Pupil Tree's Success Story in Small Town Karnataka

'Bringing Quality Education to ALL!' It was with this mission that Pupil Tree set up an International School in Bellary, Karnataka, six years back. Today, it has engendered confidence and pride in countless children who come from diverse backgrounds.

With a vision to provide quality and affordable education to everyone, Pupil Tree has targeted students from varied families including children of plumbers, small farmers, auto rickshaw drivers and masons along with the children of bank employees, college lecturers, and local government officials.

Although education is not completely free, over 25% of the students are on hundred percent scholarships. A highly subsidized amount is charged as tuition fee to ensure commitment to schooling and education from the parents and students.

"Our aim is to create an ecosystem which nurtures the creativity of children, celebrates their individuality, and enhances their confidence and competence, within the framework of academic skills and abilities," remarks Mr. Jahagirdar, Director, Future Tree Learning Services Pvt Ltd.

Thus How-to on communicating to the students plays a very important part in the school. On-going train-the-teachers programs upskill the teachers on How-to make the existing text interesting, How-to lesson-plan to keep-out boredom, are some of the key aspects, the school focuses on.

The Pupil Tree curriculum exposes children to a wealth of experiences which allows them to engage in a continual state of learning. A learning that promotes enquiry, reflection, application and communication, by creating an uncompromising non-judgemental atmosphere that allows the students the Courage to be Different and the Ability to Handle Differences as the norm as against being merely faced with competition and comparison.

And to enable this and keep the process dynamic Pupil Tree makes extensive use of technology and global best practices constantly on an everyday basis for analysis and evaluation. From their Head-office in Bangalore Identified mentors and well known educationalists help implement and monitor programs and processes at develop it into a learning curve, as the academic year progresses.

For instance, they have successfully tested a weekly Proof-of Concept method in evaluating if the child has understood a concept: The students prepare a small presentation on the lessons of the past week. A team of analysts then evaluate this, ascertaining the depth of understanding of the child and sends a report to the teacher (and parents) to decide on the weekly teaching plan.

"Our aim is to reach a Good reach-out to over a million by leveraging technology and codifying and transferring her knowledge,'' says a proud Jagirdar. ``If the one who imparts education is skilled enough to make the information interesting enough, even a drab subject like civics can be made exciting. This has been our philosophy and we have seen it happen in the classrooms at Bellary."

In addition to the more traditional methods of teacher re-skilling, Pupil Tree uses e-learning and other blends of new media to offer teachers rich and continuous learning experiences. The school's collaborative platform allows teachers to share experiences, learn student specific communication skills, and develop work groups and networking platforms

"Pupil Tree has been able to successfully generate confidence and pride in the children in their school in Bellary during the last six years. And we plan to replicate this model in other smaller towns and cities by establishing comprehensive educational institutions, and eventually go global. It is our firm belief that we can bring about a paradigm change if we change our approach to education," said Mr. Jahagirdar.

Having successfully implemented its vision in Bellary, Pupiltree plans to expand its operation to other parts of Karnataka and later Southern India in the coming months. With this vision Pupiltree has already set up schools beginning with prep-schools in 5 centers in Bangalore, Hubli and Belgaum.

Pupiltree also plans to make its International School in Bellary, residential, to cater to the needs of the out of town students, in the coming academic year.

Info about the School Building

The School has aesthetically designed child centric premises which has virtually redefined school architecture in the country. Pupil Tree buildings are built on a 'child scale', the campus has a lot of open space to give a sense of freedom to the children, there is ample space to play, to socialize and build relationships

Tamilnadu is best known for the hospitality shown towards, by every individual. This tendency of the people has made people visiting Tamilnadu more comfortable and secured. The people are sentimental and lone to be kind and generous. There are many qualities to speak about this state and its people. Tamilnadu has its own history right from the past. Tamil is one of the ancient languages. Tamil is also the source for the others neighboring Dravidian languages such as Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Thulu.

