July 2, 2021
Spelling Bee Contest: A Pointless Exercise
Professor B. R. Sant is an eminent scientist, who is much concerned on excellence for the enthusiasts. our readers knew him through his book on ‘Towards achieving excellence in Teaching and Learning’. Now, in late eighties, his concern for the same is not slackening. His reaction on the results of the recent spelling bee contest is presented here:
Dear All:
A slightly controversial subject, Thought it may interest you, your family, and your friends. Do try to give a feedback
U.S. Spelling Bee Contest Does it help NRI children?
The year-after-year U.S. Spelling Bee Contest (The Hans India, June 30, 2021) reminds me of Agatha Christie late 1950s film “Witness for the prosecution” with famous Sir Charles Laughton and Marlene Dietrich as main casts. A person, a young man, gets close to a rather old but rich widow and convinces her about some technology-breakthrough research that he is doing for which he needs lot of money. The widow is much enamoured and she even writes a major part of her ‘will’ in favour of the young man. Later, the lady is murdered and the young man is a natural suspect,. However, the lawyer feels his client is innocent. As the trial proceeds, the question came about the young man’s important invention. It was around a unique technology to separate yellow from the white of an egg. The trial and arguments were going on and on, till the Judge asked: Was it really “necessary” to separate yellow and the white of an egg? No answer was forthcoming and the case fell through. The question therefore arises: Is an expertise in knowing spellings of all the words necessary, especially words of foreign origin, rare words? We have dictionaries, google searches. Upto some level of school/college, it is alright. Beyond that it is “huge” stress on children who many a times are virtually forced to enter spellation contests. Health in any game, sports, or academic exercises is the most important. Practicing spellation is highly strenuous and it does not help enhancing IQ either. thehansreader@gmail.com Some of the readers may be remembering a detailed news-report a few years ago that appeared about a USA-based young husband-wife literally forcing their 11 year old son to compete in spellation when the boy was begging he is not interested’ he would rather like to study and learn many other subjects of his interest. Parents did not listen. The child broke down on the test date and was later under psychiatric treatment for 5 years. We do not know how many such cases are there in USA among NRI children. No wonder native Americans dont care for trivial contests. whereas we feel proud about our children. All I am trying to say is parents must not force on children their likes and dislikes.
Professor B. R. Sant
Retired CSIR Scientist
Block B, Flat No. 111, Saket Pranaam
Kapra, Hyderabad 500103
Cell 87901 8233
[PUBLISHED AS IT IS IN THE HANS INDIA, HYDERABAD, 1ST JULY 2021; Regret inability to make a scan copy]
May 21, 2021
Chandamama Stories- 1 (English) by Vasundhara
April 22, 2021
Not a Model but take her as a Model Please
information courtesy Dr. B.R. Sant, an eminent octogenarian scientist and social activist
wiki farewell speech standing ovation
GERMANY BIDS FAREWELL TO ANGELA MERKEL
With six minutes of warm applause, on the streets, balconies, windows, the whole Country applauded for 6 minutes – spectacular example of leadership and defense of humanity, chapeaux !
The Germans elected her to lead them, and she led 80 million Germans for 18 years with competence, skill, dedication and sincerity. She did not utter nonsense. She did not appear in the alleys of Berlin to be photographed. She was dubbed “The Lady of the World” and who was described as the equivalent of six million men.
During these eighteen years of her leadership of the authority in her Country, no transgressions were recorded against her. She did not assign any of her relatives to a government post. She did not claim that she was the maker of glories. She did not get millions in payment, nor did anyone cheer her performance, she did not receive charters and pledges, she did not fight those who preceded her.
Yesterday, Merkel left the party leadership position and handed it over to those after her, and Germany and it’s German people are in the best condition ever.
The reaction of the Germans was unprecedented in the history of the Country. The entire population went out to their balconies of their houses and clapped for her spontaneously for 6 continuous minutes. A standing ovation nationwide.
Germany stood as one body bidding farewell to their leader, a chemical physicist who was not tempted by the fashion or the lights and did not buy real estate, cars, yachts and private planes, knowing that she is from former East Germany.
She left her post after leaving Germany at the top. She left and her relatives did not claim advantage. Eighteen years and she never changed her wardrobe. God be upon this silent leader.
At a press conference, a female Journalist asked Merkel : We notice that you’re wearing the same suit, don’t you have any other? She replied: “I am a government employee and not a model”
At another press conference, they asked her : Do you have housemaids who clean your house, prepare your meals and so on? Her answer was: “No, I do not have servants and I do not need them. My husband and I do this work at home every day.
Then another journalist asked : Who is washing the clothes, you or your husband? Her answer: “I arrange the clothes, and my husband is the one who operates the washing machine, and it is usually at night, because electricity is available and there is no pressure on it, and the most important thing is to take into the account the possible inconvenience for the neighbours, thankfully the wall separating our apartment from the neighbours is thick. She said to them, “I expected you to ask me about the successes and failures in our work in the government??”
Mrs. Merkel lives in a normal apartment like any other citizen. She lived in this apartment before being elected Chancellor of Germany. She did not leave it and does not own a villa, servants, swimming pools or gardens.
Merkel, the now former Chancellor of Germany, the largest economy in Europe !!
January 1, 2021
Happy New Year 2021
2020 thy name is disaster
Lucky you became past
We wish you no future
As our hopes are vast
2021 thy name is miracle
Tricky though the present
As the positives from Oracle
Seemed to be God’s assent
Happy New Year 2021
August 9, 2020
Marriage & Love
In general, man and woman need each other’s company. Marriage is one of the best ways for such companionship. Choices may be by traditional arrangement or tradition-breaking love. Both ways, one may have to face problems, sometimes serious enough to even breaking the marriage. The difference – problems could be one, and just one, less in the case of traditional marriage.
Young enthusiasts – please note!
