Farewell to Basant on her Retirement.

 Farewell to Basant on her Retirement.

Revered Managing Committee, President, Principal and Staff of Shri Mahavir Jain Higher Secondary School, Rani Park, Jammu City, ladies and gentlemen, and honoured guests. It is both a privilege and a touching moment to stand before you today, as an invitee and a guest reflecting on the illustrious career and imminent retirement of Basanti Gurtoo. I am Sham Misri, a close relative of Basanti Gurtoo.

It gives me immense pleasure to speak a few words on the retirement of Basanti Gurtoo, a teacher at Mahavir Jain Higher Secondary School, who is retiring ending March 2024.

As the sun sets on yet another academic year, I find myself at an emotional moment. While the school will rejoice in the accomplishments and memories they have shared, I as a guest member also bid farewell to a cherished staff member, Basanti Gurtoo of Jain Higher Secondary School, Jammu.

At the outset let me say that this school itself stands as a beacon of academic excellence, renowned for its unwavering commitment to nurturing young minds. With a legacy of innovation and achievement, the school has earned a distinguished reputation for producing well-rounded individuals poised for success.  The school's reputation shines brightly, built upon a foundation of integrity, inclusivity, and excellence in education.

To work in such a school with a sterling reputation is a great breakthrough in anybody's career. Such a school attracts students, and educators, who seek nothing short of the best in education and character development. Through a steadfast dedication to advancing a culture of excellence, Shri Mahavir Jain Higher Secondary School has earned the respect and admiration of peers and partners alike, setting the standard for educational institutions.

The school's reputation as a centre of academic excellence is a testament to the tireless efforts of the management, staff, and students. In the competitive landscape of education, the school's reputation as a nurturing and innovative learning environment is a source of pride and inspiration for all.

I have my feelings when the Managing Body of the school announces the retirement of Basanti Gurtoo, a beacon of wisdom, guidance, and inspiration for several years. I trust that her dedication and passion for teaching might have left a permanent mark on the hearts and minds of countless students, colleagues, and parents alike.

Though I am not directly reflecting on her journey with the school, it's evident that her impact extends far beyond the walls of the classroom. Her firm commitment to nurturing not just academic excellence, but also character and compassion, may have shaped generations of young minds. I believe she might have instilled in the students a love for learning, a thirst for knowledge, and a belief in their potential.

Frankly, I admit I had several encounters with her on important educational topics. I found her beyond her role as an educator. She may have been a mentor, a confidant, and a friend to many. Her kindness, patience, and unwavering support may have touched the lives of all who have had the privilege of knowing her. Basanti, your legacy will continue to resonate within the classes, and the halls of Shri Mahavir Jain Higher Secondary School, long after you bid farewell.

While Basanti may no longer walk the corridors of the school every day, she will forever remain connected with the essence of Shri Mahavir Jain Higher Secondary School.

I extend my heartiest gratitude for Basanti's years of service, dedication, and unwavering commitment to excellence. Basanti, you will be dearly missed, but your impact will continue to inspire the school for years.

Wishing you a retirement filled with relaxation, adventure, and all the happiness you so richly deserve.

With warmest regards,

Sham Misri, Guest Invitee

27-3-24

Sages Daughter and a Mouse

 Sages Daughter and a Mouse

(From the Hitopadesha)

Once, a childless sage found a she-mouse dropped by a kite. Believing it was a divine sign, he transformed her into a girl. His wife, seeing her as a blessing, raised her as their own. Soon the Girl grew into a beautiful maiden. By the age of sixteen, the Sage’s wife decided to get her daughter married.

The Sage liked the idea and suggested that the Sun God would make the best match for their daughter. The Sage prayed to the Sun God to appear. When the Sun God appeared, the Sage asked him to marry his daughter. But the Girl refused the idea and said, “Sorry! I can’t marry the Sun God as he is burning hot. I will be reduced to ashes in his warmth and light”. The Sage got disappointed to hear this from the Girl.

The Sage asked the Sun God if he could suggest a groom for his daughter. The Sun God said, “The Lord of Clouds could make a good match for her, as he is the only one, who can easily stop the rays of the Sun”. The Sage then prayed to the Lord of Clouds to appear and asked him to marry his daughter. But the Girl once again rejected the proposal and said, “I don’t want to marry a dark person like him. Besides this, I am terrified of the thunder he generates”. The Sage was disheartened once again and asked the Lord of Clouds if he could suggest a possible groom. The Lord of Clouds said, “Wind God can make a possible match for her as he can easily blow me away”.

The Sage then prayed to the Wind God to appear and asked him to marry his daughter. The Daughter declined the idea and said, “I can’t marry a frail person like the Wind God who is always stirring”. Once again, the sage got sad and asked the Wind God to give some suggestion. The Wind God replied, “Lord of Mountain is solid and can stop the hard blows of wind easily. He can make a suitable match for your daughter”.

As per the kind suggestion made by the Wind God, the Sage went to the Lord of Mountain and asked him to marry his daughter. But the Girl once again declined the proposal and said, “I can’t marry the Lord of Mountain because he is too cold-hearted”. She asked the Sage to find a softer groom for her. The Sage took Mountain Lord’s suggestion for the same. The Mountain Lord replied, “A mouse will make a perfect match for her as he is soft and can easily make holes in the mountain”.

