I spend my days sitting on an old dusty bookshelf in a bookshop watching readers go past me without even looking in my direction. Sure, my pages are now yellow and crinkly. The stories are now old and forgotten but do people really have to ignore me? I’m just as pretty as the latest edition of a magazine. Don’t those humans always look for something vintage? Everyone has time for the diary of anne-frank, and good old Shakespere, but no one seems to care about me. Yes, Anne was a sweet little girl but I know someone who’s even sweeter-me! Today is officially the 105th day that no one looked at me. That no one picked me up and held me in their arms and skipped past the pages. No one put me by their bedside so I would be the first thing they see in the morning. I haven’t had a new home in forever. I miss being loved. I miss being that one book that people would always show to their friends. Those posh modern novels get it all. They have the same old story yet people go mad after them. No one seems to realise that the real treasure has been sitting here, right here, in aisle four of this bookshop. I’ve put my hopes up for too long. How monotonous life has become! No excitement, no thrill. Just because I’m a little older than the rest doesn’t mean I don’t long for the adventure. I yearn for it more than I ever did. I dream of the day someone would care enough to at least acknowledge my presence, that would suffice. I hope I’d get a home, where I’d be more than just a book on a shelf. I’ll be part of someone’s story, someone’s life and that would be the biggest gift of all. But in the end, life is a journey. We need to face it, even if there are times I feel lonely, even if there are times I feel overwhelmed, it’s okay. Because this too shall pass.
~BookThoughts of a book voiced by Rishona Chopra, Grade IX, Gyanshree School
Learning doesn't end when the lesson is over—it continues when we take a moment
to pause and reflect. At Sunbeam School, reflection has become a powerful tool
in helping us connect with what we've learned, how we've learned, and who we've
become through the process. By reflecting on our past experiences, successes, and
even failures, we gain clarity, insight, and direction for the future.
Reflection allows us to understand not just the what, but the why behind our
learning. It turns information into wisdom and routine into purpose. Whether
it's a class project, a group activity, or a personal challenge, reflecting
helps us recognise our growth and identify where we can improve. In doing so, we
become more mindful learners—more thoughtful, confident, and self-aware.
Screening of Episode 18 เคธुเคฎेเคฐू (เคेเคคเคจा): Allegory: A Tapestry of Guru Nanak's Travels by Amardeep Singh
The Sunday School began with introductions and technical setup, followed by a presentation of a documentary series focusing on northern Pakistan and Tibet, exploring Guru Nanak's teachings and historical connections in the region. Discussions covered various geographical, cultural, and spiritual aspects of the area, including Mount Kailash, Baltistan, and the India-Pakistan border region. The conversation ended with an overview of Guru Nanak's travels and teachings, emphasizing the spiritual wisdom he documented rather than historical details of his journeys.
Next steps
Amardeep: Continue filming and production of the documentary series on Indic aims as mentioned in the discussion
Kunal: Write and share the impact study report about Guru Nanak allegory's influence on My Good School's growth with Amardeep
Amardeep: Schedule and conduct Episode 19 viewing session after July 15th due to travel commitments
Summary
Meeting Setup and Participant Introduction
Jugjiv opens the meeting and greets participants as they join. He confirms that he has host controls and discusses scheduling with Amardeep for future meetings. Jugjiv then asks participants to rename themselves with their names and schools for easier identification. As more people join, Jugjiv decides to start the meeting, noting that it will be a long session and others can join as they proceed.
Documentary on Pakistan-Tibet Border Regions
Amardeep introduces episode 18 of his documentary series, which focuses on the northern regions of Pakistan and Tibet. He highlights that these areas are less accessible to Indians due to political boundaries. The episode, which is over an hour long, begins with a message about the essence of Guru Nanak's teachings, emphasizing the importance of intent over rituals. Amardeep also touches on themes of religious commercialization, the power of creation, and the historical connections between regions now separated by political borders.
Historical Border Freedom and Diversity
Amardeep presents a video about the historical freedom of movement across borders in the region, particularly focusing on the now-extinct settlement of Boogie Kingdom at Saparag. The video, which is in a language other than English, appears to discuss cultural and religious diversity in the area, mentioning Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and British. Amardeep plans to end the episode after showing the extinct settlement and then move on to Kailash man server.
Multilingual Meeting With Limited Context
The meeting transcript appears to be a mix of different languages and disjointed phrases, making it difficult to provide a coherent summary. The only clear segment is at the end where Jugjiv speaks in English, mentioning that participants can ask questions in the chat and starts to ask Amardeep a question. Without more context or coherent discussion, it's not possible to provide a meaningful summary of decisions, alignments, or action items from this transcript.
Guru Nanak's Spiritual Journeys
The discussion covers Guru Nanak's travels to Kailash Mansar over and Baltistan. Amardeep explains the spiritual significance of Mount Kailash as a gathering place for ascetics and its importance in feeding the Asian subcontinent's water systems. He highlights Guru Nanak's dialogue with Nath Jogis at Kailash, emphasizing the importance of respectful discussions in spiritual matters. The conversation then moves to Mansar over and Rakshastal lakes, representing wisdom and negativity respectively. Amardeep also discusses the challenges of filming in these high-altitude areas and the profound messages conveyed through Guru Nanak's travels in Ladakh and Baltistan.
Soham Mantra and Mount Kailash
Amardeep explains the meaning of the mantra "Soham," breaking it down to "So" (that) and "Hum" (me), emphasizing that the cosmic energy resides within oneself. He then attempts to play an audio or video clip about Mount Kailash, but encounters technical difficulties. The clip, once playing, describes Mount Kailash's geographical and spiritual significance, mentioning its height, surrounding rivers, and importance in various religious traditions.