Tamilnadu which has in the southern past of India, which is the last of all states in the topography of India, has many beautiful places to watch. There are many beautiful sceneries, ancient monuments, historic temples for their unique sculptures, the culture and tradition of the natives and so on. There are lots of other things to be spoken as well. One such place to be watched, toward and enjoyed is mahabalipuram. This is a magnificent tourist place. Welcome to mahabalipuram, a legacy in stone.

Mahabalipuram lies on the Coromandel Coast which faces the Bay of Bengal. This is an elegant place to watch which a well established sea port was during the 7th and 10th centuries of the Pallava dynasty. This was the second capital of the Pallavas who ruled Kanchipuram. Formerly, mahabalipuram was known and called as Mahabalipuram. The former name of this place 'Mahabalipuram' has a history. A very rude cruel king Mahabali reined this place and in a fierce battle king Mahabali was killed by Lord Vishnu and the place was named after the dead, arrogant kind Mahabali.

It was during the reign of King Narasimha Varman I, the name Mahabalipuram was changed. It was renamed mahabalipuram which is called till now. There is a story behind. The name Mamallpuram king Narasimha Varman I was a great and valiant warrior. He was given the title Mamalla which means 'the great wrestler' so the name was converted from Mahabalipuram to mahabalipuram considering the great king and his achievements.

After the decline of the Gupta Dynasty, the pallavas rose to the pioneer in south India. They ruled over from the 3rd century till the end of the 9th century A.D. The best period of their rule was between 650 and 750 AD and this period was called the Golden Age of the pallavas. The pallavas were very powerful. They were profound thinkers.

It was during the rule of the pallavas, great poets, dramatists, artists, artisans, scholars and saints emerged. As one can say that the pallavas are the pioneers and forerunners of new styles both in art and architecture and mahabalipuram is the best place to praise off their skill and talent. New sculptures and unique paintings were innovative and exuberant. This place mahabalipuram itself became their exploring field and they made the best use of the resources. They game a shape and creative energy to what they imagined. It became a dream come true as it witnessed innovations in all styles.

The richness in mahabalipuram was not known to many, as these pallavas did not outlet and expose their quality and innovative creations to the outer world for obvious reasons. The aestheticism in mahabalipuram was hidden until the late 185h century. What is special about mahabalipuram? Of course every one can point out the rock - cut caves, temples made from a single rock, temples and strives of different structures, and bas-reliefs which are so artistic and sheer creativity. Mamallpuram is referred as an 'open-air museum'. The great pallava kings Narasimha I and Rajasimha have well preserved these stylistic qualities that one enjoys in mahabalipuram even in the present day.

The beauty of the place is not only due to these architecture but the vast casuarinas trees, the silvery sandy beach the classical hand male crafts around have made them all to form what is a collective splendor. Any visitor who visits mahabalipuram will remain startled and intoxicated with the grandeur. They feel hand hearted and more out from this historical and fascinating tourist spot.

A Mahalakshmi temple called 'Sripuram' and made of more than a ton of pure gold will glitter and gleam under the sun on August 24 when it is unveiled for consecration by the Sri Narayani Peetam headed by a 31-year-old godman who calls himself Narayani Amma. Devotees hail the temple as 'one of the wonders of the world' and say that it is the only temple covered fully with gold.

More than 400 gold and coppersmiths from the Tirupathi Thirumala Devasthanam are said to have worked for six years to craft the Rs. 600-crore golden temple located on 55,000 sq ft of land on a 100-acre salubrious stretch in Malaikodi, about 6 km from Vellore in north Tamil Nadu. According to official sources, the gold bars were purchased through RBI in "a transparent manner "

First the coppersmiths set to work creating a copper base on the temple structure with engravings and etchings before the gold, beaten into nine layers of foils, was draped around it. The sanctum sanctorum will hold the deity of Mahalakshmi made of stone granite, but covered with gold protection layers. (Kavacham - adornments).

" The Sripuram or Spiritual Park is Amma's dedication to the world and mankind," said P Murali, a trustee of the Peetam, adding that the temple has more gold than the Golden Temple of Amritsar.

