A few days back I was asked to read and comment on a set of
essays written by 4th and 5th std students in TISB
Bangalore.
I made a one sheeter that I have attached at the end of this
post.
As I wrote my critical comment, I imagined one TISB teacher commenting,
“This wise guy can critique well. Can he
write an essay equally well ??”
And I took up that unspoken challenge!
Not sure if I will pass the test.
Happiness:
I pick up that brightly colored plastic rattle and noisily wave
it in front of my 8-month-old granddaughter. And I watch her wide toothless
smile, her eyes widen, and I hear a series of squawks and gurgles as she rapidly
shakes her hands and feet in response to the rattle.
And I have spent endless such happy hours near her,
imitating her, playing with her purple Elephant, her squeaky yellow rubber duck
and the variety of Chennapatna wooden toys. (I would have played with those
toys more than my granddaughter ever did!)
And those were some of the happiest periods in my life.
I approach my retired army friend and ask him to define
happiness.
And he instantly replies – ‘ 4 to 6PM at TOIT”.
And he adds , De’Mello makes a mean Mojito !!
And my salute to all the bar tenders for they have spread
happiness to a greater number of people than all the religious leaders,
spiritual gurus, psychiatrists and happiness therapists in the world put
together!
My friend who fills in as a relief teacher in our
neighboring school once tripped as she entered her 3rd standard classroom.
Her load of corrected notebooks went flying all over as she sprawled on the
floor.
And the entire class of some 30 odd kids roared with
laughter!
And as she started picking up the books, the classroom
became very silent. The kids were now expecting a big scolding and probably a
punishment as well.
She picked up all her books silently, got up, walked a few steps
and faked a trip once again, threw the notebook up in the air and fell again with
a loud shout.
Pin Drop silence!
And then she burst into an uncontrolled laughter.
And the children realized her prank and laughed again.
And the whole hour they talked about how she fell, and some
kids imitated her as well.
And that was the happiest one hour that she and her class
had spent in school!
Cut to the India - New Zealand match.
Rohit Sharma faces the Super Over. Millions of eyeballs glued to the TV. Last
ball and Rohit Sharma lifts it for a gigantic six!!
One good knock and the entire India breaks into a frenzy of happiness!
No words can adequately describe the feeling inside the sports bars and in the
millions of home where people erupted with joy after the nail biting tension
was rewarded with one mega Sixer!
And that’s is MEGA Happiness!!
Happiness is triggered.
An action, a reaction, a relief from a tense situation, a sight,
a sound, a touch, a feel and a smell can all trigger happiness in you. A positive
vibe, an awareness of something good, an anticipation, an exciting moment can all
make you very happy.
Happiness need not be triggered.
It can come from within us.
By being contended with what you are, what you have and what
you do.
And that’s true happiness – leading to eternal bliss.
And here is what some great minds say ..
Every morning when you wake up, Be Happy.
Be Happy that you are alive!
A million people have
slept the night before but failed to get up the next day.
So Be Happy that you are alive ! says Sadguru.
Be Happy that you can briskly walk up to the washroom and brush
your teeth.
Be happy that you have food in your kitchen, a family to live
with, a friend to call and talk, an office to go to work, and a million other
things that you take for granted.
And there are millions of people who do not have even
a fraction of what you have.
Happiness = contentment!
Ashtey.
Remember this passage?
I cried because I had no shoes.
Until I met a man who had no legs!
So, Be Happy.
& Stay blessed, Folks!
contd...
Essay on Happiness : TISB Bangalore.
Summary & First
Impression:
23 essays on Happiness by
Class 4 and 5 students.
Written in pencil. Closely
spaced. Different types & shades of
paper.
It is very difficult, if not
painful, to studiously read thru each essay word by word.
A very dry dry subject that
does not give much scope for imagination and colorful articulation of ideas –
especially for students so young.
Parents help comes out in
some long essays.
I am sure the students must
have found it difficult to do justice. Except for a few long and well composed
write ups, most essays ran out of steam
after the first page. Thankfully some aborted soon enough and concluded
shortly.
What made me very happy:
Good English. Excellent
vocabulary and well chosen phrases in
all the write-ups.
Some good data points,
general observations made a few essays very interesting.
A few individual experiences
and thoughts were nicely brought out.
Almost all the writers got
the main points that lead to happiness and articulated them well.
Critical Analysis:
All the young writers took
the philosophical / moral route. Made reading dull and repetitive.
Wish some took the experiential
route and articulated about a few instances that made them real happy
(sans philosophy and theory)
Almost all writers missed out
on Humor! Comedy, Cartoons (Tom &
Jerry), slapstick comedy / circus clowns and funny incidents that make people
laugh aloud !!
Most essays were tedious.
Though the efforts put in by the various writers was clearly noticeable, they did not make an
impact on me / nor touch that chord of familiarity with me.
Net Net : In my personal opinion only one essay stood
out prominently because it touched my heart. And it was a personal experience
that the writer had with an infant baby !
Anushka’s (Class V-A) essay
is brilliant. Nice & Simple English & has a wonderful human touch and a good ending
too !!
Krish..
Waaoo! Reading your blog on this quiet monday afternoon (with baby in deep slumber)is happiness for me ! :)
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