew | Jeremy D’Cruz Antara Pandit | Anurima Das | Mitali Thakkar
It was really great to read about Dr. Anthony Fauci. Such a remarkable personality. V. Balasubramanian, Chennai
Chennai (Headquarters) 5, 3rd Main Road, R A Puram,
Dear Editor,
Chennai – 600028 Telefax +91-44-24617902 E-mail culturama@globaladjustments.com Bengaluru No: 202, 2nd Floor, MILWAUKEE, 40 Promenade Road, Frazer
With everything that is happening in the world today, Eknath Easwaran’s words are absolutely healing. Tripura Raman, Hyderabad
Town, Bangaluru – 560038 Tel +91-80-41267152, E-mail culturamablr@globaladjustments.com Delhi-NCR Level 4, Augusta Point, Golf Course Road, Sector 53, Gurgaon –
Dear Editor,
E-mail del@globaladjustments.com
It is great to see youngsters like Sitara and Tulasi take it upon themselves to help society in these testing times.
Mumbai
Suraj Chandrasekar, Chennai
122002, Haryana Mobile +91 124 435 4224
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June 2020 | CULTURAMA
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CULTURAMA | June 2020
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INSIDE
CULTURAMA 8
SMS
12
Spotlight
30
Father’s Day Special
Talented and awesome, like dad
Short cultural snippets of India
Nature has hit the reset button
34
LWIT
Love for saris and biryani
26
Education Special
Set future goals with higher education
52
Influencer’s Corner
High on fashion
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June 2020 | CULTURAMA
CULTURAMA CULTURAMA || June June 2020 2020
7 7
SMS Food
Short cultural snippets for an easily digestible India
Aamras
It is summer, and the time to indulge in some Aamras. Literally, the juice of mangoes, this is a hugely popular part of Rajasthani, Gujarati and Marathi cuisine. It’s simple to make. The first step is to extract the juicy pulp of mangoes. Add sugar to taste, and you’re almost there. As the final step, you have several options – flavour with a pinch of dry ginger or cardamom powder; stir in plain or saffroninfused milk; drizzle with ghee; sprinkle dry fruits and top with a dollop of thick cream, or a combination of some of these options. Serve chilled. It can be a stand-alone dessert, but it is most relished as an accompaniment to crisp puris at breakfast or as a light dinner. It’s also part of festival menus. Yum! The Alphonso and Kesar varieties are the best for making Aamras, although other types can be used as well. Mangoes are rich in vitamin A and C and also in dietary fiber.
Tradition
Haldi Ceremony
There are lots of rituals associated with Indian weddings. Several of them are done before the actual marriage ceremony. Some are exclusively for the bride, others for the groom. The haldi ceremony is a pre-wedding ritual which is performed for both the bride and groom. Haldi (turmeric) is considered auspicious in India. The haldi ceremony is aimed at both beauty and wellness. A mixture of haldi, oil and water (in some communities, also milk, rosewater and sandalwood) is applied on the face, neck, hands and feet of the bride and groom by older relatives at their respective homes, usually on the morning of the wedding. Turmeric is an exfoliator. After a bath, the
It has calming properties as well, and is believed to
skin is left glowing. It is proved to have antiseptic
soothe wedding nerves. In many communities, the
properties, so it adds an additional layer of
ceremony is performed to the accompaniment of
protection to the bride and groom on their big day.
song and dance, adding to the fun.
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June 2020 | CULTURAMA
CULTURAMA | June 2020
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June June 2020 2020 || CULTURAMA CULTURAMA
Meet Covid Warrior, Heath Minister K.K. Shailaja S he goes by the suffix ‘Teacher’. She is one of the most recognised faces in the Kerala Cabinet outside the state. In Kerala, which values
education highly, that’s no contradiction. Despite having resigned from her job as a school teacher in 2004 to devote herself to politics, the general public continues to accord her the deference of a ‘Teacher’ tag. She’s K.K Shailaja, Minister of Health.
She has caught the eye of the world media because of her outstanding handling of the Coronavirus crisis in Kerala. So, how did this high school science teacher acquire such expertise in managing a state-wide health crisis that has brought developed nations and far more qualified people down? Shailaja Teacher is the first to acknowledge that she has no medical knowledge. But she has other compensating skills. She has a scientific temper, not only by training but also because of her association with the communist movement, which emphasises rational thinking and eschews superstition; she is ever-alert; ready to learn and, above all, totally committed. It was the 2018 Nipah crisis that prepared the minister and her team for the COVID-19 pandemic. Kerala learnt effective, practical ways to control the disease. Then, by chance, Shailaja Teacher read about a virus outbreak in Wuhan, China. Although the world took no notice, her antennae went up. There were many students from Kerala studying in Wuhan. They could return any time. She and her team readied a contingency plan. Students who trickled in were sent straight to isolation wards. All
unflappable Health Minister, who is accessible to
arrangements were made. They could even attend
anyone, anytime, during this time of crisis.
online classes. Soon, the COVID-19 pandemic
Married to K. Bhaskaran and the mother of two
overtook the world, which stumbled. But Kerala
sons, this 63-year-old resident of the small town of
has things well in hand, thanks to its far-sighted,
Mattannur has justly become world famous. CULTURAMA | June 2020
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SPOTLIGHT
Nature has hit the reset button
With many lockdowns around the world, nature seems to be repairing itself. It is World Environment Day on June 5 and Mitali Thakkar takes a look at how COVID-19 restrictions have played a part in helping the Earth heal
I
t’s a popular opinion now that every year we
activities on nature and understand how these will
should have a mandatory one-week lockdown
eventually impact us with stronger force, which we
throughout the world to help nature restore
may not always be equipped to withstand.
itself. We need everything that the Earth has to provide us, our future generations need it, and it is our responsibility to ensure that we take the necessary measures and actions. Our inaction today would also prove to be an action and thus, it is imperative to act. COVID-19 is a stark reminder of how our assault on nature has its consequences. This pandemic should serve as a wake-up call to all of us alike. Unmitigated environmental crime has led to the degradation of nature, putting lives at risk and sending an alarm to businesses to start assessing the impact of their
It is World Environment Day on June 5, and we cannot help but bow down to nature and its ways. Today, our planet is at a standstill, every country has had to hit pause, all work has stopped, crossborder travel has come to a halt, schools have gone digital and all businesses (without exception) have had to innovate and restructure. Amidst the outbreak that has taken many lives around the globe, there has also been a positive outcome. Nature is occupying the space left empty by humans. The canals in Venice are much
People of Jalandhar got a view of the Himalayas after 30 years
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June 2020 | CULTURAMA
Thousands of flamingos turn a creek near Palm Beach, in Mumbai, pink.
clearer as the boat traffic has reduced, helping the
The air and water around the world are getting
sediment to settle and so the fish are now visible;
better, as people are forced to sit inside their
peacocks were spotted on the streets of Madrid;
homes. Countries around the world have stopped
India’s Himalayas are now visible from Punjab (200
the functioning of factories, air traffic has reduced
km away) with the drastic drop in the pollution
drastically, cars on the streets are not adding to the
levels; a school of dolphins were spotted playing in
air pollution, and you know this is true because when
the water in Mumbai; and deer were seen running
you look outside your window, you can actually see
on the streets of California in the United States.
a clearer blue sky.
