Creating Academic

Ambience

A Presentation

By

M. S. RAHMANPrincipal

International Indian School, JeddahKingdom of Saudi Arabia

What a Principal Supposed to Do in School?

Keep in mind the institutional objectives and fulfillment of expectation of the stakeholders.

Identify the individual potential of the workforce. Build, train, develop the team and lead them from front. Develop and improve the system and put it in place for

smooth and efficient operation and function of School. Improve discipline and academics through culture of care,

share and quality service. Students’ individual growth and their learning potential should be in focus.

Restore the faith of the Parents and change the perception by taking care of the image and en-cashing the achievements of students and creating an academic ambience for inducing them to realize their individual potential to its fullest extent.

Achievement, excellence and success. Repeat the success story.

Areas that are Needed to be Taken Care of

• School Entrance(hedges, flag posts, chains, plantations, demarcations), Guarded, Visitor’s Diary.

• Lobby/Reception – Customer Friendly• Houses, Bulletin Boards, Quotation Boards, Display System,

School Website (Customer/user friendly and organised), Assembly Area

• Library, Laboratories, Classrooms, Music, Dance, Art and Craft Rooms, Gym, Games/Sports Room

• Strategic Areas/Prominent places of Schools• Overall cleanliness and maintenance of School Plant• Tidiness of the School Plant• Gardens (flower garden and greeneries), Parks(Science Park, Mathematics Park, Play-well)• Classrooms should have display strip on the either side of the wall

to display the students’ work.

Role Model Little Eyes Upon You

There are little eyes upon you There is wide-eyed little fellowand they are watching night and day, who believes you’re always right;There are little ears that quickly And his eyes are always opened,take in every word you say. And he watches day and night.There are little hands all eagerto do anything you do; You are setting an exampleAnd a little boy who’s dreaming every day in all you do,of the day he will be like you. For the little boy who’s waitingYou are the little fellow’s idol, to grow up like you.you are the wisest of the wise.In his little mind about you --From The Moral Compassno suspicions ever rise. Edited by William J. BennetHe believes in you devoutly, and Simon & Schuster,holds all that you say and do; New York, 1995, pp 523-24.He will say and do, in your way,when he’s grown up like you.

Upbringing• “Fellow citizens, why do you turn and scrap every

stone to gather wealth and to take so little care of your children to whom one day, you must relinquish it all?”

--Socrates.• The greatest thing that a parent can give to his

children are roots.• A teacher to a little girl, “who taught you to be

courteous and polite?” The girl replied, “No one. It just runs in our family.”

• In order for our children to turn well, we need to spend twice the time and half the money. It is less painful to learn in youth than be ignorant as an adult.

Upbringing continued…• Parents with high self-esteem breed confidence

and high self-esteem in their children by giving them positive concepts, beliefs and values. The reverse is also true.

• It great heritage to have honest parents. Parents who participate in crooked business deals unfortunately set bad examples for their future generations.

• A strong role model or mentor could be a parent, relative or teacher who is held in high regard. During their formative years, children look up to adults in positions of influence.

Children Learn What They LiveIf a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidenceIf a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in

the world. --Dorothy Law Nolte

Education:

“Being ignorant is not shameful, but being unwilling to learn is.”

Deep from the Heart of a Young Mind

“A tender plant I am in your garden,

Make me grow straight and tall, Give me the fresh air of your love, Answer with your grace when I call, Hold me fast and take me far, On the path of goodness and truth, Let there be joy hour after hour, And when I walk out into the world, Let them be proud of me and my School.”                               Lines shared by Coordinator of ‘Prerna’,                               DPS Ahmedabad at the Workshop “Addresssing the

               Academic needs of Dyxlexics” held from 15-17 November, 2007

 

We Remember Them                          The rising of the sun

and in its going down, we remember them;

In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of the winter,

we remember them;In the opening of buds

and in the rebirth of spring, we remember them; 

In the blueness of sky and in the warmth of summer,

we remember them; In the rustling of leaves

and in the beauty of autumn, we remember them;

Continued... 

