Tuesday, March 22, 2011

OUR HOME LIBRARY- PART IV- KIDS AND ENGLISH MOVIES

The taste of movies varies with children. They always enjoy those in their mother tongue. Kids may sometimes watch the same movie many times repeatedly; unlike adults. Thats their way of grasping the story all by themselves. At times certain portions may warrant help or explanation from elders; so as to help them understand perfectly.

Kids who are interested in movies are those who enjoy stories, photography, acting or performing arts and another category are those who look out for the technicalities as well. Whatever the situation, picking movies that are child friendly and useful is a true form of enjoyment and entertainment.It also helps kids to understand about the social fabric if we take effort to communicate the extent of exaggerations effectively.

Our personal pick of movies are listed here.

Baby's Day Out


A simply wonderful movie that kids watched innumerable times...

Baby Bink couldn't ask for more; he has adoring parents; he lives in a huge mansion, and he's just about to appear in the social pages of the paper. Unfortunately, not everyone in the world is as nice as Baby Bink's parents; especially the three enterprising kidnapers who pretend to be photographers from the newspaper. Successfully kidnapping Baby Bink, they have a harder time keeping hold of the babe, who not only keeps one step ahead of them, but seems to be more than a little bit smarter than the three bumbling criminals!!!


Walt Disney's The Jungle Book

This is based on the adaptation from Rudyard Kipling's classic novel. This is the 40th anniversary platinum edition, brilliantly restored with enhanced pictures and sound. Experience the song- filled celebration of friendship, fun and adventure that was the last animated film to receive Walt Disney's personal touch.

Embark on a thrilling, adventure- filled journey with the boy Mowgli as he makes his  way to the man-village with Bagheera, the wise panther. Along the way he meets Jazzy King Louie, the hypnotic snake Kaa and the lovable  , happy-go-lucky-bear Baloo; who teaches Mowgli " the bare necessities" of life and true meanings of friendship.

Swing into a jungle of fun and meet the long lost character, Rocky the Rhino and experience never- before- heard deleted songs!

Watch the trailer at the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ker49kN5Agk


Shemaroo entertainment's GHATOTHKACH- Master of magic; a film by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao.



Ghatothkach, lovingly called "Ghattu" is the prince of the forest and is blessed with extra ordinary powers. He has loads of fun with his magical powers, but also uses them to protect every one around him. As a five year old, he rescues " Gajju" - a baby elephant which leads to a lifelong friendship. The film is the journey of a prince and his elephant friend- full of magic, fun and adventure. When challenged by evil forces, that are out to destroy him and to stop him from fulfilling his destiny, Ghattu and Gajju form an invincible team to fight them. Together they unite two soul mates - against all odds; in their own unique funny way.

The Sound of Music- a timeless classic for every family.



Julie Andrews lights up the screen as Maria, the spirited young woman who leaves the Convent to become governess to the 7 children of Captain Von Trapp, an autocratic widower whose strict household leaves no room ofr music and merriment.Winner of 5 academy awards, including best picture, this timeless classic features some of the worlds best loved songs.


Slum Dog Millionnaire by Danny Boyle that won AR Rahman, the Oscar for music...

Jaiho the song has become so popular in schools that kids become more familiar as they watch the movie.

It is an adaptation of the novel Q & A (2005) by Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup. Set and filmed in India, the film tells the story of Jamal Malik, a young man from the Juhu slums of Mumbai who appears on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (Kaun Banega Crorepati in the Hindi version) and exceeds people's expectations, thereby arousing the suspicions of the game show host and of law enforcement officials.

AMU by Shonali Bose

Kaju, a 21 year old Indian American woman is visiting her family in India. In wandering around Delhi, she is overcome by dejavu and stumbles upon secrets and lies from her past. Aided by Kabir, a young man who is deeply attracted to her and her quest, she embarks on an unstoppable journey that uncovers the suppressed history of the 1984 genocide in Delhi. How does this past event affect the two young people in the present?Why are they blocked at every turn and will they ever find the truth?
The Indian Censor Board cut crucial line sof dialogue from the film all indicting the governemnt's complicity in the genocide and gave it an "A" certificate on the grounds that "why should young people know a history that is better buried and forgotten."

Ironically, in its theatrical release in India, USA and Canada, the film won the hearts of youth of all nationalities. This film is one among the 50 International film festivals and has 10awards to its credit.

Water is a 2007 film by Deepa Mehta, it had the Oscar nomination for best foreign language film.


