Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalayas Arunachal Pradesh Trust October 2014 Monthly Report

The ancient words of wisdom through stories and anecdotes confer lot of strength and a new vision to us. A few days back one of the karyakartas who faced certain unpleasant situation came to me. I was amazed to see the way the Karyakarta regained the enthusiasm within a short span of time and got refurbished with new zeal. The amazing change thus acquired by the Karyakarta has heralded a story to my mind.

One morning, an old Sannyasin saw a scorpion floating helplessly in the water. As the scorpion was washed closer to the tree, the Sannyasin quickly stretched himself out on one of the long roots that branched out into the river and reached out to rescue the drowning creature. As soon as he touched it, the scorpion stung him. Instinctively the man withdrew his hand. A minute later, after he had regained his balance, he stretched himself out again on the roots to save the scorpion. This time the scorpion stung him so badly with its poisonous tail that his hand became swollen and his face contorted with pain.

At that moment, a passerby saw the old man stretched out on the roots struggling with the scorpion and shouted: "Hey, old man, what's wrong with you? Only a fool would risk his life for the sake of an ugly, evil creature. Don't you know you could kill yourself trying to save that ungrateful scorpion?"

The old man turned his head. Looking into the stranger's eyes said calmly, "My friend, just because it is the scorpion's nature to sting, that does not change my nature to save."

Our good nature should continue even if there is an acid test at regular intervals from different corners. An unshakable faith in the path chosen would help each and every one to have a fulfilling life.

The month of October was full of activities. Let me share the highlights of some of those:-

Sadgamaya Shibir: VKVs of Arunachal Pradesh have conducted Personality Development Camps known as Sadgamaya Shibir for the students studying neighborhood schools mainly Government Schools during the mid-term vacation of VKVs. A good number of participants attending the shibirs in various VKVs prove the magnitude of the samparka done by the teachers.

Details of Participation

Prachodaya Shibir: Prachodaya Shibir-the camp for high achievers studying in Class IX was held at VKV Itanagar from 10th October to 12th October. A total number of 84 selected students (28 boys and 56 girls) attended the shibir. The shibir was a congregation of many outstanding Resource persons drawn from various fields who with their valuable illuminations could grab the attention of the participants. The carefully selected Resource persons addressed the participants on myriads of topics. The names of the dignitaries who graced the shibir are given below:

In addition to the above Resource persons, members of VKVAPT also were present to take sessions and guide the participants throughout the Shibir.

Social Science Investigatory Project Workshop: In order to train the teachers for the Social Science Investigatory Project a workshop was conducted on 11th October at VKV Itanagar. The one day workshop was attended by 17 selected teachers from various VKVs of Arunachal Pradesh. Dr. J.K. Bajaj, Director, Centre for Policy Studies, New Delhi was the main resource person of the workshop. The whole day workshop was devoted to explain various aspects and procedures to be followed for the Project Work. In addition, exhaustive data were also given to the teachers from the Census 2011 and the teachers located and finalized the villages which will be targeted for the Project. The children of Classes VI to VIII are going to undertake the Project with the guidance of a team of teachers to collect quantitative and qualitative data and are going to present the same in cluster and inter VKV level. Through the Project the students are expected to develop various skills like investigatory skills, communication skill etc. The Inter- disciplinary Project will also encompass other activities like Reflective Journal Writing by the students after visiting the villages.

Visit of Sri Sad Guru Prasad Guruji: Sri Sad Guru Prasad Guruji, founder of Vaisisthasram, Andhra Pradesh visited many VKVs of Arunachal Pradesh and illuminated the students. He also could attend the Prachodaya Shibir along with his daughter Su Devaki Krishna Sai. He has visited VKVs Ziro, Yazali, Shergaon and Kitpi and addressed the students and staff.

