Sunday, May 4, 2008

The Influence of the Mentors

When words travelled from India to China and Greece
A verse from the ancient Indian classic Manu Smriti says, “The King desirous of trying cases must enter the assembly composed in manner, together with Brahmans who know the Vedas, and mantrins (or counsellors).”
An agreement made in 1522 by the Portuguese with the Rey de Sunda [King of Sunda, Malaya] contains the words – “ . . . and for this purpose he sent one of his chief mandarims[India Office manuscript].
The Encyclopaedia Britannica says that mandarim is a Portuguese word derived from ‘mantri’, the Malay word for a counsellor or minister of state. It derives from the Sanskrit root ‘man’ meaning: mind, thought, human.
Interestingly, the most widely spoken language in the world is Mandarin Chinese. Persons of influence (mandarins) are said to have given this form of language to China. 70% of the Chinese peoples speak the language.
In the country of its origin the word gave rise to other Indian language derivatives like ‘mantra’ (= a charm, spell or magical incantation) and ‘mantri’ (= a minister or a counsellor). The Tamil equivalent is pronounced ‘mandiri’.
The English word Mentor is also derived from this root. This idea is borrowed from the wise Mentor that Ulysses appointed to teach, and train his son Telemachus when he was leaving for the Trojan War.
“THE GENIUS” has no teachers to pour knowledge into the heads of unsuspecting children. Mentors, trained to develop the thinking skills of eager learners use fun methods, guide them, play with them. A Mentor is indeed a person with a trained mind, who advises his/her wards and guides them in a friendly manner. The common definition is a faithful counsellor, a friend, philosopher, and guide.

CHILDREN ATTEND AN ETIQUETTE SESSION - MENTORS SERVE THEM FOOD, AND GUIDE THEM IN OBSERVING PROPER TABLE ETIQUETTE





SENIORS HAVE A MOCK PRESS CONFERENCE. YASH BABAR PLAYS THE ROLE OF THE SHIV SENA LEADER BAL THACKERAY, WHILE THE GROUP BECOME REPORTERS WHO GRILL HIM WITH QUESTIONS



MENTORS AT A GET-TOGETHER WHERE THEY LET THEIR HAIR DOWN, AND PLAY BRAIN GAMES, AND RECOUP THE SPIRIT OF CHEER AND FUN FOR THEIR WORK!



AUNTY (ESTHER WILFRED) IS ON THE RIGHT IN THE PICTURE BELOW

UNCLE AND AUNTY JOIN THE MENTORS IN A DANCE



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