Comments on: Helping students transform their tomorrow in India

By: Mary Carey

Mary Carey — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:56:33 +0000

Hey Tatyana. There actually was a zero advertisment in our Group’s ‘boldness changes everything’ campaign that was just for India and that is the first time that I learned that the zero figure was invented in India!

By: Tatyana Besedina

Tatyana Besedina — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:32:46 +0000

Great ,Francoise! and if I am not mistaken ,not only “zero” figure ! All figures we call Arabian actually were invented in India . indian accountants were the best . These figures were invented and presented to Arabian Shakh by Indian Tzar . And what about chess? And computers ?

By: francoise TONNELLIER

francoise TONNELLIER — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:41:43 +0000

This is indeed in several regards an interesting discussion.
Our conception of “progress” (Latin for “moving forward/ahead”) might be too much influenced by an euclidean geometrical vision: straight away! Why not a beaming process ? looking backwards, analysing, reconsidering, improving but also overtaking for ex. environment-adapted traditions like… wearing no shoes which is a way of cooling one’s body via foot soles (and sitting on the floor too) Some of us here also do that during very hot summers. This helps to cope with not having air conditioning and saves thus energy. Remember ? These students are studying about environment.

What’s wrong about sitting on the floor ? Japanese also do this at home. It keeps you young to have to stand up from the floor. The “zero” figure was invented by people sitting on the floor and donated to people sitting on stools.

By: SUBHAS CHANDRA KAR

SUBHAS CHANDRA KAR — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:46:33 +0000

Thanks for the encouraging comments by Raquel. Inspite of the shortcomings the students are happy to come to the coaching classes and they dont mind sitting on the floor. I wish the students all the best to succeed to the fullest in their life and become example for others.

By: raquel

raquel — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:07:29 +0000

This is an interesting discussion! We have talked about it with our CR colleagues on the spot. They tell us that development of infrastructure is poor in large parts of rural India including in our project site where students do not have access even to basic facilities like chairs and tables. This will also improve with our intervention but over a period of time. Our immediate concern is to control the school dropout ratio and ensure that students appear for their examinations.

Interestingly, in some parts of India including Keonjhar, teachers and students don’t wear shoes to the classroom. It is a cultural mindset in rural India – where schools are akin to places of worship.

By: francoise TONNELLIER

francoise TONNELLIER — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:59:20 +0000

“why are the children sitting in the floor and the teacher without shoe in his foot?”

Extra tuitions might take place after regular school time i.e. in the afternoons. Certainly a hot time in India: The floor is then the coolest place of a room. Inferring from the posture of the students, it looks as if they were used to sit this way (They look a lot more gracefull than me doing the same!) Moreover, thus any available, shady and quiet place is suitable for tuitions.
I’m wondering if the fact that girls are sitting in the front means that, over there, girls are a tiny bit more studious than boys -like in Europe…

By: josephus munu

josephus munu — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:17:23 +0000

thanks to mr mittal.

but why are the children sitting in the floor and the teacher without shoe in his foot? are they all waiting for mr mittal to buy chairs and shoes? no nooooo man. can any body explain to me why is like that in indian? we are moving ahead , so mr mittal is moving with people that ready to move.