Significance of Buddha Purnima - Kavitha Decda

Vaisakh Buddha Purnima, Buddha Jayanti) is a Buddhist festival that marks Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death. It falls on the day of the Full Moon in April, or May Buddha Purnima is the biggest day for Buddhists because, on this day, it is believed three essential events of the Buddha's life took place: his birth, his attaining enlightenment, and his death, Paranirvana. This day is known as Thrice Blessed Festival.

The birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism is celebrated as Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti with much fervour across the world. It falls on a full moon day in the month of Vaisakh (April/May) according to the Hindu calendar. This year Buddha Purnima will be celebrated on May 7. In Theravada Buddhism, it is also observed as the day when Buddha, born as Prince Siddhartha Gautama (c. 563-483 BCE) attained Nirvana (salvation) under the Mahabodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, Bihar, as well as his death anniversary. The Vaisakh full moon day is the most important day in the Buddhist calendar. Several Buddhists go to the pagodas to pour water at the foot of the sacred tree in remembrance of the Buddha's Enlightenment.

Buddha Purnima is a significant festival celebrated with great pomp and fervour in countries like Sri Lanka (where it is called Vesak), India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Thailand, Tibet, China, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cambodia, Singapore and Indonesia, though celebrations vary from country to country. Devotees of Buddha visit temples, light candles and incense sticks, pray and offer sweets and fruits before the statue of Lord Buddha. Sermons on the life and teachings of Buddha are held and attended by followers all over. People usually dress in white, do not consume non-vegetarian food and distribute kheer, as according to Buddhist lore, on this day a woman named Sujata had offered Buddha a bowl of milk porridge.

Many followers also free caged birds on this day as a symbol of empathy and compassion for all living beings, one of the most important teachings of Lord Buddha. In India, a large fair takes place in Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, a major Buddhist pilgrimage site where Buddha is said to have delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. The relics of Buddha are taken out for public display in a procession. Many Hindus also believe Buddha to be the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This year, with coronavirus pandemic and nationwide lockdown, now in phase 3, the celebrations are likely to look different.

Kavitha Devda

The Fabindia School

Courage and Patience - Sensing SHS

Courage & Patience

Shalini joined us 3 years ago. A bright young girl, who got along with her classmates and teachers well; she adjusted just about perfectly like any other student would in school.

As we gradually progressed with her academics in the first year, I often noticed her gazing out of the classroom window concentrating on people walking, the birds that flew around and children playing. I had to be in a constant process of bringing her attention back to the board and to my conversation. As days passed, I started noticing her careless mistakes, unable to follow instructions, her inattentiveness even on speaking to her directly and above all not being able to focus.

As I started speaking to her one on one basis, slowly but surely she started opening up that she could not manage her thoughts properly though she tried her best to do so.

I along with other teachers started working on her with the utmost patience to turn her limitations into a possibility. We started listening to her needs, working on smaller projects where she could remember and recollect easily; we started creating goals together, Ignore mild misbehaviours and academic mistakes and above all praising her for all her efforts.

The advantage we had was that she had the spirit and great courage to fight her limitations. She showed tremendous improvement each year, even as she studies in Standard IX today…she fights each day with the courage that she has. Her hyperactive behaviour, inattentiveness and concentration have improved tremendously and as teachers, we have grown with patience each day to make yet another life blossom.

- David Biswas <davidbiswas1971@gmail.com> at Sacred Heart School Siliguri

Courage and Patience- Visioners SHS

My Courageous Girl

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are."

We are blessed to be surrounded by the future of our nation. It takes me back to the year 2016 when I had joined the school. I was warmly welcomed by the staff and the students of the school. The very first sight, I saw was the happy faces of the children. Each and every child made sure to make me feel comfortable here. I tried talking to everyone, however, there was this particular child who was a bit different than others.

She was a very joyful, talented child - a good singer, great leader, her academics were very impressive. I was observing this child every now and then because there was something different in her. Slowly I could see some changes in the attitude of the girl. She looked a bit disturbed. I tried talking to her many times but she simply said, "Everything is fine, Miss." I was getting a feeling that something was bothering this young vibrant girl.

