Motivation
Summit (1)
This
was the final event where the students showcased their learning
experience to an audience of parents, teachers and friends. The
event was organized at the St. Xavier's plaza. The
Professor and the Boatman (Play 1): In this world there
are many kinds of knowledge, what should one learn and what not
to learn becomes difficult to determine. Many a times it so happens
that we are so enamored by what the shatras call avidya or ignorance
that we completely forget about getting knowledge. Perfect knowledge
is that which can take you to the ultimate goal of life. It is
the knowledge that every human being should possess. On this theme
a play based on a popular story The Professor and the Boatman
was written and enacted out by the children.
The
scene is the bank of the Ganges. The professor has come to enjoy
the scene by the bank of the Ganges. He requests the boatmen sitting
by the bank to take him for a boat ride. The boatman, Harisharan
agrees and hence begins a philosophical conversation between the
two. The professor enquires about the meaning of Harisharan's
name and on being told that it means one who has taken shelter
of the Supreme Lord, phooh-pahs this attitude of Indians who are
forever waiting for God to deliver instead of working hard for
themselves. Like this Harisharan, according to the professor,
has wasted 25% of his life. Further the professor enquires if
Harisharan has had any education, to which the poor rustic replies
negatively. The professor promptly declares that he has wasted
another 25% of his life. The skies meanwhile begin to darken and
thunder can be heard rumbling ominously. The boat begins to rock
and roll. The professor appears a bit shaken but is still determined
to prove to the poor boatman that he has lived in vain.
Seeing
that the professor is getting increasingly nervous as waves begin
to rise in the Ganga, the boatman nervously enquires from his
charge, whether he can swim. The professor, thoroughly shaken
by now, his self assured manner replaced by panic, replies that
he cannot swim! That brings a smile on the boatman's face and
prompts him to comment that the professor has learnt so much but
he has not learnt to swim! He has indeed wasted 100% of his life!
Seth
Parmanand (Play 2): Indian culture has a tradition of
satisfaction, which has allowed its people to focus on time and
energy on spirituality. This culture is being fast eroded by capitalist
thinking and we find everybody hard at work accumulating wealth
that they may never enjoy. Meanwhile the whole purpose of the
human form of life is lost. This play explores the concept of
what the west is now recognizing as 'voluntary simplicity'. This
quality was the ornament of the brahminical class in India. The
Brahmins traditionally lead a simple life, which can be source
of inspiration for our youth which is under increasing pressure
to become a consuming machine.
Seth
Parmanand has an extended family of sons and grandsons for whom
he is constantly planning, accumulating and hoarding. One such
crusade of his takes him to the house of his astrologer for advice.
After the consultation is over he offers dakhshina, an offering
of money for services rendered. He is willing to pay a handsome
amount as time and again the advice given by the astrologer has
proved very beneficial to him. On being offered this money the
astrologer asks him to wait while he consults his wife, whether
they have provision for the evening meal. On hearing from the
wife that the evening meal is taken care of the Brahmin refuses
to take dakshina, saying that he has sufficient for the day. This
completely astonishes the Seth who was engaged in taking care
of investments for his fifth generation! Seth Parmanand then contemplates
on the quality of satisfaction and dependence on the Supreme Lord
and the peaceful life that the Brahmin is obviously leading, as
compared to his own stressful life. The play ends with the Seth
remarking that the Brahmins name should be Parmanand, not mine,
for he is truly happy.
Mava
(Play 3):
13.9% of students in Ahmedabad chew gutka. A recent survey by
the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) - commissioned by the WHO
and the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has come
out with these startling figures. A similar survey conducted by
the Dental College among 1,637 students in 25 schools yielded
even more alarming results. It was found that 17.7% students in
Gujarat consumed gutka. Some of these are barely seven years old.
Once addicted, they are victims for life. In fact they contract
this habit so early that they have no awareness of its vicious
effects. Gujarat today, boasts of the highest rate of oral cancer
in the world, with ever-younger victims in its net.
The
play Mava served to bring about the ill effects of gutka use.
The play told the story of two students who join a new school.
A student of that school, posing to befriend them, introduces
them to eating gutka. They initially obtain it free of charge,
until they are properly addicted. Obtaining money to support their
habit soon becomes a problem and they have to resort to stealing
money for the same. Two years later they look like a shadow of
their former selves. A school health check up brings their condition
to the notice of the Principal, who takes it upon himself to help
them get out of this habit. The students then have a message for
the rest of the school- "Nashe ki cheez ko, pehli bar karo inkar"
or "Say 'no!' the first time."
