Positivity in Adversity - Learning During Lockdown

 

There is a popular saying that “Every dark cloud has a silver lining”. Similarly, it is also an undeniable fact that every deterrent gives wings to multiple other possibilities for achieving the aims and objectives.

The present elusive phase is spawning abundant unpleasant experiences and challenges. We have never been accustomed to such ways of living.

However, these tough circumstances have taught us how to survive in the midst of numerous problems such as mental stress, health & family issues, fiscal and professional challenges.

Certainly, if an individual is balanced, one can explore the other side of the coin and embrace the mammoth opportunities for self-growth and improvement.

In due course, these trying times have made us tech-savvy as well. Today, the entire working population is making headway through technology. The teaching fraternity has witnessed a new avenue to accomplish teaching-learning process. Even for the minutest requirements, there is a need to rely on technology.

The prevailing circumstances influenced us to believe that a new normal could be a reality. Online teaching to online banking, online purchase of necessities and groceries have created an impetus for trying more of these options that existed in the past as well, but were never a part of normal life. As a consequence, we have started enjoying ourselves with these advancements more often now.

Correspondingly, health and hygiene have gained the most deserving importance which was neglected earlier. Today, the entire world is all up to enhance their immunity, ingesting healthy diet and adapting a cautious lifestyle to stay away from the unkind pandemic and to prevent further spread of the virus.

Although, we were aware that Yoga is one of the best practices for a healthy lifestyle and fetches long-lasting rewards, yet, we had always remained quite reluctant and lethargic to make it a part of our everyday life.

However, the unwanted preclusion on outdoor activities boosted the public morale prominently in the direction of ‘Yoga at home’. As a result, Yoga has become an integral part of every family's daily schedule.

Furthermore, due to this sudden closure of eating outlets, youngsters have started relishing home-made food. Evidently, women at home started learning to cook all possible dishes. The credit goes to easily accessible online cookery shows as they have helped these gracious homemakers in improving their prowess and the siblings too have started spending quality time with each other while enjoying their favourite delicacies.

As a teacher, I have noticed a key transformation in my students’ scholastic fervor. Those who were reluctant to express their ideas in physical class rooms; are less hesitant now and take rational initiatives during digital classes. They discuss their dilemmas & difficulties with me and participate in activities. Moreover, the efficient involvement of new students is like a cherry on the cake. These learners do not continue to be newbie anymore as they have attuned themselves smoothly with this new normal even though they have had their initial interactions through online platforms.

In this way, the confidence imbibed by these kids, the bonding that has been brought forth, and the affirmative use of technology are some of the impressive milestones of ‘Positivity in Adversity’.

I hope while tackling all these challenges, we will continue to learn new skills and grow steadily.

I strongly believe that we will surely knockdown the lockdown.

With All Positive Expectations…!

SANGEETA VASHISHTHA 

PGT-COMMERCE

THE MANN SCHOOL

 

INDIAN NAVY

 

Indian Navy is the force that safeguards the nation’s maritime borders and provides humanitarian aid and disaster relief. The honourable President of India, Mr Ram Nath Kovind is the supreme commander of the Indian Defence Forces. Admiral Karambir Singh PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chief of Naval Staff, is presently the head of the Indian Navy and exercises the operational and administrative control over the oraganisation.

In 1934, Royal Indian Navy was renamed as Indian Navy. It celebrates the ‘Navy Day’ on 4th of December every year to acknowledge the achievements and its role in operation ‘Trident’. 

Operation Trident marks the attack on Karachi harbour during the Indo-Pak war in 1971 where the Indian Navy sank four Pakistani vessels including a minesweeper and a destroyer, killing hundreds of Pakistani personnel and destroying the Karachi harbour, further creating a naval blockade to weaken the Pakistani forces during the follow up Operation Python. 

With the Motto “Sham No Varunah” which translates to “May the lord of water be auspicious unto us” and the naval armada which contains 01 aircraft carrier, 01 amphibious transport dock, 11 destroyers, 14 frigates, 24 corvettes and 18 nuclear submarines making the Indian Navy one of the most lethal forces in the world which any country would only want as an ally. 