One fine evening, after their games, when all the girls went to take a wash. I saw this child approaching towards me. Suddenly, she started crying. I somehow consoled her and she had something to share it with me. In fact, she was in a relationship but she did not want to continue it.

She was not being able to put it to end which was disturbing her both physically and mentally. I spend almost an hour talking to the child and trying to make her understand that everything is possible. After a while, she was felt a little better.

Next day, I saw her running towards me. She came and hugged me and said, "Miss, I did it, I made it possible. I put  an end to it." Now, she has become a fine lady and doing well in her life."

- Preeti Rai <raihappu15@gmail.com> for Visioners @ Sacred Heart School Siliguri

Courage and Patience - Transformers SHS

Working on social projects has always been a part of my life that has been bringing satisfaction in multiple colours through unveiling realities, connecting to the unknown and the best of all is in realizing and identifying myself as a part of the steps to make a difference in this world that I live happily in. Reminiscing the days when I was pursuing my masters in Jadavpur University brings back lovely memories that are filled with happiness, friendship, struggle, perseverance and courage.

It was in the year 2017 when we had to decide on the yearly project assigned by the University Grants Commission. We put our heads together and decided on doing some research on the education of the children of the sex workers. For this, we chose an NGO (Durbaar Community) to supplement us with the aid that was required. However, our approach was not at all given a smooth concord. After all, breaking stereotypes was what we were there for, therefore the inharmonious response couldn’t stop us.

Our courage helped us in our proceedings. Approaching the community at first made the people impatient. They were very harsh in judging us as spies. Their roughness was apparent in every move that we made to build relation. But, what we had in us that superseded their anxiety with warmth and acceptance is patience that made us take healthy decisions and balance the situation. I still am very proud of being courageous enough to hang on to the topic that was uncomfortable for many around and I still cherish the patience that worked well. It was this courage and patience of the team that made a difference in enhancing the children of the community that is looked down upon. These values were seemingly contagious as I see the people now talking about their rights and facing the challenges with both courage and patience.

“हर निराश मन में आशा और उम्मीद की एक किरण भर दो

धैर्य रखो, हिम्मत और साहस से तकदीर और तस्वीर बदल दो”

- Sangharsh Chettri<sangharsh.chettri88@gmail.com> for Transformers SHS

Courage and Patience - Adapters SHS

Patience and Courage leads to Victory

Raghu was very excited and happy to present a beautiful necklace to his mother with his first salary. He was on his way home from the jewellery shop, when he decided to take the shorter route home crossing the paddy fields.

The thought of his mother’s reaction overwhelmed Raghu, he once again took out the necklace to admire its beauty. The necklace shone in the sunlight, it sparkled and this blinding light reflected by the necklace made Raghu lose his balance.

He dropped flat on the field. As he recovered himself and got back to his feet, he noticed that he was no longer holding the necklace. He looked around in vain and finally he noticed a sparkle coming from one of the ditches in the field.

As he walks towards the ditch he finds the necklace but to his shock, there was a snake sitting in the same ditch! Raghu was very nervous and did not know how he should retrieve the necklace.

He instantly starts throwing stones hoping that the snake would slide out of the ditch. This did not work instead it seemed to aggravate the snake. Raghu felt helpless and afraid yet he decided to sit and wait patiently for the snake to leave the ditch.

Minutes turned into hours nut the snake did not move. Finally, Raghu came up with an idea. He collected a few sticks, twigs and straw from the field and placed them near the ditch. He took out a matchbox from his pocket and set the pile on fire.

The smoke and the heat generated by this fire forced the snake to slide out of the ditch bringing great joy to Raghu. He happily takes out the precious gift for his mother and walks home rejoicing.

This short incident shows how in life we are faced with many challenges and for which patience and courage are key to overcome the challenges. Raghu used his patience to escape his problems but when it did not work he used his courage to fight through his problem.

Sometimes in order to enjoy the fruit of life, we need to learn how to “Sow” the seed of patience, “Grow” the plant of courage which will bear the “Fruit” of victory.

