All India Education Camp-Cum-Workshop 2006
This year the annual All India Education Camp-Cum-Workshop was organised at the Beach Office of the Society from 20th to 27th May 2006, with two more days' optional programmes. About sixty participants including teachers, educationists, principals, management people and parents from various parts of the country attended the Camp. The details of the Camp will be given in the next month's Newsletter.
Sri Aurobindo Studies: Advanced Course - The Human Cycle
Shri Georges Van Vrekhem delivering his Talk
An Orientation-cum-Study Course on the above subject was organised by the Society at the Beach Office, Pondicherry, from 18 to 23 April 2006. About 30 persons from different parts of the country participated. The course was coordinated by Dr. M.V. Nadkarni. It consisted of 15 lecture sessions followed by discussions and questions and answers. The course was designed to give the participants a systematic introduction to different facets of the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. A selected list of the Society's publications were also displayed on the last two days of the camp.
A view of the participants
The resource persons and the themes they dealt with in their lectures are as follows:Dr. M.V. Nadkarni - 'The Spiritual Aim of Life', 'Meditation', and 'The Necessity of the Spiritual Transformation & Conditions for the Advent of the Spiritual Age'Dr. Alok Pandey - 'Death, Dying and Beyond'Shri Vijay - 'Sri Aurobindo Society Centres: Collective Yoga - Opportunities and Challenges'Prof. Kittu Reddy - 'Introducing the Human Cycle', 'Barbarism, Civilisation and Culture', and 'Reason as Governor of Life' Shri M. Jamshed - 'Sri Aurobindo on How India Can Fulfil Her Mission'Shri Matriprasad - 'The Objectives and Subjective Ages in the Evolution of Human Societies', 'Religion as the Law of Life' Shri Shivkumar - 'Equanimity'Dr. Sampadananda Mishra - 'What We Can Do To Popularise Sanskrit'Ms. Shraddhavan - 'Collective Yoga'Shri Georges Van Vrekhem - 'The Present World Situation in Sri Aurobindo's Perspective'
The intellectual stimulation provided by such courses, it is hoped, will motivate the participants to take up a deeper study of one or more aspects of the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. This was the third study camp organised by the Society on Sri Aurobindo Studies, and it is proposed to organise such camps in future on a regular basis.
Mumbai SAFIER Unit Theatre For True Education: Exploratory Workshops For Children
Sri Aurobindo Foundation for Integral Education and Research (SAFIER) is a unit of the Society set up to encourage research, planning and innovation in the field of Integral Education. The SAFIER unit of Mumbai organised a Theatre for True Education Workshop for the children of Class 5 and 6 at the Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Vidyalaya, Malad. The workshop ran for 5 days for 3 hrs each day from 17th to 21st April 2006. There were about 20 participants along with a few Observer teachers from the HRD dept. of the schools. Rashi Bunny, an accomplished theatre artist with a rich background of experience in conducting theatre workshops, was at the helm, with Vivechana and Hetal by her side.
Starting the Day with Awareness Games
The first day was more like an icebreaker - since the kids were from different divisions and classes, the familiarity level amongst them was not very high but throughout the five days the lines of age, gender etc. seemed to blur. The basic theatre exercises like Walking around the room, Breathing Exercises, Movements, Art, Music and Relaxation formed the main structure. Then there were creative games like Passing the expression, Mirror game, Dumb Charades using professions, Alertness and Memory Game.
Loosening up with various expressions
The Stick Improvisation
Alertness Games
The Gibberish Interaction
Theatre activities like Enactment in Gibberish, Role Play, Improvisation, Creating a story and Enacting a story, poetry selection and recitation, Situation-based improvisations, discussions and creating plays based on the handouts etc. were used for exploration of each individual's capability.
There were many journeys that the children made that were essentially like a guided meditation: the children enjoyed their journey into the Sea and through the Universe by imagining themselves turning into tiny particles. Slowly they were brought back to their bodies, to the ground and reality. There was a Dream sharing session where they wrote and drew their aspirations for their own life.
Discussion on dumb charades in team
Story Enactment
Poetry recitation
Relaxation after Journeys
The exercises for voice modulation, breathing correctly, sitting straight, is something the children will carry with them for life. The Om chanting and relaxation exercises were also very effective. To hear a child say "I felt peace in my mind, body and soul" after a relaxation exercise is just a reflection of the times we live in, and how much stress and outside influences affect a child's thinking and actions so much so that they lose touch with what is true within them. Some children had difficulty keeping their eyes closed… but even the most naughty and restless ones felt good after the imagination and relaxation trips. The Om chanting also had a different flavor every day and on day four when Rashi guided them in letting it come from within and not just as a sound, the whole energy of the room was vibrant.
