SHARPEN YOUR WITS - Cryptogram # 8

Cryptogram time once more!  So switch off the Idiot Box, put on your thinking caps, and here's the next Cryptogram.
After you solve it, please click on "Comments" at the end of this post and send your solution.  I shall acknowledge it, but to keep the challenge alive I shall avoid publishing it.  Here it is:

“NCND WD EUNXWHE, VJND GJNF HEAA GJN XBAA WD GJN INDEGN, GJN INDEGBXI RB DBG PDBV VJNGJNX GB EDIVNX “MXNINDG” BX “DBG ZTWAGF” – OTIG AWPN WG WI WD GJN WDRWED ANZWIAEGTXNI!” – EDBDFUBTI

I had indicated a link with Cryptogram # 7 (posted on 4 March 2012) to help those who have never attended a programme at THE GENIUS, and for those who are just not familiar with brain-stimulators like these.   

Annual Awards 2012 - Videos

Greetings from THE GENIUS, INDORE, INDIA to all well-wishers around the world!

Some of the videos from the children's performances during the Annual Awards 2012 are up on our You Tube Channel for you to view.

http://youtu.be/PRJekK-Dr-g - JULIUS CAESAR played by Group Alpha

http://youtu.be/2fudjQHd3oc - PANDORA'S BOX played by Group F 

http://www.facebook.com/TheGeniusIQD

You may always visit our channel on YouTube at this link for the latest videos: 

http://www.youtube.com/user/prasanwilfred?feature=mhee

Please send us your comments too!

Isha Bhorkar wins The Genius of the Year Award 2012

It was a hectic week of Awards functions patronised by parents.  The students of all our three units carried away loads and loads of the most wonderful reading material.
Students enthusiastically entertained parents with performances that displayed their new-found prowesses. 
The Mentors who made all this possible had the privilege of watching happy children carry home their prizes with pride.


You can see all the pictures of the last day of the Awards with captions at this link.

More Languages make you More Intelligent

A monolingual state like MP provides meagre opportunity to expand one's horizons.  A timely article "Why Bilinguals Are Smarter" by Yudhijit Bhattacharjee in the "Gray Matter" column of NYTimes (Sunday Review) is a must-read for all the alumni of The Genius.


"SPEAKING two languages rather than just one has obvious practical benefits in an increasingly globalized world. But in recent years, scientists have begun to show that the advantages of bilingualism are even more fundamental than being able to converse with a wider range of people. Being bilingual, it turns out, makes you smarter. It can have a profound effect on your brain, improving cognitive skills not related to language and even shielding against dementia in old age.
... 
"Bilinguals, for instance, seem to be more adept than monolinguals at solving certain kinds of mental puzzles. 
"... the bilingual experience improves the brain’s so-called executive function — a command system that directs the attention processes that we use for planning, solving problems and performing various other mentally demanding tasks. 
"... Bilingualism’s effects also extend into the twilight years."  


Most of us would of course know Hindi and English, but in the multi-lingual milieu of India one who knows a couple of additional languages has a distinct advantage.  At least two Indian languages in addition to Hindi and English must be thought necessary.
Smarter ones can easily throw in a foreign language like French, Spanish, German or Chinese to add to your lingual assets.
Every new learning that comes with every new language would result in so many more neuron connections and so much more intellectual power.  Nothing on earth can then hold you back from a brilliant future for yourself.  Even the social advantages would be immense!

SHARPEN YOUR WITS – Cryptogram # 7

The last time I published a cryptogram on this blog was about a year ago - you can see that by clicking here.  


Put on your thinking caps, for here comes CRYPTOGRAM # 7: 


I LGX KGCE DQ HEGBA FZ YEGBD: ‘DYE XSMGBE QJ DYE XMK QJ DLQ AMKFEBX IX ESMGH DQ DYE XMK QJ DYEIB XSMGBEX IAUBEGXEC FZ DLIUE DYEIB VBQCMUD.’ I YGC AQD DYE TGPMEXD ICEG LYGD DYIX KEGAD GAC LYEA I UQMHC AQD BEKEKFEB DYE LQBCX, KZ DMDQB DYBEL DYE FQQO GD KZ YEGC, LYIUY CIC AQD XDIKMHGDE KZ IADEHHEUD IA GAZ LGZ –– FEBDBGAC BMXXEHH 


LEARN TO SOLVE A CRYPTOGRAM:
If you are not sure how to go about it, particularly if you have never taken a programme at THE GENIUS, Indore, India, you can learn how to solve a cryptogram by clicking on this link.


