In the previous part we learned about how today’s kids need to have a specific skill set to cope with the changing times. In this part we shall learn about what these skills are.

These are essentially skills that kids of today need to –

• Adapt to the rapidly changing education spectrum
• Manage the interdisciplinary dynamics of different streams of education like Science, Arts & humanities
• Face and excel in the intense competition in scholastic and non – scholastic fields
• Develop a well rounded personality to be future ready

These skills can be broadly classified as –

They prepare the kids to adapt to a completely new environment or face challenges thrown their way at the last moment. Life skills are the ones that prepare the child for softer personality traits and make him / her future ready.

• Adaptability – Kids learn this skill right from their birth involuntarily. As they grow they realise its importance and have to be prodded and guided by the parents for better learning of the same.The Corona Pandemic is one such example where all of us had to adapt to a completely new set of living standards. Kids who were able to adapt to online learning mode faster found it easy to navigate through those years. Those who couldn’t, faced tough situations.
• Initiative for Things – it is imperative for today’s kids to have opinions and the ability to make choices. As parents, we must present all possible options to them with regards to academic , non-academic , behavioral and social situations. However, the onus should be on them to choose what they like. We should be the facilitators while they should be the implementers.Fostering an inquisitive and curious bent of mind would help kids to develop such a mindset.
• Social Skills – The world has indeed become a melting pot of cultures with the changing lifestyles. Growing up with friends of different nationalities, cultures and languages is no longer a rarity. Such a set poses challenges especially for the kids. They need to be able to interact with their friends without causing disrespect and embracing others values.
• Time Management – Kids are taught the importance and value of time at all places be it school or home. Yet, with the fast paced life, exposure to multi facets of studies and co curricular activities, time management is a skill that is much needed.

These skills are no longer restricted to having the ability to read and write. With the advent of technology and information overload, today’s kids need to learn skills that would allow them to surf through this knowledge ocean, make sense of the data available and use it to their advantage. They also need to know the pitfalls and dangers of the new age information routes.

• Information Literacy – Kids need to be made aware to decipher the data available to them into good and bad categories. They should be able to make sense of the data, evaluate it and use it to their advantage.
• Media Literacy – There is a multitude of information media available now from television to social media. Even the manner of information relay has many options like podcasts, memes, stories etc. Having media literacy would help kids to have –
  • Critical thinking
  • Understanding the creator’s point of view
  • Learn to compare the information from different sources and decide its credibility.
• ICT Literacy ( Information, Communication & Technology) – The importance of this skill is evident from the fact that it is an integral part of all schools syllabi. Having information about ICT allows the kids to be aware of the safer modes of digital communication, thwarting cyber threats , bullying and be aware of the harmful impact or the dark side of the digital world.

We need to adapt to the changing world around us by upgrading our skills. Only theoretical knowledge is no longer enough. The kids of today need to imbibe the below mentioned learning skills to be future ready –

• Critical Thinking – This skill allows kids to understand concepts, question their reasons and put it to use for practical purposes. It makes them independent thinkers. Kids have an innate habit of being curious. This can lead to creative thinking if channeled in the right direction.
• Creativity – Kids have vivid imagination. This inherent behavior can be encouraged to lead to a problem solving or solution seeking attitude. It also allows them to think of multiple solutions to a given problem and come up with unique ones.
• Collaboration – We want our kids to be team players and not one man army. With the world becoming one big community, it is essential that they learn to perform and carry out tasks with peers from different backgrounds. Collaboration makes the kids friendly, empathetic, understanding and mindful of others’ views.
• Communication – It is a basic skill that allows us to express ourselves. The digital and technological advances have further put emphasis on this skill. It has become crucial to problem solving ability, dealing with different personality types and navigating one’s way through a myriad of communication streams.

Many of these skills are being taught by parents, elders and teachers at homes and schools respectively. However, in today’s changing world it is imperative for us to know their categorisation. This would help in initiating a more structured approach to make the kids learn, imbibe and master these skills. Let’s make ourselves aware of these and make our kids ready to face any challenge head on.

