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Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
How to raise a boy: As we raise our boys, we also raise ourselves
As a teacher with nearly 18 years of experience, at different schools in Ranchi, Kolkata and Delhi, I have taught young boys and girls from the age group of 11 to 17 years. I have seen several generations transition from boys to men, and the odyssey of emotional growth is never easy. My first challenge was in 1998, as an eager-eyed and bushy-tailed teacher stepping into a gallery of rowdy 16-year-old Class XI students in a school in Ranchi, where the boys rudely, though rather jauntily, demanded my 'introduction'. They preferred to be taught in Hindi, notwithstanding the fact that I was being paid to teach English. They, not I, ruled the classroom, and the 23-year-old avatar of this now grey-haired teacher soon figured out that if one could not snatch their attention in the first five minutes, there was no way anything could be taught or learnt. The principal of the school, a former English teacher himself, understood my frustration and said, 'Madam, upar waale ne kisi ko nikamma nahi banaya. Aapke paas to duniya bhar ke khazaane hai (Madam, god has not created anybody without talent. You have, in your possession, a treasure from across the world)'. He meant the world of literature. A timeless route into young hearts and minds that seemed to have the least hurdle appeared to be poetry. Young men going into battle were known to carry books of poetry with them. I hoped the 'experiment' would somehow work. The sound of the words, the rhythm of the verses, and the lyricism of language (Urdu, Hindi or English) did magically open pathways — to libraries, to bookshops, to friends' bookshelves, or dusty gullies with second-hand book or magazine stalls. Slowly, but surely, a few started striding into class with a poem or a song and read it out or simply talk. A class could begin with a Jagjit Singh ghazal or a latest Euphoria hit, with the loud fists-on-desk rhythm of back-benchers that can never be replicated outside classrooms or canteens. And on one occasion, a Class V boy blithely sang 'Dashing through the snow' in sun-beaten May. The principal, a gentleman who had served for many years in a Sainik School, encouraged my efforts. He was vocal in his critique of corporal punishment long before it was banned. 'It is a form of violence,' he said categorically. He presented me with a tape-recorder to play music in class and the freedom to teach students a song or two in English. Though I spent just two years in that school, the boys started reaching out whenever they found the time or the quiet confidence to sing a song, read aloud a poem or nazm or talk about a film they had watched. The schoolboys I taught appeared sensitive and empathetic by nature, they nurtured a genuine love for Urdu couplets or shayari, and some wrote in their spare time — all this without any encouragement from adults. It was, however, the era of 'tough love', which meant a reproach, if not a sound thrashing, was believed to be the cure for most things. Teachers and parents would tear down the efforts of these young boys with hurtful comments about how they were only trying to win the attention of girls. It was no surprise, then, that we adults were always viewed with suspicion and the boys had their own 'secret societies'. In my small-town world, it was also the era when 'roadside Romeos' would occasionally be subjected to a forced 'shearing' or a haircut by the self-appointed moral police outside women's colleges or girls' schools. 'Privacy', 'autonomy', or 'space' were alien concepts. Then there was the usual complaint, 'Teachers like girls more; they are biased.' Newspaper headlines screaming 'Girls outshine boys in the Board' were furnished as proof. Confronting such allegations proved to be tricky, but the whining seemed indicative of a feeling of being invisible or unmentored. Given an opportunity to express their feelings without being judged, these very same boys seemed more open to ideas or engagement. The spirit of adventure, rather misadventure, dogged their steps like a shadow. Since the school was on the outskirts, several boys drove their motorbikes to school at full speed. It was a 'flex', I was told. An accident left one severely injured and bedridden for weeks. How does one talk to teenage boys without sounding preachy? After I met the injured boy, I suggested to the class that they paint get-well-soon cards for him. I shared details about his long treatment, physiotherapy, the pain, his depression and the need to be with him in his hour of crisis. Soon after, the situation was reversed. His friends took it upon themselves to visit him and follow up on his treatment, filling me in with all the details of his recovery. Their cockiness faded when they saw a peer in distress and a circle of empathy was forged. Boys whose parents were doctors turned to them, drawing them into offering timely help and advice. But let us return to poetry. A few years ago, a boy who was the 'topper' from his batch, and is now studying in the college of his dreams, came to meet me. As we walked around the serene campus of the big-city school where I now teach, he mentioned casually, 'You know the poem I often come back to — Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken. We read it in Class IX. There are times I have lain awake at night, thinking about the lines, about myself… Two roads diverged in the yellow wood/ And sorry I could not travel both/ And be one traveller…' I returned home that day deep in thought. Young boys who are in our homes, our neighbourhoods, our classrooms, and out of whom we expect the world — stable and upward career graphs, nurturing homes, secure bank balances — are sensitive young people, dealing with emotions they find hard to grapple with. Do we pause to read or listen, or sing to them as they grow up? Are we 'raising' them or are we failing them, if we do not? As we 'raise' our boys, we also raise ourselves. The principal I mentioned earlier in this write-up is someone who imparted life lessons on how to 'raise' a teacher. The boys we 'raise' will pay forward what they receive today. The writer teaches English in a school in Delhi. She hails from Jharkhand