The Naval Ensign is used by various ships to demarcate their nationality. Indian Naval Ensign is the white ensign with horizontal and vertical red strips with the emblem of India superimposed on intersection and national flag in the upper left subdivision next to the staff. This ensign is a modified version of British Naval Ensign. 

The Indian Navy has three commands. Each of the command is commanded by a Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief. Western Naval Command has its Headquarters located at Mumbai, Eastern Naval Command at Vishakhapatnam and Southern Naval Command has its headquarter located at Kochi. The Western and The Eastern Naval Commands are ‘Operational Commands’ and exercise control over maritime operations in Arabian sea and the Bay of Bengal respectively. The southern naval command located at Kochi is the training command. Along with the Eastern and Western Fleets, a Flotilla is also based at Port Blair (A & N Islands). 

As of July 2019, the Indian Navy has 67,252 active personnel in service. The officers are trained at the Indian Naval Academy; Ezhimala located on the coast of Kerala and is the largest Naval Academy in Asia. 

The Naval Armada not only contains various guided cruise missiles but also a variety of other armaments such as torpedoes, mines and high caliber guns which makes it a very lethal force, leaving the enemy petrified. 

We are safe and sound because our Navy is taking care of us all the time. A Big Salute to our Navy and best wishes on Indian Navy Day…!!!

Second Officer Ruchi Shanker
Associate NCC Officer (Army) 

The Mann School

प्रकाश पर्व

 

भारत भूमि धार्मिक भूमि है। भारतीयों की प्रवृत्ति और आचरण धार्मिक हैं। ऐसी पवित्र भूमि में समय-समय पर अनेक महापुरुष उत्पन्न हुए जिन्होंने लोगों को धर्म का ज्ञान कराया व ईश्वर प्राप्ति का सच्चा मार्ग बताया, उन महापुरुषों में श्री गुरु नानक देव जी का नाम सदा स्मरण रहेगा । इनका जन्मदिवस प्रकाश दिवस के रूप में मनाया जाता है।

नानक जी का जन्म तलवंडी नामक गाँव  में संवत् 1526 को कार्तिक पूर्णिमा के दिन हुआ। तलवंडी का वर्तमान नाम ननकाना साहब है। इनके पिताजी का नाम मेहता कल्याण दास (मेहता कालू) और माता का नाम त्रिपता था।

इनकी रुचि बचपन से ही भगवान की भक्ति की ओर थी अतः पढ़ने की बजाय ये ईश्वर शरण में ही समय बिताते, जिसे देखकर उन्हें पढ़ाने वाले पंडित और मौलवी भी दंग रह जाते । गुरु नानक देव जी संस्कृत और अरबी भाषा के विद्वान् थे।

गुरु नानक जी के पिताजी ने उन्हें पशुओं को  चराने का काम सौंपा । पशु खेत में चरते रहते और ये ईश्वर के भजन में मगन रहते। एक बार पशु चराते हुए ये बहुत दूर निकल गए और थक गए। धूप प्रचंड थी। गुरु नानक देव जी लेट गए और उन्हें नींद आ गई तभी एक साँप ने आकर उनके ऊपर छाया कर दी। वहाँ का शासक रायबुलार वहाँ से गुज़र रहा था। उसने देखा तो साँप को हटाने पहुँचा। साँप ने आदमी को देखा तो चुपके से चला गया। रायबुलार पर भी इसका सकारात्मक प्रभाव पड़ा।

18 वर्ष की आयु में सुलखनी देवी से इनका विवाह हो गया इनके दो पुत्र हुए - श्री चंद और लक्ष्मीदास। पर ईश्वर भक्ति करने वाले श्री गुरु नानक देव जी का मन गृहस्थी में कैसे लगता? एक दिन इन्होंने गृहस्थी और नौकरी छोड़कर लोगों को दिव्य धर्म उपदेश देने का मार्ग चुना। इस भाँति गुरु नानक जी ने  ईश्वर के प्रति जनता की रुचि जागृत करते हुए भ्रमण किया। वे मक्का- मदीना भी गए। वहाँ के मुसलमान भी उनसे बहुत प्रभावित हुए।

