Mystical Himalayas, India : Geology, History And Society Authors- JAIN ,
NIDHI Affiliation: (Vikhe Patil Memorial School, Pune, Maharashtra,
INDIA
[email protected])
Abstract
All my students have the potential to bring something unique and special
to the world. They are ready to experiment with new things, learn from
immediate environment and participate in awareness of different
geographies. I feel unbelievably grateful and blessed to be a teacher
and have the opportunity to impact students’ lives in a positive way. I
always attempt experimenting, observing, and participating with other
children and adults. While teaching Science, I always initiate the
students in day to day daily life and intersperse with man and nature.
One of my favorite topics is about Himalayan ecosystem. Today, the
Himalaya is threatened by recurrent natural disasters and is at risk of
catastrophic loss of life. Therefore for sustainable future I plan
various activities, workshops, local IITM visit, arrange film screening,
simulation exercises, quizzes on various topics and map work, research
for better understanding of the region’s geological vulnerability,
ecological fragility, and sociocultural sensitivity. Himalayas are
considered to be the mystical dwelling of gods according to Indian
mythology. Himalayas have profoundly shaped the cultures of the Indian
subcontinent; many Himalayan peaks are considered pilgrimage sites in
Hinduism and Buddhism. Teaching Earth Sciences to middle school is an
opportunity to make a project about earthquakes and tectonic plates and
carry out by complex analysis of the seismological, geological,
geophysical and geodetic information available. Students work in small
groups of 4-5 students and find out about largest earthquakes,
significant events, lists and maps by magnitude, by year or by location,
in the Himalayan region. India’s geography is the biggest reason for the
melting pot, Himalayas are most critical element to it. Himalayas are
epicenter of major civilizations and brewing ground for major cultural
revolutions which influenced the entire the world. Social system thrived
in Himalayan region became bedrock for major world religions like
Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism. Diversity in Himalayas is not only limited
to vast variety of flora and fauna but also resulted in diversity in
human societies. Tens of languages and hundreds of dialects spoken in
this region is reflection of same diversity. In conclusion, Himalayas
provide a variety of fields of study for students and researchers.
Mystical mountains of Himalayas provide great opportunity for
questioning, curiosity, awareness, observation, discovery and
experimentation. The philosophy of my life is to inspire each child to
learn to look at every aspect of life with absolute openness without
prejudice, without any region, cultural, or any other kind of
inclinations. The very purpose is to broaden their horizons. The focus
is not only to create a thirst for knowledge but rather encourage the
child to seek a deeper experience and inner understanding of the
fundamentals of life.