Click on comments and send me the solution as quickly as you can.  I will not publish the solution, but will acknowledge the names of the persons who send me the correct solution soonest.  

--Prasan Wilfred

YOUTUBE & THE GENIUS

The Genius

Here's our own channel on youtube.com

THE GENIUS, INDORE, INDIA

www.youtube.com

About THE GENIUS, INDORE, INDIA

The only IQ Development Programme in India ... (in the world?) -- a proven success over 22 years!!
OUR MISSION: To identify the strengths within each child (the hero inside!), and 

* to encourage intellectual advancement; 

Our emphasis is on equipping children with self-learning tools ...
* finding fun in problem solving;
* forming opinions after discussions etc -- skills that have no place in the formal curricula of schools.

Opportunities at THE GENIUS

‎"Every once in a while comes along a revolutionary product that changes everything. It's very fortunate if you can work on just one of these in your career" - so said Steve Jobs. 


THE GENIUS - an idea par excellence - is one such product! 


If you are just finishing school, and are on the threshold of a College career, remember,  THE GENIUS offers to train you to fit into a lucrative 3-hour daily stint where you have fun with the brightest youngsters, and learn a load of success formulas for yourselves, and the best part of it all is you get to chill with a group of the brightest young people! You don't have to get bored with that bunch that has never read a book in its life, and can't use the language in which it got its education!


Use Facebook or Orkut or whatever, but, please get this message across to everyone who you think deserves to get into the fine crowd at THE GENIUS. And, please pass on the thought that those who have the reading habit automatically get preference. 

RENEWAL OF REGISTRATIONS FOR THE NEXT SESSION

An important message TO THE PARENTS of all our students:

URGENT MESSAGE FROM "THE GENIUS" -- 

THE CURRENT SESSION ENDS MARCH 30, 2012 (STOP)


PLEASE VISIT OUR OFFICE TO FILL UP THE 


RENEWAL FORM (STOP) ARRANGE FOR 


REMITTANCE OF THE FEES FOR THE 


NEW SESSION POSITIVELY BEFORE


MARCH 15, 2012  -- 


PRASAN WILFRED, DIRECTOR, THE GENIUS              

• Let your child enjoy another year at the “fun place”!
• THE GENIUS has new plans for another year of enjoyable brainwork -- 
• games that promote thinking
• play that improves concentration
• challenges for greater intellectual skills
• etiquette, good manners and social adeptness
• activities that nurture talented communication
• self-confidence to face a global society in the future

IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE: 

1. SEATS ARE SEVERELY LIMITED; CHANCES OF SEAT AVAILABILITY BECOME  WOEFULLY LOW VERY SOON AFTER REGISTRATIONS OF NEW APPLICANTS BEGIN.

2. PLEASE REGISTER AT THE BRANCH OF YOUR CHOICE:

                Saket: N-19 Saket, INDORE 452018

                S.Tukoganj: 4/5 South Tukoganj, INDORE 452001

                Vijaynagar: 105 BG, Scheme 74 C, Vijaynagar, INDORE 452010

3. CHANGE OF BRANCH MAY NOT BE PERMITTED AFTER THE SESSIONS BEGIN!

4. IN THE INTEREST OF YOUR CHILDʼS DEVELOPMENT, PLEASE RESTRICT TV WATCHING VERY SEVERELY. IF HE/SHE IS ALREADY AN AVID TV WATCHER, PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST FOR THIS RENEWAL.

5. PLEASE HELP YOUR CHILD WITH THE READING HABIT. THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE VERY EARLY IN LIFE. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT CHILDREN WHO DO NOT READ, REMAIN INTELLECTUALLY HANDICAPPED IN LIFE.

6. WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR FREE CONSULTATION ON TIPS TO DEVELOP THE READING HABIT IN CHILDREN

WARNING! The Genius is addictive. Proceed with caution. 