गुरु नानक जी के उपदेश थे - सच्चे मन से भगवान का भजन करो। संयम से जीवन बिताओ। परिश्रम की सच्ची कमाई करो। झूठ मत बोलो। परनिंदा और क्रोध मन को अपवित्र करते हैं इनसे बचो। हमें मधुर और परहितकारी वचन बोलने चाहियें। हमें उस भगवान को याद करना चाहिए, जो जल और थल में समा रहा है। किसी दूसरे शरीरधारी से जन्म लेने वाले और मरने वाले का नाम नहीं जपना चाहिए।

'तेरा भाणा मीठा लागे' शब्द कहते-कहते गुरु नानक देव जी ने नश्वर शरीर को त्याग दिया। गुरु नानक जी की वाणी 'गुरु ग्रंथ साहब' में लिखी हुई है। आज भारत के गुरुद्वारों में नर-नारी इसका प्रतिदिन पाठ करते हैं। गुरु नानक जी के अनुयायी  विशेषत: सिक्ख धर्मावलंबी इन्हें अपना आदि गुरु मानते हैं।

पूनम बाला चुघ

सहायक अध्यापिका

'द मान स्कूल' दिल्ली

CONSTITUTION DAY

 

“However good a Constitution may be, if those who are implementing it are not good, it will prove to be bad. However bad a Constitution may be, if those implementing it are good, it will prove to be good."

--Dr. BR Ambedkar

These are the words of Dr. BR Ambedkar, who drafted the most detailed Constitution of the world i.e. the Constitution of India. These words tell us how important a constitution is for a country.

So; what exactly is a Constitution?

A Constitution is a collection of rules and principles which enunciate how a state will be governed. It forms the framework for all the decisions made by every government official and particularly the Legislature (the lawmaking body), the Executive (President/Prime Minister/Ministers) and the Courts. It also sets out the rights of its citizenswhich must be respected by the state, and therefore, strengthenthe relationship between the government and the people.

India adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949 after almost 2 years, 11 months and 17 days. But, It was legally enforced on 26 January 1950. The two-month period between the adoption and enforcement of the Constitution, was used for a thorough reading and translation from English to Hindi.

However, it was only from the year 2015, while laying the foundation stone of the Ambedkar memorial in Mumbai on November 19, 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked November 26, as the Constitution Day of India. Since then, November 26 is celebrated as the 'Constitution Day or the Samvidhan Diwas of India' every year.

Previously, this day was celebrated as the ‘Law Day’.The main aim of declaring November 26 as the ‘Constitution Day of India’ is to spread awareness about the ‘Constitution of India’ among the citizens of India.

Today, on this special day, I feel privileged to take this opportunity to mention the lesser known facts about the Constitution of India:

1. The Preamble is the statement that appears first in the Constitution, it tells us about the ideology and ideals which a country is established upon. It is surprising to know that Preamble was the last to be included in the Constitution.

2. There is a total of 117,369 words in the English version of the Constitution of India which contains 444 articles in 22 parts, 12 schedules and 115 amendments. All these words were handwritten by Prem Behari Narain Raizada in italic style with beautiful calligraphy.

3. Each page of the constitution is beautifully decorated by the artists from Shantiniketan including Beohar Rammanohar Sinha and Nandalal Bose.

4. When the draft was prepared and put up for debate and discussion, over 2000 amendments were made before its final version.

5. Along with the Constitution, the National Emblem of India was also adopted.

6. The Constitution of India is an amalgamation of various provisions which are borrowed from other constitutions of the world.

7. The Ideals of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity come from the French Constitution. These words appear in the Preamble of our Constitution.

8. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution was inspired by the US Constitution’s Preamble. Both the Preambles begin with “We the People”.

9. The very idea, 'Fundamental Rights' which are enumerated in our Constitution, was obtained from America’s Bill of Rights.

10. The Fundamental Duties are obtained from the citizen's duties which were listed in the Constitution of the former USSR.

Why a constitution is so important for a country and its people?

As we all know, India got freedom from the British rule in 1947.

The leaders at that point thought wisely in having a written set of rules that can control this newly found freedom so that it is not misused by the people in government.

