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A Parable of Light

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A Parable of Light By Arvindanabha Shukla In a quiet house lived a lamp- small, delicate, shivering whenever the wind remembered its strength. Two hands kept vigil beside it. One gifted it fire. The other cupped the flame, shielding it from predatory air, its own skin burning without complaint. Each time the flame trembled, the hands surrendered their portion of comfort, in silence. Seasons turned. The lamp grew stronger. Its flame learned steadiness, its glow stretched from wall to wall. Rooms filled with light. Voices rose in praise of its brilliance. One day, the lamp saw- the hands that had never left were shaking now. Their shadows dragged across the floor, long with weariness, heavy with years. The lamp thought: I am enough. My flame no longer needs guarding. And in the severity of its own glow it spoke: “Stand away. Your shadows dim my light.” The hands withdrew- no protest, no reproach, only silence. That evening a mild wind wandered in- no storm, no fury, only life, arriving a...
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Don't Wait For The Right Time

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Uddalaka dissolves a pinch of salt in water and asks Shvetaketu to taste from the top, middle, and bottom; the salt is invisible yet present everywhere (Chandogya Upanishad). Care is like that, unseen but pervasive when offered in time. On a cluttered Tuesday, I stepped out between meetings and rang my mother, two minutes that changed the flavour of the whole day. The reminder is simple: the salt only works once it is dropped in. Affection, apology, and attention do not season a relationship while they sit on the side.   We talk about relationships as if they are gardens waiting for the first perfect rain. ‘When things calm down, I will call.’ ‘When I am less busy, we will meet.’ ‘When I have found the right words, I will apologise.’ We keep postponing the tenderness that makes us human, convinced the right time will arrive, like my father, who used to be back home at exactly 10.20 a.m. after his college class. It rarely does. Life tends to arrive slightly late, a little messy, and...
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Designing High-Quality Question Papers

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Designing High-Quality Question Papers for CISCE Grades 6–12: A Comprehensive Guide Arvindanabha Shukla, Ph D   Introduction   Designing a high-quality question paper is both an art and a science. In the context of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) curriculum for Grades 6–12, an excellent question paper is a pivotal assessment tool that evaluates student learning and reinforces pedagogical goals. The CISCE’s educational philosophy emphasises holistic development and academic rigour, which must be reflected in its assessments. A well-designed paper aligns with learning outcomes, balances difficulty and cognitive skills, and provides a fair, student-centric measure of achievement. This guide expands upon insights by delving deeper into the CISCE assessment framework, current educational research on effective assessment practices, and practical strategies to create fair and rigorous question papers. I will reference Bloom’s Taxonomy, 21st-century ...
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