The year is 1938. India is ruled by the British. Around this time Gandhi has arrived from Africa and to begin his tryst with the British as well as battle the traditions that bind Hindus. Not yet in her teens, Chuyia is married to a much older and sickly male, who shortly after the marriage passes away. From there she is taken to the Holy city of Banaras, and left in the care of a wide assortment of widows, who live at the "widows house"  shunned by the rest of the community. Her life there and her fellow beings is the thread of the story.

Air Buddies - they shoot, they score, they talk !


Here is a delightful tale of teamwork and adventure. Air Bud is the proud father of 5 adorable puppies, with an unbelievable secret - they can talk!The hilarious hair-rising exploits of these barking, talking, ball playing, pups have us cheering as they run off on a daring rescue mission to save their parents. .. The pups are simply cute and kids love them...

The blue umbrella by Vishal Bharadwaj

National Award for best children's film, this is based on the novella by Ruskin Bond. It is a desire about the zealous attempt to fulfill and finally its conquest. The story unfurls with the discovery of a vibrant blue umbrella by Biniya an 11 year old girl from an idyllic mountain village in North India. She has never seen anything more striking and beautiful. Neither has Nandkishore khatri. ... read the story and watch the movie...it will let you thinking about the concept of material happiness and futility of the whole process...




Kungfu panda

Kung Fu Panda is a 2008 American computer-animated action comedy fiilm produced by DreamWorks Animation.Set in a version of ancient China populated by anthropomorphic animals, the plot revolves around a bumbling panda named Po who aspires to be a kung fu master. When an evil kung fu warrior is foretold to escape from prison, Po is unwittingly named the chosen one destined to bring peace to the land, much to the chagrin of the resident kung fu warriors...
The part 2 of the movie is to be launched next month. Watch that trailer also.


In KUNG FU PANDA 2, Po is now living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five. But Po's new life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. He must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins; only then will Po be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed.

Monday, March 21, 2011

OUR HOME LIBRARY (PART III)


Books for elementary group are those that which children can read and understand by themselves. The range of authors and classics are quite vast. Biographies prepared in picture story formats can also be introduced and mixed in an acceptable ratio for kids. 

Some excellent books my daughter picked this year for reading from our adjacent public library includes Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling; The Blue Umbrella by Ruskin Bond; The Mermaids Cap by Margaret. Wetterer; Indian Tales and folk tales, a compilation published by National Book Trust etc. From Chavara Public Library they enjoyed reading  A Meow from the Heart by Rini Mary Varghese; Up Close, a compilation of short stories by Leo Fay; by the Riverside Publishing Company, Chicago;  and few others in English; Chilapathikaram; Unniyum urumbu Rajavum by Joseph Narimattom; Shirdi Sai Baba, Swami Vivekananda, etc in Malayalam from Vagbadananda Library …
Our domestic collection for this group is from the following list.

An important and versatile set for this group of kids are those by Enid Blyton.

AWARD PUBLICATIONS LIMITED (www.blyton.com)
·         The greedy rabbit
·         The little brown bear
·         The magic brush
·         Snicker the brownie
·         Big Eyes – the enchanter
·         The twelve silver cups
·         The teddy bears tale
·         A hole in her pocket
·         The gobbling hat
·         The banana robber
·         The rabbit’s whiskers
·         The fairies shoe maker
·         The Magic snow bird
·         The strange umbrella
·         Pretty Star the pony
·         The tower in Hohowood
·         The little toy engine
·         The ugly old scare crow
·         The sneezing dog
·         Look out for the elephant
·         Mr. Icy cold
·         The wishing wand
·         The fly away cottage
·         The brave little puppy
·         The cat with a feathery tail
·         The pig with green spots
·         The little lost hen
·         The secret door
·         The magic clock
·         The little brownie house
·         The goblin’s toy shop
·         Bicycle magic
·         Christina’s kite
·         The very peculiar cow
·         The cuckoo in the clock
·         Three bold pixies
·         The donkey on the sands
·         The little witch dog
·         The enchanted bellows
·         The wishing jug
·         The little white rabbit
·         The brave toy soldier
·         The walk away shoes
·         Sneezing powder
·         The little old toy maker
·         The enchanted table
·         The magic mirror
·         The flyaway money
·         The magic ice cream
·         The house with six legs
·         The bed that ran away
·         Giant’s round the corner
·         The tale of bushy the fox
·         The three strange travelers
·         The magic watering can
·         The astonishing ladder
·         The magic needle
·         Mr. Meddle’s bicycle
·         The Smickle Smockle
·         Six red wizards
·         Mr. Wumble and the dragon
·         The fairy kitten
·         The flopperty bird
·         The enchanted shoes
·         Peronel’s magic polish
·         The wonderful torch
·         Mr.Pink whistle’s stories
·         Mighty-One the wizard
·         Benny and the giants
·         Mr. Twiddle fetches polly
·         Peter and the magic shadow
·         The wishing spells



