Page 36 - MONSOON EDITION

EXPERT’S TALK

From the head of the head of the institution the culture just percolates to the last leg of the school. How do you
know whether the culture has been imbibed into the students, one example, there was a match between our
school and another school, maybe a cricket match, so our children had gone to that school to play, well we lost it
very badly the children came back crying specially it was a girls team, they went back to their class crying and I
said, it doesn't matter it is all fine, and then there comes a call from the principal of that school, saying, ma'am you
have won the match, the students have won our hearts, I asked how? “The match was held after the recess, there
were lots of paper lying and wrappers lying on the ground, our students who were there, without even being asked
by anybody, started involuntarily picking up the wrappers and tiding up the place before going for the match. Even
at a public place, your children are aware and conscious about the culture of your school, what more can you have
Mrs. Mani, you might not have won the match but you won our hearts”!

3. Heritage is indirectly the culture of a particular society or sect which is handed over
to the future generations. Do you agree with this view?

Very good question again! I would not put it as it is handed over to the future generation that is
something that particular line here doesn't fit into my context. What I believe is we have taken away from
generation, what I believe, this place belongs to everyone of us and when you talk about that belongs to

the future generation and what you and I are doing is grabbing it from them you have never allowed for the
children to breathe that fresh air. So I think more damage is done by us than the other generation. First let
me ask, what is heritage? What do you mean heritage? It's a history, it's a geography, it's a science; what
exactly is heritage? Heritage is the legacy which is been passed on from over the years, just compare it to a
fossil. It's like layers after layers just unfold themselves, and then you have the heritage. So what I mean to
say is heritage is something that we need to pass on to the future generation. So we perceive things, the
way we see things that changes our perception. These are things as parent as teachers we need to make it
lager than light that our children can understand. We must explore ourselves and make everything lager

than light. Its only then the children will see a part of life in it. And if we don't to that, our school is just a
building and children will not have feelings for the school. All that you need to do is feel and once you feel,
you can work towards that. I think I have discovered myself in growing with NVN and I have grown along
with it.

4. As per the value system prevalent in the southern parts of India in recent times, what
do you feel holds more relevance – relationships or traditions?

I think my roots are now in Jamnagar, I feel I am the son of Jamnagar, it is my KARAMBHUMI from the age of
20 when you are not even explored yourself, just got married and missing your home. 40 years in Jamnagar

has been a very beautiful journey. So Gujarat is my KARMABHUMI and south is my JAMNABHUMI, it is my
umbilical connection. I cannot separate myself from Jamnagar as well as Gujarat. It is my KARMABHUMI
and I really mean it. I cannot just defunct that and say that this is the best. For me why do you need to have
a distinction between the west and the south? So when you talk about South, there are so many things,
that I can take in.

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