Messages by 'Amma' have been laid out along the path to the temple with messages from the Gita, Bible and Quran. "When one enters the Sripuram, their focus is just on the magnificent temple. But when they leave, they cannot do so without taking some messages and gaining some wisdom," according to a booklet detailing the 'services' rendered by the Peetam. "In this quagmire of materialism, Sripuram rises as an inspiration to man to find the divinity within him," adds a Narayani Peedam brochure.

The arrangements were being made to hire personnel to throw a security cover around the temple. "But the gold sheets have been laid out in such a manner that it would cost more to rip it off than purchase the gold," said a top Vellore district official.

How to reach Sripuram Golden Mahalakshmi Temple? Location, Distance, Route & contact details: ( Katpadi Longitude 79 Deg. 8' East, Latitude 12 Deg. North 59' )

Whatsoever may the cause, the Temple location, its surroundings and the peaceful atmosphere are the added attractions for the visitors and it is sure worth to visit this place once. The Maha Laksmi Temple is now an attraction even for the tourists and pilgrimage. This temple is located at Thirumalaikodi; Katpadi is the nearest Railway station in the Chennai-Bangalore route of Southern Railway. How to reach Sripuram? It takes about 3 and half hours drive from Chennai, in the Chennai - Bangalore road. It is in the National Highways NH46 that connects Chennai - Bangalore (Bangaluru) and in NH4 from Ranipet to Bangalore. From Katpadi, one can reach by state owned bus to Sripuram which takes about 15 minutes drive or less. Or, one can reach Thirumalaikodi by bus from Vellore to Anicut / Odugathur route. The State run buses ply via Thirumalaikodi in this route. From Tirupati (Tirupathi) to Katpadi, there are shuttle train services available upto Katpadi or Jolarpettai (Jolarpet Passenger) or one can travel by train from Tirupathi (Tirupati) by Kanyakumari Express from Tirupati to Katpadi which takes less than 3 hours journey. Direct bus services available from all major points to Vellore from Chennai, Chittoor, Bangalore, Kanchipuram, Kanyakumari, Tirupathi & Thiruvannamalai - all being major Temple towns and picnic spots. Vellore is well connected by road with all the southern states viz. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala & Pondicherry. The approximate distance from each major station to Vellore is listed below for the convenience of the visitors:

Chennai - Vellore about 150 kms (Via Sriperumpudur, Sunkuwar

Chathram, Kaveripakkam, Wallajahpet, Ranipet, Arcot, Ratnagari - or Arcot

by-pass from Ranipet) - 3 and half hours drive from Chennai.

Bangalore - Vellore (via Hosur) - 220 kms (On national highway routes

- NH7 > via - Hosur Road - Electronic City - Attibele(NH7) -

Hosur - Kamandoddi - Shoolagiri- Melumalai - Kurubarapalli -

Krishnagiri > NH46> - Bargur - Vaniyambadi - Ambur -

Pallikondaj - Vellore. - around 4 hours drive)

Kanchipuram - Vellore - 58 kms

Tirupathi - Katpadi - 95 kms

Ranipet - Vellore - 26 kms (via Arcot bypass - highways 22 kms)

Hyderabad - Vellore - 510 kms

Mysore - Vellore - 270 kms

Thiruvannamalai - Vellore - 85 kms

Vellore - Sripuram Sri Mahalakshmi Golden Temple - 8 KM

While travelling through National Highways, you will find many toll gates

where you need to pay toll fee at different locations, for private cars, taxis,

vans etc toll fee ranging from Rs.38 up to 65 and for busses and trucks the

charges are still more. (valid for entry-exit 24 hours only).

Temple Timings:

7 am to 8 pm on all 365 days. Evening Aarati at 6.30 PM. One can take

the short cut route to Darsham by paying Rs.250/- Breathtaking

illuminated view is really worthy to watch after sun set.

Col Johann Bach, a high-ranking officer in Hitler's elite Waffen SS (Schutzstaffel), was absconding for more than 50 years. He had moved into Calangute in Goa a few months back and had settled down under a fake identity.

