5) Life in Stillness, Life in Motion

CELEBRATION OF LIFE 

Life is renewal. Life is a dance of ebb and flow.

Moments of joy, beauty, wonder, and silence — all merge into the grand celebration we call life.

We smile in quiet amazement when we spot a tiny sapling growing through a crack in a broken concrete roof. No soil, no care, and yet — it lives, reaching out to the sky. Isn't that a celebration?

Life celebrates itself when an old vendor at a street corner catches your eye. You smile. He smiles back. You are strangers — and yet, in that brief moment, there's warmth, a shared human bond. Isn't that life’s gentle celebration?

There’s a season for every creature — butterflies that flit and breed, lizards that silently thrive, flies and mosquitoes that emerge with the rains, dragonflies clutching trembling leaves, their transparent wings shimmering before a downpour. Nature knows her rhythm. She celebrates it quietly.

And we, the fortunate ones, are gifted with five senses and the intuition to witness it all — to see, hear, smell, touch, taste, and feel. If that’s not a celebration, what is?

The first earthy smell of rain, rustling leaves, tapping palm fronds, golden sunbeams playing hide and seek through the foliage — nature throws a party every day, if we only stop and notice.

Listen to the heartbeat of life: chattering children, playful calves, tail-wagging puppies, the owl’s hoot in the night, the flap of pigeon wings, parrots perched on wires, sparrows singing their tiny songs. Even the predator in pursuit of prey — all part of the tumultuous, roaring celebration of life.

Ask the man who’s walked miles under a burning sun — what joy he finds in the shade of a tree. Ask him how cold spring water feels against his skin. You’ll understand that life’s most profound celebrations are rooted in simplicity.

Human experience, built on our sense perceptions, often assumes it knows everything. Life chuckles gently and whispers:

“Come closer. I am this... and so much more.”

And yes — what about stillness? Stillness is celebration too.

Mountains slowly wear away, forming soil and silt that rains carry down to the rivers, nourishing lands far away. Life, even in stillness, moves — silently, purposefully, perpetually.

Across eons, life continues to renew itself. Time and space are just ideas we hold. But Mother Earth? She celebrates in silence, in seasons, in storms, in stillness. She embraces all — the conscious (chit) and the non-conscious (achit), the seen and the unseen — nurturing all with her vast and endless grace.

4) A journey of resilience and renewal

BOUNCING BACK FROM THE PANDEMIC 

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, wave after wave brought with it uncertainty and hardship for people of all ages—whether six or sixty. Schools shut down, friendships faded into distant memories, and prolonged isolation took a toll on mental health. Long hours spent indoors and in front of screens became the new routine, while economic challenges impacted livelihoods in many sectors.

Yet, in the face of these unprecedented challenges, humanity showed remarkable strength. Our determination, resilience, and collective willpower proved stronger than the virus. With the development of vaccines, we were able to fight back and reclaim parts of our lives. Even amidst the difficulties, silver linings began to emerge—families spent more time together, healthy home-cooked meals became the norm, and many discovered new skills and hobbies. Slowly but surely, we began to adapt to the ‘new normal,’ finding joy in small moments and learning powerful life lessons along the way.

We became stronger without even realising it. Patience, once taken for granted, became a treasured virtue. Human connections grew deeper and more meaningful. And as we welcomed the New Year 2022, we carried with us not just memories of hardship, but also gratitude—for the divine protection, for the lessons learnt, and for the resilience that carried us through.

Solving Together, Thriving Together

By the end of 2021, we had hoped to be nearing the end of the pandemic. However, the emergence of the Omicron variant reminded us that challenges still lay ahead. This ongoing crisis acted as a reset for the world—reshaping education, transportation, healthcare, and even our understanding of mental well-being.

More importantly, it showed us the power of collaboration. The pandemic taught us that only by working together—governments, communities, families, and individuals—can we find real, lasting solutions. As the saying goes, “No school can work well for children if parents and teachers do not act in partnership on behalf of the children’s interests.” This spirit of partnership became the cornerstone of our recovery.

Soaring Beyond Setbacks

Today’s youth have emerged from this crisis stronger and more grounded. The comfort of the past has been replaced with a drive to pursue opportunities, set realistic goals, and achieve greater success. They are rooted in values and ready to fly. As Dorothy H. Cohen aptly said, “We trust and wish the year 2022 will be a year of victory for you!”

Teachers turned their homes into classrooms, while parents witnessed the learning process in a way they never had before. The pandemic proved that education is not just about classrooms—it is a powerful partnership between committed teachers, supportive parents, and eager students.