- Shraddha Dewan <shraddhadewan425@gmail.com> -Adapters Sacred Heart Siliguri

Honesty and Respect - Sensing SHS

In Pursuit of Honesty

A very dark picture of the society we have painted for the children. A community, where cheating is normal, communities which are blindly materialistic and seek to be economically well off by hook or by crook, an organisation where you would rather lose your moral values than lose your valuables. It is such a society, I talk of today when I relate my account.

A few educated men in my home town had opened a school. They wanted to give quality education to the children of the not so well off people. Else, they thought, those children would have no options but to go to government schools, and have their education neglected. But we sneered at them, as the founders of the school. And even at the children.

Quality education, we thought, was only for the children of the educated middle class. If the family was not in a position to afford a posh fashionable private school, why must we, as educators, bother about the children?

It is no wonder that when I started teaching in this school, I looked down upon the students and often made fun of their English accent, which had a strong flavour of the local language. That was me 15 years back. Ah...I realized how wrong I was back then. I regret having such a snobbish attitude.

Coming back to my story, it happened once that a particular colleague of mine, a very fashionable lady, ost a gold ring in the school premises. She was anxious. And...Why not? The more you have, the more you yearn for materialistic things. The staff was informed to do a thorough search for the lost item.

However, deep inside my heart, I knew that the ring was gone for good. I had noticed the greed in the eyes of the students of the school. Many I know, couldn't even afford a decent breakfast. What if one of them had found the ring? Wouldn't they pocket it? Remember, there were no CCTVs installed in schools in the nineties. Investigations were done based on trust and evidence.

The next morning as we walked to school, my colleagues and me, all we talked about were how we should be careful about our belongings while at school. A great surprise awaited us in the morning assembly. The Principal announced the name of an honest girl, Dibya. Dibya was asked to come forward and tell everyone what she had found under the teacher's table. And it was nothing but the lost ring.

The story remains incomplete if you don't know the background of Dibya. The second daughter of a family of five girls, Dibya was a fragile student who couldn't follow most of the instructions in English. Dibya's father was a drunkard whose death brought not sorrow but a relief to the grieving mother, who was a victim of his physical assaults. Dibya's youngest sister was just a few weeks old and had never seen the father. Her mother was on unpaid maternity leave. The family depended on an uncle for financial aid and support until Dibya's mother would be able to join her work. Wouldn't it be considered more natural if Dibya had been slightly dishonest and not returned the ring? Did she know its value, you may ask. Oh, yes, she did. The poor child, not knowing what to do with it, had sought the advice of her mother. The poor woman would rather starve than have a dishonest daughter.

Dibya works in a reputed firm today. All the girls are settled, I hear. Whenever I meet Dibya's mother, I salute her in silence.

Respond Respectfully

After a brief memory jostling of the previous day's lesson, I started asking questions to the class in general and some students in particular. After several minutes, I directed a question to Aman. I presumed he had not heard it because he did not show any signs of response. I repeated the problem after taking his name loudly. He still did not move. After being elbowed by his partner, he reluctantly stood. "Yes, Aman," I said. "Can we some answer please?" Aman – 

"What Answer?"

Me – "to the question, I just asked."

Aman – "What question?"

(Class rings out in peals of smothered giggles)

I repeated the question…….

Aman – "That's a stupid question anyway."

( there is pin-drop silence in class)

Something was squirming within me but I somehow managed to gather my wits and calmly asked Aman to sit down. The rest of the classroom are past mechanically.

The lunch break followed. I purposefully walked to Aman and asked him with a silent smile "Are you OK Child?" His eyes moistened, he lowered his gaze and replied -"Yes Ma'm"

That the moment remains with me as a forerunner for all other such situations that might crop up in the future. A respectful response or no response, to that person who has shown disrespect, at that poignant moment, is the turning point of any story in a person's life. We must respect our own selves so much that we do not get swayed by brazen behaviour. The reprimand should come at a later time.

- David Biswas <davidbiswas1971@gmail.com> for Sensing Sacred Heart School Siliguri

Honesty and Respect - Spectrum SHS

Janet, a middle school student, was the hub of the class. First, in academics, co-curricular activities and well-disciplined was the tag for Janet. Since she was in her adolescence, she was very conscious of her looks. She felt that her looks were not at par with her achievements. Her extra hours were spent in front of the mirror with the make-up kit beside her. She brooded over her looks more than anything. A behavioural change was slowly visible in her. As school children, she had friends, and Fred was the dearest one for her. 