SCHOLASTIC (www.scholasticindia.com)

  • 1.       Best of Tagore, 12 short stories; translated and compiled by Jharna Basu
  • 2.       Living in Space by Sharon Dalgleish
  • 3.       Diwali Stories compilation by various authors.
  • 4.       Get the facts- Space by Biman Basu
  • 5.       Get the facts- Maths by Bal Phondke
  • 6.       Brain teasers – Puzzles and Games (level-1) by Peter Clutterbuck
  • 7.       Glow in the dark –Planets by John Starke
  • 8.       Incredible Quotations – by Jacqueline Sweeney
  • 9.       Puzzles, Mazes and games by Radha.S.
  • 10.   The best days of my life- childhood stories of famous people; by Scharada Dubey.
THE BOOK PARADISE (Email: book paradise @hotmail.com)

Junior Encyclopedia – Awesome facts
This is a series of books published in association with Macbeth Books Limited, Moscow, Russia.

The topics covered are: 
  1.          The Universe
  2. ·         Computers
  3. ·         Animals
  4. ·         Plants
  5. ·         The Human body
  6. ·         Science
  7. ·         Our Environment
  8. ·         History
  9. ·         History of India
  10. ·         Nations of the world
  11. ·         Inventors and Inventions
  12. ·         Science Projects
  13. ·         Birds
  14. ·         Earth and Space
  15. ·         Wonders of the world
  16. ·         Amazing records
A comprehensive reference book that introduces young readers to various topics noted here. Richly illustrated, fun-to-read book encourages children to really think about the world them and discover the pleasure of learning. Complex subjects are introduced with care in an easy to understand manner. A ideal compilation to possess.


ROHAN BOOK COMPANY (www.rohanbooks.com)

A series of modern illustrated world classics are being made handy to the convenience of young readers to cultivate reading habit, improve word power and strengthen their language.

  • ·         Tales from Shakespeare; Charles and Mary Lamb
  • ·         Bible Stories
  • ·         As You Like It, William Shakespeare
  • ·         The Tempest, William Shakespeare
And many more…



In a set titled the big book; the compilations are from Fairy Tales, Jataka tales, Classic tales and Tenali Raman.



APPLE BOOKS (www.applebooks.org)

They have released many series. Titles available in the different series are as follows.

Series1: My Most Loved
·         Stories from around the world.
·         Bedtime tales
·         Grandpa tales
·         Grandma tales

Series2: Most popular
·         Aesops fables
·         Classics
·         Jataka tales
·         Panchatantra

Series 3: Famous tales
·         Tenali raman
·         Arabian Nights
·         Akbar & Birbal
·         Vikram & Betal

Series 4: My best loved
·         Moonlight stories
·         Goodnight Stories


STERLING PRESS PRIVATE LIMITED (www.sterling publishers.com)

Their series Shakespeare for everyone is a simple version that kids adored. The titles are:
  1. ·         As You Like It
  2. ·         Twelfth night
  3. ·         The tempest
  4. ·         The taming of the Shrew
  5. ·         Romeo and Juliet
  6. ·         Antony and Cleopatra
  7. ·         Hamlet
  8. ·         Henry V
  9. ·         Julius Caesar
  10. ·         King Lear
  11. ·         Macbeth
  12. ·         The Merchant of Venice
  13. ·         Much Ado about Nothing
  14. ·         A Midsummer nights dream
  15. ·         Othello
  16. ·         Richard III

Their series classic tales has the following titles.
  • ·         Gulliver’s Travels
  • ·         Black Beauty
  • ·         Heidi
  • ·         The Wizard of Oz
  • ·         Tom Sawyer
  • ·         Oliver Twist
  • ·         Little Mermaid
  • ·         The Selfish Giant
  • ·         Sleeping Beauty
  • ·         Goldilocks and the three bears
  • ·         Bambi
  • ·         The Bremen Musicians
  • ·         Ali Baba and 40 thieves
  • ·         Tom thumb
  • ·         Rapunzel
  • ·         Beauty and the Beast
  • ·         Jack and the beanstalk
  •  
SHREE BOOK CENTRE (shreebk@vsnl.com)

Illustrated Classics has a set of 8 titles.