A Time for Gratitude

Let us take a moment to be truly thankful. Grateful to God Almighty for His grace, for bringing us back to school, for the friends who stood by us, for the unwavering support of our families, and for the dedication of our teachers who never gave up on us.

Now more than ever, it is time to reflect and understand what life truly means. With gratitude in our hearts and hope in our eyes, let us move forward—together.

3) Hide and seek

A CHILD’S WISDOM 

One warm summer afternoon, a mother stood by her window, gazing out at the garden. There, she saw her little daughter rolling in the grass, laughing joyfully. Curious about what had brought on such delight, the mother stepped outside.

She walked over to her child and asked lovingly,

“What’s making you laugh so much, dear?”

Still giggling, the little girl replied,

“I understand now! I finally understand!”

The mother smiled and asked gently,

“Understand what, my child?”

The girl sat up and said,

“I was out here playing when I started thinking about God. People always say that God is everywhere, but when I looked around, I couldn’t see God anywhere. That’s when I thought—maybe God is playing hide and seek with me! So I started to look.”

She continued excitedly,

“I looked among the roses, because I’ve heard that God is beautiful. But God wasn’t there. I lay on the grass and stared up at the sky, because people say God lives in the Heavens. But I couldn’t find God there either. I even dug into the soil, thinking God must be beneath us, supporting us. But God wasn’t there either.”

The girl’s eyes sparkled as she added,

“I became upset and cried out, ‘Where are you, God? Why are you hiding from me?’”

Then, with a soft smile, she said,

“And just then, I felt this calm, peaceful feeling wash over me. And suddenly, I knew the truth.”

The mother leaned closer and whispered,

“What truth did you discover?”

Giggling once more, the child replied,

“That it wasn’t God who was hiding... it was me.”

Moral:

We often search for God outside, in places far and wide, but the Divine presence has always been within us — waiting patiently for us to look inward and reconnect.

2) Teacher’s Day

A THOUGHT AND A STORY 

Out of all the messages I received today on social media from my students, friends, and colleagues on the occasion of Teacher’s Day, one particularly stayed with me:

> Once Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was asked,

"What’s the difference between a Station Master and a School Master?"

He replied,

“One minds the trains, and the other trains the minds.”

What a profound truth, beautifully expressed by a great teacher, philosopher, and statesman.

This reminded me of a story I had once read — one that deeply resonates with the true essence of teaching.

The Right Teaching

Once upon a time, there lived a revered monk in a beautiful monastery nestled in the hills. He was known far and wide for his wisdom and compassion, and many of his students went on to become great teachers themselves.

One day, a student was caught stealing from his peers. The others reported the incident to the head monk, expecting the boy to be punished. But the teacher took no action.

A few days later, the same boy was caught stealing again. Still, the teacher said nothing. This time, the rest of the students were outraged. They signed a petition demanding the dismissal of the boy. If not, they declared, they would all leave the monastery.

The monk called a meeting. When all the students had gathered, he addressed them calmly:

“You are good boys. You understand the difference between right and wrong. If you choose to leave, you will easily find another teacher or school.

But what about your brother who doesn’t yet know what is right? If I don’t guide him, who will?

I cannot let him go—even if it means losing all of you.”

Hearing these words, the boy who had stolen broke down in tears. That moment changed him forever. He never stole again, and in time, he became known for his honesty and integrity.

To Teach Is to Touch a Life Forever

Sometimes it happens through words,

Sometimes through actions,

Sometimes through gentle correction,

And sometimes by simply being the example.

This is the power of a teacher.

Not just to inform minds — but to transform lives.

1) The language matters

THE POWER OF LANGUAGE – A STORY OF CONNECTION BEYOND WORDS 

Language is more than just words—it is emotion, identity, and a bridge between beings. Whether human or animal, the ability to understand and be understood forms the foundation of trust, comfort, and connection. A touching story from a London zoo perfectly illustrates just how deeply this truth runs—even across species.

🐘 Raja, the Gentle Elephant Who Changed

Once upon a time, there was a magnificent elephant named Raja living in a London zoo. He was a favourite among children who came from miles around just to feed him peanuts. With his gentle demeanour, he would gracefully accept the treats from their tiny hands, becoming a beloved figure in the zoo.

But something changed.

Raja, once affectionate and calm, suddenly turned aggressive. He lashed out violently at the zookeeper, trumpeted angrily at the children, and refused to eat. The once-loved elephant now seemed tormented, confused, and utterly lost. As a safety measure, he was placed in restraining chains, and despair filled the air around him.