Continued…When we are weary

and in the need of strength,we remember them;

When we are lostand sick at heart,

we remember them;When we have joys

we yearn to share,we remember them;

So long as we leave, they too shall live,for they are now a part of us,

as we remember them. -From Gates of

Prayer

We remember you…

We remember you…Our founding fathersWho paved the wayFor what we are today….

There is only one life…“There is only one life to each that is given,surely in the one that is known and livedin the consciousness of time and spacerecorded by history and biographyin the context of the evolving speciesin the company of nature and divinity.To this one life of brief spanin the scroll of ages gathering dustman should bring great awarenessand expression of much grace and culturefor ever growing quality of lifefor himself and all mankind.The foundations of life’s resplendent qualityin growing awareness and expressionto live together and transcendand led by good educationnurtured by stream of culture

Continued…flowing through the terrain of Existence.While knowledge grows and wisdom lingersand floods of information swampthe world of Culture and Meditationit is time to construct anewthe foundations of best educationfor new wonders and creations.To these wonders and creations of knowledge, action

and imagination.I turn now my mind and thoughtsfor basics of good educationto learn and how to learnand steer through jungles of Information.Old education was deployedfor repeating Existence as of oldto preserve order and status quo

new education must explore and aspire.”

In Pursuit of Excellence

If You Can’t Be a Pine on the Top of the Hills, Be a Scrub in the Valley-But Be,The Best Little Scrub by the side of the Rill. Be a Bush, if you can’t be a Tree.We can’t be all Captains, we have got to be Crew. There is something for all of us here.There is a Big work to do and there is lesser to do. And the task we must do is near.If you can’t be a Highway, then just be a Trail. If you can’t be the Sun, be a Star.It is not by the side that you win or fail. Be the Best of whatever you are.

  -Douglas Malloch

PRINCIPAL

P - PioneerR - Role Model,

ResourcefulI - InnovativeN- NobleC- Creative, CompetentI - InformativeP- PatienceA- AcademicianL- Leader

SCHOOL S - Student

C - Culture of teaching-learning

H - House and Infrastructure

O - Organisation

O - Orderliness

L – Learning

Teacher T - Trained E - Educated A - Able, Agile and Active C – Communication Skill H - Honorable E - Efficient R - Role Model

StudentS - StudiousT - TrainingU - UnderstandingD - Discipline

E - EnergeticN - NurtureT - Talented

Thoughts “Leadership is not a position, it is relationship grounded in

trust, demonstrated in actions and quantified by results.” –

Anonymous. “Poor minds discuss people, average minds discuss events,

great minds discuss ideas.”

“Coming together is beginning. Keeping together is progress.

Working together is success.” -Henry Ford.

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.” - Confucius

Thoughts“The mediocre teacher tells, the good teacher explains, the

superior teacher demonstrates and the great teacher inspires.”

- Edward Buller Lytton“Discussion is an exchange of intelligence; argument is an

exchange of ignorance.” - Washington Post

“The teacher, the child’s window to learning and knowledge, has to play the role model of dignity and self respect among youth.” -A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

“Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.”

“Sincere, serious and systematic studies secure supreme success.”

Thoughts “Believe in yourself, but don’t be overconfident. Be satisfied, but know that you can always improve. Be modest in victory and success and courageous in defeat Be glad …… just for being the wonderful person that you are.”

“The teacher, the child’s window to learning and knowledge, has to play the role model of dignity and self respect among youth.” -APJ Abdul Kalam. “The best and most beautiful things in the world can not be seen

or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.”-Helen Keller.

“Future belongs to those who believe in their dreams”. -M.S.Rahman

“Try not to be a man of success but rather try to be a man of value.” -Albert Einstein.

