Shabd Manch -A festival of letters - Author Roopa Pai - Class VI and VII

In an interactive session, Roopa Pai covered a vast range of topics engaging students of Classes VI and VII in her animated style of storytelling. She began by touching upon the significance of ‘Namaste’ - the greeting and its gesture. ते नमः I bow to you. I bow to your thoughts, opinions, accepting differing, even opposing, viewpoints - ‘Accepting diversity’ is central to everything in Indian philosophy.

She further took the interaction through the story of six blind men trying to understand what an elephant looks like and reaching a ‘common truth’ with collaboration.

There was also much discussion between students and the author of the book ’The Vedas and the Upanishads’ on how wisdom in ancient religious texts of India asks for worship to the self and the God within us.

A child shared an old Native American fireside story about the two wolves. Roopa Pai picked up on this thread by stressing the importance of fueling the right one between the demonic wolf and the divine wolf within us all.

An interesting analogy was shared comparing Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita within it with a mango and its seed. The most vital teachings of the Vedas and Upanishads are contained within the Bhagavad Gita which is like the seed that begins the process of growth within. The Mahabharata, with its intricate stories and mythical battles, is the juicy fruit that attracts all to consume it and in the process, takes the readers into the depths of hidden knowledge.

She closed the session by reading an excerpt from her book ‘The Yoga Sutras for Children’, which presents everyday situations from a child’s life and helps them eliminate the unnecessary thoughts and anxieties that follow with some simple tips.