सह वीर्यं करवावहै।
Receiving a video on WhatsApp
Chat is a frequent occurrence, but this particular one brought back a flood of cherished
memories from one of the study tours back in 2001. The video was showcasing
glimpses of Kokan and Konkani food, I couldn't resist sharing the video with
students who had accompanied me on that trip. To my delight, they too
remembered it vividly and reminisced their memories!
Sir, I had eaten Sandan (idli/ cake like local sweet made by
adding jackfruit juice) for the first time! It was a simple yet yummy
flavourful dish that I had never tasted before!
We all together peeled jackfruit!
I enjoyed listening to Ponkshe sir narrate Antubarwa at night! A magical
experience that I will never forget.
Sir, for me the most exhilarating experience of the
trip was riding a small boat to reach a large vessel in the harbour and
climbing a rope ladder to board it. It was quite an adventure!
I remember exploring the estuary, mangroves and that sea cave!
I remember wandering in Deorai, (sacred groove) with
Dilip Kulkarniji!
This coastal excursion along the western ghats is
still special to me, as it was the first study tour, I organized as a teacher.
As I look back now, I realize that it taught me valuable lessons. Not only I
learned how to observe a geographical place but I also learned how to show
students what to observe and how to observe. I learned how to plan activities
during outdoor learning experiences that would benefit both my students and
myself. Most importantly I learned how to create a collaborative learning
environment where ‘We’; the teacher and students, could learn together
as a learning crew from each other's experiences.
While listing learning points for the excursion, reflective
questions came to mind:
‘What are the
opportunities and places in the school structure where teachers and students
can experience and learn together?
How often is the
sense of working together and learning together created in the school climate?
Observations states that most
of the educational activities organized in schools are from the perspective of
a giver and a taker. Not from the perspective of a knowledge donner and
knowledge seeker, and little space is there for experience of cocreation of
knowledge.
In many schools, a
typical school day starts with chanting prayers during the school assembly. A prayer
is an earnest request or wish expressed to the supreme power of universe. However, how many times a year do teachers and
students come together in one accord to make this request to the Supreme power
as collective one? How many times do they surrender in one consciousness to
accomplish the wish?
By observing teachers during assembly prayer, a
question comes to mind Why are teachers often prayer planners, disciplinarians,
or neutral spectators of prayer?
The wish and gratitude expressed in prayer should come
from both partners; teacher and student involved in the learning process.
ॐ सह नाववतु।
सह नौ भुनक्तु।
सह वीर्यं करवावहै।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु
मा विद्विषावहै।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिःशान्तिः ॥
Om, may we all be protected!
May we all be nourished!
May we work collectively with great energy!
May our intellect be sharpened!
Let there be no Animosity among us!
Om, peace (in me), peace (in nature), peace (in divine forces)
(Taittiriya Upanishad: Brahmananda
Valli)
In many organizations, this Shantipatha is
recited collectively as a remembrance prayer to members of the organization, for
what we are coming together and for what we are performing together.
This verse is one of the most popular peace mantras. Since the Upanishads are dialogues between Guru
and disciple, this prayer is a prayer about what the guru and disciple want to
do collectively in terms of enlightenment and learning.
Let’s try to
explore
Why to reflect on
this prayer at the beginning of
any learning assemblage.
At the beginning of the prayer, teachers and
students chant 'Om' together. 'Omkar' means invoking Parabrahm Shakti
i.e., ultimate reality and or highest and most absolute truth. According to
Bhartiya tradition, Parabrahma is seen as the ultimate reality that
transcends all physical and mental existence. Omkar is believed to be the
source of all creations.
As learning is a knowledge creation process initiated
by teacher and student collectively, that’s why verse starts by chanting Omkar.
ॐ सह नाववतु।
Om, may we all be protected!
The first appeal is for collective protection and to invoke
a shield for teachers and students participating in the learning process.
Protection from what?
Protection from adversities, disasters
and accidents!
Protection from idleness, laziness,
thoughtlessness, and disbelief!
Protection from illiteracy, ignorance, inaction,
and inefficiency!
Protection from lethargy,
discouragement, desire, envy, hatred and distrust!
सह नौ भुनक्तु।
May we all be nourished!
Another request to the almighty is to nourish us together.
Nourishment of what?
Nourish Body, intellect, mind, and inner
peace!
Nourish the Sphere of Knowledge and Sphere
of Emotion!
Nourish set of exercises for learning,
work experiences, and a work squad!
सह वीर्यं करवावहै।
May we work together with great energy!
The third appeal is about cooperation and coaction, essential for
learning!
What kind of actions will create energy and liveliness
in process of learning?
Laborious, mighty, courageous and
challenging Actions!
Knowledgeable, enlightening, prudent and
visionary actions!
Inspirational, joyful, energetic, lively
Sparkling actions!
What is expected during teacher-student interaction?
What is expected from teacher-student interaction?
What is expected through teacher-student interaction?
And how these three appeals i.e., protection, nourishment and
coaction will help to enrich process of learning.
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु
Let the brilliance not be killed,
Let the brilliance within us be revealed
and we be bright, spirited and vibrant!
Bright means vigour, power and fiery!
Bright means enthesitis, delightful,
joyful!
Let our intellect become more and more
bright!
May our deeds become more and more
glorious!
Our interactions be lively, energetic
and dynamic!
May our journey continue from darkness to
light
to reveal the brilliance and wisdom within.
मा विद्विषावहै।
Let us not hate.
Let us help to realize what we achieved
during our learning!
To accomplish coaction and cocreation
there never be ambiguity,
non-cooperation, or conflict among us!
It should never happen that the learning
process is not productive!
For this create trust, cooperation and
harmony among us!
Having formed such faith among us,
may our personalities abandon
envy, scarceness, helplessness and
narrow-mindedness!
May our personalities be warm, bright,
cool, soft and humble!
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिःशान्तिः ॥
Om Shanti: Shanti: Shanti: ॥
The prayer ends by chanting the Omkar followed by three times Shanti
Mantras.
Since educational interaction is an interaction
between educator and disciple, the prayer ends for pursuing peace at three levels:
the physical, intellectual and emotional levels.
Learning is an interaction between teacher and student
for the creation of knowledge. Hence it is important to create a 'We'
sense among persons involved in learning. This feeling of 'We' is easily
created at those places where co-eating and co-habitation takes place. For this
social gathering, trips are the spaces in the school structure.
But what are the spaces in school design
where teachers and students are co-learners?
Are there any opportunities for collaborative
learning?
Some activities like projects, competitions, and excursions immediately come to mind. Share your experience of co-learning with students in the comments. Share your ideas about where you can create opportunities for co-learning in the current learning environment and the school structure in the comment section.
Prashant Divekar
Jnana Prabodhini, Pune
Well write up vividly written
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