Indian water bodies, the Ganga and the Yamuna, have seen significant improvement, as a result of which the water is believed to be now suitable for irrigation and other uses. Sambar deer were spotted strolling on the streets, olive ridley turtles came ashore a beach in Odisha and peacocks danced on the streets of Mumbai, because nature is in its real habitat now. This not the state just in India, but all across the world; wild turkeys were found in a school playground, a coyote was spotted on the roads of San Francisco while deer were seen in a town in Poland.
A video of two young leopards playing on the roadside shared by the Indian Forest Service (IFS) has gone viral CULTURAMA | June 2020
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A lone black panther was captured on camera for the first time in South Goa's Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary
‘Regardless of its cause or origin, the emergence of
However, our global response to this pandemic
COVID-19 has underscored the mutually affective
demonstrates how we have the ability to collectively
relationship between people and nature. Now, we
work together. Now that we have identified this
must try to understand and appreciate the limits to
skill, we must continue to use it to work towards a
which humans can push nature, before the impact
healthier planet and ensure that we don’t end up in
is negative.
Those limits must be embraced by
such an adversity again. By together focusing on our
our consumption and production aspiration.’ –
planetary health, we will be much better prepared
UNEnvironment.org
to deal with unhealthy situations and hasten the process of bringing things under control. Global
Going further, post lockdown we will find a new
leadership by governments and significant bodies
world and we must embrace it with open arms and
such as the World Health Organization would need
take care of it. Only when each one of us learns to
to be highlighted and followed.
discipline and take care of ourselves and the habitat around us, will we be able to make a difference to
On a more personal level, we must ensure access
the world.
to and availability of water, sanitation and health facilities for all, failing which we shall not be able to
We have known nature and its fury for years, but
control the spread of pandemics such as COVID-19
none of us has ever seen something like this. Is this
and end up harming ourselves.
a signal that we must change our old habits and learn to respect nature? Even with all the best brains
Going forward, we have to adapt to a curative and
in the world, today we are at the mercy of nature,
preventive approach to health care for ourselves
which is the strongest force.
and those around us.
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June 2020 | CULTURAMA
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15
TECHIELA
Academic Cyberspace With social distancing norms in place, educational institutions are moving towards online platforms to continue the learning process. Jeremy D’Cruz looks into this inevitable transition from blackboards in classrooms to homeschool through gadgets
T
he year 2020 has gone down in the annals of
Real change takes place in deep crisis
history, a year when nations united to fight a common threat, an enemy invisible to the
naked eye that threatened the very existence of humanity. COVID-19 has mutated into a force that would alter the landscape of the 21st century, as we know it. The unfolding of the COVID-19 pandemic has had an undeniable human and economic impact. Generations to come will read about the
With more than 400 million students disrupted due to the spread of COVID-19, we are now experiencing a watershed moment for education systems around the
world.
Several
educational
experts
have
hypothesized that this time of emergency will speed up the adoption and embracing of online and other forms of technology-enabled learning platforms.
2020 ‘pandemic’ in their history classes and ‘social
As more schools move to hold remote classes
distancing’ in their civic lessons.
amid the COVID-19 outbreak, Zoho Classes, Zoom
COVID-19 has seen many transitions, from #tgif to #wfh trending on social media, medical personnel becoming the new super heroes and smartphones holistically being embraced by the academic fraternity. 16
June 2020 | CULTURAMA
Video Communications, Google Classrooms and Cisco Systems Inc. are among the few technology companies offering platforms to attract institutions looking to offer online lessons.
‘The very first thing that we understood was that
online learning environments; however, it has come
we need to respect the technology; there is no
with a fair share of learning challenges, especially
other go. We conduct weekly online sessions,
for teachers.
there are various platforms available, and we just needed to figure out the best tool that works for us. The teachers will have to use a mix and match of the technology out there,’ says Mrs. Cassandra Fernandez, Vice-Principal (Primary Division) Point Calimere International School, Tamil Nadu, and winner of the 2001 X-Seed Education national-
‘Right now, teachers are over working. Previously, teachers knew what would happen as they entered their classrooms, and we would write them down on the boards. But now students have to be informed well in advance, which means a lot of prior planning than ever before,’ says Mrs. Fernandez.
level Super Teacher Search, a first-of-its-kind talent
The coronavirus, in a way, has been a ‘black swan’
discovery programme to find India’s best teaching
moment, more of a catalyst for online education
professionals,
and other ed-tech tools than decades of chalk and
recently
in
which
over
10,000
teachers participated. The prospect of hundreds of thousands of teachers and students venturing into academic cyberspace
talk. However, the transitions have had its fair share of challenges and brought to light the many blind spots in the academic infrastructure as well.
for the first time does create a certain amount
‘The journey has been difficult, hats off to the
of resistance; however, the resistance to online
teaching community, they have become IT experts
education is going to go away as a practical matter.
overnight. Handling IT-related queries from parents
While the spread of COVID-19 has led to the closure
and students alike, while also learning how to make
of educational institutions all over the world,
Zoom as safe as possible,’ says Mrs. Cassandra
e-learning ensures normality in education. Such
Fernandez as she manages a laugh.
closure has accelerated the development of the CULTURAMA | June 2020
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PARENTING
Teaching Children What Counts Parenting is not just about teaching children academics or how to behave but also to help them with tools that will prepare them better for their future. Antara Pandit explores the ways parents can help children understand finances It’s never too early to teach your children about the tool of money. Teach them how to work for it and they learn pride and self-respect. Teach them how to save it and they learn security and self-worth. Teach them how to be generous with it and they learn love. – Judith Jamison
M
y 5.9-year-old son Dev first came into possession of his Hello Kitty piggy bank when he was 3. My husband Advait and
I had mutually agreed that this was a good age for him to start collecting small denominations, to slowly ease him into the concept of money, why it exists, how it is used and where he fits in. To inaugurate it we gave him Re. 1 coin and going forward, whenever we had any change, we kept filling his piggy bank.
Photo: Jennifer Green USA
After a few weeks he graduated to collecting Rs. 10
Kids are like sponges, and anything you teach
notes as well. He broke his front tooth when he was
them from the time they can communicate sets the
three-and-a-half, so the tooth fairy was kind enough
foundation for them to grow further. At that age,
to leave a Rs. 100 note for him. The excitement and
they are not going to know how to count and add,
wonder on a child’s face are enough to brighten up
but in the larger scheme of things and when it comes
a person’s entire day. Dev was awestruck with his
to helping them understand the concept of money,
gift from his new best friend, the tooth fairy.
