The Teacher Didn’t Teach the Meanings. He Taught Something Far More Valuable.
While channel surfing recently, I stumbled across a simple YouTube video that stayed on my mind long after.
A teacher was interacting with a small group of children. He asked each child two simple questions:
❝What is your name?❞ ❝Do you know what your name means?❞
One by one, the children answered. Everyone knew their names, of course, but very few knew what those names actually meant.
What impressed me was the teacher’s response. No comments, no judgements, just a smile and he moved on to the next child. When everyone had answered, it turned out that only two students out of fifteen knew the meanings of their names.
He told the children to find out the meaning of their names. Not immediately. Not as homework due the next day. “Take two days, four days, even a week, if you have to”.
Then the teacher said something beautiful.
Then he explained why he had asked the question in the first place.
❝It is not the meaning that is important. What matters is your curiosity. I want you to be curious to know—to ask questions, to understand the meanings behind things, and to want to know about the world around you.❞
That was the real lesson. In just a few minutes, he shifted the focus from knowing the right answer to developing the desire to seek answers.
And that, to me, is what distinguishes a great teacher from an ordinary one. An ordinary teacher may focus on delivering information. A great teacher awakens curiosity.
Curious children don’t stop learning when the lesson ends. They ask “why,” “how,” and “what if.” They observe, explore, question, and discover. They become lifelong learners because they have developed the habit of seeking understanding rather than simply collecting information. That lesson extends far beyond the classroom.
Whether it’s the story behind their own name, the reason the sky changes color at sunset, why leaves fall in autumn, or how kindness changes relationships—every question is an opportunity to nurture curiosity.
Over to you🎤. Drop your thoughts in the comments. ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆
A Small Intervention That Worked – And what worked for me might work for others too. Hence sharing with you a moment of connection and breakthrough…
“He behaves very badly. If he doesn’t understand anything or doesn’t know the answer, he completely loses control… yes, at home and in school… You know what he did once? During an online class at home, when the teacher asked him a question, he threw his book at the the computer screen… he tears his books and notebooks, or makes ugly scribbles on them. He simply cannot control it.”
This was a mother describing her 8-year-old son to me, while the boy sat beside her, visibly uncomfortable and irritated at being the topic of discussion.
I turned to him and smiled. He tried to return it, but couldn’t quite manage. I didn’t rush into questions about the problem. Instead, I began by engaging him gently—asking about his class, his favourite sport, his favourite subject. As he gradually settled and began to feel a little safer, I shifted the conversation.
Looking at him calmly, I asked, “Do you get very angry when you don’t know something?” … the boy simply nodded.. I continued “So angry that you feel like tearing your book or scratching it hard with your pencil?”
“Yes,” he replied in a voice barely audible as if waiting to get an earful from me next moment.
“Okay… And you know what? You can do that.’ I added looking straight at him.
He looked up, startled. That was not the response he was expecting. He glanced at his mother, then back at me, as if trying to make sense of what he had just heard.
I continued slowly, “It’s okay to feel upset and angry. But next time When you feel that way, instead of scratching your school book or notebook, you use a rough notebook—an old one you don’t need anymore. You can tear it, scribble on it, even crumple it into a ball and throw it away. That way, the anger comes out, but nothing important gets damaged. Does it make sense to you? Do you think you could try that?”
He paused for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully.
Throughout this exchange, his mother listened quietly.
I then spoke with her about the importance of helping children find safe and acceptable ways to express overwhelming emotions, rather than trying to suppress or punish the expression itself. Children often need permission and guidance to channel anger in ways that do not harm themselves, others, or relationships.
It has now been around six months since that session. In all this time, all I have heard from the mother, is “Thank you.”
Sometimes, what looks like a complicated behavioural problem is really a child struggling without tools. And sometimes, a small shift in how we respond becomes the first tool they truly learn to use.
Two news stories that I read lately have stayed with me. The stories highlight how parents influence our thoughts, desires, choices and our personalities for ever.