It can cause fun, curiosity and a desire to learn. 

Three Little Girls swept the top three prizes

This is about the Google Science Fair 2011. 

Three young women -- Lauren Hodge, Shree Bose, and Naomi Shah -- swept all three top prizes at the first Google Science Fair.

Here's something of importance to all bright students! 

First see a short video at http://www.ted.com/talks/award_winning_teen_age_science_in_action.html?utm_source=newsletter_weekly_2012-01-13. The video should inspire you to check out http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair/. There is time till April 2012 to change the world in your own way! 

This is how Google Science Fair organisers put it:

"Everyone has a question. What’s yours?

It could be a new take on particle physics, or game theory. It could be a cost-effective way to provide clean water to a remote community, or maybe a project like reducing the carcinogenic properties of grilled chicken (that was one of last year’s winning entries). It should definitely be inspired.
You might already have the beginnings of an idea. Or just be hungry to get involved. Either way, you have until 1 April 2012 to work on identifying your question and building your project.
Get started right now by registering and securing parental consent."

 

Cakes & Carols with Group Alpha - Xmas 2011

Christmas celebrations at The Genius - Group Alpha worked in teams and made some delicious puddings.

A mouse-click will enlarge the picture.

A mouse-click will enlarge the picture.

The students and the Mentors together belted out the carols with great gusto without the recorded accompaniment. They seemed to know the words as well as the tunes of most of the carols!

A mouse-click will enlarge the picture.

Aayushi Talreja (erstwhile Mentor) visited us to say goodbye to all her students - she is en route to Canada for her post-grad education.

TEJAL KARMALKAR sends me her greetings in rhyme!

"Hello Uncle! How are you?
Kimaya will visit you for sure,
She misses you too.

So much to tell and so much to hear,
But when, I don’t know, I fear!

My bored brain longs for maths challenges and cryptograms,
And wants to talk of Mozart and Brahms.
But it must resist,
For its possessor is studying to be a scientist,

I know I keep saying "soon" in every message I send,
But the headache of academics never seems to end
The Education system with all its crooks,
Has made sure my life revolves only around textbooks.

But I’ll see you surely in a little while,
And end my self-imposed exile.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year,
I hope my reply in rhyme made you smile ear to ear!"

A Little Boy finds his Wonderland

Sharvil Thatte, now 17, an outstanding ex-student, a winner of The Genius of the Year Award, writes to greet me on my Birthday. This is his exclusive style of writing ... I welcome readers to mail in their comments.

--Prasan Wilfred, December 11, 2011

About a decade ago, a young boy of tender age stepped out of his house and entered into a strange, new place. The boy was confused. Confused as to why at a place where he had spent about just under an hour did he feel so home. Where was he? Was this indeed the illusive wonderland he had heard stories of? He went back home that evening and slept, happy and content.  


Over the next few days, he would have an itch at the back of his mind, a jump in his stride and a constant longing to the wonderland he was growing ever so fond of.

 The place even had a nice ring to it. The Genius. N 19 Saket Indore.  The shiny 'D.P. Wilfred' name plate outside the office. The veranda outside with the old palm tree, bent over the years. The plastic chairs or the concrete second level of the courtyard where he could sit before the 'class' began. He never quite got used to the word 'class' being attributed to it. It was always some place he could happily spend the rest of his life.

The place just wasn’t bricks and stones to him. It was an environment. A complete world within the world. 


He had grown used to the people there too. Whether it be the friendly guard at the gate with whom he could sit safely and chat away in the evening as he waited for his ride, or the pleasant baijis, from whom he would receive a glass of water to quench his thirst and a smile to brighten his day, or the autowala bhaiya, who would bring him back home at the end of countless ecstatic evenings. Or the didis and bhaiyas who were the mentors there. 


Funny word, mentors, he used to think. Initially, not used to diluting the authority of the traditional 'teacher' to 'mentor', he quickly fell in line. And boy did he have fun. He would be wild. Wild with joy. If he had wanted, he would have jumped around like a monkey at times, just to express his pleasure. Coming to think of it, he did. Alas, the poor mentor. Handling a group of exuberant children is hard enough but to add a monkey to it! 