Multilingual Meeting Summary
The transcript appears to be a mixture of Korean and Romanian languages without a clear topic or coherent conversation. Due to the lack of meaningful content and the language barrier, it is not possible to provide a summary that meets the given guidelines.
Baltistan: Borderland Cultures and Landscapes
Amardeep discusses various geographical and cultural aspects of the India-Pakistan border region, focusing on Baltistan. He mentions mountain ranges, glaciers, and the Line of Control that passes through the area. The conversation touches on religious diversity in the region, including Hindu and Muslim populations, as well as linguistic elements.
Guru Nanak's Spiritual Journeys Overview
Amardeep presents an overview of Guru Nanak's travels and teachings. He explains that Guru Nanak did not write about his own life or travels, but left 928 verses of spiritual wisdom in scripture. The details of Guru Nanak's journeys come from hagiographies written by followers 60-150 years after his life, based on oral traditions. Amardeep emphasizes that Guru Nanak's focus was on documenting spiritual insights rather than historical details. He notes that Guru Nanak's verses demonstrate deep knowledge of various religious traditions he encountered in his travels, showing how travel broadened his wisdom.
A Recording Of The Session
Reflection questions that will help deepen your understanding of yourself and the world around you.
Thinking about your awareness What does "consciousness" mean to you, and how do you stay aware of your thoughts and actions in daily life?
Recalling a deeper moment Have you ever experienced a time when you felt truly connected to something bigger than yourself—nature, people, or a quiet inner feeling? What was that moment like?
Considering your daily interactions How can you become more mindful and present when you're talking, listening, or spending time with others?
Exploring the idea of unity Guru Nanak spoke of a universal consciousness that exists in everyone. How can understanding this help us become more empathetic and accepting of people from different backgrounds?
Reflecting on your inner world In what ways can taking time to reflect on your thoughts and feelings help you understand your values, goals, and purpose better?
Reflection helps us pause, understand ourselves better, and grow through our experiences. We invite you to share your takeaways or reflections as a post and send it tomk@learningforward.org.in.
At Sunbeam School Lahartara, every reflection is a step toward self-awareness and growth. As our students pause to look back on their experiences, they are not just recounting events—they are learning to understand themselves, their emotions, and their journey. With each thoughtful word, they demonstrate how reflection helps shape responsible, empathetic, and mindful individuals.
It is truly heart-warming to see how wonderfully our students have captured their thoughts, turning everyday moments into meaningful insights. Their reflections speak of curiosity, learning, challenges, and triumphs—woven together with sincerity and depth. This process of thinking, feeling, and expressing is not only helping them grow as learners but also as thoughtful human beings.
Amardeep Singh Screening of Episode 18 เคธुเคฎेเคฐू (เคेเคคเคจा): Allegory: A Tapestry of Guru Nanak's Travels Book Reading- The Door-To-Door Bookstore
8th June 2025
Book Reading- The Door-To-Door Bookstore Book Reading- เค्เคฏाเคเคชเคाเคฌเค्เคाเคฆुเคจिเคฏाเคाเคธाเคฎเคจाเคเคฐเคจेเคेเคฒिเคเคคैเคฏाเคฐเคนै?
15th June 2025
Meet and Greet Kartik Bajoria - Writing, Education and Mental Health - TEDx Speaker, Film, Media and Music expert.
Book Reading- The Door-To-Door Bookstore
22nd June 2025
Book Reading- The Door-To-Door Bookstore Book Reading- เค्เคฏाเคเคชเคाเคฌเค्เคाเคฆुเคจिเคฏाเคाเคธाเคฎเคจाเคเคฐเคจेเคेเคฒिเคเคคैเคฏाเคฐเคนै?
29th June 2025 We aim to inspire young minds, helping them navigate while embracing their dreams and aspirations. The YES workshop with Shikha Agnihotri, founder The Right Side
Story Book Reading- The Door-To-Door Bookstore
The Teacher's Academy
Thoughtful Thursdays: MAP with Music, Art
and Poetry Brinda Ghosh, Subhasish Ghosh, and Jatin Soni at 5.30 PM
Brewing Knowledge Fridays: Book Reading with Sandeep Dutt, My Good School: Where Passion Meets Education at 5.30 PM
Masterclass Webinar: Productive Failure - Design for and turn your failures into meaningful learning
experiences at 5:30 PM
Weekly Meetings at 5:30 PM every Wednesday
WhatsApp Video Call
Good Schools of India
Are you signed up for the Good Schools of India Weekly
yet? Don't miss out on valuable insights—published every
Wednesday at 7:00 AM! #JoyOfLearning Subscribe at: www.GSI.in
Reflective questions based on Chapter 4: Great Expectations from The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn:
Theme:Interpersonal Skills & Compassion
Reflective Questions:
How does Carl's interaction with the people on his book route reflect his ability to listen, empathise, and respond compassionately?
→ Consider how Carl changes his approach to people and what this says about the importance of listening with understanding rather than judgment.
In this chapter, how do Carl and Schascha begin to build trust and mutual respect? What does this reveal about the importance of patience and open-minded communication in relationships?
→ Consider how interpersonal skills like respect and adaptability influence the growing connection between them.
Reflect on a moment when Carl goes beyond his duty as a book deliverer. How does this act show his growth in compassion and emotional intelligence? How can you apply a similar mindset in your own life?
→ Draw parallels between Carl’s actions and your own experiences with empathy or kindness.
Reflection holds a vital place in education. It deepens learning, encourages self-awareness, and helps students and educators evaluate their thoughts, emotions, and actions. Through reflection, individuals grow more empathetic, mindful, and responsible. It transforms knowledge into experience and experience into meaningful life learning.
So let us pause, think, and share. Authentic learning begins with reflection.
We invite everyone to reflect on the questions above and share their reflective responses by emailing them to mk@learningforward.org.in.
