सह वीर्यं करवावहै।

 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