  • ·         Black beauty
  • ·         David Copperfield
  • ·         Gulliver’s Travels
  • ·         Huckleberry Finn
  • ·         Kidnapped
  • ·         Tom Sawyer
  • ·         Treasure Island
  • ·         Oliver Twist
  •  
PUSTAK MAHAL (www.pustakmahal.com)

Stories from Panchatantra are retold by Mahesh Chandra Bhargava. Panchatantra is a collection of fables mostly through the animal-characters which has exerted considerable influence on mankind, the world over. The stories are divided here into five sections on worldly wisdom. It helps us to reinforce morals in kids; it helps them differentiate between good and bad; to learn the rules of social limitation and many more.


50Wittiest Tales of Birbal is a compilation retold by Clifford Sawhney. Birbal’s tales of wit and wisdom make lively reading for children.  Legendary stories are narrated in a simple lucid manner.

OM BOOKS INTERNATIONAL (www.ombooks.com)

Unlike the above books, each book in this set is a collection of small stories of half a page to 2 pages and is titled 365!

There are different compilations named as follows.

  • ·         365 Tales of Indian Mythology
  • ·         365 Animal tales
  • ·         365 fairy Tales
  • ·         365 Bedtime Stories
  • ·         365 Jataka tales
  • ·         365 Folk Tales
  • ·         365 Questions and Answers
  • ·         365 inventions and Discoveries
  • ·         365 Stories from around the world
PETER HADDOCK PUBLISHING (UNITED KINGDOM, YO16 6BT).

 Stories of Adventure is an exciting collection of adventurous stories for kids; sure to entertain and delight them.

Content include14 stories.

  • ·         Jack the Giant Killer
  • ·         Ali Baba and the forty thieves
  • ·         Treasure Island
  • ·         Gawain and the Green Knight
  • ·         Sindbad the Sailor
  • ·         The Rock of the Caribbean
  • ·         Jack and the Beanstalk
  • ·         The Hare and the Tortoise
  • ·         Arabian Nights
  • ·         The Sword in the stone
  • ·         Puss in Boots
  • ·         The three brothers
  • ·         Dick Whittington
  • ·          Aladdin

There is a delightful series of classic stories that keeps kids spell bound until the very last page. Each story has been rewritten to suit the reading standards of this age group. With single page Van Gool illustrations, this book was first published by Creations for Children International, Belgium(www.c4ci.com).

Titles in the Junior Classic series are:
  • ·         Heidi
  • ·         White Fang
  • ·         Robinson Crusoe
  • ·         Treasure Island
  • ·         Tom Sawyer
  • ·         Robin Hood
  • ·         Pocahontas
  • ·         Gulliver’s Travels
  • ·         A Christmas carol
  • ·         Black Beauty
  • ·         The Hunchback of Notre Dame
  • ·         Huckleberry Finn
MANOJ PUBLICATIONS (manojpublication@mantraonline.com)

Ramayana, each volume depicts the various chapters in a comprehensive manner easily picked by kids. Illustrations are also good. 

Sage Valmiki created the greatest epic “Ramayana”. Saint Tulsidas redrafted the epic to layman’s language in Ram Charitha Manas. It communicates messages of sacrifice, righteousness and love. Such stories are sure to uplift youngsters morally and spiritually.


101 Stories from Panchatantra is another unique contribution in fiction literature. Said to be a branch of Indian Nitishastra, these stories keep the readers spell bound throughout. It shows kids the right path for wise conduct in our daily life through simple morals. 


TICKTOCK MEDIA LTD (Unit2, Tunbridge wells, Kent, TN2 3XF, Great Britain)

They have a good collection of kid’s books. From the series on Animal Puzzlers we picked WHY DON’T ELEPHANTS LIVE IN THE CITY? An interesting good read that amazes toddlers and self readers alike.

VACATION PROGRAMS FOR KIDS IN KOZHIKODE

Summer is in.
Schools are winding up after the academic year, 2010-11.
Kids are enthusiastically exploring for the innovative vacation programs being declared to woo them in!
Some of those that we came across are noted here. This shall be updated as we come across new ones.

ANTS ANIMATION TRAINING SCHOOL
S.M.Arcade, P.M.Taj road,
Mananchira, Calicut 673001
Phone: 0495-3040161

They are organising an introductory course on animation for kids. This course proposes to cover an initial session on drawing wherein kids would sketch simple cartoons as it appears at every stage of the animation during the first month. Thereafter they would be initiated into 2D animation using Flash and 3D animation using Maya software. Targeting to kindle the interest on animation and to give them a hands- on- exposure on the topic, the course period is during April-May from Monday to Friday, at 2 hours a day.