A Student To His Teacher Please try to be a human being, not just a teaching machine.Please do not teach only a subject, but rather teach us excellence.Please let me feel that you are interested in me as a human being, not just a roll

number in your note –book. Please do not judge me only by the marks I get in my tests, but rather by the effort I

make. Please do not expect of me what is beyond my talent or power, give me more

encouragement from time to time.Please help me to learn to think and to judge for myself, not just memorize ready –

made answers. Help me to find the answers myself, though this may be more painful for both of us.

Please listen to the questions I may seriously ask however foolish they may sound to you. If you can listen, I might learn to listen too.

Please be strict enough with me, provided you are just. I know that I need it, though outwardly I may rebel against it.

Please do not ridicule me, especially in front of my class – mate. It hurts and it will turn me against you. An earnest kind word in private will be more effective.

Please do not pity me, especially in front of others, if I do not succeed so well. Pity can be highly embarrassing.

Please remember that once upon a time you were a student yourself. Did you always get the best marks? And did you never forget a thing?

Please keep studying yourself. Do not mechanically use, in case the same yellowed notes which you wrote 20 (Twenty) years back.

Please don’t expect a word of thanks so often. I am grateful but I find it difficult to express my gratitude in words.

The 15 Commandments1. Be a visionary 2. String together a dream 3. Limitations yes. But no limits 4. Regularly make good decisions 5. Plan, but don’t be limited on planning.6. Be value driven and respect traditions.7. If par of leadership group, set direction only.8. Coach/ manager should be without ego, be the servant not master.9. Coach/manager should give responsibility and hold people accountable.10. Obey the laws, even if nobody is watching.11. Don’t try to control the uncontrollable.12. Focus on the process and not just the result.13. For continual improvement raise the bar.14. Commitment through action not words.15. Don’t like to be disliked. 

Human RelationsThe most important 6 words: “I admit I made a mistake”

The most important 5 words: “You did a good job”

The most important 4 words: “What is your opinion”

The most important 3 words: “Will you please”

The most important 2 words: “Thank you”

The most important 1 word: “ We”

And the least important word: “I”

A Beautiful Prayer by Joanne Gobure

I asked God to take away my habit. God said, No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up. I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. God said, No. His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary. I asked God to grant me patience. God said, No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; It isn't granted, it is learned. I asked God to give me happiness. God said, No. I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you. I asked God to spare me pain. God said, No.

Continued…

A Beautiful Prayer…Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares And brings you closer to me. I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, No. You must grow on your own! But I will prune you to make you fruitful. I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life. God said, No. I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things. I ask God to help me love others, as much as He loves me. God said... Ah, finally you have the idea. This day is yours! Don't throw it away! To the world you might be one person, But to one person you just might be the world.

Concluded.

Sacred Space: Almost ThereI donned the saffron robeI roamed here and thereI begged from door to doorAnd didn’t get anywhere

 I counted a million beadsI recited every prayerI read all the booksAnd did not get anywhere

 I discussed God all the timeAnd debated religions threadbareI fasted days on endAnd did not get anywhere

Continued…

Sacred SpaceThen wisdom smiled on me one dayAnd said to me in its own calm wayAll these are traps of your mindOf one or another kindJust go inside if you want to findWhat is it that makes you blindTo what is illusion and what is trueTo be false and the real youIt spoke of power and it spoke of pelfIt spoke of mind, it spoke of selfIt spoke of the real, it spoke of showIt spoke of what I needed to know

Continued…. 

Sacred Space continued…

Now I fast not, nor do I prayI go nowhere but travel in a wayAnd find the truth, as wisdom did sayInside myself, at work and playIt is not holy in the worldly senseIt needs not knowledge, smoke, incenseIt is not demanding of ritual and fastIt wants nothing that will not lastIt’s ‘All-That-Is’, never surpassedMy future, my present and my past.

  --Kishore Asthana.

And the Song will go onThe life you livedThe path you blazedThe challenges you overcameThe traditions you built

 Glow like galaxiesIn the corners of our mindsInspiring us to achieve theImpossible with a smile

 The music of your memoryThe symphony of your dreamsThe song of your actionsIs our anthem our anchorTo face the tomorrows.

