With a pleasant wishes of the day, at the onset, I extend my heartiest greetings of the Assamese New Year to the reader’s circle here.
This gathering, dappled and dotted in different shades of colours, is about celebrating life.
In traditional attire
Being in the mood with students 🤠
Bihu celebration is a worthy reason for a happy gathering in Assam.
Bohag Bihu, Akhomiya Porisoy, Axomiyar Pran; transliterated as Bohag Bihu is an an identity of an Assamese, the life of an Assamese. It is a social connection, an emotional bonding. It is in every atom in the soil of Axom dekh.
Tableau highlighting ‘Goru Bihu’
As rain rejuvenates the soil, As rain enthuses life to the desperate foliages, As rain initiates interaction in nature… The similarity is Bihu. Marking the spring season, Bohag Bihu resonates with the hopes, aspirations, bonds, and relationships that an individual stores in society’s collective memory.
Girls performing Bihu dance at School
Bihu welcomes the spring, the newness from every element in nature invigorates the breeze with its fragrance on the threshold of every household.
Bihu husori by Girls and Boys
A short video of the performance Jeng Bihu dancers
Here at Montfort, we keep up the tradition of celebrating the joyous occasion of ‘Hepahor Rongali bihu’. So let us take this opportunity to welcome the spring colourfully. And welcome each other, one another with the Spring and her vitality.
It is a name, a name in an Indian Hindu family belonging to an Assamese Muttuock community. It is the name of my lovely ‘beti’ (daughter), who always accompany me as a guide, a beautiful realisation of motherhood for the second time.
In Assamese the term ‘Chanasya’ stands for “Chandrataap”. Chandrataap is a sacred piece of cloth in white with red pleated border. It is a kind of a shroud – close to God, close to the holiness. The picture below shows the Chandratap hung above tied to the pillars. These are stitched in various sizes, often in a squared shape.
The people of the Assamese community offer prayers in namghar or in thaan, or in sattras. All these places have significant role in making the belief system of faith, of hope, of union with God.
I miss my dear daughter, but somewhere when I recall her good name, I take solace in the thought that she is safe in her heavenly abode.
In today’s challenging world, teacher needs to face more challenges while they are in their classrooms. Teachers need to be proactive, demonstrate the five personalities as in the acronym OCEAN, come out from the conventional style of teaching and give a lot of freedom and space to the children.
The Indian New Education Policy 2022 says, that teachers must have 50 hours of seminars and workshops, aligning with the demand, my school management also organised a two-day seminar session on Personality Development for teachers. Our resource person here was a clinical psychologist who has a bag full of experience in teaching, conducting seminars, and workshops on professional development for teachers.
Only what you know should challenge.
So let me begin with the first activity that was done with us. All the participants were asked to go to the basketball court and then make pairs with whom they were comfortable and then break the pairs and form different pairs, standing in two concentrating circles, facing each other. The inner circle would be the artist and the outer circle would be the art. Four rounds were taken up where the artist would at first make a flower, the second time a lion, the third a tiger and the fourth was a leader.
The process was so intriguing that the last time in the activity when we interacted the participants were made to think our teachers were good and creating just copies or they were good at hurting on regionality so now that was the challenge when teachers were given a task written is must be there but the point of view is an important part in the teaching-learning process the term distributed leadership.
I choose Default or Design Circumstances or Choices
As teachers, we have a challenge to transform lives, rather than merely teach. And for transformation, instilling courage and trust ‘hope’ will change students’ minds to think beyond.
A second important aspect that our resource person highlighted was the debate ‘Is Education neutral?’
Education is a standpoint, that has its shade from socioeconomic religious political factors of a person. Today what I teach to my students is always an outcome of an effect of my learning experiences related to my society. So he cited the example of Finland where education is a Phenomenon based learning, starkly different from progressive and liberal education.