In this manner; it is a very important tool in the hands of citizens of a country to keep the government in check. It guarantees freedom and rights to the people which ensures dignity to the people. It is the supreme law of a nation.

It is the spine of a nation and in its absence no nation can exist, it would end up simply as a crowd of people.

The Constitution Day is not merely a celebration, rather it is a significant day that motivates all Indians to cherish and follow it in favour of all.

I would like to sum up with the words of the father of Indian Constitution:

“Constitution is not a mere lawyer’s document, it is a vehicle of Life, and its spirit is always the spirit of Age.”     – Dr. BR Ambedkar

 

 

VIJAY LAKSHMI

TGT- SOCIAL SCIENCE

THE MANN SCHOOL

NCC @ MS

 

The NCC day is observed all over the country in commemoration of the notable day when Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru had inaugurated the first NCC Unit in Delhi on the last Sunday of November 1948. 

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) is the youth wing of the Indian Armed Forces (IAF) headquartered in New Delhi, India. The foremost motto of NCC is ‘Unity and Discipline (Ekta aur Anushasan)’. 

The school and college-going boys and girls can join NCC on a voluntary basis. NCC aims to nurture the vivacity of the young generation toward something productive for their career as well as the society. 

The cadets of Mann School (MS) have been contributing through different social-welfare activities like Traffic Awareness Rallies, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Tree Plantation Drives and Say No to Plastic Bags. In addition, our cadets regularly distribute the cloth bags and pamphlets in the nearby areas during many social-welfare drives as a regular practice in accordance with the NCC syllabus and guidelines. 

MS cadets have got a long-standing bequest of accomplishments as they have been participating with a great enthusiasm and resilience in various activities and competitions conducted by the NCC-wing. 

In 2013, Sergeant, Himmat Singh was awarded with the sixth place in all over India and was honoured as the best player in shooting in Delhi. 

Up till now, 16 cadets of MS-Army troop have received annual Sahara/Cadet Welfare Society scholarships worth 6000 /-, making the substantial sum of Ninety-Six thousand rupees in total. 

Furthermore, Sergeant Himmat Singh and Sergeant Prakhar S Mathur secured Gold and Silver medals in shooting. Sergeant Prakhar S Mathur and Corporal Nashid Hazakat stood first and second, respectively, in the declamation competition in 2013. 

MS won the ‘Best School Trophy’ in 2017 as our NCC-cadets earned the top places in Line Layout, Discipline and Dressing Etiquette competitions. 

In 2010, the cadets of Army-troop displayed a great performance as a band troop in the ‘Prime Minister’s Rally’ and the ‘Group Commander’ was honoured with the ‘Certificate of Appreciation’. 

During the ‘Annual Educational Tours & Trek’, our NCC-cadets presented a Nukkad Natak which was highly commended by the residents of Shimla and the same news was published in Dainik Jagran, a prominent newspaper of India. 

MS, NCC cadets consistently participate in Delhi and NOIDA/Ghaziabad Horse Show organised by the ‘Army Equestrian Club’ and bring laurels to the school in different categories. Sergeant Gagan Yadav participated in Nationals in Basketball. 

MS secured second position in Zonal March-past organised by the Directorate of Education NCT of Delhi in 2018–19. 

Last year, all the cadets were awarded with a ‘Letter of Appreciation’ by the Honourable Speaker of the Assembly as MS-NCC band troop displayed their astonishing performance at ‘Delhi Legislative Assembly’. 

Our cadets were adorned with first and second positions in Tug-of-War and Volleyball competitions during the Air-camp in 2017. 

Many ex-cadets of MS are serving in Indian Army, Navy, ITBP, IAF and CRPF. 

In addition, the NCC cadets are astoundingly contributing to accomplishing the motto of NCC, by helping the administration in distribution of ration and food to the needy during the testing times of pandemic. 

Finally, come what may, we will continue to play our role as NCC cadets to serve the nation with utmost delight. 

We are proud of our NCC-cadets and wish them a great success in their future endeavours!!!

JAI HIND!!!

