Ghumakkad in Hindi means 'the wanderer'. That is what I am. On the move any time anywhere!
This blog chronicles Ghumakkad's travels/teachings/learnings around the globe as picture stories. In addition, there are Picturesque Quotes (PQs) created using my pictures. Enjoy it.
If you have also been to the places/topics described here, please feel free to add to the content.
Your comments/ suggestions are welcome.
This is what happens to teachers. They start seeing the world only around their subject. Literally! This morning's slow and steady drizzle created a wet and damp feeling. But a guy like me who loves rain, was waiting to bolt out. And then it stopped drizzling. All the trees had raindrops on their leaves. Out came the camera. Raindrops appeared like shining diamonds. Click click. Back to laptop to download the pictures. Zoom the pictures one by one. One solitary raindrop caught my attention. It reminded me of a quote where raindrops had been called the bravest because they are never afraid of falling. But my mind was preoccupied with 'Entrepreneurship', the subject that I am teaching this semester to my MBA/PGDM students. Therefore, Ghumakkad compared the raindrops to entrepreneurs. And see the outcome! Picturesque quote for you.
'An entrepreneur is like a raindrop, never afraid of falling'. Wonder if other teachers are also as 'crazy' and see the world through their subjects which they are teaching? Your experiences on similar lines are welcome. Thanks for browsing. And incidentally, enjoy the rain. Here is another picture of raindrops.
Get wet to enjoy the rain! - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 16th Aug 2015
May India lead the world towards peace and tranquility. India has always believed in वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम -- 'The whole world is my family'. Let this not remain a utopian dream. Ghumakkad wishes all blog readers and other friends a very happy Independence Day
Thanks for browsing - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 15th Aug 2015
We use ice breakers in the inaugural part of any Workshop or a Course. 'The World of Animals' is a popular ice-breaker with faculties and trainers the world over. Today, we have introduced a variation using smart phones which all participants/students have. Instead of picking an 'animal' from paper chits, we have used the web. The participants are assigned a serial number and asked to remember it. Then using their cell phones, they are told to access the web i.e. this blog and 'pick' the animal against their number from an 'Animal Table'. Next, they are to find their team mates by mimicking the animal and not announcing its name. The team assembling the fastest, gets chocolates. Next, each team is asked to enact the animal/bird on stage in an innovative way. Most innovative enactment gets chocolates too. How did you like the idea? Today's generation feels more relaxed and confident with smartphones-- even in a class or workshop!
The table for looking up by the participants is given below:
Number
Team
1
Tiger
2
Koel
3
Cow
4
Peacock
5
Cat
6
Goat
7
Goat
8
Cat
9
Peacock
10
Cow
11
Koel
12
Tiger
13
Tiger
14
Koel
15
Cow
16
Peacock
17
Cat
18
Goat
19
Goat
20
Cat
21
Peacock
22
Cow
23
Koel
24
Tiger
25
Tiger
26
Koel
27
Cow
28
Peacock
29
Cat
30
Goat
31
Goat
32
Cat
33
Peacock
34
Cow
35
Koel
36
Tiger
37
Tiger
38
Koel
39
Cow
40
Peacock
41
Cat
42
Goat
43
Goat
44
Cat
45
Peacock
46
Cow
47
Koel
48
Tiger
49
Tiger
50
Koel
51
Cow
52
Peacock
53
Cat
54
Goat
55
Goat
56
Cat
57
Peacock
58
Cow
59
Koel
60
Tiger
Feel free to use the above idea in your training programs or workshops. Your participants can access the 'Animal' table on their cell phones by typing the URL http://ghumakkadhb.blogspot.in/2015/08/ice-breaker-with-cell-phone-twist.html .
We are told to be patient in life. But with the stresses of present day world, it is easier said than done. Perhaps one way to be patient is to go out and observe Nature. The plants, trees, bees, birds, animals, buds, flowers, rain, thunder and changing seasons- everything has a lesson for us. The common thread being 'Patience'. Like what RW Emerson said 'Adopt the pace of Nature; her secret is patience.' This quote inspired me to compose the next Picturesque Quote (PQ) in our PQ series. And the picture chosen for Emerson's quotation is not an exotic flower but our hardy and useful Neem नीम tree from India. Neem tree's every part is of value. See the list below:
Neem leaves extract is used in bathing soaps
Neem leaves when dried, can be used in wardrobes/cupboards and prevent moth attack.
Neem sticks have been used for brushing the teeth for centuries. Though it can damage the gums if not done properly.
Tender neem leaves taken in the morning can cure diabetes.
Neem fruit निम्बोली is an anti oxidant and also helps control the blood sugar level.
Neem fruit when dried and powdered is a blood purifier as well as excellent manure for plants.
Neem leaves when soaked in water can be sprayed on plants for pest control.
Dry Neem leaves can be used in potted plants as organic manure. And the list goes on.
So, here is the PQ for you with Neem flowers. Use it in your talks/presentations freely.
Learn to be patient by adopting the pace of Nature. Thanks for browsing Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 11th Aug 2015
Birds in a metro city? And that too in your own garden? Yes, that is possible-- thanks to two things. Firstly plenty of green cover in enclaves like ours in north Secunderabad, Telangana India. And secondly, bird-friendly, all-weather and light weight design of bird feeders.
Gifted by Ansh, our 11 year old grand son three months ago, our bird feeder did not attract a single bird for three months. Very disappointing for us till yesterday, when a pair of Silverbills started to feed on Bajra बाजरा (Millet) seeds from the bird feeder. From then on all eyes have been on the bird feeder and the winged 'diners'. Ghumakkad's DSLR camera was quickly pulled out from its bag as cell-phone pictures were unsatisfactory.
Picture story for you. Please pardon the sticker on the bird feeder which we tried to remove this morning.
Next morning was even better when we had a flock of five silverbills feasting together!
Thanks Ansh, Ankush and Prabjoth for such a priceless gift. Hope you get as many birds in the feeder at your home in Chennai.
Silverbills are also known as white-throated munias. Hope you enjoyed being 'with' the silverbills as much as we are doing every morning and evening! Thanks for browsing. Do share your pictures and experiences of our winged friends. - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 9th Aug 2015
Postscript 16th June 2021: The feed eaten by Silver bill Munias is Fox Millet and not Millet as mentioned by us earlier. Readers may browse the story about Fox Millet here.
"I love my college!" You hear it often in social gatherings. Everyone loves their school, college, university or any other institution where they studied. They may not like it so much while they are students, but they certainly love it after becoming an alumnus. So Ghumakkad asks : What is so great about his college- BITS Pilani in Rajasthan India? And to get responses, we crowd sourced it on Facebook. A mid-night post set the ball rolling and first 100 responses came in just 10 minutes! The post that did it:
There were more than 500 alumni who participated. We picked top 20 responses which had maximum 'likes'. Following BITSians- as BITS alumni are called- need special mention for being creative and original in their spontaneity. Listed in alphabetical order:
Pratik Maheshwari (2010 alumnus) in Delhi readily came forward and created the music for the clip. Pratik you rock buddy.
While Ghumakkad had most of the pictures, we had to use a few from BITS Photography Club archives. Vinay's classic shot of sunrise over Saraswati Temple finds place in the video.