CHAVARA CULTURAL CENTRE
Amalapuri, Near 4th Railway Gate, Calicut
Phone: 0495-2769021

As during last year, Chavara Centre is organising a kids camp titled KALIVEEDU for kids from April 4th to 30th. Timing is from 9am to 12.30 noon. This program is a mix of innumerable components like arts and crafts, aerobics, personality development sessions, self defense, and so on.

During the two months, they are also organising special classes on extra curricular activities on weekdays from 2 to 4pm. Children can choose any one of their preferred activity from Chess, Keyboard, Drawing and Painting, Skating, Bollywood Dance, Classical dance etc.

Registration already commenced.

GURUKULAM SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS
Ceyon, 5/2310-A, P.R.Nambiar Road, Asokapuram,
Kozhikode. Phone: 9895835863, 8089626306

Vacation classes are being organised form April 4th, 2011.

The proposed programmes are as noted below.
 Instrumental Music- Keyboard, Tabala, Guitar, Violin - 2 classes a week.

Carnatic Music (vocal) , Bollywood dance - 2 classes a week.

Pencil drawing, water colour, Oil painting - 3 classes a week.

Chess - 3 classes a week (Tuesday, Thursday  9-10.30 am and Saturday 10.30-11.30am)

Spoken English classes - 3 classes a week for all age group

Registration has started at this centre.

IT MAGIC
G-TEC Education, City Centre,
Opp.SMGB, Kannur Road, Calicut
Phone: 0495-2762672

Summer Vacation Computer Courses for students of class 4 to +2 level. Duration of all courses is 2 months. There are 21 modules and kids can select any as per their taste and need. The different modules are : Computer Operator, Junior programmer, Junior Animator, 3D magic, Junior Architect etc.

KIDS WORLD
Near Reliance Petrol Pump,
St.Vincent road, Kozhikode.
Phone: 9895332132


Summer camp for kids from 4th till 30th of April, 2011. This is also a mix of various activities and targets to cater to a group of 40 kids. So rush in to join, as the early bird...

UNIVERSAL SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS
Aravind Ghosh Road, Near Gandhi Park
Kozhikode Phone: 0495-2765348

The centre is organising drawing and painting classes for kids during April and May on all weekdays. There are two batches every day and kids can choose the timing as per their choice. The morning batch is from 10-12.30noon and the afternoon batch is from 2-4.30pm. Kids up to 8years are trained on crayons and oil pastels and elder ones on water colours.

Almost all centres are getting ready with usual coaching classes, made intensive during the vacation, on swimming, martial arts, sports etc. Peep in for contact numbers at the link: http://shyama17nair.blogspot.com/2010/04/engaging-kids-on-vacation-in-calicut.html


Friday, March 18, 2011

LETS LEARN (8): SEASONS

Lets start with a simple song:

The seasons change four times a year

From spring to winter they appear

Spring is wet , the flowers grow
it rains a lot and melts the snow

Summer is hot, its full of sun
there's no school, its lots of fun

Fall is cool, the leaves fall down
the colours change all over town

Winter is cold, the snowflakes fall
We skate and ski and make snowballs

The seasons change from sun to snow
And that is all we have to know...






 WHAT DO WE MEAN BY SEASON?

Season is the division of the year marked by changes in weather, ecology and hours of daylight.

Seasons happen because of annual revolution of earth around sun and the tilt of the earth's axis in relation to the orbital plane. This angle of deviation is 23.5 degrees.

(For more read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Season)

WHAT CAUSES EARTH'S SEASONS?

WHAT ARE SEASONAL VARIATIONS? 

( A must read for students working on this lesson: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/121632/climate-change/275776/Seasonal-variation)
Equinox = day and night are equal.
Solstice = Days when Sun is at the farthest North or South

Shortest day of the year: 22 December(Winter Solstice; beginning of winter)
Longest day of the year: 21 June(Summer Solstice; beginning of summer)

Vernal Equinox: 21 March (Sun crosses equator; Spring begins in Northern hemisphere & Autumn in Southern Hemisphere)

Autumnal Equinox: 22 September

During summer, days are longer than nights
In winter, days are shorter than nights.

Generally, during May, June and July Northern hemisphere faces sun. During this time, they have Summer and at this period, Southern Hemisphere has winter. During November, December, January; Southern Hemisphere faces Sun and they have summer while opposite side has winter.