The art activities - drawing to music and the collage - made with their own choice of elements and presentation worked very well as an inherent part of Theatre for True Education exploratory workshop. At the end of the exercises there was always a Sharing session where children openly and frankly spoke about their own experiences and what they enjoyed and what affected them. The last session explaining the Concepts of Communication and Theatre, incorporating the sensitivity for each one's responsibility, made the children understand the steps in each process and how they affect the entire process. The participation certificates are then handed out with the dreams and drawings done by the children pasted at the back of the certificate which was laminated.
Colouring the walls together with music
The element collage as team of three
Om chanting and concentration
The hare and turtle story enactment
In totality, all the activities came together well since various aspects of the physical, mental, vital and psychic from the integral perspective were covered. From the children's perspective they grasped the essence of confidence, posture, communication, attitude, concentration, imagination, awareness, creativity, team spirit, courage, sensitivity and responsibility towards self, society and the world at large. One could see a lot of change in the children from the first to the last day. Each put in their best effort and even the shy little ones bloomed progressively. The eagerness that they showed in coming for the next day, some wanting it to continue for a month, wanting us to open a school, showed how receptive they were. Their feedback forms were full of lovely pictures, their dreams of themselves and a beautiful world and the hope that they will get to be part of more such workshops.
Situation Improvisation
Explaining through enactment example
The element through colour collage
The Sharing sessions
One of the teacher at observation expressed, "All activities were either focused on individual or group. The mix of both lent lot of energy at any given time…. also there was focus on basic alertness and awareness of other senses…. everything was done in both practical and imaginative manner… the change in the children was apparent during the sharing session on the 5th day… The conductor Rashi had a very unique way of interacting with the kids, she let the kids express themselves freely, but when it was necessary to get them to do a particular activity she made sure they did so. There was no problem with language because kids were told to speak any language they were comfortable in. Overall, children had lots of fun and learnt many things too."
News from Branches and Centres
News from Abroad Chittagong Centre (Bangladesh)
The Chittagong Centre of the Society in Bangladesh organised a small function at Chittagong on 19th May 2006 to observe the returning centenary day of Sri Aurobindo from Gujarat to Bengal. Sri Aurobindo returned to India from England in 1893 and spent 13 years in Baroda. In 1906 he came to Bengal and actively participated in the movement of National Awakening at political level till 1910 when he moved to Pondicherry.
News from India
Bangalore (Karnataka)
Sri Aurobindo Society, Bangalore Branch, will hold a residential Youth Camp on 7th, 8th and 9th July 2006 for boys and girls aged between 16 and 35 years. No fee will be charged. Persons interested may please contact Shri M.M. Bhattacharjee, Co-ordinator, at the following address with their bio-data, a passport size photograph and their contact phone number:
Shri M.M. Bhattacharjee - Co-ordinator (Youth Camps), Sri Aurobindo SocietySri Aurobindo Bhawan110, Gangadhara Chetty RoadBangalore - 560 042Phone : 080-25559885/25298684
Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
The Chennai Branch organised the 7th Annual Endowment Lecture in memory of Dr. K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar on 17 April 2006. The meeting was presided over by Shri C.D. Ayyar, Chairman of Sri Aurobindo Society, Chennai Branch. The endowment lecture was presented by Dr. S.P. Thyagarajan, Vice Chancellor, Madras University, on the topic "Sri Aurobindo's Model of Education and Modern India's Higher Education". Another lecture in Tamil was delivered by Kavingnar C.V. Chandramohan on "The Power of the Mother's Grace". About 200 persons attended the function. Shri P. Alwar, Secretary of the Branch, proposed the Vote of Thanks.
Delhi
Sri Aurobindo Society, Delhi Branch, organised a 3-day talk by Dr. Mangesh V. Nadkarni on 12, 13 and 14 May 2006. The topics covered were: 1. What is Spirituality and who needs it?2. What is wrong with having Desires?3. Sri Aurobindo's Savitri - Our Light and Delight Aastha TV channel covered the whole program.