The daughter approved the idea of marrying a he-mouse. Moreover, she was pleased with this proposal. The Sage said, “This is destiny.

Moral: Destiny cannot be changed.

Kings’ transformation

 Kings’ transformation

In the aftermath of the tragic events, King Hitamata withdrew from the bustling life of the palace and its politics. Carrying the heavy weight of guilt and remorse, he sought solace in the quiet corners of the realm. The lush landscape that once resonated with his noble rule now echoed with the whispers of his internal turmoil.

The king, guided by an inexplicable force, ventured into the deep forests that bordered his kingdom. There, he stumbled upon an ancient temple, hidden from the eyes of the world. The temple, draped in vines and shrouded in mystique, seemed like a haven for introspection and spiritual awakening.

Within the temple, King Hitamata encountered a wise sage who sensed the monarch's inner conflict. The sage spoke of the interconnectedness of life, the delicate balance between duty and detachment. He urged the king to seek forgiveness for his impulsive actions and find a path of redemption.

Embracing the sage's counsel, King Hitamata embarked on a journey of self-discovery and penance. He traversed treacherous terrains, meditated under the vast expanse of the open sky, and immersed himself in the purity of nature. The king's journey mirrored the transformation of the landscapes he traversed—from lush valleys to barren deserts, reflecting the arduous path of his inner pilgrimage.

As seasons changed, so did the king. The burden of governance, once shouldered with ambition, now seemed like a distant memory. The riches and power that once defined his identity lost their luster in the wake of his newfound enlightenment. King Hitamata's heart, once heavy with regret, gradually lightened as he embraced the simple joys of existence.

In the quiet solitude of his penance, the king found a connection with the divine, realising that true nobility lay not in the grandeur of a throne, but in the purity of one's intentions and actions. His dedication to duty transformed into a commitment to the greater good, unmarred by the shackles of power and possession.

The story concludes with King Himatata, now a sage in his own right, returning to the kingdom after years of spiritual sojourn. The ministers, surprised and enlightened by the monarch's transformation, welcomed him with open hearts. The kingdom flourished under his benevolent guidance, as he governed not with the rigidness of a king but with the wisdom of a sage.

The legacy of King Hitamata lived on, not in the opulence of the palace, but in the hearts of the people who witnessed the remarkable journey of a once-mighty ruler who, through trials and tribulations, discovered the true meaning of nobility and redemption.

During the early days of kingship, Hitamata had a loose character. He had many concubines in his court.  

Once, in the king’s court, the soldiers had brought a young man dressed in ordinary attire. The young man was suspected of carrying a hefty sum of money under suspicious circumstances. Based on his appearance, it was not clear if he was the owner of the wealth. The soldiers thought that he might be a thief and might flee with the stolen money. When the king asked the young man about his identity and how he acquired the wealth, the young man explained that he was a servant at the house of a wealthy lady and that all the money belonged to her. Intrigued, the king wanted to know why the lady had given him the money and where he was going with it. The young man revealed that the lady had asked him to wait at a particular place. The lady had an illicit relationship with him and had conspired to meet him after murdering her husband.

Taking all their wealth, they went far away and lived a comfortable life. To verify the truth of the young man's story, the King immediately sent his soldiers to the address provided. The soldiers reported back that the lady had already received information about her servant's arrest. She hit upon a plan. Now, she was lamenting, claiming that robbers had looted all the money and killed her husband before escaping. She had prepared the scene to show her concern for her husband's welfare and planned to commit suicide. For this, she thought of sati to prove her devotion. The next morning, accompanied by the young man and the soldiers, the King reached the lady's house, only to be astonished by what they witnessed. The lady was sitting on her husband's funeral pyre, and it was about to be set on fire. The king stopped the person who was about to ignite the pyre and asked the lady to descend from it. He showed her all the money and brought her servant forward, telling her that he knew the whole truth. He asked her to abandon her wicked ways and be prepared to face punishment.

For a few moments, the lady was terrified, but then she said that before passing judgment on her character, the king should examine the character of his queen.

Saying this, she leapt onto the funeral pyre like a lightning bolt, setting herself on fire. No one did anything, and she turned to ashes. The king returned to his palace with his soldiers. Her last words still haunted him. He started keeping an eye on the dazzling queen. 

One night, thinking she was asleep, the queen got up and left the palace through the back door. The king also started following her carefully. They walked some distance until they reached a hermit meditating. When the hermit saw them, he stood up and took them inside a nearby hut. What the king saw inside the hut was unbearable for him. The queen, upset, started embracing the hermit, and they engaged in a passionate act as husband and wife without any hesitation. The king thought that despite loving his beautiful queen so much, she was betraying him. His anger crossed all limits, and he entered the hut, pushing the hermit and the queen to their death.

When the king returned to the palace, his mental peace had been restored. He began to feel restless and unhappy. His mind became detached from worldly pleasures and the feeling of renunciation arose within him. He felt that there was some deficiency in his duties and actions, which is why God punished him by showing him the scene of the queen’s betrayal. The king entrusted the burden of governance to the ministers and himself set out to perform penance.