Now, if a teacher is not able to see a thing without the influence of any other experience related to it, that teacher is a single-story person. Single-story people are dangerous people and related to self-defeating behaviour which authorises the statement ‘I am the product of my circumstances not of choices’.
As teaching is a deliberate profession, a teacher must have a mission statement. And this mission statement circles around 6 basic questions cited as below:
1. How do you see yourself as a teacher?
2. How do others see you as a teacher?
3. What are your strengths as a teacher?
4. What are your weaknesses as a teacher?
5. What or who has played a role in shaping you as a teacher?
6. What is the source of your authority?
Now if you found out the answers to the above questions compare and analyse, are you a reflective teacher, what is my priority as a teacher, where does critical thinking exist, and as a teacher am I facilitating the students to question.
All the above activities boiled down to Need Analysis – Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes equating with the three question words, how, why and what. If these three question words are placed in three concentrating circles, which word would I place in the innermost circle? This exercise led to an important part of the workshop on personality development – The Golden Circles
The four-letter word LIFE when asked to form as many words with two letters from it, then there is only one answer to it. We can only make the word ‘IF’. That means life is all about possibilities and herein the question raised is ‘Are we choosing the right possibilities?” Time to think from the teacher’s perspective taking into account the student’s life. It’s important to revisit ourselves as teachers. Are we setting boundaries for students? Are we giving opportunities to our students? How are we giving hope to them and instilling courage in the most laid-back ones?
Why a name of this kind, but the flowers just thrill sending a message that beauty can be found in small things. These flower plants are small but they radiate happiness when they bloom.
The other Kalanchos that have bright red flowers already bloomed, but after two seasons, which also thrilled me to see their flowers remained in the plants for more that two months.
Scarlet Kalanchos
When I received this plant, it had just two tiny leaves. Took care of it without knowing that one day it will have flowers. Now, the sunlit with pinkish hue flowers came up, they were a treat to my eyes.
Kalanchos, also known as Widow’s-thrill.
I have just two varieties, still each gives me delight…❤️💓
I wonder, if pain was a person, what adjectives would qualify for its personification.
The physical appearance is of a human figure, rather than moveable limbs with saddle joints or ball & socket joints, it is more than any elastic that would stretch in a never ending way. It is dark with no eyes. I don’t see any clothing on the darkest body that I have ever know; even light fails to pass through. It crawls creepily through the mind and deeply set its roots like an octopus.
It is mayhem. A chaos inside all the parts of the body, even the tiniest of the atoms; produces ripples enough to creat a tsunami in the the over all complex of a person. However, no another person feels what it is. As a mark of understanding one may emphtaise but never can understand the pain.
The mechanism of pain is similar to a churning butter. It churns and churns an individual untill it twirls the inner core leaving nothing to drain out. Still, pain ventures in, squeezes the person like a cloth hung upon a string for drying.
Pain is fear, fear that engulfs the rational part of a person. Pain is egoistic, it’s self respect is damaged when one does not grief. It resides in the superego and exhibits in grief.
Pain is an inexhaustible flame that devours without killing the being, so that degrees of burns is felt, burns the being once again so that healing does occur in the wounds. The physical of a being responds to the trauma that pain inflicts upon. It drains up tears, it gradually converts a lively being into a lifeless thing: dead, stare ghastly, spread angled limbs, bloody.
Pain is loss, it is screaming at nothingness at the same time it is silent, silence witnessed before a gushing wind that sweeps away everything. Pain is aiming pointlessly at an unseen point, into the infinity. Pain is deaf to all kind of frequencies in the universe, infact immune to any vibrations. Pain is grand and its grandeur multiplies in memories.
Pain is a relief to the heap of emotions that looks for a vent. Pain ends when one is determined to ‘let go’.
Interview someone — a friend, another blogger, your mother, the mailman — and write a post based on their responses.
Recently I happened to meet a being of a different realm at my house. After having exchanged gestures, I requested if I could interview him. With the aid of the art of persuasion & ability to convince, the being accepted my proposal and got ready to sit for the interview.
