Turmoil to Triumph: Masterclass Saturday March 15, 2025

Chapter 18  Turmoil to Triumph: The Man Who Saw Tomorrow by Naga Tummala

Q1. "Education must enable young people to effect what they have recognized to be right, despite hardships, dangers, skepticism, boredom, and mockery from the world." – Kurt Hahn

How can educators empower students to stand by their values and make the right choices, even when faced with hardships, skepticism, or societal pressure?

Q2. Miracles happen when people trust in their abilities. What strategies can educators use to help students develop inner confidence, trust their abilities, and embrace challenges as opportunities for growth?

Q3. Setbacks and struggles often pave the way for growth and success. How can educators shift students' mindsets to view setbacks as learning opportunities rather than obstacles? What strategies can reinforce the idea that resilience and perseverance lead to long-term success?

Q4. "We were at the right time, in the right place, and in the right field." Was it sheer luck, or were they keen observers? How can educators help students develop the skill of noticing opportunities rather than relying on luck? 

Chat messages:

17:31:00 From Isha Kashyap to Host and panelists:

Good evening sir

18:04:43 From Priyanka Soni to Host and panelists:

Wow, that's an excellent msg, sir

18:05:57 From ila gautam to Host and panelists:

Today, education has turned out to be a business, leaving true educationists with struggles

18:08:53 From Anita Dhar to Host and panelists:

Business gives a lead when it has ethics or pure intentions along with profits.

18:20:44 From Asham Patil to Host and panelists:

Great session

18:21:00 From Ritu Agrawal to Host and panelists:

Good 👍

18:21:11 From Lakhwinder Kaur to the Host and panelists:

👍

18:21:15 From Rajwinder Kaur to Host and panelists:

Thank u sir

18:21:27 From Vidyotma Singh to Host and panelists:

thankyou

18:21:27 From Lakhwinder Kaur to the Host and panelists:

Thanks sir👍👍👍

18:22:36 From Vidyotma Singh to Host and panelists:

Thankyou Sir

Next week on Saturday, we will read Chapter 19, The Education Lab.

Affection Vs Rejection - Khalid Zafar

Every year, as teachers, we encounter a new class of forty students, and with them, forty unique families, environments, and backgrounds. I firmly believe that understanding the individual child within this group, especially those coming from less stable or supportive family situations, is crucial.

Children raised in nurturing, positive family environments tend to develop healthier, stronger minds and bodies. They have the foundation for balanced personalities. However, when families experience trauma or hardship, these events can significantly impact a child's psychological well-being and development. Often, the child's emotional needs are unintentionally overlooked during these challenging times. This can lead to an unbalanced personality and manifest as rejection or withdrawal from social interaction.

It's important to remember that not all children react the same way. Each child is an individual, and their responses will vary. This period is critical because these children desperately need affection and acceptance. Without it, they may exhibit hyperactive, unstable, or even destructive behaviors. When we, as teachers, attempt to connect with these children, they might initially avoid eye contact, shielding their emotions. They understand that a single glance could betray the depth of their pain.

I recall a particular instance during an exam. In the creative writing section, one student poignantly described losing their mother during the COVID pandemic. When I spoke with the child, the raw emotion was palpable, just beneath the surface, threatening to spill over. The father, struggling to cope, had placed the child in a boarding school. While the child appeared to have adapted to the school environment, a lingering sadness clouded their eyes and face, a clear indication of the profound grief they carried.

As their pastoral teacher, I reassured them that I was always available to listen whenever they needed someone to talk to. Creating a safe space for them to express their feelings is the first step towards healing.

Khalid Zafar
Sunbeam Suncity

Compassion: Byju Joseph

Compassion is just an action of kindness towards others that joins the entirety of mankind. It does not need much more effort or huge amounts to spend. There must be a will to listen and find others' circumstances, their problems, feelings, hardships etc. Sometimes our kind words can heal someone, our smiles can satisfy others. Compassion is an urge within us to help others when they are in need. Compassion and cooperation are very important factors among doctors that will lead to a speedy recovery of their patients.  Showing kindness to our fellow creatures is human nature. Love and compassion are the fundamentals of human existence. Compassion is the most impressive power on the planet that can cross the boundaries of caste, religion, nationality etc. This is the thing that prompts people to think about others and help others with a caring nature. The satisfaction that we get from compassionate action is definitely more precious than anything we may surrender simultaneously.

It is so sad to say that in modern life people who are living in cities do not know who are residing nearby. Those people who are living in the same flat are not familiar with each other. They do not know who their neighbours are. There is a lack of communication and personal relationship.  These are the essentials of human life in a society.  Nobody is having time to spend with others. Everyone is busy with their own matters.

But there are people who completely dedicated their lives to others. I would like to share a real example of the compassionate action of a person named P.U. Thomas(Thomas Chettan) who is still continuing his service actively for poor people in the native village of Athirampuzha in the district of Kottayam in Kerala. He was born in a poor family. At the age of sixteen, he was admitted to the hospital for surgery. For more than two weeks he was in the general ward of a medical college. The pathetic conditions of suffering poverty and the ill-treatment of patients by the hospital staff got struck at him.  He could not forget the reality. He made a strong decision to help needy people. But he was also from a poor family. He was in search of a job. Finally, he got a job in the men’s hostel of Medical College, Kottayam as a mess boy. The miserable conditions of patients were still alive in his mind. He took permission to give the leftover food of the hostel to the patients. He started his service with endless happiness. He could be able to spend some money from his low salary for poor patients to buy medicines. Seeing the heart touching service, some medical students also started to donate money to him. Gradually he approached the nearby hotels for food that remained excess. They all cooperated with him.

His services continued for more than two decades. After that, he was able to register a trust named ‘NAVAJEEVAN’ with the help of some generous people. He was able to provide shelter for mentally disordered patients. Later on, with the help of some voluntary organisations, he was able to get some land property to construct a building to enhance his service.  Now it has become the shelter for many orphans, old people, patients etc. The trust is providing many facilities like food, accommodation, blood donation, medical aid etc. His compassionate action is an inspiration for all

Byju Joseph
The Fabindia School
bjh@fabindiaschools.in

Willpower - Jitendra Suthar

Courtesy: dreamstime.com

Willpower may be an attitude that exists in our mind. Given a troublesome task, if you've got thoughts that it'd not work, then that's what you'll get versus somebody who thought that it'll work. For instance, it is usually the mind's facility within the Olympics games over the athlete's perception of what they will do. With the Gold Medals in their mind, they'll endure the temporary hardship throughout their daily coaching to induce wherever they need to be. Remember, ne'er ever hand over on things that matter.

Many folks don't understand the importance of self-command in life. For instance, you recognize that you simply have a race returning and you'll stop uptake dangerous stuff. Dominant your diet may be a real challenge because it needs determination and harnessing your mental capability to form your material body simply do what you would like through your self-command. Once dominant, your diet becomes a habit, you will not crave for unhealthy food.

There is a link between motivation and self-command as you wish to understand why you would like to resist a particular temptation or work on one thing difficult. for instance, associate alcoholic father need to prevent drinking so that his son wouldn't get older to be like him. The stronger your motivation for doing a particular factor can increase your self-command and stop any harmful behaviour or assist you to overcome any demanding challenges.

Willpower plays a vital role in our life and effort a self-command attitude may be a journey and not a leap. Thoughts aren't facts, by dynamic your thinking, if you'll modify negative thoughts to positive, so a full new world of prospects is disclosed to you.

Jitendra Suthar

The Fabindia School 

jsr@fabindiaschools.in