Facilitated a FDP for Pillai college yesterday. I do believe that the role of an educator is of prime importance in building the future of a Nation and also that of the World society at large. As the student of today will be a citizen of tomorrow, who’s actions and choices will determine the future destiny of the world, isn’t it! And so it’s important to reflect on the challenges our educators face today and together come up with practical solutions for these challenges so that they can contribute to building a strong foundation for a brighter future.
Most of these teachers shared that it was a dream profession for them to take on the role of an educator. As this noble profession involved much more than just the mundane, it involved shaping the future of young lives. But ‘reality’ as we call it, corroded the sheen of their dream, and today they feel burdened by the many challenges they face in their profession. The most recent being teaching online due to COVID. They also shared about the volatile mindset of students, the corrosion of human values in general and the overall shift in the sanctity of teacher- student relationship.
Took the educators through a short meditation for them to experience it’s power themselves. All of them shared how they felt much more relaxed and relieved post their meditation in just a few minutes. We further discussed the four states of consciousness and how the practice of meditation can be the foundation for building a new ecosystem in universities. According to Ishavasya Upanishad there are two branches of knowledge, Avidya and Vidya. Avidya includes the knowledge of material, the manifest. While vidya is knowledge of un-manifest, of the absolute or the self. Both branches together complete the education process. In today’s education system one leg is completely missing. Vidya is the capacity building branch. In which one discovers the infinite possibilities of the consciousness of one self. Are the academics building capacity of students to take on the challenges of twenty first century? Is the education process churning out robust personalities? Are students in colleges as enthusiastic about learning as they were when they first joined school? Is the educator still living his dream job? If the answer to these questions is negative, then transformation is required. As doing the same things cannot fetch different results. It’s time for transformation…
I am really happy for privilege of this interaction with our educators. Looking forward for many such meaningful interactions in future. May be these interactions will inspire our educators to revisit the roots of our civilisation, our scriptures, for answers to the many adverse challenges that we face today. And they will discover a missing link right there.
ॐ सह नाववतुl सह नौ भुनक्तु।सह वीर्यं करवावहै।तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै। ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Ms. Vasudha Jhunjhunwala holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts. She is associated with the Art of Living since year 2000. Born and brought up in a pink city Jaipur, Rajasthan she currently resides in Amchi Mumbai with her family. For nearly a decade, Vasudha has inspired more than 10,000 youths with her teachings and social work. She has undertaken various projects and has been an instrument of change for its success. Juggling between home and work, in her spare time Vasudha likes to paint, write poems, learn music and play badminton. She is a Social Worker, Entrepreneur, State Coordinator of The Art of Living, Student of Sanskrit & Classical Music, Writer, Homemaker, Mother, Meditation Teacher, Public Speaker, Recipient of CSO-2014 award by Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam and has travelled in 30 Countries.
She is a quintessential deshbhakt. It is difficult to match her youthful Energy.
Vasudha is extremely passionate about her initiatives. One of the most successful projects lead by her was the ‘Vote For a Better India’ - A campaign that facilitated the voter registration process and lead to 5 lakh citizens new voter registration across India in 2014 Lok Sabha Elections. Bringing more awareness to the people in the community she began the initiative ‘Mind your Vehicle’ - A project to sensitize citizens towards traffic discipline with 2000 volunteers in Mumbai. The project saw good media coverage. She was also the founding member of ‘Save Aarey’ project. In this project more than 300 volunteers cleared 5-truck loads of garbage from Aarey colony. With an aim to instill a sense of responsibility and nationalism among the youth, she has spearheaded several initiatives that included women’s safety drives, blood donation drives, cleanliness drives at railway stations and sea-shores, health and hygiene awareness camps and others.
Often people ask her what made her belief so strong to walk the spiritual path. She affirms that, “just like the light house guides the ship through darkness of night, our conscience guides us through decisions of life. For a smooth sail, just listen to it!”
The drought in Maharashtra had led to an increasing number of farmer suicides and Vasudha decided to contribute towards River Rejuvenation Project in the state. She along with her team revived around 22kms of Manjara river. The river Manjara rejuvenation in Latur District benefited 5 lakh villagers in its vicinity. Vasudha was also a part of the Solar Lamp Project. She was the catalyst in the distribution of solar lamps to flood-hit villagers in Orissa during Fani.
Her courage and valour gives her the skill to bring out the right perspective in every project she undertakes. Worry or Uncertainty are not words she rhymes with, Vasudha believes that’s Spiritual knowledge shields the flame of life from the winds of uncertainties. Vasudha is currently working on Project Pavitra. Since its inception this year, the project has imparted menstrual hygiene education to more than 2000 young girls in BMC schools and it aims to reach out to many more. She is also the founding member of SORT Club - Student's organization for Reform and Transformation. The club is now operational in 10 colleges in Mumbai. The project aims to remove the menace of substance abuse from the colleges of India. Vasudha is also working on a Happy Neighbourhood Project. The project aims to establish Happiness centers in societies to make societies stress-free.
If you meet her once, you would know that she has a very charming, intuitive, and jovial personality, her ideas and thoughts are ahead of it’s time. Her ability to perceive something new and unique in every individual is what draws people to her company. She gives a very comfortable and cool vibe something young students connect to and find easy to talk and open up to her about their problems. Make impossible, possible is her mantra. Her sessions are filled with grit, humor, inspiration, and some awespiring wisdom. People feel rejuvenated, energetic, experience clarity of thoughts, immense love in their hearts after attending her Mind and Breathe Workshops.
Mysteries of life intrigues her and even though she has traveled in 30 countries she found her best place within. She, by herself is a ‘Happiness Express’ moving swiftly on the spiritual path.
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Vasudha Jhunjhunwala 