One
it is not so crucial. Financial skills are of paramount
day the Hello Kitty piggy bank was full right to the
importance in navigating life. As parents, we should
very top, and coincidentally he received a house
teach our children financial lessons, even to kids
piggy bank as a return gift that very same day. This
as young as 3 years old. They are, indeed, able to
led to an absolutely thrilled and lucky toddler who
grasp the concept of saving and spending. Previous
was now in possession of two piggy banks!
generations did not place emphasis on imparting
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June 2020 | CULTURAMA
Photo: Ninna Høgedal Danish
financial skills and wisdom to young children, and
other one is the person at the counter ringing up
most people started to learn about money only as
items for different values. They also like to play the
they entered adulthood. But things are changing.
‘restaurant’ game, where they finish eating dinner
In order to live financially fit lives, children need
and pay the bill themselves. So, while enacting
to be taught essentials about money, in an age-
various scenarios like this, they are also learning the
appropriate manner.
roles that money plays.
Helping our children understand the end-to-end
When we are at a shop for a specific purpose with
process of money management is a great starting
our kids in tow, we have all experienced the ‘Mama,
point and encompasses many different life skills
I want to buy the red car, I only have a smaller
and values. Starting with working for the money
version of it!’ arguments. The lesson that you
yourself and earning it, to saving and spending
may have to wait to buy something you want is a
some of it wisely while also performing the act
hard but necessary concept for kids of all ages to
of giving with it, helps children derive immense
understand. This is where the value of saving can
happiness and satisfaction from the entire process.
be introduced. The ability to delay gratification is
It is also an opportunity to teach them about the
an extremely beneficial skill to possess. However
various uses of money. It develops character and
unrealistic it may sound at certain times, kids
helps them comprehend responsibility. This can be
between the ages of 3 and 5 years especially need
done in various age-appropriate ways.
to learn that sometimes they should save and wait
Since kids mimic the actions of their parents, mindful saving and spending on our part are great teachable moments for them. Pretend play is also a fantastic way to get children to start thinking about the various ways money plays a role in our lives. Dev
to buy it. The long-lasting impact of this even when they grow up will be a positive one. Money lessons at this age set the tone for later on; showing them that every time we go into a store is not an indication of buying something.
and my younger son Shiv spend hours every day in
As a millennial mother, I truly believe in empowering
pretend play; something that I encourage 100 per
kids with tools to prepare them for everything that
cent because this fosters creativity and imagination
life throws at them. One of the greatest gifts we
like no other. A large part of this consists of the
can give our kids is to empower them with being
‘shopkeeper’ game, where one of them is the
accountable and responsible, and prepare them to
customer picking up fruits and vegetables and the
become empowered adults around money. CULTURAMA | June 2020
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BIG PICTURE
One World, One Emotion Even when things seem bleak, there will always be light; and as the world fights COVID-19, this light came in the form of health care workers, friendly neighbours, police officials and many other good Samaritans. Meera J Pillai looks at some of the heart-warming human stories from across the globe
W
ho knew that in a couple of months, the world will change to this magnitude? There now is a world before COVID-19, or BC19, as we may want to refer to it, and a world after, or AC19. While everything seems new and uniquely strange, the one aspect that will stay common to
either side of the pandemic would be stories of humanity, bravery, never-ending sacrifice and, ultimately, the spread of love and hope. Whether it is a health worker in Italy, a police officer in the United States, a doctor in London, a neighbour in China or a grocery salesman in India, the whole world has come together to battle this virus as one.
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June 2020 | CULTURAMA
Heroes in Hazmat suits Doctors, nurses, hospital employees and health care workers in various government offices have been working tirelessly, day and night to help the patients and their families. From doctors coming out of retirement to health professionals postponing their weddings, there is no dearth of heart-warming stories that have made the news.
Cheering on the patients: When the first COVID-19
ICU at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center,
patient was healthy enough to be taken off the
the health care workers would break into an
ventilator and moved to a regular facility, medical
impromptu dance.
staff lined the hallways at a hospital in Alabama, USA, to cheer the patient. This has now become a common way to greet them, to salute their fighting spirit.
Youngest and oldest to beat COVID-19: As of when this magazine comes out, 6-month-old Mason Atton and 7-week-old Ava de Silva Jules from the United
Hospital staff turn entertainers: A paediatrician in a
Kingdom are the youngest patients in the world
children’s hospital in Brazil, Emanuelle Jardim Queiroz,
to beat COVID-19. And at the other end, 107-year-
chose a picture of Disney princess ‘Ariel’, instead of
old Cornelia Ras from the Netherlands became the
hers, to put a smile on the faces of the young patients.
oldest known person to survive COVID-19.
In another instance, every time a patient came out of CULTURAMA | June 2020
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Musical concert: Artistes such as Taylor Swift, Lady
A tribute to health care workers: In the United
Gaga, Celine Dion and many more came together
Kingdom, several postboxes were painted blue
for an online event organised by Global Citizens
recently as a mark of gratitude towards the National
and the World Health Organization, titled One
Heath Service (NHS) staff for working tirelessly. The
World: Together at Home. The event raised 127.1
famous artist Banksy sent a canvas artwork titled
million dollars. Even the famed opera singer Andrea
'game changer' to the NHS Foundation Trust as a
Bocelli performed a free concert in Milan’s Duomo
tribute to the health care workers.
di Milano cathedral for YouTube. With the banging of vessels, lighting of lamps, loud cheers, blasting music and thunderous claps, several cities across the world including India cheered the Covid warriors for their tireless efforts. At the time of writing this, the number of recovered cases stood at 2,430,603. That is incredible! Now, as the world slowly starts to live in this new normal, let us take a moment to say a prayer and a thank-you to every hospital worker, grocery salesman, delivery person and everyone who decided to stay home to slow the spread of the virus. We shall overcome. 22
June 2020 | CULTURAMA
The stars come together Turning into real life heroes: Hollywood legend Tom Hanks gave his beloved Corona brand typewriter to an 8-year-old boy in Australia because he was being bullied for having the name, Corona De Vries. And much closer home, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has offered his four-storey office building as a quarantine facility for treating COVID-19 patients in Mumbai. And to spread cheer online, actor John Krasinski started a YouTube channel that put together a worldwide prom, a graduation and even a wedding ceremony, to audiences of more than 6 million tuning in every week, and special guests included Oprah Winfry, Steven Spielberg and Malala Yousafzai.
