Engaged minds

  While sitting in the lawns of the British School in Delhi for an admission for my son in early 2011, I had an unique opportunity to chat with my healthy and hearty dad ('granddad').  Granddad's  perspectives on education were contrarian; his priority was to seek a school where developing health (over formal education and grades) and life skills was a priority. He just wanted the school to ensure that until age 18 his grandson develops a very strong, healthy body and an happy mind thus grades and formal education wasn't a priority!  He wanted his grandson to engage in sports activities - play hard, develop team spirit, and sportsmanship ! Granddad firmly believed that the school needs to  progressively educate his grandson with his physical and mental development - the bare minimum education that provides him the general knowledge, the ethical and moral values. At 18, ...

The dictionary meaning of ‘ defer ’ is to act in a dilatory manner and thus lay something aside: to delay; the meaning of “DISTINCT’ is to   recognizably different in nature from something else of a similar type: unique. This blog is dedicated with thanks to my unique DEFer friends and my brother who now is a successful entrepreneur and also my best friend!! For this blog I have aptly coined 'DEF-ers' (for reading pleasure read as 'duffers)'with individuals with DEF-grades ; these individuals are unique compared to our and social norms. DEF-ers are generally laid aside or delayed in absorption in our society; they are generally mis-undersood or never considered for any opportunity. The society then ends up wasting this unique talent and/or creating anti-social elements, cost of which is finally borne by the society. DEF-ers are either slow learners as their priorities in life are different compared to the education or professional...