The last part of the series would focus on what steps can be taken by elders to facilitate the learning of these 21st century skills.

Continued…………………

On May 10, 2015, I was built in a Honda factory where workers put my parts together.

A few days later, I was sent to a showroom. Many families visited the showroom, but no one took me home with them. My fellow cars got their new homes, I was waiting for mine too. But for a long time, I didn’t get one. One evening, I overheard some workers whisper that My limited space, outdated design, and lack of advanced features made me undesirable. Still, hope lingered within me.

One day, an old man and his wife- Nandini came in. They looked at me and then at each other, and then back at me. The old man smiled and said, “This is the one”. Tears rolled down his cheeks, and he exclaimed to his wife, “I fulfilled my promise to get you your car”. Getting me home was like a dream come true to them.

Over time Mohan (the man) would take me to drive, and when we returned in the evening, he would park me in the garage. Sunday evenings were my favorite. It brought drives to a chaat stall, followed by the ice cream dates. During these rides, Mohan would sing and crack jokes and Nandini would laugh. I shared their deepest secrets, fights, and hugs.

Time went on, and one evening, someone unfamiliar entered my cabin. Moments later, Mohan came running, he was holding Nandini in his arms, and he was crying. He sat with Nandini in the back seat. Soon we reached the hospital. Hours passed and then I saw Mohan coming back with Nandini in his arms like earlier but Nandini still didn’t open her eyes, Mohan held her and made her sit next to the driver’s seat, and he sat on the driver’s seat. We went to all the places, we used to visit, like any other day but the only difference was this time no one got out, and instead of sharing laughs, Nandini was silent and Mohan’s eyes were full and this is how I knew, Nandini was dead and this was my final drive. When we got home, Mohan laid Nandini to rest, and then he looked at me with teary eyes.

Two years passed, and I was still there. I didn’t hear from Mohan since then, I knew he left our home, but I didn’t know if he was dead or alive but I missed him dearly.

Time kept fading, and I spent all my life in Mohan’s garage until someone took me to a junkyard.

‘The faint aroma of gum and calico that hangs about a library is like the fragrance of incense to me. I think the most beautiful sight is the gilt-edged backs of a row of books on a shelf. The alley between two well-stocked shelves in a hall fills me with the same delight as passing through a silent avenue of trees. The colour of a binding-cloth and its smooth texture gives me the same pleasure as touching a flower on its stalk. A good library hall has an atmosphere which elates. I have seen one or two University Libraries that have the same atmosphere as a chapel, with large windows, great trees outside, and glass doors sliding on noiseless hinges.’

Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami (yes our beloved R K Narayan) have given us a range of emotions to cherish with immensely rooted writings for decades. Today no one is unversed to the hugely celebrated world of Malgudi. And ofcourse it’s characters. The Indianness of these characters. These are our stories. Familiar setting. Familiar vibes. Constructing a fictional world right from the scratch is no mean feat. Narayan’s colourful and a picturesque portrait of a common man’s everyday routine has been spot on. Seamlessly weaved with sheer finesse.

The legend we look upto, navigated his way through the struggle driven pathways early on in his career. Underwhelming payments, lack of support, constant endless manuscript rejections; the difficult route was undertaken with head held high. More specifically his unadulterated love for writing as an artform turned him into a gem of a storyteller.

‘Swami and Friends’, ‘The Bachelor of arts’ and ‘The English teacher’ formed a trilogy of his initial published work, in that order. His books resonated with the readers. Milieu seemed relatable. Memorable plots and unforgettable characters engaged the readers. And moved them emotionally.

The classic ‘Malgudi Days’, a collection of short stories set in the magically flavourful town of Malgudi became immortal. The humane side of characters, and of the society at large, was beautifully portrayed. Varied different perspectives, varied different schools of thought, rooted organic emotions; the book ticked every box possible. With time the book also went on to become a gateway for the foreign readers into the Indian cultural landscape. A tender portrayal of Indian small town life, as mentioned by critics and readers alike.

