My Expressions

Children’s Day Talk – Dr. Neeta Bali, G.D. Goenka World School, Sohna

Each child is special. Their uniqueness lies, as much as in their skills and talents, as in their questions, imaginations and sense of wonder. Some children may be good in sports, some in arts, some in science or some in business. Some are orators, others dreamers, some loud and expressive, some shy and conservative. But each child has something special to offer to this world. So, we truly believe that ‘Every Child is Special’.

The UN celebrates World Children’s Day on 20 November while in India, Children’s Day is celebrated on 14 November. This date is the birth anniversary of India’s First Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru who believed that children are the real strength and foundation of a nation. We at Curious Times too believe that the holistic development of children is the first step in building a better world and we strive every day to do just that. We are also in constant engagement with the education community – students, teachers and educators. It is our cherished goal to make a meaningful contribution to the community by working and interacting with leaders in the field.

And so, this Children’s Day, Curious Times is delighted to bring you a special message from an eminent educator, Dr. Neeta Bali. She is the Director Principal of G.D. Goenka World School, Sohna.

This is a short edited excerpt of the interview. The full interview follows this excerpt.

This Children’s Day is a particularly special one as many children are coming back to school after being away for long.

Everyone is unique. No two people have the same fingerprints. So, similarly, everyone is different with their own unique strengths and qualities. Moreover, in Buddhism, of which I’m a follower, we believe that there are different kinds of flowers. Each flower has its own unique beauty and time. So, if nature accepts that everything has its own time and place, why do we expect children to fall into a slot and straitjacket them. As educators and parents, it is our duty to find out the strengths of the child and nurture that instead of expecting a child to do what we expect of them; to follow only social norms and expectations. There is a dire need to come out of this way of thinking. I am also trying my best to do this and we all need to work towards it, even though it is not easy. And if we do, we may not see the impact immediately but we will definitely see/feel it later, in the years to come. Everyone will move in their own time.

Any special experience that has proved to be a learning experience? Some children start off bright but get subdued later. Others start off slow but with support, they take off. There was a student who was “quite average, as we like to think” but I felt that he had a spark. With encouragement, he has become very successful, starting his own company. So, this child had financial industry talent when he may not have had overall academic talent and that is fine. So, as you can see everyone will grow at their own pace. Moreover, this particular student wants to inspire others too.

On the occasion of Children’s Day, share your message with your and your children on the Curious Times platform. Each of you must believe in yourself. You will meet people who will try to pull you down but you must always believe in yourself, and with diligence, hard work, and determination, you will achieve your dreams. There is no shortcut to success. Another important message for everyone is that failure is not the end of the road; it is merely an indicator that you need to change direction. Once you understand this, you will be successful.

Many thanks to Dr. Neeta Bali, G.D. Goenka World School, for sharing her thoughts on Curious Times.

Curious Times wishes Happy Children’s Day to all the students of G.D. Goenka World School, Sohna.

Do also catch her complete interview and motivational message in a Children’s Day Talk with Curious Times Director, Deepti Beri on our YouTube Channel Curious Times

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