Fred being the closest, noticed some changes in his friend. He was worried about her and bring out the truth about her changes as a person. It was a tough task for Fred to break the ice for he knew that Janet was pretty enough, but her scything habits over the others was her weakness...just because she admitted that she was pretty. She did not notice that her nature did give a negative appearance on her looks too.

One Sunday evening, Janet invited Fred to tea. He made up his mind to be as honest as possible to Janet for he knew that he would raise questions to him regarding her looks!

As the story goes, Janet did ask Fred about her looks, and Fred simply answered that she was a compound of pretty and ugly. Janet broke down bitterly. The other day Fred tried his best to explain the reason for using such a phrase at her. It was an honest answer because Fred wanted to open his friend's eyes and take away her snobbish habits.

A week passed by, Janet did not call Fred at school or at home. She felt that Fred was too rude and impolite and may be jealous of her looks and achievements.

On the other hand, Fred simply ignored Janet's perception and wanted to go over Janet and talk to her. Janet simply avoided him. She felt that Fred was no more her best friend.

Class unit test approached. Janet was haunted by Fred's answer. She could not concentrate on her studies and perform well. Patricia stood first in the class! Got a shock for Janet! She could not take the defeat. She concluded that an ill omen was hovering over her life. 

The rift between Janet and Fred widened. Janet lost her charm and looked depressed, beaten. Fred could no more take Janet's situation. He went up courageously to Janet and explained to her the fact about his honest statement. With respect, he wanted to bring a change in her. He accepted that he was straightforward and told her that every honest answer given with respect sounds rude.

Finally, Janet understood Fred's way of correcting her and also helped her to respect others and most importantly, oneself.

 Prakash Yonzon <yonzonprakash1@gmail.com> for Spectrum at Sacred Heart School Siliguri

Honesty and Respect- Visioners SHS

Innocent Confessions

"I'd rather be honest than impressive", fits best with the little ones who unknowingly possess the attributes of honesty and respect which are the two sides of a coin. The innocent honest confessions of the little ones of hurting someone and later repenting over it is priceless. The sight is of a million-dollar to see a child owe to his teacher for stealing a pencil or an eraser.

However, the attributes of honesty and respect are reflected even among the adolescence. It gives me profound contentment to share how a child owned up his habit of stealing books.

I vividly remember once a senior student requested me to help him find his lost book. To my surprise, the entire class looked for the book. Somehow, the boys of that class found it hidden under the bookshelf.

The boy was elated, thanked the entire class and left the room. During the recess, one of the boys of the same class approached and confessed his guilt of stealing that book.

Being a teacher, I appreciated his action. The story doesn't end here. Later in the evening, I found that the boy had confessed and apologized to the senior student. It was a breathtaking moment to know the fact that how courageously and honestly the little boy accepted his mistake. 

He really earned profound respect in the eyes of the senior boy.

- Preeti Rai <raihappu15@gmail.com> for Visioners at Sacred Heart School Siliguri

Honesty and Respect - Adapters SHS

Honesty Earns Respect

Honesty and respect are like two pillars of a strong relationship. What were to happen if lying was the norm?

There would be no trust among people. Patients would not be able to trust their doctors, passengers would not be able to trust their drivers, a child would not feel the same trust and security towards his/her parents and no two individuals would be able to build a beautiful relationship if honesty and respect do not form their foundation.

Honesty means believing in oneself and everything that one represents, however, dishonesty may mislead us from our beliefs and values. Life continues to teach us lessons in every twist and turn of this journey that we embark, it may be trivial incidents or moments in our lives that somehow go unnoticed but they always have a way to show us the right path. Such an incident that taught four college friends about the importance of earning respect through honesty.

Riya, Anu, Sweta and Pari were a tightly knit team of thriving, blooming and fun-loving group of college friends. They were, however, the ‘’Noted’’ set of girls in their university who were known as the ‘’trouble makers.’’ There wasn’t a day where one of them was not summoned by their University Dean for their daily dose of confrontation where the girls were quick to come up with valid and factual excuses. The entire University staff along with the other students were tired of their everyday shenanigans.