Then there were the games. He knew what he was essentially doing in the process was learning. But learning had never been so much fun. Answering 'Manila' to "What is the capital of Philippines?" would earn his team an extra 10 points, clenching victory from his friends. 
Speaking continuously for 'just a minute' would earn him a win. Experimenting with science would earn him a prize. 
A bout at maths, word play and logic would mean a pat on his back. Learning a speech by heart and presenting it in front of the judges and his peers would make him proud of himself. Reciting a poem made him feel elegant. 


Correctly pronouncing the word 'opportunity' was a matter of self esteem to him. But probably the foundation of it all for him were the books.

 The place was FULL of books. There were shelves upon shelves full of books. Neatly assorted  according to their categories, there were books of every kind. Story books, encyclopedias, comic books, fiction, biographies, 'The Great Illustrated Classics' and what not. He got to take them home, read them till his eyelids gave out under the burden of sleep. He would read them whenever he had a second to spare. 


He got to make a project out of them on a topic of his liking. If it wasn't for them, he wouldn’t have quite understood the railways or the World Wars for the fact. 
And to top it off, he would get books as prizes too! 
First in declamation? Here, have a red labelled book! 
Second in poetry recitation? No problem! Here, a blue labelled book. Books there were galore.

 
He grew with the place. Maturation was a way to put it. He had friends around him, with whom he had laughed, celebrated and parted ways for the summer break, promising to come back the next session. 


The mock interviews, the scrabble competitions, the etiquette sessions with those heavenly enchiladas.

 But, as all good things must come to an end...

The words 'Indian Education System' bring a scowl to the now 17-year-old boy. It was the villain in his fairy tale. To fulfill one of his goals, he had to sever a part of his soul. It was a conundrum he could get his brain around. In the end, he had to leave behind his wonderland. For 'the greater good'.

 


He was ashamed of himself because he couldnt believe how easily he could forget about those memories, those longings. He was ashamed that he had to express himself over an electronic medium. But for his average, mundane existence, he had no other shameless excuse.

It was his life and he had never wanted to let it go, especially of a man and a woman. In fact, the man and woman.

 Uncle and Aunty as they were lovingly called by everyone. 


It was their idea that had led to his wonderland's creation. The boy was always guilty that he never got to spend extended amounts of time with Aunty.  She was always busy with the major administration of the Genius. He did, however, come to know Uncle quite closely.

 Uncle to him was like his grandfather, his friend, his guide and his mentor. He was extremely fond of him. He looked surprisingly handsome in suspenders, had an uncanny similarity to Amitabh Bachchan for the boy, and was a treasure chest full of knowledge to anyone who knew him. He only had one bad habit. Smoking. The boy had always wished he would quit. 





And it was that one man's legacy that had made the young toddler the boy was into a confident youth, marching his way into adulthood. If it wasn't for him, the boy would have faded into the billions of human beings inhabiting the world as 'just some boy'. But he was glad that he hadn’t. And he was immeasurably grateful to God for somehow making him end up at The Genius' front gate.


 


He was, and always will be, in debt of one of the greatest men to ever walk the earth. He took the road less travelled and that has made all the difference for him and a little boy.
 The boy might have not met an Asimov, Verne, Lincoln, Churchill, Gandhi or Kalam, but it was his pleasure to have met Prasan Wilfred and he was more than content.

 So on this day, the day a legend was born 73 years ago, the little boy from a decade ago would like to wish his beloved Uncle a very happy birthday. "

IQ Is Not Set In Stone

An Intriguing Question

I had never been perfectly sure whether exposure to puzzles, mental challenges, and high-level language skills do indeed change the reckoning of a child's Intelligence Quotient with the help of one of the standardised tests.

Measurement of IQ is not easy, it is a highly specialised task of a qualified psychologist. All available IQ tests have been subject to criticisms of various types. The actual IQ scores are also said to vary from time to time. It is said to depend on the mood of the test-taker at the time of the test. It depends on the companions or peers taking the test with the individual. Their individual cultural, racial, ethnic differences appear to vary the results.