The first is about a man in his seventies who appeared for the NEET (National Eligiblility cum Entrance Test) for medical entrance.
Why⍰To fulfil his late mother’s wish.
The second is about a woman who became a Chartered Accountant after clearing one of the toughest professional exams and against all odds at the age of 52. In doing so she bravely juggled with her studies and mid-life family responsibilities, her daughter’s wedding and tending to her mother-in-law during her final illness.
Why ⍰Because she wanted to gift her degree to her father on his 75th birthday.
What connects these two stories?
In both cases they took on challenges that many would consider impossible at their age. And both were driven by the same powerful motivation—the desire to make their parents proud.
💭Time to pause and reflect. A child’s longing for their parents’ appreciation doesn’t disappear with age. It stays with them throughout their lives. That’s the extraordinary influence parents have.
Here’s my message to parents: As parents, we often underestimate the impact we have. Recognize the power you hold. Be conscious of the impact you have. Your influence is far greater and more enduring than you may realize.You can shape lives and inspire greatness. You give roots and wings .ᐟ.ᐟᝰ.ᐟ
Parenting is not just about raising children. It’s about leaving a legacy of belief that continues to inspire them throughout their lives. ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆
Over to you 🎤What is one thing you’ve done—or still hope to do—to make your parents proud? Share your story in comments ⤵️
Daily prompt: What’s something you used to believe as a kid that seems ridiculous now?
✍️Not one, I’d share quite a few.
✦ One of my earliest beliefs was that someone might steal my mother. So I would cling to her constantly, her finger, her hand, or her pallu—just to make sure she stayed close.
✦ Then there were the “flying snakes.” The real ones that could swoop over me and finish me anywhere, anytime. For a stretch of my childhood, roughly between ages five and seven, I was genuinely terrified and I did not share it with anyone. Much later in some encyclopaedia I read –
‘Flying snakes are real. However, they don’t exactly fly; instead, they are expert gliders. They belong to the genus Chrysopelea and are found in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, parts of China and India.’ Yes, you read it right, India also!
✦ Another belief took hold a little later, around ages seven to nine. I remember being told (or perhaps misunderstanding something I heard) that I swallowed frog eggs with water, they would lodge in my brain and turn into toads. 🐸
✦Then came my early teens, when I believed I was some kind of genius. 💡 I assumed good marks were inevitable for me, and that studying was something others—those with “lesser brains”—needed to do. That belief was completely shattered after my 10th board results, when I fell flat on my face academically, I mean scraped somehow. It was a humbling moment, but also a turning point. After that “fiasco,” I began to study seriously—and actually did well in all the years that followed. 💯✍️🧠📚
✦ I think after that, my beliefs became a little more grounded… and significantly less entertaining. ツ
Loose and free! Are they? Or are these words linked?
Why do these words keep whiring in my mind? Perhaps they are more deeply connected than they appear.
Recently, I came across a statement by Professor Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, in The Indian Express (March 6, 2026): “Coaching culture trains students to game the exam rather than build conceptual understanding. This approach doesn’t work in the IIT system.”
This stayed with me.
My thoughts wandered to the many reports of students resorting to self-harm in prestigious institutions, and to similar incidents in cities where coaching centres thrive but young minds quietly struggle. I even recalled a panel discussion I watched years ago, where heads of IITs spoke about the rising number of student suicides on their campuses.
One remark stuck: many students entering these institutions are those have not read any story books, watched meaningful films, pursued hobbies, or experienced unstructured play. From as early as Grades 6 or 7, they are absorbed into coaching systems. By the time they get here, they are often mentally exhausted, emotionally depleted, and physically inactive.
They are unprepared—not intellectually, but psychologically—for the journey ahead. For years, their singular goal has been to “get in.” Schools, parents, and coaching systems reinforce this idea.
I recall a school leader telling Grade 12 students: “Focus on getting into IIT. Once you’re there, life is set.” The implication was clear—work relentlessly now, and later you just chill and enjoy life. But reality is very different. And reality hits them hard as nothing, no one prepared them for that.
