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Harvard Graduate School of Education

“Education then, beyond all other devices of human origin,
Is a great equalizer of the conditions of men.” – Horace Mann, 1848.
At the time of his remarks I couldn’t read — couldn’t write.
Any attempt to do so, punishable by death.
For generations we have known of knowledge’s infinite power.
Yet somehow, we’ve never questioned the keeper of the keys —
The guardians of information.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen more dividing and conquering
In this order of operations — a heinous miscalculation of reality.
For some, the only difference between a classroom and a plantation is time.
How many times must we be made to feel like quotas —
Like tokens in coined phrases? —
“Diversity. Inclusion”
There are days I feel like one, like only —
A lonely blossom in a briar patch of broken promises.
But I’ve always been a thorn in the side of injustice.

Disruptive. Talkative. A distraction.
With a passion that transcends the confines of my consciousness —
Beyond your curriculum, beyond your standards.
I stand here, a manifestation of love and pain,
With veins pumping revolution.
I am the strange fruit that grew too ripe for the poplar tree.
I am a DREAM Act, Dream Deferred incarnate.
I am a movement – an amalgam of memories America would care to forget
My past, alone won’t allow me to sit still.
So my body, like the mind
Cannot be contained.

As educators, rather than raising your voices
Over the rustling of our chains,
Take them off. Un-cuff us.
Unencumbered by the lumbering weight
Of poverty and privilege,
Policy and ignorance.

I was in the 7th grade, when Ms. Parker told me,
“Donovan, we can put your excess energy to good use!”
And she introduced me to the sound of my own voice.
She gave me a stage. A platform.
She told me that our stories are ladders
That make it easier for us to touch the stars.
So climb and grab them.
Keep climbing. Grab them.
Spill your emotions in the big dipper and pour out your soul.
Light up the world with your luminous allure.

To educate requires Galileo-like patience.
Today, when I look my students in the eyes, all I see are constellations.
If you take the time to connect the dots,
You can plot the true shape of their genius —
Shining in their darkest hour.

I look each of my students in the eyes,
And see the same light that aligned Orion’s Belt
And the pyramids of Giza.
I see the same twinkle
That guided Harriet to freedom.
I see them. Beneath their masks and mischief,
Exists an authentic frustration;
An enslavement to your standardized assessments.

At the core, none of us were meant to be common.
We were born to be comets,
Darting across space and time —
Leaving our mark as we crash into everything.
A crater is a reminder that something amazing happened here —
An indelible impact that shook up the world.
Are we not astronomers — looking for the next shooting star?
I teach in hopes of turning content, into rocket ships —
Tribulations into telescopes,
So a child can see their potential from right where they stand.
An injustice is telling them they are stars
Without acknowledging night that surrounds them.
Injustice is telling them education is the key
While you continue to change the locks.

Education is no equalizer —
Rather, it is the sleep that precedes the American Dream.
So wake up — wake up! Lift your voices
Until you’ve patched every hole in a child’s broken sky.
Wake up every child so they know of their celestial potential.
I’ve been a Black hole in the classroom for far too long;
Absorbing everything, without allowing my light escape.
But those days are done. I belong among the stars.
And so do you. And so do they.
Together, we can inspire galaxies of greatness
For generations to come.
No, sky is not the limit. It is only the beginning.
Lift off.

Audio from AIR

This is an excerpt from All India Radio about "A dialogue on Safety and Security of Ammunition Depots"

Image and Audio Source: AllIndiaRadio's SoundCloud Channel

Buddhas of Bamiyan resurrected

In 2001, the Taliban had destroyed the statues of Buddhas in Bamiyan, Afghanistan. But thanks to technology, the statues were resurrected again in Bamiyan Valley via 3D light projection technology.

The project was undertaken by a Chinese couple Janson Yu and Liyan Hu, who used 3D laser light projection technology to fill the empty cavities in the cliff in the Bamiyan Valley with Buddha’s virtual images.

The two statues of Standing Buddhas of Bamiyan, 115 ft and 174 ft tall respectively, were carved out of sandstone cliffs and stood at one point painted and gilded. They managed to survive for more than 1500 years. The statues were among the most famous cultural landmarks of the region, and the site was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site along with the surrounding cultural landscape and archaeological remains of the Bamiyan Valley.

Photo Courtesy: WikiMedia Commons

The Bhagvad Gita in Chinese

The sacred ancient Indian scripture Bhagavad Gita’s Chinese version was launched recently in China during an international yoga conference. The book is translated in Chinese by Professor Wang Zhu Cheng and Ling Hai of the Zhejiang University, Shanghai and published by the Sichuan People’s Publications.

This is perhaps the first time that a well known Hindu ancient religious text has been published in China. Last year, scholars from India and China published an Encyclopedia on the age-old cultural association between the two countries that went back to over 2000 years.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Say Goodbye to Maggi

Maggi – one our favourite two minute treat, found itself in big soup last month. Thousands of packets of maggi were dumped in the garbage last month after the Food Safety and Drug Administration ordered the manufacturers of Maggi noodles- Nestle to withdraw all the packets from the market. The order came after dangerous levels of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) was found in the noodles.

Reports suggest that a lead concentration of 17.2 parts per million (ppm), nearly seven times the permissible limit, was found in the noodles (the permissible limit of lead ranges between 0.01 ppm and 2.5 ppm). What is Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) and what is the permissible limit? Monosodium Glutamate or MSG is naturally present in various food items such as mushrooms, tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and soy sauce. It has a unique taste which is different from salty, sweet, sour or bitter. The taste is described as ‘meaty’ or ‘savory’ ma

Is it dangerous if consumed in excess?
Excess consumption of MSG promotes sluggishness in the body. It may also cause headache, nausea, increased thirst, chest tightness and a twitching sensation in the mouth. In some cases one may feel numbness, skin rashes and excessive sweating too.

So what now?
At present, there is an on-going investigation to fi nd out how and why this happened. Until such time, Nestle will not manufacture and sell Maggi noodles in India. Once the reason for the high levels of MSG has been discovered, the FDA will decide if it can be corrected and if Maggi can be sold after that. But for now, we have no choice but to wait and watch!

The Wettest Place on Earth - Cherapunjee

Nestled in the East Khasi Hills of the state of Meghalaya; Cherapunjee for decades was the wettest place on earth. Recently, it was overtaken by the nearby town Mawsynram which in the last few years has received more rainfall than Cherapunjee. However, Cherapunjee still holds the record for being the wettest place on earth for at least 20 years in the past and is at present the second wettest place on earth. It is also the only place in India which receives rainfall throughout the year!

Located about 50 km southwest of Shillong (the capital of Meghalaya), Cherapunjee is also known as Sohra and Churra. Cherrapunjee, which means ‘the land of oranges’, is at a height of 4290 ft. One can see the plains of Bangladesh from the cliffs of Cherrapunjee. It receives a staggering 11,777 mm (38.64 feet) of rainfall each year. Monsoon clouds which blow inland from the Bay of Bengal are stopped from moving further by the ridges of Cherrapunjee. The town receives both south-west and north-east monsoon. However, despite receiving excess rain, the town still faces an acute water shortage and the locals have to travel great distances to get fresh water. Another fall out of the relentless rain is the soil erosion. This has denuded the land of Cherrapunjee and the surrounding valleys.

Cherrapunjee is also famous for its live bridges, a result of bio-engineering practised by the locals. The bridges can bear 50 people at a time and are spectacular to watch. Besides, enjoying the rains, Cherrapunee is also a good place for trekking. The most popular trekking route is that leads to Double Decker Living Root bridge in Nongriat village.