However, one thing that I had observed throughout my life was that young people did appear to build up certain strengths within themselves if either by themselves or through the influence of peers, or of capable parents or Mentor/teachers, they widened their horizons, strengthened skills, and applied their knowledge to solving practical problems with forethought and capabilities.

The thousands of students who have gone through the programmes of THE GENIUS over the last 21 years bear testimony to this. Those who declare that you are born with a certain level of intelligence, and that no power on earth can change it must accept that this is just true! This certainly is good news to all the young people who desist from wasting their time with inane television entertainment, or insipid conversation with ignoramuses.

In this connection do visit the web-page at this link: IQ Isn't Set In Stone and listen to experts telling us that the right exposure at the right time does add to your cerebral capacities!

One other point: a child's intellectual development begins at birth. Early exposure to thinking skills, and mental challenges will bring forth an entire generation of geniuses, I am sure!

Send me your comments, if you have any. I shall publish them with my reply.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And, for those who are interested in an instant mental challenge, here's a problem for you to solve:

What are the next two numbers in this sequence?

7, 14, 17, 21, 27, 28, 35, 37, ?, ?

Happy puzzle-solving!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prasan Wilfred

THE GENIUS REUNION

On the evening of Saturday, the 25th June 2011, we had our first real REUNION in 21 years! Anand Wilfred, Aunty and I met twenty-two of our past students on our premises at Saket, Indore. Envisaged by Shriya Gupta and made possible with the help of Shreya Raj, the evening turned out to be a truly memorable one.

All of them took time off their busy schedules and came over to let down their hair, re-introduce themselves to old friends, re-live some of the beautiful memories of their earlier days at THE GENIUS, and also to play a couple of games. It was nostalgic to listen to Prasad Kawathekar reciting the story "Peace at Last" that they had learnt while in Class 3 or 4. Some of them recalled the words of "The Charge of the Light Brigade" recited with vigour and a flourish.

Everyone enjoyed a game of "Scattergories" which they had never played at THE GENIUS during their days. This was a new game we had introduced a year ago in our effort to develop thinking skills in new ways.
It was a great evening and we hope we would be able to repeat such occasions more often.

All the photographs with captions can be viewed at this link on Picasaweb.

OPEN DAY IN DUBAI

Someone very rightly called our 'education system' as a mere 'examination system'. Schools appear to make concerted efforts to help children to stop thinking and learn the ready-made regurgitated notes, to learn facts by rote, and to repeat everything verbatim in test papers.
For an elaboration of this thought please read my post at http://the-genius-blog.blogspot.com/2008/03/raison-dtre.html.

We devised our system of fun and games with an intellectual content so that children would begin to think for themselves, be able to understand what they learn, develop capabilities beyond what is envisaged by the pedagogues, and express themselves with their own ideas and opinions.

We are now trying to reach out to Dubai in the hope that we can contribute our bit to the development of the children of this region.

OPEN DAY in DUBAI -

Scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon on June 11, 2011
Venue: Mankhool, Bur Dubai

Telephone: DUBAI 050-4693191 -- Call Veathika Jain

ISHITA GARG DECLARED GENIUS OF THE YEAR 2011

The Greatest Evening of the Year 2010 - 2011

ISHITA GARG DECLARED GENIUS OF THE YEAR 2011

The Annual Awards evening this year took place on three separate days: 27th March for the Vijayanagar unit, 2nd April for the junior children of Saket, 3rd April for children from group Alpha (classes 9 to 12) to group E (Class 4).

The spirit of the evenings was just fun and laughter, loads of books for the successful children interspersed with some interesting performances. This year the children ended the festivities with a mass performance of the energetic dance "STEP IN TIME".

Click here to see the children come in small and large groups in sheer exuberance.

Here is a clipping of the Book Review on A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. This will give the viewer a sample of the quality of work the children do at The Genius.

THE coveted GENIUS OF THE YEAR 2011 AWARD winner was Ishita Garg. It consisted of a Certificate, a silver trophy, and a set of books.

Here Ishita Garg holds her trophy, her proud parents on the stage equally honoured, and the books -- the full 60-volume set of The Britannica Great Books of the Western World -- displayed for all to see.

This picture is of the children of Group E [Class 4] performing "The Energy Rap".