 The first semester of their second year in the University was to begin the next day when Pari came up with the idea of skipping their first paper. The others were keen on agreeing with her and in fact, Anu came up with a ‘’valid reason,’’ for their absence the next day. She told her friends that they would state the idea of being held back due to a tyre puncture. The four girls satisfied with this excuse, head out for a long drive not worried about the consequence of their carelessness.

The next day, as expected, the girls were asked to meet the Dean after their morning prayer. Knowing that these girls would surely have an excuse, yet the Dean asked them to explain the reason for their absence. On hearing their ‘’unfortunate incident’’ about the previous day, the Dean did not react as expected. He seemed to be calm and collected, he simply asked them to sit for their exam, but to their surprise, in separate classrooms.  The girls received their question papers and were shocked to see the questions.

Question1. Where exactly did your car get punctured?

Question2. Which tyre of your car get punctured?

Question3. At exactly what hour of the day did it get punctured?

As expected the four girls had different answers to the same the situation that they claimed to have stopped them from coming to the University. This made them realize how the Dean had taught them a valuable lesson about being honest not only with others but also with oneself. Honesty in itself earns the respect of many hearts.

- Shraddha Dewan <shraddhadewan425@gmail.com>  for Adapters at Sacred Heart School Siliguri

सम्मान और ईमानदारी - Transformers SHS

सम्मान या आदर के सम्बन्ध में यदि हम विचार करें तो हम पाते हैं कि यह भाव अथवा भावना मानव मन के अंदर अन्तर्निहित होता है | कुछ बच्चों में दूसरे व्यक्ति या अपनों से बड़े के लिए सम्मान व आदर भाव खुद व खुद परिलक्षित होते हैं | यह भाव उनमें जन्मजात नहीं होती बल्कि उनके संस्कार, समाज, परिवेश एवं संगत का असर होता है | इसका अर्थ यह बिलकुल ही नहीं है कि इसके विपरीत परिस्थिति में पलने वाले बच्चे बिलकुल असभ्य ही होते हैं |

मुझे इस सन्दर्भ में एक कहानी याद आती हैं | बात सन 1997-98 की हैं…उस समय में अपनी घर दार्जीलिंग मोड स्थित पैतृक निवास स्थान पर ही ट्यूशन पढ़ाया करता था एवं स्वयं एक प्राइवेट स्कूल का

संचालन किया करता था |

उस वक्त मैं लेखाशास्त्र और हिन्दी एबं वाणिज्य बिषय से वर्ग एकादस एवं बी कॉम के छात्र-छात्राओं को पढ़ाया करता था | उन दिनों न जाने कितने छात्र-छात्रायें पढ़ा करते थे | यदि सत्य कहूँ तो समय के ढलते क्रम में वे सब

बातें एवं घटनाएं सिर्फ यादें बनकर रह गई…मैं भी समय के अंतराल के साथ भूलता चला गया | मैं बर्ष 2005 मैं सेक्रेड हार्ट स्कूल कर्सियांग और अब सिलीगुड़ी में केवल हिन्दी पढ़ाने में लीन हो गया…पिछली सारी यादें…सिर्फ यादें ही रहे गई…जो धीरे-धीरे मिटती चली गई | मुझे उन दिनों की घटनाओं मे से एक लड़के की छवि याद आती है जो बर्ष 1997 से 2000 तक ही मेरे पास अध्ययन करने आया करता था…वह स्वाभाव से बड़ा उद्दण्ड, बेपरवाह एवं कर्तव्यहीन होने के साथ -साथ बड़ा बद्तमीज़ था और मैं उसके व्यवहार से उन दिनों उदाशीन रहा करता था |