Many students discover that the pressure does not ease; it intensifies. Without genuine interest in their field, without emotional resilience, and without a broader foundation of experiences, they struggle to cope.
As Professor Kedare also points out in the same idea exchange that some students arrive driven more by the brand value of institutions than by thrir passion for learning. When faced with academic and personal challenges, they falter. He adds that he has seen students spiral—one, for instance, turned to excessive gaming and failed most first-semester courses.
This forces us to question the cost are we chasing success.
It is natural for parents to want the best for their children. But should childhood be sacrificed at the altar of coaching classes? Too often, we hear heartbreaking accounts of children apologizing to their parents for “failing” them—just before taking irreversible step.
Parents may not fully grasp the immense pressure their children carry, or how fragile their mental health can become under it.
So what can be done?
First, we must stop placing the entire weight of expectations on young shoulders. Children need time— for studies, and for life.
Time to play. Time to explore hobbies. Time to simply be.
Free play is not a luxury; it is essential. It supports emotional regulation and contributes to mental strength. Physical activity is equally critical—it nurtures both body and mind.
I know of a parent who once said, “She can play after her Class 12 exams. There’s no point wasting time now.” But is play really a waste of time?
Is it not fundamental to healthy development? Can children truly excel academically if their physical and emotional needs are neglected? Childhood is a critical period of growth—what is missed then cannot be fully recreated later.
Watching reels or playing video games is not the same as running outdoors, playing a sport, or engaging with peers. Through sports and play, children learn to solve problems, follow rules, handle victory and defeat, negotiate, collaborate, and persist. They learn resilience, they thrive.
And yet, while we speak often about social-emotional learning, we rarely give children the space to experience it.
Many parents also dismiss stories, poetry, theatre, or the arts as distractions. “What’s the use?” they ask.
Oh, the use is profound!
Stories build imagination. Poetry deepens emotional awareness. The arts cultivate empathy, reflection, and self-expression.
These experiences shape individuals who are not only academically capable, but also socially aware, emotionally intelligent, and truly prepared for life.
If we want our children to flourish and not just succeed—we must rethink what we value.
Now let’s turn to the words we read in the beginning. Those are not separate after all.They are threads of the same fabric.
I try to find joy in the little things. My inclination toward positive psychology encourages me to notice and nurture happiness in everyday moments. In this field, happiness is often seen as having two essential components: feeling good, and engaging in meaningful activities that foster personal growth and fulfilment.
One of my simplest pleasures is watching the sunrise in silence. I love observing the morning sky as it shifts from crimson to red, then saffron to orange. Waking up to a sky already bright yellow makes me feel as though I’ve missed an important event. I admit, it leaves me a little grumpy. When I do catch the sunrise, I take a pause, thinking of nothing in particular, absorbing the beauty. It fills me with a sense of renewal, like the day holds fresh promise.
Another small joy is scrolling through my phone—especially when it feels earned. After finishing a task, I allow myself a short break, telling myself I’ll relax for fifteen minutes. Of course, those fifteen minutes often stretch into thirty. Still, that time feels like a gentle reward: a mix of catching up, browsing, and unwinding.
I also cherish the moments when I lie in bed with a book in hand. Sometimes I read, sometimes I drift off within minutes—there’s no guarantee. But the comfort of that quiet pause is enough.
And whenever I can manage, which is not very often, I like to practice Yog Nidra. It’s so rejuvenating!
Music is another constant companion. Every day, there’s usually one song playing on a loop in my mind, and I find myself humming it throughout the day. That, for me, is a sign of happiness. In fact, if I’m not humming while going about my mundane life, my family starts to wonder if something is wrong! ◡̈
Yet, of all these small joys, nothing brings me greater fulfilment than writing. I am no great writer, yet the act of writing gives me immense satisfaction. And again! Enhancing life satisfaction is a fundamental focus of positive psychology (oh, can’t keep it out of my thoughts). Even composing a simple email can feel meaningful. When I haven’t written for a few days, I notice the absence—I feel restless, a little joyless, and somewhat unanchored.