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Grit & grime: Global youths hear survival stories at Sanjay Camp
New Delhi:Just beyond the orderly elegance of Chanakyapuri lies Sanjay Camp, a jhuggi cluster wedged between privilege and persistence, where young lives are busy rewriting their fate. In this narrow maze of tin roofs and tarpaulin walls, a unique gathering unfolded on Thursday. Students from USA, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Palestine, Vietnam, Liberia, Bhutan and other corners of the world had gathered — not to volunteer or help, but to listen and to learn. Part of Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi 's summer school initiative, these international youth leaders were brought to India to see the country, but, more importantly, to confront its contrasts. At Sanjay Camp, they met teenagers, many of whom had once worked as child labourers, suffered addiction in the family or faced the looming threat of child marriage. Now, they are change-makers, leaders in their own right. At just 16 or 17 years in age, they had helped declare their community child-labour-free. They had spoken out against addiction. They had fought for school enrolment. And won. "I started working when I was just 15 years old," said Rahul, now 19, recalling his time as a daily-wage brick carrier, earning Rs 200 a day to help feed his family. Across from him, Aleksandra from the US, pursuing a BSc degree in behavioural neuroscience, reflected on how she too had worked at 17 but in an air-conditioned retail store, protected by strict labour laws. "I worked at a clothing store, I wanted to save up for college," said Aleksandra. "Even though I was a minor, there were systems in place. We had shorter, regulated hours, and we weren't treated like adults. There was a clear separation, and it felt safe." Rahul had a contrasting experience, "I didn't have a choice. There were no protective measures, just long hours and survival." Then, with a big smile, he added, "But things are different now. I'm an assistant football coach. I've even had sessions at the German embassy." Beatrice from Liberia quietly listened to 15-year-old Nisha tell of how she intervened to stop a child marriage on her lane. "Abuse is common back home too," Beatrice said. "But Nisha didn't wait, she stepped up. I want that kind of courage." The interactions didn't always need words. In broken English, hesitant Hindi and bursts of laughter, barriers began to melt. Strangers became friends. Problems, though born of different geographies, found common ground. Seventeen-year-old Mahek, a Class XI student and one of the most spirited voices in the crowd, shared how Sanjay Camp now ran its own Bal Panchayat, a children's parliament. With elected representatives for roles ranging from president to environment and hygiene ministers, the colony mirrors a democratic govt. Only here, the lawmakers are teenagers, young voices who raise real issues and spark real change. As Mahek spoke, her voice rang with conviction. Among the admiring listeners was 21-year-old Namgay Choden, a law student from Bhutan. "We do have youth govts in Bhutan at many levels," Choden exclaimed, "but to see a self-sustained, grassroots govt in a slum settlement — led entirely by children — is extraordinary. If something like this could be replicated elsewhere, it would transform local awareness and accountability. " As the group of young leaders mingled, conversations turned to dreams. A delegate from Kazakhstan asked what everyone wanted to do. A camp girl expressed the wish to study law. Another mentioned theatre. Then came Carlos from Mexico, who got the loudest cheer when he said, "I want to make music videos." He looked up, pointed at the bright red tent with yellow patterns above their heads, and smiled, "Even this, just the colours, the vibe, the culture here, everything's so full of life and It's all inspiration. " Asmita Satyarthi, CEO of Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion, said, "The summer school is our first step in actioning our vision, not in a boardroom or on a campus, but in the real world, side by side with children, communities and survivor leaders across India." Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Time of India
Mass failures: Teachers given the boot; one shunted, seven transferred
Pudukottai: The mass failure of students at the Aranthangi Govt Model Boys School in Pudukottai in board exams has sparked disciplinary action against teachers of the school. The district education office has suspended one teacher for consuming alcohol on campus and transferred seven others for negligence that directly contributed to the poor academic performance, where more than 40% of students failed to make it past the line. While the seven teachers were transferred for 'failing' in their duty to help students pass, the suspended teacher was also found to be irregular to classes due to his drinking habit and was described as a 'hindrance' to the academic growth of students in the suspension order. "There has been a thorough inquiry, and we found that the vocational teacher had attended classes in an inebriated state multiple times and had also consumed alcohol on campus," chief educational officer K Shanmugam told TOI. Sources also said the action was not solely due to the results but also stemmed from 'blatant' negligence of duty—such as irregular attendance, frequently being distracted by their phones during class hours, and even running personal businesses from within the campus. The disciplinary