The students of the Alpha Group [Classes 9 to 11] displayed great talent performing a small spoof on Shakespeare's great "MACBETH". Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-PClBQILko.

It was, as usual, left to my lot to speak a "few words of wisdom" to my audience of parents. I chose just a few queries to which the children desired answers from their parents. You can see this speech by clicking on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Fky72hS4FI.

We ended the year on a note of joy with a repeat performance of "Step in Time" and hope to re-start our work in earnest in July 2011.

Our past students now grace the portals of the world's leading Universities, and contribute in a great way to making India a proud country. Many of them do keep in touch with us and we are happy that our small contribution is adding so much to the quality of education that is now being described as an 'examination system' as opposed to an honest 'education system.' All our Mentors and I have truly earned kudos all along for our work, and it is my hope that we would have the energy and the intellectual ability to continue our work for many years!

CRYPTOGRAM # 6

Here's another interesting Cryptogram.
These immortal quotations in coded language are given to our students to decipher -- each is a mental challenge that should assist and accelerate intellectual growth.

"VHCQVOR DVSI XDIRI VASVHXVWIR JSIB QVH: XDIE HISIB DIVB XDI FOJFP RXBCPI, XDIE ACI LCXDJGX VHE CAIV JY AIVXD, XDIE DVSI HJ XIVFDIBR VHA KBIRFDIBR XJ CHRXBGFX XDIQ, XDICB OVRX QJQIHXR VBI HJX ACRXGBUIA UE GHLIOFJQI VHA GHKOIVRVHX FIBIQJHCIR, XDICB YGHIBVOR FJRX XDIQ HJXDCHW, VHA HJ JHI RXVBXR OVLRGCXR JSIB XDICB LCOOR" -- SJOXVCBI, KDCOJRJKDIB (1694-1778)

CRYPTOGRAM # 5

Here's the next Cryptogram:

TW GIO ZTNCWA: CW RMTJMW, VRM YGICBM TFM UFCVCZR, VRM BRMHZ TFM HFMWBR, VRM QMBRTWCBZ TFM AMFQTW, VRM IGJMFZ TFM CVTICTW, TWO MJMFNVRCWA CZ GFATWCPMO UN VRM ZXCZZ. CW RMII, VRM YGICBM TFM AMFQTW, VRM BRMHZ TFM UFCVCZR, VRM QMBRTWCBZ TFM HFMWBR, VRM IGJMFZ TFM ZXCZZ, TWO MJMFNVRCWA CZ GFATWCPMO UN VRM CVTICTWZ.

DOES YOUR PARENT HAVE TIME FOR YOU?

PARENTS ought to read this ...

If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in — Cleveland Abbe (American meteorologist, inventor and astronomer)

Is this quotation relevant to today's families?
Does every child have an adult at home with whom he/she can discuss things that are learnt in school, the news that newspapers publish, and the activities that The Genius exposes them to for the first time in their lives?

One of the important things we do is to have Mock Press Conferences, where each student acts out the part of a leader, a decision maker, and the rest of the group becomes press correspondents, and come prepared to fire away questions.

Our politicians often kick up an infernal ruckus in the sacred precincts of the parliament instead of having an intelligent debate. They would be put to shame by the tactful and well-informed manner in which some of our young students handle the questions that they are asked!

When these competitions are in progress, we can identify children whose parents are too busy to be of active intellectual assistance. We also observe children whose attention spans have been nearly destroyed by the importance given to television serials and movies of pedestrian tastes in some homes.

Parents who read this would do well to contribute to children's development on a daily basis, and proffer them quality conversation time as often as they can.

One eventful day at The Genius

Not really just one day - it's a series of events every weekend for four or five weeks, but to each child, it is just one day - one day of great expectations, looking forward to specially prepared dishes - enchiladas, cannellonis and the works - all served in courses from soft drinks through soup, cutlets et al until a succulent dessert appears on the table at the end of a scrumptious repast. Appropriate bowls, plates, spoons, forks and knives are laid out for each course, and they are not served by flunkies (we have no flunkies at THE GENIUS), but by Mentors of exceptional calibre, especially trained - not in table service - but in development of thinking skills. Visit http://the-genius-blog.blogspot.com/2008/03/raison-dtre.html and you will understand why we need to do stuff that parents and schoolteachers ought to be doing.