-On fond memory of the loved ones.

River of Life, a poem

I salute the life that is revealed and that ishiddenAnd the life of surging sea of fireThe life that is tender like a lotus and hardlike a thunderboltThe life full of joy and life weary with its painsThe life eternally moving, rocking the worldinto stillnessThe life deep and silent breaking out into aroaring waves of happiness…

--Anonymous 22nd June, 2008.

Thoughts and DestinyKeep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts become your words.

Keep your words positive, because your words become your actions.

Keep your actions positive, because your actions become your habits.

Keep your habits positive, because your habits become your lifestyle.

 Keep your lifestyle positive, because your lifestyle becomes your destiny

Father’s Letter to His Son’s Headmaster

Respected teacher, My son will have to learn I know Not to follow the crowd when That all men are not just Every one is getting on the bandwagonAll men are not true, but teach him also Teach him to listen to all men That for every scoundrel, there is a hero But teach him also to filter all he hears.That for every selfish politician, On a screen of truth and take onlyThere is a dedicated leader. One good that comes through,Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend. Then teach him, if you can, It will take time, I know; How to laugh when he is sad, teach him.But teach him if you can, that a dollar earned There is no shame in tears teach him,Is of far more value then five pounds To scruff at cynics and to beware of Teach him to learn to lose and also enjoy winning Too much sweetnessSteer him away from envy if you can Teach him to sell his brawn and brainTeach him the secret of quiet laughter To the highest bidders, but never toLet him learn early that the bullies Put a price tag on his heart and soul Are easiest to lick. Teach him to close his earsTeach him if you can the wonder of books… To a howling mob…But also give him quiet time to ponder. Treat him gently but do not cuddle him Over the external mystery of birds in the sky, bees, Because only the test of fire makes fine steelIn the sun and the flowers on the green hillside. Let him have the courage to be impatientIn school teach him it is far more Let him have the patience to braveHonorable to fail than to cheat Teach him always to have sublime faith in Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, Himself because then he will always have Even if everybody tells him they are wrong. Sublime faith in mankindTeach him to be gentle with gentle people This is a big order but seeAnd tough with the tough What you can do… he is a Try to give my son the strength Fine little fellow, my son.

- Abraham Lincoln

How A Child LearnsIf a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, she learns to fight. If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy. If a child lives with shame, she learns to feel guilty. If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient. If a child lives with encouragement, she learns

confidence. If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate. If a child lives with fairness, she learns justice. If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith. If a child lives with approval, she learns to like herself.If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, helearns to find love in the world. 

(Dorothy Law Nolte)

A Prayer for Peace, Growth, and Recovery

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred...let me sow love. Where there is injury...pardon. Where there is doubt...faith. Where there is despair...hope. Where there is darkness...light Where there is sadness...joy. Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled...as to console. To be understood...as to understand. To be loved...as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

A Creed of those Who have Suffered (Not Getting What We Want)

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey…

I asked for health, that I might do greater things.I was given infirmity, that I might do better things…

I asked for riches, that I might be happy.I was given poverty, that I might be wise…

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God…

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.I was given life, that I might enjoy all things…

I got nothing I asked for but everything I hoped for.

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.I, among all men, am most richly blessed!

                                                                                                         -Anonymous.

What Money Won’t Buy

Amusements but not happiness. A bed but not sleep. Books but not wisdom. A clock but not more time. Companions but not friends. Finery but not beauty. Food but not appetite. A house but not a home. Medicine but not health. A ring but not a marriage.

Cultivate People“Where the vision is one year, cultivate flowers. Where the vision is ten years, cultivate trees. Where the vision is eternity, cultivate people.”

-Oriental Saying.“There are some defeats more triumphant than

victories.” -Michel de Montaigne.“Study as if you have to live forever. Live as if you have to die tomorrow.”