SECOND OFFICER RUCHI SHANKER

ASSOCIATE NCC OFFICER (ARMY)

THE MANN SCHOOL

“दीपोत्सव”

 

विश्व के अनेक उत्सवों के विषय में जानने के पश्चात् यह ज्ञात हुआ कि अधिकतर उत्सवों को एक सीमित क्षेत्र के निवासियों द्वारा मनाया जाता है अथवा कुछ ही देशों में उनका प्रचलन दिखाई देता है ।आप भले ही किसी भी देश के निवासी क्यों न हों या विदेश में कार्यरत हों परंतु आपका संबंध किसी-न-किसी सामाजिक अथवा धार्मिक उत्सव से अवश्य होता है । ये उत्सव व्यक्ति को अपनी सभ्यता, समाज व परिवार से जोड़ने का कार्य करते हैं।

 

            ‘गुणधर्मविहीनो यो निष्फलं तस्य जीवितम्’ अर्थात् जो गुण और धर्म से रहित है उसका जीवन निष्फल है। भारत एक बहुधार्मिकता की भावना का देश है अत: यहाँ सभी धर्मों, उनके अनुयायियों व त्योहारों को सहर्ष स्वीकारा गया है। इसीलिए कहा भी गया है ‘दुर्लभं भारते जन्म मानुष्यं तत्र दुर्लभम्’ अर्थात् भारत में जन्म लेना मनुष्य के लिए दुर्लभ है। 

 

           भारत में त्योहारों की संख्या बहुत अधिक है ।अतः लोकप्रियता के आधार पर भारत के विशेष उत्सव की चर्चा अवश्य कर सकते हैं ।  

 

      'दीपोत्सव' या 'दीपावली' भारत के सर्वाधिक लोकप्रिय उत्सवों में से एक है और इसकी लोकप्रियता इस तथ्य से सिद्ध होती है कि इस उत्सव को एक या दो नहीं अपितु उत्तरी गोलार्ध के कई देशों में मनाया जाता है; जिनमें 'ऑस्ट्रेलिया', 'न्यूजीलैंड', 'फिजी', 'कनाडा' जैसे समुन्नत देश भी सम्मिलित हैं।  

 

      'संस्कृत' भाषा के अनुसार 'दीपावली' शब्द का अर्थ 'दीपों की पंक्ति' है।  दीपावली का प्रयोजन सामाजिक और आध्यात्मिक दोनों रूपों में देखा जाता है। सामाजिक रूप में - बुराई पर अच्छाई की जीत व आध्यात्मिक रूप में- अंधकार पर प्रकाश की जीत। 

 

      दीपावली का प्रचलन रामायण काल से माना जाता है l  कार्तिक मास की अमावस्या को श्री राम चौदह वर्ष का वनवास पूर्ण करके अयोध्या लौटे और अयोध्या वासियों ने उनके स्वागत में अनेक दीपों को प्रज्वलित कर अमावस्या के अंधकार को दूर किया और दीपोज्वलन की परम्परा प्रारंभ हुई। दीपावली को कार्तिक मास में घटित कई अन्य घटनाओं जैसे 'भगवान महावीर के मोक्ष दिवस', 'माता लक्ष्मी के अवतरण' 'अज्ञातवास समाप्त करके पांडवों का लौटना', 'राजा विक्रमादित्य का राजतिलक' तथा 'आर्य समाज की स्थापना' से भी जोड़ा जाता है परंतु काल-क्रमानुसार यह भगवान श्री राम से ही सर्वाधिक संबंधित है ।  

 

      वर्तमान समय में इस त्योहार को लक्ष्मी माता व गणेश जी की पूजा करके, दीप जलाकर, मित्रों व संबंधियों में मिष्ठान्नों का वितरण, भिन्न-भिन्न प्रकार के स्वादिष्ट व्यंजन बनाकर मनाया जाता है। ब्राह्मण वर्ग द्वारा दीप जलाने की प्रथा बहुत विशेष मानी गयी है। निम्नलिखित श्लोक में भी दीपों से प्रार्थना की गयी है – 

 

‘दीपज्योतिः परंब्रह्म दीपज्योतिर्जनार्दनः।

दीपो हरतु मे पापं दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तु ते’॥

 