Me: So, you are known as the ‘invincible’. How do you feel about yourself being called as ‘invincible’?
Death: Is it something to boast about? (with a cool demeanor ). I am not sure how you mortals feel, but yes, I do except that I am invincible. Nothing can surpass me (a little superior tone). Having pride or not, does not affect me at all ( an affirm tone).
Me: Don’t you feel bad that you are taking away someone forever? (With a pityful eyes)
Death: No, I don’t feel bad. (With no emotion)
Me: Would you kindly add for your answer? (Staringly)
After a pause, death replied.
Death: (With the same demeanor) I am designed for a purpose. The purpose is to take away everyone and anyone whose name comes in the list. It is my duty to visit whether young, old, middle aged, jolly, sad, sick, poor, vicious, cruel, saint and anybody – any energy enclosed in a vessel. Infact, I am summoned by the soul of a body directing me that I need to accompany it in their journey leading to the gates of the divine (in a poetic tone).
Me: What if the soul doesn’t summon you? (I was looking patiently with intriguing eyes.)
Death: (stress in the utterances) It feels the pain of being alive. I am the reliever of all the pain that the body has to undergo (with a relaxing tone, self proclaiming).
Me: Does the soul not feel pain?
Death: The soul is the best to answer that rightly. (Said with an upright chin)
Me: Do you believe in miracles?
Death: I, myself, is a miracle. Indeed a mystery. So definitely yes. (With confidence radiating a mystery on face)
Me: Why do you have to accompany the soul?
Death: Your question is repeated. Anyways, to elaborate, the soul is in cyclic energy(rising inflection). It is independent of everything. It has the ability to select if it wants to be reborn, but needs a medium i.e. the body. Or it may also will to be a free spirit.
(Calm and composed) My role is to free from the bondage of the body. It is only through my coming the soul is liberated. I have to come.
Me: Aren’t you harsh?
Death: May I have the liberty to ask you, ‘To whom’? (Questioning eyes)
Me: Oh definitely! I am so sorry. I mean to say, you take away the soul and never gives it back. In no way, the one who goes away comes back to the other mortals, to those who remain behind. There is an excruciating pain, an untold tragedy it’s loved ones undergo. What will you say on it?
Death: I don’t react to any situations. Mind of a mortal is free. I forbade them not to think. It is their will. Similarly, harshness is a perspective of a mortal mind. Remind you! I liberate souls. The loved one will have to embrace the absence and I cannot help to ease the pain. But it is all okay. Acceptance and embracing the ‘gone moment’ is celebrating life.
Me: If you are pleased with a mortal being and the mortal ask you to grant him her a wish, what would you grant?
Death: I would grant everything what the mortal asks for with a clause that ‘you have the full will to summon me. I will be at your call’. (A little rising inflection and with cool demeanor)
Me: What advice would you like to give me?
Death: When you call me, I am there to take you and liberate you from the oodles of pain. But imagine mine, I am never liberated (reflection on innerself). The divine created me to follow the commands of time, for ever (folded hands staring at the immense limitless sky). So be contented with the life you have. Be joyful that I am there to ease the journey of your loved one (a smile with a relaxed expression).
Me: I am ready to go with you.
Death: Yes, let me accompany then.
There was silence everywhere. My soul is free but the pain of my loved ones continues.
Indelible feeling while travelling in a fast moving bus on a rainy day that made my tears threaten the eyes to fall or not to, to roll or not to, on the slight wrinkled cheeks of 40. “Am I still romantic?” the thought swayed my mind recalling the best moments spend with Be. The conductor’s garbled voice broke my momentary epiphany that made me aware that I need to get down.
Therefore, transportation is possible.