To cut it short, I shall just say that THE GENIUS is indeed the whole enchilada! (..."the whole enchilada" is an idiomatic expression referring to something that is complete in itself. Refer to a good dictionary before you use it in writing or speech).

If you wish to see some of the pictures of one of the evenings, please click here.

CRYPTOGRAM # 4

Another Cryptogram for the enthusiast --

LY LYPLX, IKJJWGC GKULCLILXYH PKY'C TK CK VXLU; HKNM TK CK GXJULXNMYC. LZ CEMR XJM ... FKCM-SXYA CEWTH, CEMR NXR MFMY SMIKNM IXSLYMC NLYLHCMJH -- JXFL HEXYAXJ

YOU need a Dictionary too!

Anu Garg [whose http://wordsmith.org/ has reached phenomenal subscriber numbers] says:
"There's a new exhibit here in Seattle, showcasing props from the Harry Potter series. As I make my way through it, I see kids holding magic wands in their little fingers and pretending to cast spells. If only we all had a book of spells we could use to make things happen!
"It turns out we do. It's called a dictionary. It has all the magical words we need (though some assembly is required). We can use them to convince (from Latin vincere: to overcome), to motivate (from movere: to move), to inspire (from inspirare: to breathe [life] into), and more."

A Dictionary is a tool of the trade for those who seek to speak fluently, to speak using words that are appropriate to the context, and to those who desire to write impressively. We at THE GENIUS recommend that every child from the very youngest possess a dictionary, and learn all aspects of using it.

Older students may also subscribe to http://wordsmith.org/ for a daily dose of words and their interesting origins.

CRYPTOGRAM # 3

An irresistible temptation

When I come across a good quotation - that is, one that does not preach to us from a high pedestal, but has a bit of tongue-in-cheek humour as well, and a sprinkling of truth spiced with satire, I am sorely tempted to share it with the many students and Mentors at THE GENIUS as well as with other friends and well-wishers. I posted the last Cryptogram only two days ago, yet here's another one - swiftly following the last one.

Here's Cryptogram # 3:

SYVT XRP XGTP GX QPJYDK XV XJQO PAPYU NRGQC TJOPK J CYPJCSMQ DMGKJDNP VS GXKPQS EU JKOGDH 'ZRU?'. XV KXVI XRGK DMGKJDNP KVNGPXU GDAPDXPC J TJYAPQQVMK KUKXPT NJQQPC PCMNJXGVD ZRGNR EYGDHK XV JD PDC XRPGY CPKGYP XV JKO XRJX LMPKXGVD. XRP SPZ SJGQMYPK VS XRGK KUKXPT JYP ODVZD JK KNGPDXGKXK -- KGY RPYTJDD EVDCG

I am publishing only the names of the first two all-correct solvers. I need your opinions if I ought to put up the solution as well. I had thought of avoiding display of the solution in order that anyone who visits the page ought to have the mental challenge of the puzzle without the solution available. If anyone finds it difficult to solve a Cryptogram and would like me to send the solution, please put in your comment saying so, and you will receive it directly by mail as quickly as possible.

Happy deciphering!

CRYPTOGRAM # 2

Here's another Cryptogram for you to solve. Unfortunately the author of this humorous line is unknown. So just solve it and click on "Comments" and put down your name and the complete solution.

TZCVDSFN GQL NZ SFBLCCSULFB BDGB OSBDSF ZFCK G JLO OLLRN ZJ IGVBSPSBK, BDLK IGF BQGSF G DEYGF HLSFU BZ NBGFT GB BDL PLQK LTUL ZJ BDL VZZC GFT BDQZO BDLY JSND.

10-year olds and above ought to try their hand at decoding cryptograms.

You can use the Comments section for any messages that you wish to send us.



Prasan Wilfred, THE GENIUS
October 30, 2010

CEREBRAL CHALLENGES & CRYPTOGRAMS

Message from Prasan Wilfred!

Here's something exclusive for those who love mental challenges like the children of THE GENIUS do!