       आज की युवा पीढ़ी व बच्चे विस्फोटकों(पटाखों) से उत्सव मनाते हैं परंतु इससे वायु व ध्वनि प्रदूषण की समस्या अपने चरम पर आ जाती है। भले ही  प्रदूषण की समस्या के कारण विस्फोटकों के प्रयोग पर रोक लगाई है परंतु फिर भी इनकी बिक्री अनधिकृत रूप से बाज़ारों में हो रही है । अतः प्रत्येक माता-पिता, शिक्षक का यह कर्तव्य है कि वह युवा पीढ़ी व बच्चों का मार्गदर्शन करें और कोविड-19 के समय कुछ विशेष सावधानियाँ अवश्य रखें:-

 

Ø सार्वजनिक स्थानों पर जाने से बचें।

Ø बच्चे और वृद्ध घर से बाहर ना जाएँ। 

Ø बाजारों से वस्तुएँ खरीदते समय सैनिटाइजर का प्रयोग अवश्य करें ।

Ø सैनिटाइजर के प्रयोग के बाद ज्वलनशील  पदार्थों के  पास न जाएँ ।

 

      अंत में आपसे यही निवेदन है कि आप सभी अपने संबंधियों का ध्यान रखें और हर्षोल्लास पूर्वक इस उत्सव को मनाएँ l 

 

                    "दीपोत्सव की अनंत शुभकामनाएँ"

सधन्यवाद

प्रवीण शर्मा

हिंदी विभाग

द मान स्कूल

MATHEMATICS AND ASTRONOMY

 

Astronomers apply math in everything they do since it enables them to study, comprehend and abridge the mysteries of this intricate cosmos. 

As a matter of fact, cosmology guides researchers to the undeniable essentials and the profound insider facts of the continuous worlds that encompass planet Earth. 

Moreover, it is a proven fact that Mathematics is the base of cosmology, which has made the revelations of space conceivable. The establishment of Astrometry was made plausible through old Mathematicians permitting different nations to partake in doing relevant researches about the Universe. 

As rightly said by: ~ John N. Bahcall (In Sky and Telescope—Jan 1990):

“We should do astronomy because it is beautiful and because it is fun. We should do it because people want to know. We want to know our place in the universe and how things happen.” 

During ancient times, Indian astronomers shaped new forms that were in turn adopted by their foreign companions to incorporate various scientific models, methods, and genus from the astronomy.

Even though a great part of the preparation had been laid, the advancement of numerical strategies for cosmology didn't stop till the end of the seventeenth century and Arithmetic articulations encouraged further refinement of Astronomical models.

In the next hundreds of years, more advanced numerical strategies were created, expanding on the essentials of Geometry and Analytics, and were applied to Astrometry. 

The standards of Round Geometry support the computations of current Astrometry, although the estimations are presently done by PCs instead of slide rules.

Mathematicians and cosmologists created procedures for the estimation of points and tables for counts with these points. Archimedes and Aristarchus mulled over the numerical extents in triangles, and present-day theories on the utilization of these new speculations to Astrometry were disseminated. 

The underlying utilization of Mathematics in cosmology is checking elements, sources, or articles in the sky. Items might be computed during the daytime or night. The utilization of Arithmetic is the figuring of the separation to an article in air space.

Furthermore, arithmetic is and consistently has been of focal significance to Space Science. Numerical improvements were both applied to and inspired by Astronomical estimations, and the most renowned space experts were additionally Mathematicians and vice versa.

The following expressions of ‘The American Physicist ~ Frederick Seitz’ evidently depict the connection and importance of mathematics and astronomy as the indispensable forms for the development of human race and their civilizations. 

“Essentially all civilizations that rose to the level of possessing an urban culture had need for two forms of science-related technology, namely, mathematics for land measurements and commerce and astronomy for time-keeping in agriculture and aspects of religious rituals.” ~ Frederick Seitz. 

Finally, the Mathematical Sciences and Astrometry can make us realize the value of living by effectively using the superb mind of man and thus; can be truly helpful for us to unravel the intricacies of this amazing and incessantly evolving Universe. 

ARUN KUMAR SHARMA

HoD—Department of Mathematics

THE MANN SCHOOL