Sri Aurobindo Complex Trust (SACT), Bangalore
Sri Aurobindo Neurotherapy Centre, a unit of SACT, organised a free Neurotherapy Camp at the Sri Aurobindo Complex on 16 and 17 April 2006. Dr. Krishna Murthy Jalihal was the Chief Guest. Shri Ajit Sabnis, Trustee, SACT, presided over the function. Dr. Lakshman and Dr. Sudha Menon were also present.
Noida (U.P.)
The Noida Branch celebrated the 1st anniversary of the enshrinement of the sacred Relics of Sri Aurobindo on 1 May 2006 at Sri Aurobindo Bhawan, Noida. The Branch organised collective meditation and bhajans.
The Branch also organised a talk by Dr. Mangesh Nadkarni on 14th May 2006, on the topic "Our Ideal".
Shimoga (Karnataka)
The Shimoga Centre distributed 5000 copies of the booklet 'Adarsha Balaka' in Kannada published by Sri Aurobindo Society, Shimoga Centre, printed at Sri Aurobindo Ashram Press. The booklets have been distributed to the students of secondary and higher secondary studying in a school at Suttur about 20 kms. from Mysore. Shri Nataraju M. Kasetty, Secretary of the Shimoga Centre addressed the students regarding how to improve their studies and sports through the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.
Purnea Branch (Bihar)
Purnea Branch of the Society observed 24th April 2006, the Darshan day. The morning session started with the hoisting of the Mother's flag by Shri Narayan Lal Das, Secretary of the Branch. Some portions from 'Prayer & Meditations', 'Savitri' and 'The Mother' were read. The session concluded with meditation. About 400 people attended the function. In the evening session various speakers spoke on the Life, Works and Yoga of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo. The programme concluded with bhajans and the distribution of prasad.
M.P. & Chhattisgarh State Committee
The Meeting of Madhya Pradesh & Chattisgarh Sri Aurobindo Society State Committee was held on 19th March 2006 at Indore. Shri Vijay Poddar presided over the meeting. Some important decisions were taken during the meeting. Shri Malviya (Khandwa) put up a proposal to organise competitive programmes in schools so that the message of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo reaches the school children, which was accepted and he was requested to come up with a detailed outline of the same. A proposal to construct State Guest House at Pondicherry was agreed to in principle.
This year the annual All India Education Camp-Cum-Workshop was organised at the Beach Office of the Society from 20th to 27th May 2006, with two more days' optional programmes. About sixty participants including teachers, educationists, principals, management people and parents from various parts of the country attended the Camp. The details of the Camp will be given in the next month's Newsletter.
Sri Aurobindo Studies: Advanced Course - The Human Cycle
Shri Georges Van Vrekhem delivering his Talk
An Orientation-cum-Study Course on the above subject was organised by the Society at the Beach Office, Pondicherry, from 18 to 23 April 2006. About 30 persons from different parts of the country participated. The course was coordinated by Dr. M.V. Nadkarni. It consisted of 15 lecture sessions followed by discussions and questions and answers. The course was designed to give the participants a systematic introduction to different facets of the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. A selected list of the Society's publications were also displayed on the last two days of the camp.
A view of the participants
The resource persons and the themes they dealt with in their lectures are as follows:Dr. M.V. Nadkarni - 'The Spiritual Aim of Life', 'Meditation', and 'The Necessity of the Spiritual Transformation & Conditions for the Advent of the Spiritual Age'Dr. Alok Pandey - 'Death, Dying and Beyond'Shri Vijay - 'Sri Aurobindo Society Centres: Collective Yoga - Opportunities and Challenges'Prof. Kittu Reddy - 'Introducing the Human Cycle', 'Barbarism, Civilisation and Culture', and 'Reason as Governor of Life' Shri M. Jamshed - 'Sri Aurobindo on How India Can Fulfil Her Mission'Shri Matriprasad - 'The Objectives and Subjective Ages in the Evolution of Human Societies', 'Religion as the Law of Life' Shri Shivkumar - 'Equanimity'Dr. Sampadananda Mishra - 'What We Can Do To Popularise Sanskrit'Ms. Shraddhavan - 'Collective Yoga'Shri Georges Van Vrekhem - 'The Present World Situation in Sri Aurobindo's Perspective'
The intellectual stimulation provided by such courses, it is hoped, will motivate the participants to take up a deeper study of one or more aspects of the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. This was the third study camp organised by the Society on Sri Aurobindo Studies, and it is proposed to organise such camps in future on a regular basis.