measures follow an inquiry ordered by the district education authorities on May 19 to ascertain why an unusually high number of students had failed en masse. The orders, issued on June 6 and handed over to the teachers on Monday, include various streams, including chemistry, history, commerce, mathematics, science, and agriculture. Among them, three held undergraduate degrees and four were postgraduates. The former headmaster retired on May 31, and the school is currently being overseen by an in-charge HM deputed from Avudaiyarkoil school. Aranthangi MLA ST Ramachandran, who had also been part of the inquiry, welcomed the move. "A WhatsApp group has been created—including locals, parents, SMC members, and education officials—to monitor the situation from now on. Hopefully, many students will clear the supplementary exams soon. This should be a wake-up call. I hope things take a turn for the better," he told TOI. The poor performance drew attention after 107 of the 256 students who appeared for the Class XII board exams failed, while 99 out of 240 Class XI students also did not clear the exams. In Class X, 36 out of 107 students failed as well.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Coimbatore slips from top to fourth position in Tamil Nadu Class XI State board examination results
Coimbatore district, which secured the top position in the Tamil Nadu State board Class XI examination results last year, slipped to the fourth position this year with a pass percentage of 95.77. The results for the academic year 2024–2025 were announced on Friday. Last year, Coimbatore had recorded a pass percentage of 96.02. A total of 36,082 students from 366 schools in the district appeared for the examination. Of them, 34,556 passed. Among the 16,615 boys who appeared, 15,624 cleared the exam, registering a pass percentage of 94.04%. Of the 19,467 girls, 18,932 passed, marking a pass percentage of 97.50%. As many as 154 schools in Coimbatore district recorded a 100% pass rate. In Tiruppur district, 26,783 students appeared for the Class XI examinations this year, of whom 25,341 passed. The district recorded an overall pass percentage of 94.62% and ranked eighth in the State. Last year, Tiruppur had secured third place with a pass percentage of 95.23. In 2023, it had topped the State.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Half of Sambhajinagar colleges yet to register for centralized admission process even as deadline nears
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Class XI centralized admission process (CAP) in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has received a tepid response, with nearly half of the 490 colleges from urban and rural areas still pending registration by Tuesday afternoon. The approaching May 15 deadline has not accelerated the registration process as have emphasised that unregistered colleges will be barred from admitting Class XI students. "We have set up help centres in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and at different taluka places to help colleges in carrying out online registration. Colleges have been asked to reach out to these facilities if they face any difficulties," education officer Ashwini Latkar statewide expansion of CAP this year, incorporating rural colleges, presents a significant administrative challenge for authorities managing student enrolments across both urban and rural regions. A senior academic from a Kannad taluka college in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar noted that including rural institutions in CAP would have substantial implications."Many rural areas have colleges that run without adequate staff and facilities. Still, a large section of students prefer these colleges as these institutions are hotbeds for rampant exam malpractices and ensure easy passing of students. These colleges in the past found manipulating intake capacity and such an errant practice may cease due to the CAP," he said, preferring to the official timeline, junior colleges can register for CAP from May 8. Following the SSC results announcement, student profiles will be created between May 19 and May 28. The authorities intend to complete the CAP process before Aug Sambhajinagar: The Class XI centralized admission process (CAP) in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has received a tepid response, with nearly half of the 490 colleges from urban and rural areas still pending registration by Tuesday afternoon. The approaching May 15 deadline has not accelerated the registration process as have emphasised that unregistered colleges will be barred from admitting Class XI students. "We have set up help centres in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and at different taluka places to help colleges in carrying out online registration. Colleges have been asked to reach out to these facilities if they face any difficulties," education officer Ashwini Latkar statewide expansion of CAP this year, incorporating rural colleges, presents a significant administrative challenge for authorities managing student enrolments across both urban and rural regions. A senior academic from a Kannad taluka college in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar noted that including rural institutions in CAP would have substantial implications."Many rural areas have colleges that run without adequate staff and facilities. Still, a large section of students prefer these colleges as these institutions are hotbeds for rampant exam malpractices and ensure easy passing of students. These colleges in the past found manipulating intake capacity and such an errant practice may cease due to the CAP," he said, preferring to the official timeline, junior colleges can register for CAP from May 8. Following the SSC results announcement, student profiles will be created between May 19 and May 28. The authorities intend to complete the CAP process before Aug 11.