Descending down from the bus, I looked at the gloaming sky that let the birds chirrup all around, someone reminding the others in the flock, “It’s getting darker, we need to go back home.” I hummed the tune, “Kya huwa Tera waada…..woh Kasam , who irada….bhulaga Dil, usdin tumhe, jisdin jindagi ka aakhiri din hoga…” (What happened to your promise, that vow, that intention…heart will forget, the day my life ends…). My feet took the rhythm of the song on the pavement that was filled with water here and there, which was often accompanied by splash on the ground from the moving vehicles on the road. I looked at the bridge and then the watch, ten past five it read. I walked a little faster with the thought that if only you were waiting for me here. It had been years that I did not see you.
The white benches placed along the footpath of the bridge where now grey. But there, not many days ago, those chairs were painted green. I left my people somewhere in the other world, and there was no way I could send them the message that I was alive, but in a different world. To the calmer wind I said, “Please send the message of my well being to them”.
White bench now turned Grey…
Somewhere, my heart was still singing the rhythm of the song because, there were no groaning suspicious judgemental eyes trying to catch a sight of me. I, as always, longed to meet you here, away from all. A twin thought too emerged about the inconvenience regarding your transportation to this world, because you were late to reach on time. My hope to see you was endless. It was, as if I were meant only to wait. But, it’s okay because hope too is there in waiting.
I quitely took a seat on one of the benches and stared at the tall buildings those were painted in the vast canvas- the purple sky embracing whatever is on it. At the backdrop of the tall buildings were the multiple flyovers. It started drizzling, perhaps the grey patches of clouds were unnoticed by me. Accompanied the rain, was the humid breeze that made my waist length hair more frizzy. “Be, wil you be late?” I asked to Be, as if I was in a telepathic conversation with him.
“Me, I won’t be late this time” a heavy voice whispered into my ears.
Seated, I turned around to find Be smiling at me while holding a folded umbrella. “Do you still want the drizzle tease your skin?” he continued.
Words fail usually, but this time I said smilingly, “Yes, let us both be under the bigger umbrella,than the one in your hands.” He understood what I meant was the sky.
Within no time, I broke in his arms letting my trembling tears mixed with the raindrops on his navy blue blazer. With a warm kiss placed on the temple his arms tightened around me. The bulge of stomach that he once had would not allow his hands around me, but now after the surgery at the age of 50, he was better. However, his stomach missed my pokes. I smiled, with a relaxed heart I said, “I miss you Be.”
He kept his promise.
He kept his promise. We were there to live the days we have it here untill the next thunderbolt that would roar, without a warning, behind the fourth pillar of the bridge, and then within fraction of seconds we would be transported back to the world of questions, a parallel universe.
I found maturity as the best short answer for the above question from the rumble of thoughts in my mind.
Maturity is gained with experiences. For me, the more we age, the better maturity is; so is ‘understanding’ that becomes better with the passing of time. However, sometimes I consider ‘understanding’ as a synonym for maturity.
Maturity needs multiple viewpoints in which acceptance and respect to the others point of view is a priority. When clashes occur during putting forward viewpoints, maturity brings down the clash into a discussions that leads to conclusions and possible outcomes.
We are people with likes and alikes attitudes. We are myriad of thoughts in ourselves. Every thing that we see is a perception of our own understanding and a reflection of our own mind. What we want to see, is the only thing that we see. Maturity speaks of justifying situations.
Hadn’t I been married so young, maturity would take time to seep in me. Hadn’t I been undergone financial instability, I would take long time learn to bring stability. Hadn’t I experienced loss of life, I wouldn’t be so matured to tell maturity gets better with age.
Romantic is a mindset where the mind is at an ethereal state of completeness, a feeling of an epiphanic moment. Need not necessary always associated with a person rather may be with anything that the self loves. Sometimes romantic is recalling an experience of the past, or manifest oneself in the future. It is being complacent with oneself.
With some screenshots from my blog story: Being Romantic
romantic is being loved and to love in a certain sweet way… Romantic is sometimes taking a cup of coffee with choicest people around.
Sprinkled feathers 