Mumbai SAFIER Unit Theatre For True Education: Exploratory Workshops For Children
Sri Aurobindo Foundation for Integral Education and Research (SAFIER) is a unit of the Society set up to encourage research, planning and innovation in the field of Integral Education. The SAFIER unit of Mumbai organised a Theatre for True Education Workshop for the children of Class 5 and 6 at the Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Vidyalaya, Malad. The workshop ran for 5 days for 3 hrs each day from 17th to 21st April 2006. There were about 20 participants along with a few Observer teachers from the HRD dept. of the schools. Rashi Bunny, an accomplished theatre artist with a rich background of experience in conducting theatre workshops, was at the helm, with Vivechana and Hetal by her side.
Starting the Day with Awareness Games
The first day was more like an icebreaker - since the kids were from different divisions and classes, the familiarity level amongst them was not very high but throughout the five days the lines of age, gender etc. seemed to blur. The basic theatre exercises like Walking around the room, Breathing Exercises, Movements, Art, Music and Relaxation formed the main structure. Then there were creative games like Passing the expression, Mirror game, Dumb Charades using professions, Alertness and Memory Game.
Loosening up with various expressions
The Stick Improvisation
Alertness Games
The Gibberish Interaction
Theatre activities like Enactment in Gibberish, Role Play, Improvisation, Creating a story and Enacting a story, poetry selection and recitation, Situation-based improvisations, discussions and creating plays based on the handouts etc. were used for exploration of each individual's capability.
There were many journeys that the children made that were essentially like a guided meditation: the children enjoyed their journey into the Sea and through the Universe by imagining themselves turning into tiny particles. Slowly they were brought back to their bodies, to the ground and reality. There was a Dream sharing session where they wrote and drew their aspirations for their own life.
Discussion on dumb charades in team
Story Enactment
Poetry recitation
Relaxation after Journeys
The exercises for voice modulation, breathing correctly, sitting straight, is something the children will carry with them for life. The Om chanting and relaxation exercises were also very effective. To hear a child say "I felt peace in my mind, body and soul" after a relaxation exercise is just a reflection of the times we live in, and how much stress and outside influences affect a child's thinking and actions so much so that they lose touch with what is true within them. Some children had difficulty keeping their eyes closed… but even the most naughty and restless ones felt good after the imagination and relaxation trips. The Om chanting also had a different flavor every day and on day four when Rashi guided them in letting it come from within and not just as a sound, the whole energy of the room was vibrant.
The art activities - drawing to music and the collage - made with their own choice of elements and presentation worked very well as an inherent part of Theatre for True Education exploratory workshop. At the end of the exercises there was always a Sharing session where children openly and frankly spoke about their own experiences and what they enjoyed and what affected them. The last session explaining the Concepts of Communication and Theatre, incorporating the sensitivity for each one's responsibility, made the children understand the steps in each process and how they affect the entire process. The participation certificates are then handed out with the dreams and drawings done by the children pasted at the back of the certificate which was laminated.
Colouring the walls together with music
The element collage as team of three
Om chanting and concentration
The hare and turtle story enactment
In totality, all the activities came together well since various aspects of the physical, mental, vital and psychic from the integral perspective were covered. From the children's perspective they grasped the essence of confidence, posture, communication, attitude, concentration, imagination, awareness, creativity, team spirit, courage, sensitivity and responsibility towards self, society and the world at large. One could see a lot of change in the children from the first to the last day. Each put in their best effort and even the shy little ones bloomed progressively. The eagerness that they showed in coming for the next day, some wanting it to continue for a month, wanting us to open a school, showed how receptive they were. Their feedback forms were full of lovely pictures, their dreams of themselves and a beautiful world and the hope that they will get to be part of more such workshops.
Situation Improvisation
Explaining through enactment example
The element through colour collage
The Sharing sessions
One of the teacher at observation expressed, "All activities were either focused on individual or group. The mix of both lent lot of energy at any given time…. also there was focus on basic alertness and awareness of other senses…. everything was done in both practical and imaginative manner… the change in the children was apparent during the sharing session on the 5th day… The conductor Rashi had a very unique way of interacting with the kids, she let the kids express themselves freely, but when it was necessary to get them to do a particular activity she made sure they did so. There was no problem with language because kids were told to speak any language they were comfortable in. Overall, children had lots of fun and learnt many things too."
