Do children really need to go to school?

"Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world'
                                                                                 -Nelson Mandela

In today's developing and schematic world, education is something which has become a priority for each and every parent. Great leaders have spoken about the importance of education, and how it can transform the world.

If you will just take a walk around the colony, and overhear a conversation between parents, you will often notice that education is one of the primary topics discussed. Parents are becoming very bothered about their child's performance in academics, and want to make their child get a good education.

But, the question which strikes me is- "Why is education always linked with schools?"

We all have indeed become slaves of the Education System, which was introduced by the British long ago. In today's world, it has become necessary for a child to attend school for 10 months in a year. Adding to that is the amount of time a child spends in school. A child spends nearly 8-10 hours in school. Instead of spending his time obeying commands and listening to someone, a child can readily do what he/she wishes to at home, and by practical experimentation.

Children are the purest form of human beings on earth. They are naturally very inquisitive, and questions will automatically come out. These questions are usually asked by a child during the age of 5-6, when the child is getting accustomed to the world outside. Many a times, teachers and parents are unable to answer theinnocent questions put forward by the children.

I feel that children can very well learn by themselves. In today's world, with the coming of sites like 'Khan Academy' and 'Youtube', a child can surely learn much more online, and that too free of cost. After all, the future world is all about internet, and the best way to learn is through the internet itself.

I am always of the opinion that teachers are the closest to students, and through my statements mentioned above, am not disregarding it. But, it is a bitter truth that in today's world, 80% of the teachers come to teach only to make the students pass in examinations. But, the future world is all about creation and invention. The people who create something different are the ones who will survive. Thus, schools need expert mentors to come and felicitate them regarding particular topics. This will make them keen to learn more and become more intellectual.

Whenever I sing any old Bollywood song in front of my friends,they ask me to be modern. Similarly, more than Bollywood songs, I would say that we must make our thought process more modern. We must accept the fact that the upcoming world would not be dependent on marks and grades, but on skills. Thus, we must equip ourselves with skills so that we reap the benefits tomorrow.

Thus, I would surely say that children must not be forced to go to school, as they can learn a lot through their surroundings and their environment. We must prepare our children for excelling through their potential, because that is the demand of the FUTURE!!!!!

#Expression is the best form of creation

IPL: IS IT TOO LONG?

The Indian Premier League is surely a blockbuster across the nation. We get to watch our favourite cricketers from across the globe playing in the same colours. The best aspect is that we have a result within a couple of hours. It is a nice stress-buster for people coming back after a hectic day at work. Moreover, nearly all the children in India are fascinated by IPL.

But, the one question which always strikes me is:- Isn't the IPL too long? 

The IPL lasts for 6 weeks and 60 matches are played in it. The players need to travel nearly every other day. Many a times, they do not get time to practice before a match due to lack of time.

Along with that, IPL has also become a reason for fatigue. This year, the Champions Trophy will be held just a week after the IPL ends. The players do not get any break after the tournament, and need to travel to England for playing the prestigious trophy.

Above all, the IPL has a toll on the health and hygiene of players. Matches finish at around 11.30 pm, and by the time the players head to the hotel, it is nearly 1 am. This takes a toll on the body, as the players need to travel the very next day.

But, the large amount of money involved with the IPL has made it important in the country. The fans from across the country eagerly await the coming of this tournament. The players too enjoy playing the tournament, and await for its arrival. We can now begin calling the IPL a one and a half month long festival.

I myself am a follower of IPL. It brings a lot of young cricketer's into the fray. Many cricketers whom we had not even heard before have stepped up. This year players like Rahul Tripathi, Basil Thampi and Rishabh Pant have proven the fact that India has a bright future. 

I surely am a big fan of IPL, but my only concern is that players should not get worked up because of it. National duty is surely far more important than playing for a money-rich tournament. 

Thus, the IPL will surely continue for many years to come, but my wish is that it should be a harmless one for the cricketers.

Human Analogy part I

MY INTRODUCTION TO CRICKET

Cricket! This sport has become a very important part of my life. I love watching cricket matches, be it supporting India in a bilateral series or supporting the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. I have become an ardent fan of Indian cricket. I frequently go out and play cricket. I also love to write articles on cricket. But, it has been a long journey for me to become such a fan of cricket. Well, let me start from the very beginning.

I didn’t know anything about cricket until I was 9 years old. I used to think that cricket was a sport in which there is a bat and a ball and we can hit it anywhere we want. I never used to go out to play or even talk about cricket. Instead, I used to play sports such as football and badminton. My grandmother used to frequently watch cricket matches on the television, but I used to never even go into the room at that time. In the year 2011, I heard many people frequently talking about the Cricket World Cup. My friends at school used to discuss very frequently on that event. I kept away from those conversations. My father is not a big cricket fan. But, he used to follow the World Cup. Once, when I came down for playing, I found no friend of mine playing in the park. I was surprised. After sometime, I found a boy whom I knew, and asked him to give me the reason for that. He told me that all of them were watching the ‘India vs Bangladesh’ match on the television. For the first time, I came to know how much the Cricket World Cup was followed in India! After I went back home, I found my father watching the match. I felt tempted at seeing what all my friends were currently watching. I went inside the room and sat with my father. The match turned out to be the first match of the World Cup. India beat Bangladesh quite easily. The next match played by India was against England. I didn’t follow the match too much but still used to come in and see the score at intervals. I had begun to understand the game and its rules. I followed the next match against Ireland. Yuvraj Singh played very well in that match and India won the game. The next game against Netherlands too was won easily. But, the game against South Africa was the game which fascinated me. Even though India lost the match, it was a very close encounter. I remember the match for Sachin Tendulkar’s blistering century. This match boiled the interest in me for the sport. The next match was won easily by India. India had qualified for the quarter-finals. But, they had to play Australia. I was aware how strong a team Australia was. India was chasing down a score of 260, and was on the verge of losing the game. But, Yuvraj Singh once again showed his class and prompted India to the semi-finals. The semi-final game was against arch-rivals, Pakistan, and India managed to win that game. India was in the finals of the World Cup and was playing Sri Lanka. My interest for the game had scaled some peaks. But, this match made it reach Mt. Everest. India beat Sri Lanka and was crowned as World Champions. The winning six from Dhoni will always stay in a corner of my heart. I had now understood most of the rules of the sport. I wanted to try and play the sport. My mother bought me a cricket bat. I and my brother used to play inside the house itself. After sometime, we went and played with many boys in the park. We used to put bricks on the top of each other and keep that as a stump. At the same time, the IPL too was going on. My favourite team, Chennai Super Kings won the IPL. I was overjoyed. I had begun to follow cricket very well.

I begun to follow all the series India played. Soon, I gained the interest to write on cricket. At the point of time when the thought struck me, India was touring England. India was playing very poor cricket. But, I still wanted to try and write on that series. I sat and started to write on the computer. Soon, I started to like doing that. When I showed my writings to my parents, they really liked it. India lost both the test and the ODI series badly. But, my writings proved out to be good. I still write on any followed cricket series [which features India].

Cricket has also led me to some memorable moments. One of them was when my grandfather took me to meet an ex-cricketer named Sunil Valson. Even though he did not play a single match for India, it was a big moment for me. He also gifted me a cricket bat containing the signatures of many players.

Thus, I am still a big cricket fan, and await every match.