These everyday moments may seem ordinary, but together, they create a life that feels rich, mindful, and quietly joyful.
What you see in the picture is five-year-old me in the cape. The woman in the purple saree is my aunt—my mother’s younger cousin—standing in her classroom, teaching her students.
That day, I accompanied her to school, and I was completely in awe of her presence—the quiet authority she held, and the way her students looked up to her. In that moment, something shifted within me. I decided what I wanted to be. I, too, wanted that same magical influence. I wanted to be a teacher, just like Rama Masi.
As I grew up, I often taught my imaginary students—long before I began teaching real ones. Later, I pursued a Master’s in Counselling and Family Therapy and completed a teacher training course. Today, I conduct workshops for teachers, carrying forward that early spark of inspiration. 𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋
Hardship, loss, and humiliation are universal human experiences. No one is immune to life’s inevitable negative experiences. Since no one escapes these moments, we all have to find ways to deal with them.
The true challenge lies in finding the strength to cope and move forward. We have to help ourselves. Even counsellors help people to help themselves. Eventually it’s we. We have to find, reflect, try what works for whom or what support to take. I am here sharing my coping strategies. Someone may just find them useful.
Prayer. When troubled I take refuge in prayer. My prayer is simple. When I feel low, I find comfort by sitting in my home’s prayer corner. I just sit quiet watching my thoughts drift by. I talk to myself and I feel lighter. Sometimes I find solutions to my problems and sometimes I find strength to cope.
Then, I find great solace in quote therapy. I have my personal collection of quotes which have appealed to me at different times. I take a dip in my collection and very often emerge wiser and stronger.
I recall one instance – In April 2020 during lock down. I developed symptoms and went to imaging centre for my lungs X-ray. From there I was sent straight to the Covid hospital. Covid was not confirmed yet the chances were high. While my husband was driving me to the hospital on the deserted street, I was thinking about these lines from Annie Johnson Flint poem .
❝God has not promised skies always blue, Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through; God has not promised sun without rain, Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.❞
and I felt strong and ready to face whatever was instore for me.
Similarly the following lines from WB Yeats’ The Ballad of Father Gilligan always make me feel safe and loved and fill me with gratitude.
❝He Who is wrapped in purple robes,
With planets in His care
Had pity on the least of things
Asleep upon a chair.❞
Another poem ‘Asha Ka Deepak’ (Beacon of hope) that fills me with hope and optimism at the time when the going gets tough, is written by the great hindi poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar
And there are times, when I take to journaling. When I am hurting from what someone has done to me, when I’m smarting because I’m wronged, when I’m writhing because I became a victim, when I get no rest, when my unceasing thoughts don’t let me sleep, I pour all those disturbing thoughts on paper.
I keep those papers with me thinking I’ll sometime show these to the right person at the right moment. That does not happen. After sometime things change and all the thoughts, words become irrelevant. When I look at those papers much later, I feel I was either overthinking or overreacting or that these are just thoughts that mattered then but not now. This has happened quite a few times in life. But pouring those thoughts and emotions on paper has provided me instant relief and peace. 🤍☁️🌿🍃✨️
I have observed often that cleaning up my house also cleans up my mind. It’s kind of symbolic. Decluttering physical space declutters the mind too. At least it works for me that way.
❝Self-care is the process of establishing behaviors to ensure holistic well-being of oneself, to promote health, and actively manage illness when it occurs.❞ Wikipedia
Have you ever experienced a good walk, a refreshing shower, a satisfying meal, some enjoyable music evlevate the mood? All these stimulate the production of “happy hormones” like endorphins, dopamine,serotonin and oxytocin and reduce stress hormones. All these are my go-to self-care practices.🌼
This is about me. I’d definitely love to know more about your coping strategies. Share your thoughts in comments 💬Till then…
I look for meaning in small everyday experiences. Here are a few ordinary moments that have stayed with me.
⋆˙⟡ It was my English class of ninth graders. We were practicing simple present tense. The students had to describe someone’s daily routine. One student chose her father.