- Mahatma Gandhi.“Rudeness is the weak man’s imitation of strength.”

-Eric Hoffer“Life is as hard as rock and death is as light as

feather.” - Japanese Proverb

SMART Goals

S – Specific.

M – Measurable.

A – Achievable

R – Realistic

T – Time bound.

Dreams are Desires

Strong desires are supported by:

Direction.Dedication.Determination.Discipline.Deadliness.

Be a Better Person“ Resolve to be tender with the

young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and wrong. Because sometime in your lives we would have been all of those ourselves.”

-Lord Shearer, 1986.

Thoughts Destiny

Watch your definitions - they become thoughts

Watch your thoughts - they become words

Watch your words - they become actions

Watch your actions - they become your destiny

It’s Difficult But Rewarding• To believe when others are doubting.• To work when others are dreaming.• To care when others are neglecting.• To give when others are grasping.• To forgive when others are condemning.• To smile when others are criticizing.• To build when others are destroying.• To risk when others are hesitating.• To serve when others are demanding.• To persist when others are quitting.

Hall Mark Of Effective School• Shared Goals: “We know where we’re going”• Responsibility for Success: “We cannot fail.”• Collegiality: “We’re working on this together.”• Continuous Improvement:“We can get better.”• Life Long Learning: “Learning is for everyone.”• Risk Taking: “We learn by trying something new.”• Support: “There’s always someone there to help.”• Mutual Respect: “Everyone has something to offer.”• Openness: “We can discuss our differences.”• Celebration and Humour: “We feel good about

ourselves”.

WORK• WORK is Man’s Great function• He is nothing: he can do nothing, without WORKING.• If you are poor – WORK• If you are rich – continue WORKING.• If you are burdened with seemingly unfair responsibilities –

WORK• If you are happy, keep right on WORKING.• IDLENESS gives room for doubt and fears.• If your health is threatened – WORK• When faith falters – WORK• When dreams are shattered and hope seems dead – WORK• WORK as if your life were in peril. It really is.• No matter what ails you – WORK• WORK faithfully – WORK with faith.• WORK is the greatest remedy available for mental and

physical afflictions.

Mission of Education “Education is at the heart of both

personal and community development; its mission is to enable each of us, without exception, to develop all our talents to the full and to realize our creative potential, including responsibility for our own lives and achievement of our personal aims.”

-Jacques Delors, Chairman, World Commission on Education.

School, A Wonderful Place

• School is a wonderful place with boundless opportunities. In formal education system each individual is introduced to many forms of knowledge.

• School should impart both the desire for, and pleasure in, learning, the ability to learn, how to learn, and intellectual curiosity.

Thought“The wonderful things you learn in

schools and colleges are the work of many generations produced by enthusiastic effort and infinite labour... And all this is put into your hands as your inheritance in order that you may receive it, honour it, add to it, and one day faithfully hand it over to your children.” — Albert Einstein

When Peace Runs DeepIf there be righteousness in the Heart;there will be Beauty in the character.If there be Beauty in the character;there will be Harmony in the home.If there be Harmony in the home;there will be order in the Nation.If there be order in the Nation;there will be peace in the world.

--Confucius

Commitment to Learning

    “No curricular overhaul, no instructional innovation, no change in School organisation, no toughening of standards, no rethinking of teacher training or compensation will succeed if students do not come to school interested in , and committed to learning. We need to look, not at what goes on inside the classroom, but at students’ lives outside the classroom, but at students’ outside the school’s walls.”

      -Prof. John Abbot, Educationist, USA

In Need of Freedom

“It is in fact, nothing short of miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of enquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom…it is a grave mistake to think that the enjoyment of seeing and searching can be promoted by means of coercion and sense of duty.”

- Albert Einstein

It’s Difficult But Rewarding

• To believe when others are doubting.• To work when others are dreaming.• To care when others are neglecting.• To give when others are grasping.• To forgive when others are condemning.• To smile when others are criticizing.• To build when others are destroying.• To risk when others are hesitating.• To serve when others are demanding.• To persist when others are quitting.