Narayan never shied away from calling spade a spade. His books dealt with sensitive themes and taboo topics. He wrote about the then regressive Indian practices, emotional turmoil of students due to varied different social issues, certain subtle inhuman rituals, so on and so forth.

This honest portrayal of the society he inhabited, the observations he made and the experiences he gathered; all of it found a mention in his books in some or the other capacity.

Soon Narayan began experimenting with the form of his writings, the style and the approach. Despite retaining his own identity in his work, he began exploring themes which were beyond his realm of primarily inward looking personal experience based writing. He also wrote essays, non-fiction and mythological books.

Other than the household titles like ‘Malgudi Days’ and ‘The man eater of Malgudi’, Narayan’s illustrious body of work spans across a long worthy list. ‘The Dark Room’, ‘Mr Sampath’, ‘The financial expert’, ‘Waiting for the Mahatma’, ‘The Guide’, ‘Next Sunday’, ‘My dateless diary’, ‘A writer’s nightmare’, ‘Gods, Demons and others’, ‘An astrologer’s day’, ‘A horse and two goats’, and many more.

R K Narayan represented India in global literature. Westerners looked up to him as an original voice, talking about his own land and his very own people in the purest possible form. Consistent humor and intricately nuanced narrative characterized Narayan’s writings. Simplicity and humanity was on full display. Minimalism too found its way. His text offered a closer intimate look at the varied different facets of human behavior and humans as species in general.

‘You become a writer by writing. It is yoga.’ The master states. And leaves us wanting for more. Every single time.

It’s time to return back to Malgudi yet again. To the simpler world and the simpler times. For a simpler, yet exciting life. And the stories which form along the way.

A true artist can showcase his skills and competence at any place, and art can be found everywhere. In addition to being displayed in upscale galleries and exhibitions, art can also be seen on walls, automobiles and trucks, clothing, and, of course, paper.

Inscriptions on the wall served as the first forms of art and a simple form of communication. Before alphabets and languages were discovered, humans communicated by drawing on the cave walls. But art has changed and advanced significantly over time. We adorned our spaces with works of art and even used them to express ourselves.

It is still used to communicate feelings and emotions that cannot be put into words and convert about our personality in ways that we cannot even wonder. India is a diverse country that is famous for various kinds of art.

Here are some wonderful art forms of India that are famous all over the world and are extremely difficult to master.

Madhubani art originated in the state of Bihar, notably in the Mithila region. Originally, the designs were made with rice paste and natural hues derived from flowers like roses, marigolds, henna leaves, bougainvillaea and so on. Artists depicted scenes from the natural world which included human beings, animals, trees, and flowers. The simple and beautiful artworks were painted with the help of bamboo sticks. The artform has now modernised as artists have now started painting intricate designs on wooden planks, paper, and cloth with ink pens and other sharp objects to give it a more contemporary appearance.

If you wish to make Madhubani paintings at home, start with the use of simple sketches and patterns as shown in the video. Once you gain confidence with this form of art, move onto more symmetrical and intricate designs.

Indian culture was originally exposed to miniature paintings by the Bengali Palas. More intriguingly, these artworks used episodes from Buddha’s life as shown on palm leaves to impart his teachings. Artists used intricate brushstrokes to depict scenes using leaves and linen. By giving this art form a Persian and a European twist to show current events, court proceedings, and cultural life at the period, the Mughals utilised it.

Start by practising simple miniature landscape designs. Once you gain a strong grip, start practising intricate designs on a larger paper and then reduce the size of canvas gradually.

Fun Fact: Babur was the first ruler to use this style of painting in his autobiography. Jehangir introduced scientific correctness to the style.

The state of Andhra Pradesh proudly supports the art form of Kalamkari. The two main varieties are Machilipatnam Kalamkari from the Krishna district and Srikalahasthi from the Chittoor district. This stunning work of art is ageless and occult. One such pattern liberally used in Kalamkari paintings is the Tree of Life. Kalamkari artists began illustrating scenes from the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Bhagavatam. Freehand drawing or block printing on fabric can be used to create this detailed form of painting, but both require high levels of precision.