But the 88-year-old Bach's activities in Calangute betrayed him and soon the intelligence wing of Perus Narkp, the Berlin-based German Chancellor's Core, was on his trail.

The German sleuths, assisted by Indian intelligence men, managed to zero in on Bach on Friday morning in Bardesh region of Goa. Bach tried to give them a slip. But the German sleuths finally managed to nab Bach after a 36-hour hot chase in the Khanapur forests on Saturday.

Colonel Bach belonged to Waffen SS, the armed wing of SS as Schutzstaffel was known.

SS was Hitler's army of Nazi stormtroopers carved out of those who personally believed in Nazi ideology and would leave no stone unturned to achieve their ends.

According to a press release issued by Perus Narkp, Bach was posted as a senior adjutant at the Marsha Tikash Whanaab concentration camp in East Berlin and was responsible for the genocide of more than 12,000 Jews in World War II.

Source : Deccan Herald 29th June 08

He started his career as a Chitrakala Parishad student in fine arts specializing into portraits despite having a science background and gradually found that his interest lies more in proximity with nature. He developed a passion for photography on exotic nature locale and an innate eye for the flora and fauna. Being born in a family of Forest officers has its advantages, exposure to Nature was in abundance, and falling in Love with Nature was obvious. Wanted to be with nature, what was a passion turned into a Profession

Gradually he realized that being one with nature is a great way to unwind oneself from the urban work life and also a very appealing way to distress oneself with private moments in the surrounding of dense greenery.

The idea of setting up a training school into wilderness training soon over took him and thus

"ESCAPE "an out bound training company was born in the summer of 69.

The organization has trained so far over 10,000 people and is dealing in specialized training in wilderness. Unlike most of the OBT programmes which are usually done at resorts ESCAPE strictly conducts its training in the midst of greenery in the wilderness. Apart from imparting professional adventure courses like rock climbing, Mountaineering, river rafting, bungee jumping, he has a team of yoga therapist and an assort of equipments meant for management games which enable the participants to build awareness of their own inner strengths and abilities away from the classroom or office environment.

Today ESCAPE prides itself in having a majority of the fortune 500 companies as clients like IBM, YAHOO, HCL, TYCO, etc.

A study on these types of training states that people are very open and receptive to the learning as they are not defensive but more relaxed and off guard in the natural environment where all the artificial barriers of hierarchy melts away. Therefore the participants are able to relate themselves to the training and have lots of fun.

According to Chandrashekar it's a process of learning, unlearning and re-learning.

People are able to assess themselves more on their emotional quotient and innate abilities away from the designations and qualification tags based on logical reasoning, common sense and life skills. This greatly enhances productivity and builds phenomenal confidence in people encouraging them to come out of their baggages and limitations and redefine their outlook to every aspects of their activity in life.

In order to make this an exciting and productive experience he spends a lot of time with each client trying to understand their needs and training outcomes before finally sending out the training design.

"Like any start up company: - it was tough to make client's believe in the concept of alienating the employees from the comfort zone of their work place to a unknown Wilderness location. They were reluctant at first but soon employer's need to de-stress and to give boost to their individual productivity gradually stood and the HR was more open to these programmes when they started to get the visibility of the results". - Chandrashekar

The unique part of the training modules are that the content in each programme is client specific and customized with focused with key result areas. It is always power packed with case studies and plenty of management games. This gradually leads to "ENTROPY "in the organization.

Some of the brands he has created

Trek n Camp: this is for beginners and hardcore participants into the Himalayas

Parent & Children Bonding camp: A parents and children bonding programme. This enables parents to get closer to their children in a liberated environment

KIDS STUDIOS This is a summer camp meant for students and kids. In these camps children are made aware of the traditional medicine and home remedies with the flora in the surroundings and the biodiversity. This build affinity with the natural environment and kids are taught to appreciate its value. Children are allowed even plough fields, plant saplings in their name so that they keep coming back to nurture them,

Winners NOT Survivors: This is a camp meant for the corporate

Corporate ESCAPE- Advance training for executives

All the above are highly experiential learning and the objective is channelizing Positive aggression in the young and the old into positive energy and make them competent to face the tough urban criteria which is ever demanding .