Volleyball Tournament and Kho-Kho Tournament for Girls (Cluster Level) The cluster level matches of the ‘Inter VKV Volleyball Tournament (Girls) and Mandakini Kho-Kho Tournament for Girls’ were conducted on 24 and 25 October 2014 in different venues. The results are as under:

Cluster level Result

VKV Ziro conducts Orientation Program for the teachers of different private and government Schools of Ziro Valley: - One day Teachers’ Orientation Programme for the schools of Ziro Valley was organized by VKV Ziro on 7 October 2014 in which 48 teachers participated. Anand Srivastava, Project Manager, Military Engineering Service inaugurated the programme. He urged everyone to improve the class room teaching so that the students won’t be victim of commercialization of Education. Shri Sad Guru Prasad Guruji was the main resource person for the Programme.

Co-ordination Meeting for Vigyan Yatra. A coordination meeting was conducted on 25th October at VKV- Nirjuli to finalize the plan of ‘Vigyan Yatra’ a program to popularize Science Education in the rural schools of Arunachal Pradesh. Sri P.M.Unnikrishnan,Education Officer,VKVAPT; the Principals of VKV- Nirjuli, Sher, Itanagar, Ziro and Koloriang and a few selected teachers from VKVs Joram and Yazali attended the meeting.

VKV Itanagar represents the state in the Zonal Level Science Drama Competition: - VKV Itanagar has represented the state in the North – Eastern Zonal Level Science Drama competition held at Guwhati on 17 October 2014.

The aim of the competition is to encourage the students, teachers and other science communicators to explore and experiment with the dramatic form as a means of science communication. Theatre or Drama is an age old tradition of our society used for entertainment, recreation and also as a medium of social interaction to put across the social message, in other words, correcting the society in an indirect way and to bring a social change.

Science Drama Competition is a multi-tier event: District level, State level, Zonal level and eventually culminating at the National Level where it is organized on a festival mode under the banner “National Science Drama Festival”. VKV- Itanagar could fetch the fourth position in the Zonal Level.

VKV Nivedita Vihar represented the State in the National Level Science Seminar.
Kumari Areeza Likha of VKV Nivedita Vihar has made us proud by participating in the National level Science Seminar on 11th October at Bangalore. Kudos to her! She was the first in the State level Competition.

Vigyan Yatra Flagged off :- The ‘Vigyan Yatra” was flagged off on 31st October by Dr. Joram Begi, Prant Pramukh of Vivekananda Kendra in the presence of Shri Bodo Yirang, Director, Elementary Education, Govt Of Arunachal Pradesh and students & Staff of Government Secondary School Chimpu.

‘Vigyan Yatra’ will travel to six districts of Arunachal Pradesh namely Papum Pare, Lower Subansiri, Kurung Kumey, Upper Subansiri, West Siang and East Siang. It is expected to cover 100 Rural Schools of these districts till the first week of February 2015. The aim of the Yatra is to popularize the science education in the rural schools of the state.

Mobile Science Laboratory Van which is also a part of the ‘Yatra’ is fully equipped with various science models, science apparatuses, specimens, and different chemicals to demonstrate various experiments in Physics, Chemistry and Biology to the students of Class VI to X. Six noted resource persons are accompanying the mobile Science Van to demonstrate various science experiments, provide hands on experience to conduct experiments to students, screening of short films on science, health and anti-superstitions. The van also will have the volunteers from leading higher educational institutions of the state.

Cluster Level Principals Meeting at Siang and Papum Pare: - The cluster Level Principal’s meetings of Siang and Papum Pare were conducted on 13th & 14th October at Itanagar and Oyan respectively. All the Principals of both the cluster schools except VKV- Jirdin attended the meeting. VKV Jirdin was represented by one of the teachers. Shri Krishna Kumar R, Cluster In-Charge, Lohit and Tirap; Shri. Nitin Jain, HRD Manager, Shri. Unnikrishnan P.M., Education Officer and Cluster In-charge and I also attended the meeting. The analysis of Summative Assessment, reporting of the various activities conducted from the month of June, plans for Mananeeya Eknathji Janma Shati Parva and other important matters were discussed and implementation points were finalized.

National Unity Day: All the VKVs of Arunachal Pradesh celebrated the National Unity Day, the Birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhai Patel on 31st October to commemorate the legacy of the “Iron man of India’ with full spirit and enthusiasm. As a part of the celebration, the schools organized marathon race ‘Run for Unity’, Poster making competition, cleaning drive and guest lecture sessions on various topics. National Unity day pledge was also taken by the students.