Be a Giver, not a Taker - Swabhi Parmar

Courtesy: www.medium.com

Though it’s easier to be a taker than a giver, giving is far more gratifying than taking. Because we were meant to be creators – like the Divine architect in whose image we are created. We are charged with the responsibility to initiate, be proactive, build, and change the world in which we live. That is why we are inherently wired to be givers, not takers. And that is why we feel more fulfilled and accomplished when we give. We primarily take (more than giving) in our early years, as we are provided for by our parents. But that is only in our formative years, when we are being trained and educated, preparing and shaping us to become true givers. It is like a student who must first absorb the wisdom of his teachers before he becomes a teacher himself (and even as you become a teacher and giver yourself, you always remain a student).

Happiness lies in the domain of givers, not takers. Takers are people who, when working with others, try to get as much out of that interaction for their benefit and give back as little as they can in return. In their view, this is the quickest way to success. On the other hand, Givers go out their way to help others either by mentoring, sharing their insights, or lending a hand when possible without seeking anything in return. 

Swabhi Parmar

The Fabindia School 

spr@fabindiaschools.in

Ravi Kaimal "I am passionate about Education

Episode #75: Sandeep Dutt in conversation with Ravi Kaimal, has been involved with The Fabindia School since the first brainstorming discussions with John and William Bissell.  Ravi is a professional architect and is responsible for the design of the school buildings. He was also Chairman of Bhadrajun Artisans Trust (BAT), the non-profit, tax-exempt charitable society founded by William Bissell which established the school in 1992 and continues to help guide the school and provide financial support.  Ravi writes, “The first block was designed to be built using maximum local materials and local skills so that it could be done with the least cost and time. The buildings are made almost entirely of stone available in the local area, and there is no wood used as wood is expensive and vulnerable there. This also came close to Mahatma Gandhi's approach of using only locally available materials.  So our buildings are very much of their place, geography, climate and people. They are also optimized for their function, with very little energy being used. At the start of the hot summer of 1992 at the start of digging for the foundations of the first block at the school in Bali, the earth was so hard that water- bought from a farmer- had to be poured on it to break it! As you can see today, the land was barren, and there was no soft greenery, only thorny bushes.” Ravi Kaimal, visiting the area frequently before the school is set up to collaborate and brainstorm with John and William Bissell; As the Principal and Founder of Kaimal,  Chatterjee Associates, an architectural firm in New Delhi, formal training includes a B.  Arch (1987) from the School of Planning;  Architecture, New Delhi and has been practising in Delhi since 1990. Ravi's interests and experience extend beyond architecture to photography, art direction for films (Art  Director of Arundhati Roy's feature film) and rural education; Ravi has travelled extensively in India,  Nepal,  Sri Lanka,  US, Spain, Italy and the UK  photographing places of architectural and environmental significance. He is the recipient of a prestigious UNESCO award for heritage conservation for his work in Rajasthan. In the show, he credits his passion for education to his family and grandparents, shares how the focus on the girl child and push for quality education in rural India has made a huge difference. As a parent, he adds that today with technology and tools, couples and balance work and family raise children who are better equipped for the world.

Listen more https://vurbl.com/listen/spvq5nFGHV/

“When I am teaching at my best, I am like a _________ .”

When I am with my Angels I am like a  mother to them helping them to grow up to be good human being taking care of all there needs with love kindness and patience being with them is a joy and a privilege  I wish all my little angels to have a  bright future ahead. - Corrine  Gomes

When I am teaching at my best I am like a mother. I do not only impart bookies knowledge but also teach good manners.  I try to inculcate good values in these children. I want them to feel loved and wanted in this home away from home. Sincerely hope that I make them grow up to good human beings. - Deepa Kharga

When I am teaching at my best, I feel like a programmer. I try to program the teaching and events in a much simplified manner. For me, teaching is like coding a program which is to be done in a proper way to get the best output. - Arvind Jha

When I am teaching at my best I feel like an "Architect", who design, develop and construct a house to provide the maximum utility of space and make the living happy and comfortable. Similarly, my job is somewhat like an architect who is in "man making industry". I design, develop and construct the study programme to cater the needs of every individual in my classroom, provide them with the maximum utility of space to grow, derive the maximum out of them, develop sense ownership and responsibility, living behind a memorable and happy moment. - Rakesh Kumar Das

When I'm with my boys, I play the role of a father, a brother and a guide, where they feel free to share their feeling, thoughts and difficulties so that I may be able to guide them in the right path to be well behaved and make them a good human being. I Ralston Hurley a pastoral member taking care of boys from classes 9 & 10. - Ralston Hurley

The post is inspired by Palmer Parker's work Courage To Teach.

Ravi Kaimal: Building The Fabindia School

Ravi Kaimal has been involved with the school since the first brainstorming discussions with John and William Bissell. Ravi is a professional architect and is responsible for the design of the school buildings. He was also Chairman of Bhadrajun Artisans Trust (BAT), the non-profit, tax-exempt charitable society founded by William Bissell which established the school in 1992 and continues to help guide the school and provide financial support. Ravi writes, “The first block was designed to be built using maximum local materials and local skills so that it could be done with the least cost and time. The buildings are made almost entirely of stone available in the local area, and there is no wood used as wood is expensive and vulnerable there. This also came close to Mahatma Gandhi's approach of using only materials which were locally available. So our buildings are very much of their place, geography, climate and people. They are also optimized for their function, with very little energy being used.

On the start of the hot summer of 1992 at the start of digging for the foundations of the first block at the school in Bali, the earth was so hard that water- bought from a farmer- had to be poured on it to break it! As you can see today, the land was barren and there was no soft greenery, only thorny bushes.”

Ravi Kaimal, visiting the area frequently prior to the school being set up to collaborate and brainstorm with John and William Bissell; As the Principal and Founder of Kaimal, Chatterjee Associates, an architectural firm in New Delhi, Ravi is responsible for designing the innovative Fabindia School campus, including the use of green space and open buildings. Ravi's formal training includes a B. Arch (1987) from the School of Planning; Architecture, New Delhi and has been practising in Delhi since 1990. Ravi's interests and experience extend beyond architecture to photography, art direction for films (Art Director of Arundhati Roy's feature film) and rural education; Ravi has travelled extensively in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, US, Spain, Italy and UK photographing places of architectural and environmental significance. He is the recipient of a prestigious UNESCO award for heritage conservation for his work in Rajasthan.