The word ‘kalam’ stands for pen, therefore, it basically means artwork done with a pen. Therefore, if you wish to be a kalamkari artist, start by working with sketch pens and draw simple patterns on an art file.

Fun Fact: The main design is traced with charcoal sticks and a bamboo pen dipped in black kasimi liquid. The dye is extracted from natural vegetables.

The characteristic South Indian painting style, also known as Thanjavur paintings, originated in Tamil Nadu, and eventually expanded to the state of Andhra Pradesh. Tanjore paintings are characterised by their eye-catching embellishments, eye-catching colours, and elaborate designs with gold and silver accents. Tanjore paintings are for maximalists who like intricately composed depictions of Gods and Goddesses with arches, drapery, and decorative borders. To learn this intricate artform, take a portrait and start experimenting with artificial embellishments. You must learn about colour theory to gain knowledge of complementing and contrasting colours before you start drawing portraits on your own and decorating them.

Fun Fact: The painting style is associated with the Vijayanagar Empire as the rulers were great patrons of art and culture.

Pattachitra is well known in West Bengal and Odisha. Pattachitra is renowned for presenting folktales and mythological scenarios painted on paper, linen, and palm leaves. These cloth-based scroll drawings were discovered in 5 BC and were influenced by Lord Jagannath, a manifestation of Lord Krishna. When the three Lords of Puri Dham—Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra—get sick, people worship these paintings. Sayera Chitrakar, one of the most well-known and accomplished Pattachitra artists, has resurrected the ancient art form, which has been modernised and can be seen on mugs, artefacts, and even jewellery.

The art of pattachitra can be practised on any surface. Therefore, you can start working on recycled paper plates, peepal leaves, old cloth bags, used coffee mugs and so on.

Fun fact: The Pattachitra art style is an Odisha tribal art. Raghurajpur village is well-known for its Pattachitra paintings.

The seven-hundred-year-old technique of painting from Bhilwara region of Rajasthan originated 700 years ago. The paintings offer a pictorial depiction of local religious deities. The most interesting fact about these paintings is that these paintings are treated as temples themselves. Therefore, when an artist is travelling with the artwork from one place to another, the works are treated as “mobile temples”. The story depicted in the paintings are accompanied with a procession that dances as well as sings. For beginners, start sketching simple elephants and half faces. Phad paintings can be mastered by simply maintaining consistency and by neatly working on simple figures. Once you gain confidence with individual elements, you can bring it all together beautifully in a single piece.

Fun Fact: The state of Rajasthan is a treasure trove of paintings. Origin of art forms like Kajali paintings, Gemstone paintings, Pichwai paintings, and Bhitti Chitra paintings can be traced to this state.

Art has always been a way for people to express their feelings and ideas. People who don’t express their emotions out loud can nonetheless do so through art. Through the arts, you learn how to be patient, resilient, and sympathetic to others. It enhances your capacity for creativity, hones your memory, and instils in you the value of close attention to detail. Since there is no right or wrong way to create art, it can be a lot of fun to modernise traditional forms and add your own creative touches. So, explore the world of art and let your creative side take the lead.

With August 15 around the corner, there is an air of excitement in the country. Rightly so, for we are going to celebrate the day when we, as a nation, got our independence after a long struggle of which we often read in our books, text books and newspapers.

We are reminded about the great leaders as well as common people who sacrificed the prime of their youth to help attain independence from the clutches from the cruel, exploitative colonial power. A few decades have passed and India has made giant strides in many fields. The country has prospered and so have its people. Yes, there are pockets of poverty and deprivation but efforts are going on to eradicate these.

Nationalism runs deep among the people, but especially the children of this great nation. It is a pleasure to see and hear children sing the national anthem with their little chests puffed with pride. They sing with gusto and an enthusiasm that, unfortunately, diminishes as we grow. That enthusiasm turns into respect and a strange sense of devotion.