CULTURAMA | June 2020
23
A colourful salute to the Covid warriors Varshini Ramakrishnan, a young and upcoming illustrator, recently did a mural artwork for Tambaram Railway station in Chennai. ‘The mural art works as a memory wall with a collage of scenes and events that occurred during the lockdown, which would remind us of the selfless work of the doctors, nurses, police, sanitary workers, delivery executives and even the small-time workers like the water can and newspaper delivery men,’ Varshini says. Varshini took inspiration from unique incidents and happenings that she came across during the lockdown like the corona helmet, the Railways converting coaches into isolation wards, and so on. ‘I wanted to exude an optimistic and a happy feel throughout the artwork and picked hues which people usually associate with positivity, like rainbows, the colourful Tamil Nadu temple gopurams, and so on,’ she states. The artwork, which was commissioned by the NalandaWay Foundation and Renault Nissan Technology and Business Centre India, was to give a big salute to the essential and frontline workers. Her work of art has been a huge hit online, and Varshini feels grateful for the opportunity. ‘The response has been amazing. This has been a very good chance for me to exhibit my work on a larger canvas, and it is lovely to see so many known and unknown people appreciating and taking pride in my work as this is the first Indian railway station to pay tribute to the Corona warriors through art as a medium,’ she concludes.
Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Government of India praises the artwork
Varshini Ramakrishnan had recently designed ‘A GA Story’ for Culturama’s special Silver Jubilee issue.
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June 2020 | CULTURAMA
Rohan Mecheri hands over masks to Covid frontline workers / Tejas Narayan
‘mAsk’ing Around Rohan Mecheri and Tejas Narayan’s initiative titled ‘mAsk Around’ is helping to provide masks to those in need. Team Culturama catches up with the youngsters about their social initiative
I
nstead of turning to mobile games and binging
aim higher. ‘So far we have received over 35,000
on television during the lockdown, 15-year-olds
masks in donations and raised about INR 4 lakh
Rohan Mecheri from Sishya and Tejas Narayan
through our fundraiser. At the moment we are
from the American International School Chennai
hoping to distribute around 75,000 masks,’ Rohan
have come up with a socially aware initiative called
elaborates.
mAsk Around. They started the social initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide masks to vulnerable elders, children in NGO homes, frontline policemen and medical workers.
Rohan considers tennis player Roger Federer his role model for being a perfect example of what one can achieve with hard work, regardless of age. ‘I currently plan to take Science after my tenth grade
Rohan shares that this was an idea that came to
and maybe study Computer Science or Economics
them during the initial lockdown. ‘Because our
after school,’ he shares.
schools had been suspended indefinitely and exams postponed, Tejas and I found ourselves with a lot of free time. We discussed how we could use this period to help out in any way possible, so we started mAsk Around,’ he explains.
Regarding their work on mAsk Around, Rohan is highly optimistic, ‘We have received positive feedback regarding what we’re doing as well as very helpful advice on how we could further our reach and do more. This initiative has shown me the
Their initial goal was to distribute over 50,000
power of our community and how we can all come
masks, but the outpouring support has made them
together to do some good.” CULTURAMA | June 2020
25
EDUCATION SPECIAL
SET FUTURE GOALS WITH HIGHER EDUCATION
Colleges and various universities across India offer a plethora of courses these days. Team Culturama takes a look at some of these options that aspiring students can choose from
A
s educational institutions are adjusting to
Engineering – Engineering courses have been a
the new normal, colleges across India are
top choice for students for more than a decade
getting ready to offer students courses
now, which is not only for the varied options it
to prepare them for their future. While courses
offers within the courses but also for the assured
in engineering and medicine are still top priority
placement opportunity it comes with. Courses
among students, many are now looking at other
such
lucrative and offbeat career options that not only
Communications,
tickle their curiosity but are also rewarding. Let’s
Technology, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering
take a brief look at some of the courses to try this
and Aeronautical Engineering are some of the more
academic year.
important branches of Engineering, offered by
as
Computer
Science,
Mechanical
Electronics and
many universities across the country. 26
June 2020 | CULTURAMA
and
Information
Medical – This is one field that is important to the
Mass Communication, Journalism, Public Relations
world more than ever. Doctors and nurses have
and Advertising are available in plenty. Most of
now become the superheroes that the world looks
the colleges also provide well-paid placement
up to during these testing times. Indian colleges
opportunities at the end of the course. Thanks to
offer several courses in medicine, such as Bachelor
the digital age!
of Medicine & Surgery, Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Bachelor of Pharmacy, Allied Health Sciences & Paramedical, B.Sc & GNM Nursing, and so on. A number of medical colleges are offering courses that will help students build a career in Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology. In recent times, there has also been a growing trend whereby people have been turning to the traditional and ancient Indian practices such as Homeopathy and Ayurveda.
Arts and Sports – For many, arts and sports have been just an extension of their hobbies; however, with more lucrative jobs and roles available today, they have become hot commodities. Indian colleges offer a variety of courses in music and dance forms, film-making aspects such as editing, cinematography, direction, and so on. Even when it comes to sports, the increasing investment in sports business has made for more interest in courses that
Media – Whether it is advertising, public relations or
help students learn about sports managements,
journalism, media courses offer an opportunity to
coaching, sports science, and nutrition.
explore one’s creativity. Courses such as Bachelors in CULTURAMA | June 2020
27
Even for those who are unconventional route seekers, there are offbeat courses that can satisfy their appetite. Whether it is Food Processing and Technology, Rural Studies, Ethical Hacking or Fishery and Horticulture, as long as the student has the creativity and the will to work hard, courses today gives them a chance to not just make a living but be greatly satisfied with their career.
India Insight - Learning has always been central to the Indian ethos Paying the Price Traditionally, students gave a dakshina or offering to teachers in appreciation of the knowledge and skills imparted to them. In the Mahabharata, Dronacharya was the Guru of the Pandava and Kaurava princes. He taught them aspects of combat. Young Ekalavya, who was not a Kshatriya, was fired by the determination to be a great archer. Since he couldn’t be Drona’s disciple, he made a statue of the Guru, worshipped it, and set out on a path of self-study. In course of time, he mastered the art. Arjuna, one of the Pandavas, considered unrivalled in archery, was astounded to see the evidence of Ekalavya’s skill. When Dronacharya came to know how Ekalavya had become such a good archer, he demanded his right thumb as dakshina. Ekalavya unhesitatingly cut off his thumb and presented it
astronomy and medicine. Students from various
to his Guru and so became the epitome of a good
countries came to these universities and took back
shishya or disciple. He also went on to re-master
knowledge, which was further developed as it
archery sans his thumb!
spread across the globe.