समय समय पर मैं अपने घर सिलीगुड़ी अक्सर आया जाया करता था…एक दिन शाम के समय लगभग 4:30 बजे सेठ श्रीलाल मार्केट के समीप मैं किसी कार्यवश खड़ा था, कि अचानक एक युवक और एक युवती पीछे से “सर“ कहता हुआ आया और मेरे चरण छूने के पश्च्यात अपनी पत्नी और बच्चे से भी चरण छूकर प्रणाम करने को कहा | इसके उपरांत मुझसे आशीर्वाद देनेको कहा…मैं भौचक्का सा रह गया | मुझे उस युवक कि छवि बिलकुल याद नहीं थी…मुझे आश्चर्य चकित होता देख उसे लगा कि मैं पहचान नहीं रहा हूँ…फिर उसने बड़ी सभ्यता और शालीनता के साथ अपना

और अपनी पत्नी और बच्चे का परिचय करवाया और कहा “सर आज से लगभग 22-23 वर्ष पहले मैं आपके घर लेखाशास्त्र पढ़ने आया करता था… और फिर मेरे मानस पटल पर उसके चेहरे की धुंधली सी छवि मानस पटल पर उभरने लगी…मै सोचने लगा यह वही गोपाल है जो उद्दण्ड, लापरवाह, बेपरवाह और शरारती के साथ बद्तमीज भी था…कितना.. बदल.. गया…यदि सच कहूँ तो मै इस घटना के बाद सोचने के लिए विवश हूँ कि कैसे लोग कहते है - कि आज कल के बच्चे बड़ो का सम्मान नहीं करते…समय के सब कुछ बदलता है बच्चों का व्यवहार भी समय के साथ परिवर्तन होता है… जो सकारात्मक और समाजोपयोगी..शाबित होता है...|

- Sangharsh Chettri <sangharsh.chettri88@gmail.com> for Transformers at Sacred Heart School, Siliguri

Happiness and Tolerance - Parivartan SHS

THE SOUND OF HAPPINESS

Rahul was a genius boy studying in the seventh grade, he would have achieved many accolades by then had he not poured out all his energy in being pessimistic. He took unusual satisfaction in disputing classes, vandalizing school properties and self-loathing.

It was on one such evening, as he sat on his bed, planning new tricks for the next day, that he heard something at a distance. Against the stillness of the night, he heard the harmonic rhythm of a guitar and it attracted him towards it.

He left his room and followed the strumming, which led him to Akash (his senior)’s room. He sat quietly beside Akash and forgot all the mischief in his mind due to the melody of the song ‘Stairway to Heaven’ what Akash was playing. Hours passed in the midst of the midnight tune.  This incident led him to kindle a new inspiration in his heart.

The very next day, Akash introduced Rahul to the music teacher of the school and the experienced senses of the music teacher immediately identified Rahul’s natural interest and inherent talent. The teacher gave basic knowledge of playing the guitar to Rahul and he picked up rapidly. After the music class, Rahul borrowed a guitar from the teacher and spent all his spare time practising the guitar.
After a week, people around Rahul could not believe, it was the same Rahul who was the brain behind all the mischiefs in the school as he started playing  guitar instead of planning to disturb everyone around him. This behavioural change was prominent in Rahul since then. He started focusing more on studies and started participating in sports as well.

There was an overall improvement in him, he became a different person and a happy individual, a true genius in all sense. Thus he made his teachers and parents happy too and passed the ICSE exam after three years with a satisfactory percentage

THE COLOUR OF TOLERANCE

Ms Anupama had just joined a new school as a mathematics teacher, it was her first job and it made her very anxious and excited as well. The moment she entered her supposed class, she knew that her students would be a difficult bunch to handle. No matter, how hard she tried to teach and make them interested in mathematics using all her efforts, her students kept on chattering and misbehaving. In the end, she got tired and humiliated, so she left the class abruptly.

On her way out, she met one of her colleagues who asked her about her day and she poured out about her horrible experience in class. Her colleague encouraged her to be more tolerant and innovative in her class.

The very next day, the students were expecting Ms Anupama to be incapable of handling them, but she had a surprise planned for them. Instead of using the same old method of teaching, she took them out on the school field and solved the problems in mathematics by using practical and relatable examples involving the whole class. The students immediately started enjoying the subject like never before and started appreciating Ms Anupama and her classes.

- Anand Acharya  <hianand2008@gmail.com> for Parivartan at Sacred Heart School Siliguri