Immortal Lines

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,But I have promises to keep,And miles to go before I sleep. And miles to go before I sleep.

-Robert Frost, in ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’.

If you ThinkIf you think you are beaten, you are.If you think you dare not, you don’t! If you like to win, but think you can’t,It is almost a cinch you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you are lost;For out in the world we findSuccess begins with a fellow’s will;It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are,We have got to think high to rise,You’ve got to be sure of yourself beforeYou can never win a prize.

Life’s battle don’t always goTo the stronger and faster man,But sooner or later the man who winsIs the man who thinks he can.

• Nature’s greatest gift to man is the ability to think. He can create his own environment, whereas animals adapt to their own environment.

• Going through life without using our ability to think is like shooting without aiming.

Don’t QuitWhen things go wrong,

As they sometimes will, When the road you are trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit— Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about When he might have won had he stuck it out. Don’t give up though the pace seems slow— You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out— The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far; So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.

Thoughts DestinyYou sow a thought, you reap an action.You sow an action , you reap a habit.You sow a habit, you reap a character.You sow a character, you reap a destiny.It all starts with a thought.Thought Action Habit Character

Destiny

Best way to Handle Mistake• The best way to handle a mistake is to:

- Admit it quickly.- Not dwell on it.- Learn from it.- Not repeat it.- Not assign, blame or make excuses.

• Pressure comes from being unprepared. There is no substitute for preparation, practice and hard work.

• Only preparation gives you the competitive edge.• Success gravitates to those who are prepared.• Weak efforts get weak results.• Persistence is the name we give to a purpose, preparation,

patience, principles, positive attitude, a plan, price, practice, pride.

LUCK He worked by day And toiled by night. He gave up play And some delight. Dry books he read, New things to learn, And forged ahead, Success to earn. He plodded on with Faith and pluck; And when he won, Men called it luck.

-Anonymous

Who are Educated?“Educated are those who manage well,

judge situation, take suitable action, honour the dealing, reasonable with associates, humanly, hold their pleasure under control, not unduly overcome by their misfortunes and bearing it bravely, not spoiled by their success, not desert in their true selves, hold their ground wisely, sober minded, rejoicing no more on good things, who have character and possess virtues.”

-Socrates (470-399 BC)

Blooming of a Generation “We should be aware of the fact that as head of the

institution we are sitting at the top of the emotional landmine. Before it bursts we should have a clear understanding and knowledge of the emotional dimensions of our younger generation. It requires emotional sensitivity and emotional intelligence/acumen on our part while tackling and shaping the raw emotions of our children in order to allow them to bloom as a fine human being besides training their mental and emotional faculties along with inculcation of finer life skills (values) so as to realise one’s fullest potential through quality education.”

                   --M. S. Rahman. “Blooming souls of blossoming hearts and brilliance

of breathtaking beautiful flowers, each a magnificent testament of God, one merely a reflection of others.”

Painful Discrepancy “The greatness of men/women

corresponds to that of painful discrepancy (PD) between the goals he/she sets for himself/herself and the strength nature granted him/her when he/she came into the world.”

--Alexander the Great.

Walk Alone

“If no one respond your call then walk alone.”

“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, into that heaven of freedom my father, let my country awake.”

--Rabindranath Tagore

Thank GodHappy moments, praise GodDifficult moments, seek GodQuiet moments, worship GodPainful moments, trust GodEvery moments, thank God.

ABC …..in Your Life• Aspire to reach your potential. Nurture the environment.

• Believe in yourself. Organize the harmonious actions.

• Create a good life. Perform well.

• Dream about what you might become. Question most things.

• Exercise frequently. Regulate your own behaviour.

• Forgive honest mistakes. Smile often.

• Glorify the creative spirit. Think rationally.

• Humour yourself and others. Understand yourself.