Meeting of Minds
English Learning
Takshashila, in present-day Pakistan, was perhaps
Once the British established their hold on the
the world’s first University. Here, Panini wrote his
subcontinent, they changed many traditions in
treatise on Sanskrit grammar, and Kautilya, as
many fields. Education was no exception. In 1835,
Chanakya was also known, wrote his Arthashastra
Lord Macaulay introduced a policy to propagate
– on statecraft. Viharas, or small monasteries used
the English language and Western-style education.
by itinerant monks, became centres of learning,
In 1884, a comprehensive plan was formulated for
and subsequently evolved into centres of higher
spreading education in the subcontinent. A three-
learning. Nalanda, in what is Bihar now, developed
layer system was set up, with primary schools at
from a Vihara. The curriculums at these institutions
the bottom, followed by high schools, and colleges
covered religious and secular subjects, Indian
at the top. The Universities of Calcutta, Bombay
and foreign philosophy, logic and sciences like
and Madras were set up.
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June 2020 | CULTURAMA
FATHER'S DAY SPECIAL
Talented and awesome, like dad It is Father’s Day on June 21 and Team Culturama takes a look at some of the famous father-son duos who have made a mark in their field with their amazing talent
Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan Film star Amitabh Bachchan ruled Bollywood through the 1970s and 1980s, and came back with a bang despite a real low in the 1990s, to be seen in meaty roles in movies, in advertisements and as the host of the game show, Kaun Banega Crorepati. His son Abhishek Bachchan had a formidable role model to emulate. He made a good beginning with Refugee in the year 2000 and earned critical acclaim for his performances in several movies as well. He has won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film for his production of the comedy drama Paa.
CULTURAMA | June 2020
29
Amjad Ali Khan, and Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan Amjad Ali Khan is a sixth-generation sarod player in his family. He learnt from his father Haafiz Ali Khan, a court musician in Gwalior till 1947. Recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, Amjad Ali Khan taught his two sons Amaan and Ayaan, who went on to establish successful solo careers.
Dhirubai Ambani and Mukesh Ambani The story of Dhirubhai Ambani is the stuff of legends. He started with nothing, but at the time of his death in 2002, he was worth $6 billion. Son of a school teacher, he founded Reliance Industries
in
Bombay
(now
Mumbai). He was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan. His son Mukesh inherited a part of his father’s large business and is the Chairman,
Managing
Director
and the largest shareholder of Reliance Industries. 30
June 2020 | CULTURAMA
Vece Paes and Leander Paes Vece Paes, a former Indian hockey player, represented the Indian team in the 1972 Munich Olympics, which went on to win the bronze medal. Following in his footsteps, his son Leander Peas also won the bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in 1996 for Men’s Singles Tennis. Leander Paes is considered one of the greatest doubles players in the history of tennis, with the most doubles wins in the Davis Cup – eight doubles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slam titles. Javed Akhtar and Farhan Akhtar Javed
Akhtar
reputation of
the
of
best
has
the
being
one
lyricists
and
screenwriters in the industry. From classic movies such as Sholay and Mr. India, to recent hits such as Dil Dhadakne Do and Gully Boy, Javed Akhtar has been associated with films that are not just critically acclaimed but are also people pleasers. His son Farhan Akhtar also inherited the writing talents of his father along with excelling in directing, acting, producing and even singing. CULTURAMA | June 2020
31
Allah Rakha and Zakir Hussain Alla Rakha, as Ustad Allarakha Qureshi was popularly known, earned a name as a leading Indian tabla player because of his strict regimen of practice and dedication. His career began as an accompanist in Lahore and he worked for All India Radio in Bombay. He played the station’s first-ever tabla solo and has composed music for a couple of Hindi films. His son and disciple Zakir Hussain, deemed a child prodigy, has also been honoured with the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the United States National Endowment for the Arts and National Heritage Fellowship. Zakir too was instrumental in bringing the tabla to the limelight through his solo performances. 32
June 2020 | CULTURAMA
LOOK WHO'S IN TOWN
LOVE FOR SARIS AND BIRIYANI A cheerful personality who will hug you the moment you greet her, Yolanda Amezcua Marin from Mexico is someone who believes in learning about cultures and welcoming changes with open arms. India is more than traditions and cultures, she says while sharing her experiences with Team Culturama
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June 2020 | CULTURAMA
Yolanda Amezcua Marin and her husband Alfredo Santillan Zamora CULTURAMA | June 2020 33
The impression of India before you came here and
my country, they are relatively similar in terms of
now
flavour, mixes and colours. I am trying to learn to
I am from from Mexico City and came to India with
make some dishes as well, for example, chicken
my husband, who is a pilot. We have been here for
biriyani, palak paneer, sambar, masala dosa, samosa,
almost six happy years. Initially, I had the impression
chapati, chicken tikka, rogan josh (lamb curry) and
of a mystical country, which is greatly attached to
many others.
its religions and culture. And once I came here, I can certainly say that these ancient cultures are worthy of being understood by everyone across the world. I also find that people are kind and willing to serve you always.
Have you taken part in any Indian festival? How was your experience? Yes, I have had the opportunity to attend various events such as Pongal, the Global Adjustments anniversary, Christmas and New Year functions,
How does Indian cuisine and food compare to
and more. Unfortunately, I have had to attend
favourites back home?
these alone because my husband is always at work.
I particularly enjoy a lot of the various condiments
But I enjoy wearing the traditional costumes and
and styles that people use to prepare their extensive
indulging in some fun dancing and singing.
variety of dishes. So with respect to the stews of 34
June 2020 | CULTURAMA
refer to my fascination for saris, whether it is the colours or designs to textures. If there was one thing you would take back to your home from India, what would that be? Of course, I would not hesitate to take a number of clothing items; kurtas, dupattas, and more. As well as various gifts to remember India by.
Yolanda's artwork
What are some sources of entertainment in India? Here in India, I mainly spend time painting, and for this I use different techniques as well as different materials, such as cotton and silk fabrics. I even use paper and canvas, trying to capture my own imagination with designs of flowers, faces and landscapes. I like painting Indian flowers on my dresses and blouses. India has great clothing, which I like to buy, especially saris. Have you travelled to different parts of India? I have gone on several trips with my husband to various cities in this interesting country. And I can say that each city has different nuances. Museums, art galleries and ancient buildings such as temples particularly fascinate me. I find it extremely exciting to know the history of each city. I like to take a lot of pictures as memories. I have visited Mumbai, Kolkata, Kochi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Bhubaneswar, besides visiting the Taj Mahal, the Akshardham Temple in New Delhi, and Mahabalipuram temple in Chennai, and many more.
Quick 5
If you wanted one thing to change in India, what would that be? Well, this is a difficult question, but, to be honest, I would implement a better and more efficient cleaning system for both streets and lakes, which would increase the quality of the water.