News from Branches and Centres
News from Abroad Chittagong Centre (Bangladesh)
The Chittagong Centre of the Society in Bangladesh organised a small function at Chittagong on 19th May 2006 to observe the returning centenary day of Sri Aurobindo from Gujarat to Bengal. Sri Aurobindo returned to India from England in 1893 and spent 13 years in Baroda. In 1906 he came to Bengal and actively participated in the movement of National Awakening at political level till 1910 when he moved to Pondicherry.
News from India
Bangalore (Karnataka)
Sri Aurobindo Society, Bangalore Branch, will hold a residential Youth Camp on 7th, 8th and 9th July 2006 for boys and girls aged between 16 and 35 years. No fee will be charged. Persons interested may please contact Shri M.M. Bhattacharjee, Co-ordinator, at the following address with their bio-data, a passport size photograph and their contact phone number:
Shri M.M. Bhattacharjee - Co-ordinator (Youth Camps), Sri Aurobindo SocietySri Aurobindo Bhawan110, Gangadhara Chetty RoadBangalore - 560 042Phone : 080-25559885/25298684
Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
The Chennai Branch organised the 7th Annual Endowment Lecture in memory of Dr. K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar on 17 April 2006. The meeting was presided over by Shri C.D. Ayyar, Chairman of Sri Aurobindo Society, Chennai Branch. The endowment lecture was presented by Dr. S.P. Thyagarajan, Vice Chancellor, Madras University, on the topic "Sri Aurobindo's Model of Education and Modern India's Higher Education". Another lecture in Tamil was delivered by Kavingnar C.V. Chandramohan on "The Power of the Mother's Grace". About 200 persons attended the function. Shri P. Alwar, Secretary of the Branch, proposed the Vote of Thanks.
Delhi
Sri Aurobindo Society, Delhi Branch, organised a 3-day talk by Dr. Mangesh V. Nadkarni on 12, 13 and 14 May 2006. The topics covered were: 1. What is Spirituality and who needs it?2. What is wrong with having Desires?3. Sri Aurobindo's Savitri - Our Light and Delight Aastha TV channel covered the whole program.
Sri Aurobindo Complex Trust (SACT), Bangalore
Sri Aurobindo Neurotherapy Centre, a unit of SACT, organised a free Neurotherapy Camp at the Sri Aurobindo Complex on 16 and 17 April 2006. Dr. Krishna Murthy Jalihal was the Chief Guest. Shri Ajit Sabnis, Trustee, SACT, presided over the function. Dr. Lakshman and Dr. Sudha Menon were also present.
Noida (U.P.)
The Noida Branch celebrated the 1st anniversary of the enshrinement of the sacred Relics of Sri Aurobindo on 1 May 2006 at Sri Aurobindo Bhawan, Noida. The Branch organised collective meditation and bhajans.
The Branch also organised a talk by Dr. Mangesh Nadkarni on 14th May 2006, on the topic "Our Ideal".
Shimoga (Karnataka)
The Shimoga Centre distributed 5000 copies of the booklet 'Adarsha Balaka' in Kannada published by Sri Aurobindo Society, Shimoga Centre, printed at Sri Aurobindo Ashram Press. The booklets have been distributed to the students of secondary and higher secondary studying in a school at Suttur about 20 kms. from Mysore. Shri Nataraju M. Kasetty, Secretary of the Shimoga Centre addressed the students regarding how to improve their studies and sports through the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.
Purnea Branch (Bihar)
Purnea Branch of the Society observed 24th April 2006, the Darshan day. The morning session started with the hoisting of the Mother's flag by Shri Narayan Lal Das, Secretary of the Branch. Some portions from 'Prayer & Meditations', 'Savitri' and 'The Mother' were read. The session concluded with meditation. About 400 people attended the function. In the evening session various speakers spoke on the Life, Works and Yoga of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo. The programme concluded with bhajans and the distribution of prasad.
M.P. & Chhattisgarh State Committee
The Meeting of Madhya Pradesh & Chattisgarh Sri Aurobindo Society State Committee was held on 19th March 2006 at Indore. Shri Vijay Poddar presided over the meeting. Some important decisions were taken during the meeting. Shri Malviya (Khandwa) put up a proposal to organise competitive programmes in schools so that the message of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo reaches the school children, which was accepted and he was requested to come up with a detailed outline of the same. A proposal to construct State Guest House at Pondicherry was agreed to in principle.
No comments:
Post a Comment