In the tropical countries, hot summers are from March to May; monsoons from June to October and cool or mild winters from November to March.

In North India, during December -January, winter(frost or fog); February to April is Spring; may to June is Summer; July and September/October are rainy seasons and in November there is Autumn.

In Kerala, there are two monsoons. South West monsoon is called Kalavarsham or Edavapathy and it is from June to September. The land receives 60% of rainfall from this monsoon. The other is North East monsoon called Thulavarsham. Its during October- November.We get 30%rains from this. Premonsoon showers with thunder in May is another common feature. Thus the seasons of Kerala are predominantly 3, with a prolonged rainy season. From November end to January its winter and thereafter its Summer.

To read more on seasons of Kerala log onto:
http://www.prokerala.com/kerala/climate.htm

For a visual and poetic elude of rainy nightfall in God's Own Country, read:
http://calicutnet.com/articles/rajesh/night_fall.htm
http://calicutnet.com/articles/rajesh/rain_rhythms.htm
A photo gallery on Kerala monsoons:
http://calicutnet.com/news/news-reports/rajesh-07/rain_lashed_kerala.htm

To look for seasons of India, peep :
http://www.mrdowling.com/612-monsoon.html

To know more about monsoons, visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsoon


Great Poet John Keats has penned a beautiful sonnet titled " The Human Seasons..."

"Four seasons fill the measure of the year
There are four seasons in the mind of man...
He has his lusty spring, when fancy clear
    Takes in all beauty with an easy span:
He has his Summer, when luxuriously
    Spring's honied cud of youthful thought he loves
To ruminate, and by such dreaming high
    Is nearest unto heaven: quiet coves
His soul has in its Autumn, when his wings
    He furleth close; contented so to look
On mists in idleness--to let fair things
    Pass by unheeded as a threshold brook.
He has his Winter too of pale misfeature,
Or else he would fore go his mortal nature..."

Summary of meaning:

The four stages of human life are like the four seasons of a year.Each stage has a compilation of lengthy dramas and stories of experiences from the cradle to the grave.It applies for both the human body and the human mind.For what is life here on earth? it is but a short journey we all undertake till our purpose is done.We all are formed from the dust and to the dust we shall all return one day.

The first stage of human life is the birth and the childhood days,which is compared to the season of Spring.This Season is believed to be the rebirth of Nature's life here on earth.It is characterized by warmth, spots of flora emerging everywhere on the naked ground,sounds of all types of birds in the air, movement of wild animals in the forest and very bright sunshine.This is the Season of optimism and hope.From birth till late childhood, life for every child is almost the beginning of a bright and a shiny future.Childhood is featured by innocence, physical stamina and vitality, tremendous urge for the outdoors and a tremendous appetite for fun and play.Activities have no limits.Each and everyone of us miss our childhood days.

The second stage of human life is Youth which is compared to the season of Summer. Summer is the season of fertility and immense harvest. It is marked by pleasantness,warm Summer rain and a blooming of vegetation.The fish of the waters swim adventurously in the gushing streams and rivers.The Earth itself is manifested with esteemed life.Similarly, Youth is marked by the end of Childhood innocence,beginning of self consciousness and high spirits of Romance.It is the peak and the glorious age of life.Each and everyone of us decides which path in life to take and the plans to settle with the best of everything.Beauty and attraction symbolizes the physical color of youth.

The Third stage of human life is Middle age which is compared to the season of Autumn.Autumn is characterized by beginning of dryness and slow deterioration of leaves of trees and plants.Everything around begins to fade away and begins to look shabby.The incoming chilling breeze blowing in all directions add to the gloom of nature.Similarly, Middle age is featured by a very slowly degrading physical strength,slight change in outward appearance,relaxed mood,and burdened with matured activities.By this time, all are treading towards old age.We see life differently and quite often worry about the generation,quite often our own off springs.The main feature of Middle age is Parenthood.We also learn to look back at our own lives and become very nostalgic.

The last stage is the Old Age which is compared to the season of Winter.This season is marked by extreme dryness and cold.The days are short and nights are long.Physical strength begins to fall to an all time low.Health is always a major issue.At this stage people tend to become very Spiritual and become mentally prepared for death.Winter ultimately closes the year just like old age closes the life on earth of a person to eternal rest.

{Courtesy: http://www.shvoong.com/books/poetry/1961426-sumary-john-keats-human-seasons/)







http://sadhguru.podomatic.com

http://sadhguru.podomatic.com