On facilities, encouragement, and amazing results

A few days ago, I visited Sakarwadi, where one of our schools, Somaiya Vidya Mandir, and where many children come from very difficult backgrounds. This is where, we also started a sports programme a few years ago. There are about 500 students in the school from class 5-10. And, 60 students from the school are playing at the Pune Division level. In Badminton, Table Tennis and Hockey. Amazing, what a bit of facilities and encouragement can do!!! 10% of the school children having won in the Zilla, the district, and now at the Pune Division. Next step, the State level. And these kids are faring well academically too.

Foundation Day 2015

It was humbling to speak to all our faculty this past week.  We have over 1400 faculty, and I believe that over a thousand came together today, to celebrate our 55th birthday of Somaiya Vidyavihar.  It was the first time, that we had come together as all the faculty.  And to meet everyone together.

The idea came from Vijay Joshi, that why don't I address all the faculty together, and explain the vision of the Somaiya Trust, and what we are trying to do in the fields of education, health care, rural and tribal development, and the preservation of Indian culture.

There was so much energy in the room.  To see all of us together, in one room, in one place.

Thank you all for coming.  Thank you all, for being part of the Somaiya Family.  There is so much we want to do.  We cannot do it without you.  But with you, we can create the world we dream of.  

On big learnings from small things

Just last Saturday, we were in Dahanu, at our school that we manage there.  There are about 700 children studying there, with about 450 in the student hostel.  Most of the children come from the Varli community.  What was great to see, that the some students were serving all the others.  They took turns in serving their friends.

I joined them for dinner.  

When food was placed in my plate, I asked Pooja, one of the students, whether she was going to start eating.  She mentioned, that only when all the students were served, and they said the prayer together, they would start.

That was so wonderful.  In our daily hurry, we sometimes forget these wonderful and simple habits, that inculcate a consideration for others, and a sense of community.

At the end of dinner, they cleaned their own plates.

Two of our School and Junior College Teachers spend 6 weeks doing world class research at Cornell

Two of our teachers, Beena Vazhapilly (K. J. Somaiya Junior College of Science and Commerce) and Vaishali Salunke 
(Shri Sharda English Medium School - Kopargaon) spent 6 weeks at Cornell University, learning about 
Science education, along with teachers from the USA, and working with Cornell Scientists doing some 
hands on, world class research.  They have just returned from Cornell, and have had life changing 
experiences.  I am hoping, that this experience will make them think deeply on how to transform our 
Science education, and also on how to encourage students to think 
of Science.

This visit was happened with the support and encouragement of Julie Nucci and Paulette Clancy, 
faculty at Cornell.  In February this past year, we had visits from Cornell researchers, and High School 
Science teachers from upstate New York.  We hope that we can continue this program next year as well.

On unexpected results, and wonderful moments

This past week, when at Miraj railway station, I met Ibrahim Arabhavi, a traffic policeman who stopped me when I was walking to my train. He said that he had just won the silver medal in the triple jump a week ago (he meant to say a year ago, but in his excitement, he mentioned a week ago - http://www.fidal.it/risultati/2013/COD3964/Gara170.htm), at the Torino World Masters over 35. When I further asked why he mentioned this to me, he said that he often came to Mumbai to practice at the Somaiya Vidyavihar track, to better prepare for his participation. It is amazing how the availability of facilities can make a difference in the lives of so many, who may be living so far away.

Our School and Junior Faculty will spend 6 weeks at Cornell University!!

Two of our faculty, Vaishali Salunkhe (Sharda School in Kopargaon -http://www.somaiya.edu/vidyavihar/sharda) and Beena Vazhapalli (K. J. Somaiya Junior College of Science and Commerce -http://www.somaiya.edu/vidyavihar/kjssc), have just reached Cornell University, to spend 6 weeks there, part of a US NSF Funded Cornell “Grass Roots” GK12 summer program at Cornell, where they will have the opportunity to engage in original research on bio-energy related projects, to listen to daily energy-related seminars and will be encouraged to share their teaching experiences with the Cornell PhD students in the program.

We had invited graduate students from Cornell, and K12 teachers from upstate New York, to spend time with us. In return, they have invited 2 teachers from our institution to spend time at Cornell.

We have chosen one teacher from our Junior College in Mumbai, and the other from the School we run in Kopargaon. We are really excited that they will learn in such an enriching environment. We are thankful to Program Director Julie Nucci, and Professor Paulette Clancy from Chemical Engineering, to invite our teachers.

On Giving, and Giving Quietly

Last week, a Well Wisher visited the K. J. Somaiya Medical hospital, and donated a dialysis machine. On seeing the service provided, he volunteered to provide another 5-6 machines so that the service to the poor could be expanded. He did not want to be named.

This adds in capital, to the operating assistance we get from another donor, who is also very quiet giver, who subsidizes the cost of dialysis to the poor. As a result, we are currently able to provide dialysis care to those who cannot afford it, at under Rs. 400 per treatment. What wonderful examples of giving.

I think, that we should celebrate such examples, since the world needs more role models of those who give, rather than those who simply 'make'.

As the Dalai Lama said last week, that our education teaches us today, to spend more time following that which is limited (material goods), instead of also spending time in cultivating that which is unlimited (the power of the mind). We need to make, but also, from what we make, to give back to society.

There is a beautiful saying in Sanskrit:

शतहस्त समाहर सहस्त्रहस्त संकिर

Earn with a hundred hands, but give with a thousand.