💔 A Terrible Decision

Raja’s owner, unable to understand his sudden change and desperate to recover his financial losses, came up with a grim plan—a public execution. People were invited to witness the event, and a massive crowd gathered as three riflemen prepared to end Raja’s life. Just before the final count, a voice from the crowd halted the tragic spectacle.

A man stepped forward and requested just two minutes inside the cage with Raja. The owner refused at first, but as the crowd began to sympathise with the elephant, he was reluctantly granted permission.

🗣️ The Language That Healed

Inside the cage, the man spoke to Raja in a strange tongue—a language unfamiliar to the crowd but deeply familiar to Raja. To everyone’s astonishment, the elephant began to calm down, whimper, and tremble. Then, gently, he lifted the man with his trunk, placed him on his back, and walked peacefully around the enclosure.

The crowd erupted in applause. The man explained that Raja was an Indian elephant who had only ever understood one language—his mother tongue. No one had spoken to him in his own language since his arrival in London. All he needed was someone who could connect with him in the language that made him feel seen, safe, and loved.

The owner, stunned, asked who the man was. It turned out he was none other than Rudyard Kipling, the famous British author who had spent many years in India and understood the soul of the land and its creatures.

💬 The Unseen Bond of Language

This heartwarming story reminds us that language is not just a tool for communication—it is a bond. Even animals, though they may not speak as we do, can understand emotion, tone, and meaning in a language that is familiar to them.

Just as Raja responded to the language of his roots, humans, too, carry their mother tongue close to their hearts. A person may travel across the globe, learn multiple languages, and adapt to different cultures, but the sound of their mother tongue still feels like sweet music—filled with comfort, memory, and identity.

🌍 Language: The Bridge Between Hearts

Whether between humans or between man and animal, language has the power to heal, to connect, and to bring peace. It reminds us of where we come from and helps us feel grounded in an ever-changing world.

This story is a beautiful reminder to respect and cherish all languages, especially our mother tongues, which are not just methods of speech but vessels of heritage, love, and belonging.

Conclusion:

The language we speak can touch hearts in ways we may never fully understand. So let us celebrate our languages, use them kindly, and remember that even in silence, the right words—spoken with love—can transform lives.

A journey through infinite stories

WELCOME TO Amit Katha

वाचनं ज्ञानदं बाल्ये, तारुण्ये शीलरक्षकम्।

वार्धक्ये दुःखहरणम्, हितं सद्ग्रन्थवाचनम्॥

Reading provides knowledge in childhood, guards character in youth, and offers comfort in old age. Indeed, reading good books is a lifelong blessing.

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”

Words have the power to transform. Thoughts descend into words. Words shape phrases, phrases build sentences, sentences form paragraphs, and paragraphs bloom into stories, articles, and books. Language is the sacred thread that binds this creative journey together.

As an avid reader, I have explored a variety of literary treasures — from books and articles to timeless stories in Sanskrit, English, Hindi, Marathi, and Konkani. Some pieces have left an indelible imprint on my heart; others may have faded from memory, but many have found a special place in my collection — in the form of cherished pages or digital footprints.

Through this blog — “Amit Katha”, meaning "infinite stories", I welcome you into my world of words. These stories, reflections, and writings — some original, some from the brilliant minds of known and unknown writers — are shared here with immense gratitude and the intent to inspire young minds.

Whether you’re a curious learner, an occasional reader, or a passionate bibliophile, I invite you to explore the wealth of thoughts and wisdom encoded in these alphabets.

Let’s decode the knowledge together, one story at a time.

✨ Happy reading!

– Amita Sawant

About Me

I’m Amita Sawant — a teacher by profession, a reader by habit, and a writer by heart.

Since childhood, books have been my constant companions. They have nurtured my thoughts, shaped my values, and guided me through every phase of life. My love for literature spans across multiple languages — Sanskrit, English, Hindi, Marathi, and Konkani — each adding a unique flavour to my learning journey.

As an educator, I feel a deep sense of purpose in sharing knowledge, especially with the younger generation. Writing this blog is my way of contributing to society — not for fame or praise, but out of gratitude and inspiration. I truly believe that words have the power to uplift, inform, and ignite change.

Through “Amit Katha”, I wish to share stories, reflections, and articles that have touched my life — some are my own creations, while others are precious gems from known and unknown writers whom I deeply admire. This blog is a space where I hope young minds will find something to learn, relate to, and be inspired by.

If even one post brings a smile, sparks a thought, or offers a fresh perspective, I’ll consider this journey worthwhile.

Thank you for being a part of it.

Happy reading once again!

Words can change thoughts… and thoughts can change the world!

Courtesy: Google search engine, Google images, Books, Newspapers, Magazines etc.