• Best India friends: Friends that I have found in the Church NLAG, as well in Phoenix Mall. • Favourite
Indian
food:
Chicken
biriyani,
paneer tikka, dosa • Favourite hang-out spot in India: I enjoy all five-star hotels and restaurants in the city
A special memory of your time in India so far
• Intolerable India: Messy traffic
Let us say that I will take with me from this country
• Loveable India: The simplicity and love of the
the enormous satisfaction of having dressed in
Indian people
enough diverse outfits and jewellery, in general. I
CULTURAMA | June 2020
35
INFLUENCERS COENER
High on fashion Sonam Babani is a prominent name in the Indian luxury fashion and travel circuit. Going by the name ‘Fashioneiress’, Sonam has been wearing the influencer sash for almost 6-plus years now and has a strong following of 106K-plus on her social media handles. Sonam is also a blogger and a style consultant to celebrities. Anurima Das caught up with her during the lockdown for a quick chat
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June 2020 | CULTURAMA
A
rt and aesthetics run in her family’s DNA, and Sonam has grown up embracing the varied nuances of art and high fashion all
her life. Getting a degree in luxury management was the cherry on the icing for this Satguru’s (Indian yogi and author) family heiress. Haute couture takes the centrestage in Sonam’s life; and even while trotting around the world, she captures everything that is ‘aspirational’ through her stories and blogs. The best part about her sojourns is that she does not portray the excruciatingly unaffordable, but always brings back something new, refreshing, unique and very not usually seen bits of lifestyle trends. While her blog and her Insta-stories were already focusing on newer aspects of lifestyle, with the lockdown in place she has also been posting recipes that have stolen the heart of her long list of followers. When she started luxury consultation in India or even her own blog, the concept was in its nascent stage. But her style helped her grab the right eyeballs. Leading the life ‘aspired’ by many ‘Initially when I started blogging, I was actually working as a buyer with a luxury brand and doing my own thing. Slowly I realised that blogging is a full-time job; from planning, to shoots, to execution, it is like a journey that requires a lot of devotion. That’s when I decided to take it up as a full-time gig. It has been a wonderful journey. Initial hiccups of convincing brands and making them pay for the collaborations was a task, because India was still new to the concept of blogging, especially within the high fashion domain,’ explains Sonam. She also mentions that sometimes it is challenging to devote so much time, even though she is her own boss. Especially, when on holidays, dressing up for every occasion and getting ready for another story shoot takes its toll. Sometimes, giving a taste of her personal life to her audience also means for her to sacrifice a little of her personal time with friends and family.
CULTURAMA | June 2020
37
Planning the content Juggling between what to put out for her followers
her insights further with her followers; and in an
through the day, to taking a little while for herself in
effort to do that, she has been amping her webinar
her personal shell, Sonam shares that her follower
game. From luxury healthcare experts to skincare
strength is encouraging. She has people who are
experts, to nutritionists, and much more, she has
aspiring for luxury and want to know from her
been talking to the A-listers to help her followers
all about high fashion and luxury living. Today,
with varied lifestyle problems and how to handle
more than fashion and beauty, she has become a
those.
trendsetter and they love to mimic her steps. When asked whether high fashion will take a In the days following the COVID-19 scare and the
backseat in the post-COVID world, she says, ‘I
lockdown, Sonam has been engaging in extending
think high street will take the bigger brunt. People
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June 2020 | CULTURAMA
who cherish high fashion know that, rather than have a cupboard full of high streetwear, it is always good to hold on to the five most coveted high fashionwear. These are sustainable, timeless and spell luxury. So, in no way will high fashion not take the limelight in the months to follow.’ Keeping up with the times Sonam says her content showcases ‘genuine
love
for
luxury
and
luxurious lifestyle’ and that’s why given her positive attitude towards life, she prefers to keep her chin up at all times. ‘I let the trolls pass by. Because, definitely, as influencers, we get a lot of love that surpasses the hate in every which way.’ When talking about her future plans, she said her wedding had been fixed for April 26 this year, but owing to the Corona outbreak, the plans had been put on hold. Sometime back, she was seen travelling with her mom, but that seems like ages back given the unprecedented times we are living in at present. But she is the same bubbly, luxury nomad who knows to count her blessings rather than shed tears over the negatives in life. She is filled with gratitude and is more than happy to cherish the time she is spending with her family and virtually with her followers at this juncture. ‘I will either start my own business or get married once we resume normal life post lockdown; you will have to wait to see what matures as a plan,’ Sonam signs off.
CULTURAMA | June 2020
39
GA SPECIAL
HOME AWAY FROM HOME With the COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns, expats in India are finding it difficult to navigate these testing times, but nonetheless they are staying positive. Team Culturama spoke to a few expats about their experience
Global Adjustments India Living Awards 2020
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June 2020 | CULTURAMA
I
ndia is home to several expats who have made
The expat community has formed groups and that
this country their home. Through initiatives
became a source of great comfort.’
including launching WhatsApp support groups
in all major cities in India, Global Adjustments has proactively taken steps to help expats during these lockdowns. While many have been called back to their countries, some have decided to stay on in the
One of the countries that has been most affected by COVID-19 is Italy, and India is home to several Italians. Isabella Ricci was looking forward to visiting her parents in Italy during the summer vacation, but her plans changed when the government cancelled
hope that this will pass soon.
international travel. Isabella and her family often Taking
following
talk about going home, but they plan to stay back
government rules has been a top priority for the
precautionary
steps
and
for now. By strictly following lockdown regulations,
expats. Amelie Dubois from France has been living
they feel safe. ‘We know that it's important to follow
in India for two years and is optimistic about the
the rules, because in our country the situation is
future. ‘My family is here and not in France, so I
very bad. My husband works from home, my eldest
feel better to have them around. We stay at home
daughter takes virtual lessons and my little one plays
all the time. We regularly wash our hands and use
or does some activities that I prepare for her. And we
masks when we go out for shopping. We are able
have wonderful support from Global Adjustments
to manage fine; therefore, this situation has not
too. In another country, it is not easy to find this
been challenging as it has been for many others,’
kind of support. After the COVID-19 situation eases
she says.
too, I hope this support will continue.’
Olivia Jones from the United Kingdom says the
One of the main fears that a number of expats have in
situation has been all right for her family and that she
India is the post COVID-19 situation where they feel
is not planning to go back to London immediately.
there could be discrimination towards foreigners.
‘The main issue we are facing currently is that
Elena Rivera from Spain comments, ‘Thankfully we
we don’t have a driver and have to rely mainly
do not have any problem up to this moment. We are
on deliveries. We are struggling to get groceries
not planning to go Spain now. I do sometimes feel
delivered, with very few places offering the service
discriminated by some of my neighbours because
and the timings being limited. Without a driver,
of being a foreigner, since they now associate the
getting to the shops is difficult. Post COVID-19, for
virus with foreigners. We are confident that it will
economic reasons, as companies are struggling
change with time.’
worldwide, there will likely be a reduction in the number of expats. Some may not return nor be replaced,’ she says.
