A tale by Tagore.

Thanks to Usha, a lot of us got to read this story of Tagore for the first time. And what a tale! A heart wrenching story of a bird. Of all of us. And makes us wonder what we can do to prevent the same happening to the future generation.

Totaakaahini by Tagore.

The nephew said, "Your Majesty, the bird's education is now complete.''
The King asked, "Does it still jump?''
The nephew said, "God
forbid.''
"Does it still fly?''
"No.''
"Does it sing any more?''
"No.''
"Does it scream if it
doesn't get food?''
"No.''
The King said, "Bring the bird in. I would
like to see it.''

Class 8 student shot dead by a class 10 student in MP.

Too bad we had to start a brand new year with the news about two women molested by a mob in Mumbai. And now this. Another school shoot out. My grandma used to say "What is the World coming to?" quite often when I was a kid. Now its my turn I guess!

In a shocking
incident, an eighth class student of a government school in Satna district
of
Madhya Pradesh was killed on Thursday when his senior schoolmate
allegedly shot
at him in the school premises in the second such crime in the
country in a
month.

News via Rediff.

School of thought.

Lakshmi remembers her school days fondly while dropping her daughter at school. And also wonders if moms today have become really competitive.

These kids are
three-and-half-years old, for God's sake. And what is worse, there
is immediate pressure on the child to perform well. Usually the competitions are
for stuff like "Bhagavat Gita Recitation". These kids are not even past their
kid-talk (my child cannot even pronounce "R" yet, and it is still "Labbit eat
Callot"), to actually recite heavy-duty Sanskrit slokas from the Gita AND BE
JUDGED FOR IT. Yes, it is probably a good idea to catch them young and
having them lisp the Gita is probably the most beautiful sound to a parent's
ear, but competitions? Why? Why induce the attitude of one-upping at
this age?

I hear ya, Lakshmi!

Link via The Visitor.