• Imagine great things. Value life.

• Joyfully live each day. Work for the common good.

• Kindly help others. X-Ray and carefully examine problems.

• Love one and all. Yearn to improve.

• Meditate daily. Zestfully pursue happiness.

Art of Governance• Silent water runs deep.• Turn conflict into cooperation.• Criticize the performance, praise the

performer.• Buland Nigah (Supervision).• Motivation, Teamwork and synergy.• Objectivity, Productivity, Output and

Results.• Process is as important as the product. So

take care of the process.• Patience pays (Sabr -e- Jameel).

Problems are Challenges

• Problems are challenges. Behind every challenge, there is an opportunity.

• A chance is an opportunity with a scope to deliver best service.

Knowledge Triangle

The 3 ‘I’ Mantra

Why Blame the System?

“ People are always blaming the system for their behavior, but with a few exceptions, when you get right down to it, the system does not make people do anything. The vast majority of the thing we call the ‘System’ is habit and ‘taken for granted’ assumptions”.

– Peter Senge

Effective Leadership“Effective leadership is not about

making speeches or being liked ; leadership is defined by results not attributes.”

-Peter Drucker

On Children“ Children are like buds in a garden and

should be carefully and lovingly nurtured, as they are the future of the Nation and the citizen of tomorrow.”

-Jawaharlal Nehru“ No subject is of greater importance than that

of education. It is the men and women in a country that make and build a nation and it is education that is supposed to build those men and women.”

-Jawaharlal Nehru

Footprints in the SandOne night I had a dream.I was walking along the beach with God and across the skies flashed scenes from my life. In each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand and to my surprise, I noticed that many times, along the path of my life, there was only one set of footprints. And I noticed that it was at the lowest and saddest times in my life. I asked God about it: “God you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way. But I notice that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why you left my side when I needed you most. God said: “My precious child, I never left you during your time of trial. Where you see only one set of footprints, I was carrying you.”

Cheer – Up!

The PotterI took a piece of plastic clay

And idly fashioned it one day;And as my finger pressed it, stillIt moved and yielded to my will.

It came again when days were passed The bit of clay was hard at last. The form I gave it, still it bore But I could change that form no more.

I took a piece of living clayAnd gently formed it day after day,And moulded it with power and art;A young child’s soft and yielding heart.

It came again when years were gone, It was a man I looked upon. He still that early impress bore; I could change that form no more.

-Anonymous

The Touch of the Master’s Hand’Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneerThought it scarcely worth his whileTo waste much time on the old violin,But held it up with a smile:“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried;“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”-“A dollar!” – “A dollar, then,”– “Two!” – “Only two”?“Two dollars!” – “Once; three dollars, twice;Going for three” ….. But no!From the room far back, a grey-haired manCame forward and picked up the bow;Then wiping the dust from old violinAnd tightening the loose strings,He played a melody pure and sweetAs a caroling angels sing…..The music ceased, and the auctioneerWith a voice that was quiet and low,Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”And he held it up with the bow,-“A thousand dollars!” --“And who’ll make it two?”

-“Two thousand dollars!” --“And who’ll make it three?” -“Three thousand dollars!” --“Once, three thousand , twice;And going, and gone!” said he.The people cheered…….but some of them cried:“We do not quite understandWhat changed its worth.” Swift came the reply:“The touch of a master’s hand!”

-Myra Brooks Welch

Dreams

“Dream is not what you see in sleep, dream is the thing which does not let you sleep.”

-Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

“Future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

-M. S. Rahman

Heaven of FreedomWhere the mind is without fear and the head is held high,

Where knowledge is free;Where the world has not been broken upinto fragments by narrow domestic walls;

Where words come out from the depth of truth;Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;

Where the clear stream of reason has not lostits way into the dreary sand of dead habit;Where the mind is led forward by thee into

ever widening thought and actioninto that heaven of freedom my father

Let my country awake.

-Rabindranath Tagore