He has been consistently working on at least 2 major projects every year for the underprivileged and handicapped children

"The best part is yet to come after the launch of my latest training project in April "he says gleefully at his sprawling 10 acres training centre at Channapatna with state of art facility.

The project will bring responsible attitude among the young and environmental awareness .Its important for people to know that how much we are dependent on the eco-systems and how we are abusing it. With the alarming global warming concerns all over the world here is one crusader who is making a difference to the world with his own way by educating people on the benefits of the nature and its long standing impact on our lives through his training programmes.

The UNDP has projected that if the growing trend of people in ASIA spending 50% of their income on food continues then the clock will be reset on poverty alleviation by 10 years and millions will die due to starvation and malnutrition in Asia and Africa alone by 2008-9

This is a wake up call for all of us.

We have to take to serious consideration for the improvement of Indian farmers and how agriculture works in India .We have to promote urgently

a)Organic farming promote aggressively and bring this concept under as many land area as possible with traditional farming practices.

b) Kitchen farming to create self sustaining nutritional food substitutes

c) Fight against hoarding of food grains.

d) Microfinance privileges relieve farmers from debts urgently and finance them adequately.Stop the trend of mass suicides by farmers.

e) Second green revolution -Do everything that is possible to support usher in the revolution.

Give a big helping hand to our famers NOW so that we can tide over the food crisis that is likely to worsen in the coming months and save millions of lives while there is still time .

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How do you lead your group? What is your attitude to both them and the task at hand?

Impoverished Management (low concern for the task, low concern for people). This style is characterised by minimal effort on your part, just enough to get the job done and maintain the group structure.

"I'll just let them get on with it, I'm sure they'll do fine, they don't really want me interfering anyway"

Country Club Management (low concern for the task, high concern for people). You take good care of your group, ensuring a comfortable, friendly atmosphere. You hope this will lead to the work getting done.

"It stands to reason, if they're happy they'll work harder and the work will take care of itself."

Authority/Obedience Management (high concern for task, low concern for people). You are probably a bit of a task master. The most important thing is the work. You lead from behind by driving the group in front of you.

"We're here to work, the work needs to be done. If they're working hard enough they won't have time to feel unhappy, they're not here to enjoy themselves."

Team Management (high concern for task, high concern for people). You see the completeion of the task and the well being of the group as interdependent through a common stake in the organisation's future. This leads to relationships built on trust and respect, and work accomplishment from committed employees.

"We're in this together. We need to support and help each other to get this job done."

It is generally accepted that group leaders who have a Team Management style are the most effective, though this is not always the case.

Style Choice

If you have a group of widely differing levels of ability, confidence and commitment, you may want to lead them each with a different style.

Directing

A team member who has a lot of enthusiasm for the job but not much actual ability, for example a new start, will need to be directed. You will not need to spend much time giving encouragement or coaxing them along. You will however have to tell them what to do next after they complete every task, and how to do the tasks set.

Coaching

After being in the group for a while, somebody might begin to lose confidence and therefore motivation, as they still can't seem to do the work they want to do. At this stage you will need to coach them along. You will still need to tell them what to do at virtually every point along the way, while taking care to encourage them and praise them at every turn.

Supporting

Gradually the team member's technical ability will increase until they are at a stage where they can actually do everything required of them, however they may still lack the confidence to actually do it off their own backs. You should no longer have to tell them what to do, although they may think otherwise. You should seek their opinions on the next stage, and be seen to take notice of their ideas.

Delegating

A technically competent person's confidence will gradually grow until they feel able to work completely on their own. You should now be able to delegate specific areas of work to them and feel little need to tell them either what to do or to praise them as frequently for doing it. The time that you don't have to spend "leading" these members of the group can be spent with the less experienced group members, or on the work that you need to do.