“When my father wakes up he first checks his phone for half an hour. He gets ready, takes breakfast. Sometimes during breakfast he watches reels . He leaves for work at 9:30 morning and comes back at 6:30 pm. He has tea with my mother and they watch TV for an hour. When my mother cooks dinner, he watches news. He goes to sleep at 12 and before that he likes to play video games.”
That was the routine!
She wasn’t complaining. She was just describing… normal life.
⋆˙⟡
🍀Now shift to a park in my neighbourhood. I’m just people watching from a distance. A woman takes the kid out on a stroller. There are trees there are flowers, and maybe butterfies. There’s a pond nearby and a playground. The child sits comfortably and takes in all that she can. The woman is pushing the stroller with one hand on autopilot and her other hand holds the phone, which in turn holds all her attention.
🌀I begin to turn it over in my mind and think while the child is actively navigating her world, that woman who could be a mother or a caretaker is losing a key moment to connect.
⋆˙⟡
🎞️Now picture this. A mother immersed in the device in her palm.
The excited kid calls ‘Mommy…..mommy!’
No answer.
Mommy!
‘WHAT ⁉️’
N..nothing 😦
Child withdraws.
⋆˙⟡ Pause for thought. ᝰ.ᐟ
In all the three real life moments what message are the adults giving to the children?💬 If we don’t form meaningful connection with kids, how will kids share their feelings with us. Then there’s no point complaining that kids don’t listen to us.
🧩Parenting is not about perfection, it’s about connection. It’s not about eliminating screens, but being present for children. Maybe it begins with one small pause —with eye contact and one fully present moment.
In my next post, we’ll explore the often unnoticed power of modelling in parenting.
Sharing moments that reminded me that music doesn’t just entertain, it regulates, soothes and teaches calm.
🎬Picture this- Scene one. Train arrives at the platform. A lot of commotion. Passengers scurry towards the door chugging their luggage. Tempers look frayed. Anyone who has travelled on Indian railways can relate to this.
But today is different on this train from New Delhi to Ahmedabad. The train pulls in at the station, suddenly a beautiful melodious song from an old Hindi movie fills the compartment. And see the magic 🎼 No, hustle, no bustle, everybody moves forward, in a good mood, humming the same song. I can’t believe my eyes or ears. How come everyone looks so calm in a place so crowded❗
🎬Cut to classroom. Scene two. I am teaching a class of 17-year-olds. We have completed the lesson while there were still some ten minutes to go. Students chatter grows louder. I play the track ‘If you miss the train I’m on…’ on the audio. And to my surprise the chatter stops instantly. Soon students are bobbing their heads to the tune. 🎶
🎬Cut to Scene three- Morning assembly. The school boasts of a picturesque sylvan setting. The assembly ground is surrounded by trees. If you look up you can see fleet of birds. Every morning some prayer song and some other song or instrumental music is part of the morning assembly. Today the music suddenly disrupted may be due to power failure. And lo, all the birds fly down and perch on the trees forming a circle above the ground and from there rises a cacophony of birdsong. This is surreal! I never imagined that these winged creatures connect so well with assembly music every morning that they actually staged a protest at the disruption.
🎬Scene four. I am at the Uiversity of Rhode Island on an exchange program . We are attending a session at the URI Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, conducted by Thupten Tendhar, (a Geshe, or doctor of Buddhist studies). He gives us a topic for discussion. While we are busy exchanging ideas in groups, suddenly everybody’s attention is drawn to a deep, rich, resonant sound. Discussion stops. We all turn to find out the source of the deep, pulsating hum. I notice that on the left corner our trainer is tracing the rim of the bowl with the mallet. I am so fascinated with the sound and its effect that I decide I’d also use this tool when I conduct teacher training sessions.
Such is the calming effect of music on mind. Studies show that hosts of feelgood chemicals, like dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin are released when we listen to or play some soothing music. 🍃
Next post shares strategies how music can be used as an educational tool to achieve pedagogical goals.
Roots n Wings 