Here's the first CRYPTOGRAM [a simple substitution code] -- put on your thinking caps, decipher the quotation, and send me the solution as quickly as you can by clicking on "Post a Comment" below.

FMGS HMWDT VDFMNV VP AMRT MWDBGNFV PX XMBDS XWPA DSF PDSFW, MRY DSF GMRYBYMDFV VHFRY VP AIGS DBAF AMOBRQ FMGS PDSFW'V VHFFGSFV, DSMD UT DSF DBAF FNFGDBPR YMT BV HMVD DSFWF BV RPDSBRQ AIGS DP YP VMLF DIWR DSF VBDDBRQ WMVGMNV PID MRY NFD M RFZ QMRQ BR -- S. N. AFRGOFR

I have been, from time to time, personally mailing Cryptograms to a large number of current and old students of THE GENIUS, as well as to our Mentors and others interested in this kind of cerebral challenges.

Henceforth I will not mail it to anyone but I shall display on this blog new Cryptograms for you to solve from time to time.

Have fun!

The Greatest Evening of the Year

All of us at The Genius look forward at all times to the Annual Awards evening. The last couple of years we have had to spread this over two evenings, as we have over 800 children with their parents joining us to celebrate their children's attainments.

We spent our two evenings on 3rd and 4th April 2010 at the beautifully renovated and refurbished Ravindra Natya Graha, Indore.

The spirit of the evening was just fun and laughter, 60 to 70 cartons of books (from the UK, USA, & Australia) given away as prizes and a final dance of sheer ecstasy as was echoed in the spirit of the universal favourite Do-re-mi to which the entire lot including a few Mentors danced with glee.
Click this link to see it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nVww0Rc9lw

Well-wishers from around the world wrote to congratulate us when they saw the video, and we have had to clarify that dance forms no part of our work whatsoever. Music, yes; poetry and humour, yes; and anything that is enjoyable for children and yet is intellectual is part of our repertoire! The dance was just a spontaneous joyous release of energies.

Vacation now until we re-assemble mid-July 2010, refreshed, refurbished, re-enthused. That would usher in another nine months of wonderful evenings picking each other's brains, challenging little children to reach out higher and to aim for new learnings and even greater attainments.

It has been [as Robert Browning put it so aptly] "Roses, roses all the way" for everyone connected with THE GENIUS.

My WONDERFUL TEAM OF MENTORS and my family thank our universe for the extraordinary support.
Many new Mentors will be with us while some of the senior ones leave us for various universities, some to different lands seeking fulfilment in new mental challenges. The children who benefited from the cerebral inputs of these Mentors carry an eternal imprint in their neurons - an imprint that will forever bear the names of those who influenced them.

THE GENIUS 20th ANNUAL AWARDS 2010

12-YEAR OLD RISHABH JAIN WINS THE GENIUS OF THE YEAR 2010 AWARD

The 20^th Annual Awards function [The picture: L to R - Rishabh Jain's parents, Rishabh, Aunty Shobha & Uncle Prasan Wilfred] of The Genius was celebrated with great enthusiasm over the last weekend. It was held on the 3th and 4th April 2010 in the Ravindra Natya Graha auditorium attended by the elite of Indore.

THE GENIUS, now quite renowned for its intellectual enhancement programme for school children, declared 12-year old RISHABH JAIN of Class 7 (now in Class 8) the winner of The Genius of the Year Award 2010.

The Award included a silver trophy, an artistically crafted certificate, and a 22-volume set of the World Book Encyclopedia worth over Indian Rupees 40,000 ($800).

The criterion for the Award is high intellectual potential and consistent meritorious performance in all areas of cerebral activity.

THE GENIUS, located in Saket and Vijayanagar, has been catering to the intellectual needs of over 800 bright children from twenty different schools. They undergo one-hour-a-day sessions of intense, yet fun-oriented, intellectual games that challenge their thinking skills, exercise their mental muscle, and contribute to their growth in areas not covered by school curricula.

The outstanding prize winners at the gathering were Samarth Agarwal, Rakshit Jain, Benimadhav Agrawal, Kartikey Jajoo, Tanishq Kishnani, and Ishaan Manudhane.

THE GENIUS stimulates the curiosity of young minds, and assists development of mental agility, and high awareness levels.