Among the several expats who have gone back to their country is Sara I to from Japan. She had been living in India for eight months and just before the
While staying indoors all the time may seem like
second lockdown, their company requested them
a challenge for many, especially with children,
to head back home. ‘We came back to Japan by
several expats have taken to online classes to keep
a special flight. My husband’s company decided
themselves occupied. Linda Johnson from the
to send all expatriates back temporally until the
United States says that she has a routine to get over
pandemic settled down. I miss my friends back in
the boredom. ‘Our main challenge was to figure out
India and hope that we get back soon.’
where to get groceries or how to go to a doctor if we are sick. We wanted a better understanding of the rules and how things work from the government.
We too hope that our global friends will come back home soon and continue to find comfort in India like before.
CULTURAMA | June 2020
41
Adjusting to the new normal Devorah Felder, a Lithuanian/South African national who lives in Mumbai, shares her lockdown experience
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June 2020 | CULTURAMA
A
bout two months ago, Steve and I
After a difficult start, our family is into a fairly
suspected that the situation in India
good daily routine (I say this with extreme
would start escalating, prompting us to
caution!). Our children – aged 4, 8 and 9 – have
cancel our spring trip to Dubai the night before
learnt to do all sorts of chores, such as collecting
we were due to leave. Instead, we travelled to
milk from the reception, making their beds, each
Goa; at the time, our bizarre priority was that
child is required to fold and pack away their own
we wanted a spring break holiday and this flu
laundry, once a week they strip their bed and
craziness was not going to stop us. Our week
put the linen in the washing machine, assisting
in Goa was fabulous – life seemed quite normal
with packing and unpacking the dishwasher
at the time. Whilst in Goa, we were notified that
and helping with the cooking. I am thoroughly
the children’s school would not reopen after
enjoying with all of them.
the spring break and that they would undergo virtual learning instead. I knew at that moment that my kids’ 2019–2020 school year would be completed by virtual learning. We will not be returning to school.
My daughter’s extracurricular activities have moved over to Zoom sessions. She is now continuing with her gymnastics and yoga classes. They, however, miss interacting with their friends. During their leisure time, they play interactive
Upon our return to Mumbai, our building
games with cousins and friends around the world,
management informed us that no part-time
who are all under lockdown in their respective
staff could enter the building. As we did not
countries. My husband has set up a home office
have a live-in maid or driver, we had to quickly
and spends most of the day on video conferences.
adjust to life without help. It has been a rude
He usually travels every week, and it has been a
awakening to realise how much our lives have
great adjustment for him and for us to have him
been accustomed to help for so many years.
at home for an extended period.
As my husband is an asthma sufferer and is
My brother in Australia is a physiotherapist, and
thus considered high-risk, we decided to isolate
my sister in South Africa is a healthcare worker;
ourselves in the building. I had never thought
therefore, both are considered part of essential
I would actually drive in Mumbai, but I can
services. We miss one another during this
officially say that it has been enjoyable, in fact a
challenging period. In keeping with the adage
pleasure, to drive around. Besides, I have been
‘never waste a good crisis’, I have decided to
able to find parking all the time. Personally, I have
use the time to acquire new skills and broaden
been battling with the two worlds I currently
my insights, and am keeping myself busy with
live in. On the one hand, I live in a bubble in an
webinars, exercise classes and online learning.
apartment block in Mount Mary; food deliveries
We celebrated Passover, and our friends ensured
in Bandra are readily available and we are
that we had the necessary provisions for the
able to purchase most products. However, on
holiday. We have definitely experienced a step-
checking in on our staff weekly, we realised that
change in the pace of life, and in spite of the
they are certainly not as fortunate. Only certain
constraints of this unprecedented lockdown, we
vegetables are available, that too at a premium,
are finding our way every day. At the moment,
and many staple foods are not delivered on a
our plans are just to live moment by moment, as
regular basis. It is heartbreaking to see this and
there is an old Yiddish saying: ‘Mann Tracht, Un
wonder how far the rice and dal I have given will
Gott Lacht’, which means ‘man makes plans and
stretch for such families.
God laughs.’
CULTURAMA | June 2020
43
EX CAMERA
Beat the heat
Flower girl on quest
With the sun scorching down on Earth, water brings in the muchneeded comfort. Team Culturama put together some stunning water images that can help one find relief during this summer Photo: Christelle Forby France
A picture to frame
Photo: Helen Ruth Taylor UK
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June 2020 | CULTURAMA
Cooling down
Taking a break
Photo: Michael Stroband Germany
Photo: Chirstophe Thibout France
Middle of paradise
Photo: Basia Kruzewska USA
Splashing around
Calming blues
Photo: Jean Michel Valade France
Photo: Sharath Kumar R G India CULTURAMA | June 2020
45
IN FOCUS
Education moves beyond classrooms Madhura Visweswaran, Co-Founder of the Redwood Montessori School Llp, and the Redwood Foundation shares insights into the changing educational landscape
O
f late, due to the situation we find ourselves in, online education has come to the forefront and is, in some instances, also
replacing the classroom experience. I recently read a report about high school students pursuing online Advanced Placement (AP) programmes or classes, which universities abroad require, even while they are in school to get admission into the school of their choice. These online classes provide an opportunity for children to school themselves – learn, assimilate knowledge and work, even in the physical absence of
Photo: Anke Bollen Netherlands
the traditional school of thought, we worry that our children may miss out on many lessons because of the absence of classroom experience.
a teacher. The basic component for this kind of self-
In our new role as parent-teacher, many of us might
schooling comes from intrinsic motivation based on
find ourselves under pressure – we want them up
a structure offered through coursework. But what’s
to speed with the next academic year’s syllabus,
even more significant and encouraging for a child is
learn a new skill, practice the piano, exercise, the
the parent and teacher’s faith in him/her.
list is endless. All these actions and expectations
Trust in our children, in their choices, and the right learning environment are the key to their happiness and success. This has to be preceded with information regarding the opportunities available to them, the
come only from a place of love, but the pressure during these Covid times might trigger fear, anxiety or other issues, which could be wide-ranging, according to mental health experts.
long-term effects of choices and an analysis of the
The question then is — why can’t we trust our
pros and cons. For all parents, the need to make
children and their abilities?
choices for children and sometimes a lack of of trust in their instincts can be their biggest roadblocks. However, if our children had the aforementioned freedom, it must be accompanied by guidance and structure from parents.