As we step into adulthood, some of us become cynical towards our country. The reasons can be many: our needs and desires have not been met leading to anger towards our country. Some of us might be disillusioned but we adjust with the thought that it is not the country which is to be blamed but the leaders who are not able to deliver. Human beings are frivolous by nature. If we get what we desire, we praise and appreciate and if we don’t get what we aspire we are quick to criticise. Feelings for the country also fall in this category.

There are the very rich who sit in their plush, luxurious drawing rooms and criticise the country and there are also those who do not have necessities and thus, feel qualified to criticise the actions of the government. There are others who praise the country despite the drawbacks. There are the richest amongst the rich who swear by the country. So, a lot depends upon your nurturing as well as your personal experiences. But by large, a big chunk of the population believes that India is a great country which will only rise to further greatness.

There are a lot of cases where young boys and girls are returning from foreign shores to serve the Motherland. It is amazing to see them work in rural areas to uplift the downtrodden and the poor. It is surprising because these young boys and girls could have made a fortune abroad, but decided to come back and return to their country, which had helped them stand on their feet.

There are other people who have done remarkably well in their life and have returned to their roots after making it big in the Western world. They are contributing to the country by sharing a huge part of their earnings for the development of their neighbourhood village or the community. These all are diverse shades of nationalism.

What prompted me to think on this issue were two stray remarks which I came across in the past few months. I would like to talk about the first positive comment on nationalism which gave me goosebumps.

For the past few years, I was seeking information on the martyrs who have laid their lives in the service of the nation. I would leave comments so that I would get more information where I lacked any. One day I got a phone call from a stranger who wanted the address of a particular martyr who hailed from Punjab. It took me some time to understand the intention of the caller. As he talked about himself I could only listen in awe.

The caller was one Jitendra Singh from Surat, Gujarat. He worked as a gatekeeper in one of the prestigious private universities. As to why he wanted the address of the martyr, left me dumbfounded. He told me that since the Kargil War he had taken upon himself the task of writing a letter of condolence to the families of all the martyrs. He said that while he could do nothing else, writing that short letter was his way of saluting the martyr and the sacrifice of the families.

He also praised the young boys and girls of his college who, when they learnt the intentions and the work of Jitendra Singh accumulated money and bought a cart load of postcards so that Jitendra Singh could write without any hiccups. He told me that the young did not run away from the nation and they not only got postcards for him, which lasted for years but also went around the town collecting money to be sent to the defence fund. Classic example of one man inspiring many others.

The other example, which I am going to mention here, left me very angry and sad. On one of our visits to the parliament in Delhi a comment by a relative of a student left me numb. It was an educational tour and most of the students were excited and happy to visit the parliament as well as the museum at Rashtrapati Bhavan. But some of the students wanted to have a good time by visiting the market. As we had gone from Chandigarh to Delhi, time was a constraint.

The students also wanted to go to the National War Memorial if time permitted. But going to the National War Memorial would mean skipping the fun time at the market. When the students insisted that they wanted to go to the National War Memorial one of the relatives of the student said, ‘Why go to the War memorial? It is only some pieces of stone.’ I was shocked. The useless pieces of stone were not just stones for each stone had the name of a martyr inscribed on it. Ask the families of the martyrs the memories which are invoked when they see the name of their dear one on that lifeless wall. The wall does not remain lifeless but comes alive with memories which are both happy as well as sad. The moment I gathered my wits and rebuked him, the boy,who was running a business tried to make amends. But the damage had been done. I would never be able to respect him again.

Thus, nationalism reflects in actions as well as in our thoughts. You will hear people compare India with the Western countries and lament its lack of development. You will also hear people criticise the citizens of this country. Well then that is where you and I come in. We are the population of this country, and we can make a difference. And remember, we are a young country when we compare ourselves with America or the United Kingdom who set their house in order many centuries before us. So it’s that time of the year when you can promise to serve your nation to the best of your abilities.

Congratulations on this pious day and for being citizens of this huge, beautiful, diverse country which is developing despite innumerable hurdles. Let us hope and pray that better sense prevails and each of us does our duty religiously.