Do we think that children and young adults, when left to themselves, are not capable of making informed choices? On the contrary, there is empirical evidence to prove that the best recipe to help a child attain goals should include a few tablespoons of intrinsic
Often, opportunities come in the form of adversities,
motivation, advice and structure, and dollops of
and the pandemic-induced lockdown has created a
faith in his/her ability after we have prepared them
new opportunity for parents and children to adapt to
to use this freedom effectively. This has precisely
online learning. The new platform, of course, comes
been Dr Montessori’s approach towards children.
with its own set of anxieties – as parents, coming from
She emphatically stated that each child is unique,
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June 2020 | CULTURAMA
spare — showing self-motivation and the ability to make well-informed choices, balancing her studies and love for swimming. As parents, we were not involved in the decision-making process, and, in fact, didn’t want her to participate. She ranked fourth at the nationals and took it well in her stride. Aware of the volume of classwork, my daughter told us that her efforts for the national meet were not up to the mark. She wasn’t interested in winning; her aim was to better her timing, for which she had worked out a plan along with her coach. This is true self-realisation. Children have their own turning points when they learn to make informed choices coupled with parental guidance. Parenting is the only occupation that doesn’t come with a handbook or coursework to prepare us. It is a journey, albeit tough and challenging, but the most joyful one. So, place your faith in your children, discuss and explain the options to them and let them make their choices. You need not put your child in a and comparing children is like comparing apples and oranges. Each child is put on Earth with his/ her purpose and if everyone became doctors and engineers what happens to teachers, artisans, and people who work with their hands?
Montessori school to follow the philosophy, that is, freedom within boundaries and to follow the child. Most importantly, watch for signs of emotional wellbeing. At this moment, their mental health is far more important than an online class. Always keep the channels of communication open, talk to them
Being a Montessori mom and teacher, I too have
and, most importantly, listen.
been questioning myself and have similar worries. But after listening to my colleagues from different parts of the world, the voice is one — having faith in the child is the key to success. Shown above is the jersey of my daughter who represented her school at a national swimming meet, competing against national-level swimmers. But it is her approach to regional and nationallevel practice that made all the difference to us as parents. While practising for the regionals, she practised tirelessly as she wasn’t yet in the rigour of class 10. But for the nationals (when she was in class 10), she practised whenever she had a moment to
Madhura Visweswaran CULTURAMA | June 2020
47
HOLISTIC LIVING
Eating and the Mind What we eat can affect our mind and not just the body. Eknath Easwaran answers queries of food, health and how to train our senses
W
hy should we train the senses? I had a friend in the olden days who used to ask that. He would say, ‘I understand meditation, but why bring in all these other points? Isn’t meditation enough?’
In particular, he simply detested any reference to sense training. Meditation yes, even mantram yes, but for heaven’s sake, don’t talk about sense training. So I said, these all help each other. Sense training is not only necessary for health; sense training helps the mind be onepointed, just as a one-pointed mind helps train the senses. Both help govern negative passions, and transforming passions helps to
So where do we start? Attacking the mind directly is extremely hard, but there is something you can attack directly to deepen your meditation, and that is eating. Through your eating habits –especially likes and dislikes in eating – you can get at the mind indirectly. You can begin simply by ceasing to choose foods that don’t benefit your health and instead choosing foods that do. With this simple resolution, you’ll strengthen your will and deepen your meditation
–
and
please
your physician, too.
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June 2020 | CULTURAMA
Photo: Gemmarie Venkataramani Phillipines
still the mind, which is the goal of meditation.
Photo: Ninna Marie Hogedal Denmark
I first became interested in changing my diet for
Today, if I were to eat junk food, my body and palate
the better under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi,
would protest.
when he was writing weekly articles for his paper
I work every day from morning till night, every day
Young India. Diet was an important topic for him,
of the year, and the energy for this kind of work
and he experimented all his life to discover the very
comes partly from food. Eating what gives you
best. Indians can be quite traditional about food;
energy for selfless service, keeping your body
they always want the dishes that mother used to
healthy and light, is a matter of teaching your taste
make. But Gandhi put tradition aside in favour of
buds what to enjoy.
health, and his example appealed to me deeply.
As always, the purpose here is training the mind.
I too, of course, had been brought up on Indian
With training, your senses begin to listen to you, and
cuisine. And I had enjoyed it all thoroughly. It never
when your senses begin to listen to you, your mind
occurred to me to ask what the purpose of food
becomes calm and clear. Then you always have
is. Gandhi’s example prompted me to ask; and I
freedom of choice. On the other hand, far-reaching
concluded, to my great surprise, that food is meant
though these changes were, I don’t think I really
to strengthen the body.
understood what Gandhi was getting at until much
So I started changing. I began to eat fruits and vegetables that wouldn’t have appealed to me
later, when I began to meditate. It was then that I made what was for me a remarkable discovery.
in earlier days at all. As I began to focus more on
When I needed a lot of drive to go deeper in
health, I found that I enjoyed salads, and that highly
meditation – for example, if I had a problem to solve
spiced curries no longer seemed palatable. I was
that required more energy and creativity than usual
prepared now to agree with Gandhi’s dictum that
– I found that I had only to pick a strong sensory
taste lies in the mind.
urge and defy it. When you suddenly need cash, CULTURAMA | June 2020
49
don’t you go and shake the piggy bank? It was a
special occasion, whether it be Jewish or Christian,
little like that. I would look around intently to see
Hindu or Muslim, we really have a feast. And when
what kind of cravings I had, and then I would walk
someone comes in and puts a steaming platter
up to a really big one and say, ‘Come on, because I
of blintzes on the table, we don’t turn our eyes
am really broke.’ The desire would come on strong,
away and say, ‘We can’t eat blintzes; they’re not
and I would push it back and come out with both
mentioned in the scriptures.’ We sit down, repeat
my pockets loaded.
the mantram and polish them off.
My whole outlook on desire changed. Formerly,
On the other hand, you can’t expect Sri Krishna to
when a strong urge would come, I used to do what
be present in, say, Puerto Rican rum, which you
everybody does: yield to it, and not reluctantly
drink when you can’t solve a problem. There, the
either. Now I began to rub my hands with joy at the
way to celebrate is to ignore the rum and solve the
prospect of doing just the opposite. ‘Here’s another
problem; then, if you still want to celebrate, ask for
desire! It’s strong, so I’ll gain even more by defying
another problem and solve that one too.
it.’ I began to understand that any strong desire, when it is defied, generates a lot of power. That sounds very hard! Not every desire, I should say, is to be rejected out of hand. I distinguish very carefully between harmless desires and desires that are harmful to the body or mind – or, of course, to those around you. If the desire is for food that is wholesome, you may well be able to yield with full appreciation. But if it is a desire for something sweet that you don’t need, you will find you can get equal satisfaction out of refusing it. It’s a deceptively simple change in perspective. Your attitude towards the body becomes very different: you see it no longer as an instrument of pleasure, but as an instrument of loving service. Isn’t it all a bit grim? You don’t have to give up all desires to be strong; you just have to give up all selfish desires. For example, when you have food that strengthens the body, especially when it is cooked and served with love and eaten in the company of family or friends, you don’t need to pass it up just because you like the taste of it. The Lord would say, ‘Dig in; I am in that desire too.’ I am very much like my grandmother in this respect. When there was a feast coming I don’t think she ever thought about the food before or after; but while she was eating I have never seen anyone enjoy a meal more. At our ashram, whenever there is a 50
June 2020 | CULTURAMA
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