Gerald D'Cunha

  “In learning, you will teach; and in teaching, you will learn.” ―  Phil Collins   S ome days ago, I saw this little girl (first standard) waiting for the lift to come. She was being brought home by a house-help. We were there waiting for the lift for a couple of minutes… and, the little lady initiated a discussion with me… “What is your flat number? Mine is …” I gave mine as innocently as the little one had offered hers. “I like my school… Did you like yours?” I was caught off-guard by this angle… Can I afford to be absolutely honest in my answer? I was swiftly thinking, “At her age, I did not like to go to school… I was scared of some strict teachers and I was weak in studies… So, how would I answer this little lady? Should I tell her “No, I did not like… I was scared of my teachers? Or, should I sugarcoat my answer… ‘Yes, honey, I liked my school’”? Mercifully, the lift had landed on the ground floor and we rushed inside… The question was left outsi...

“Your story is the greatest legacy that you will leave to your friends. It’s the longest-lasting legacy you will leave to your heirs.” — Steve Saint T his is my second Post on Prema. She is sixty. Presently, she comes to me to learn ‘how to write and speak English fluently’! Right from the day she first called me to seek my help – only by listening to her conversation on phone – I had told her, “Ma’am, you speak English quite fluently; you do not need help there.” Then, I had added, “You need help to overcome your self-doubts.” Learning to trust our thoughts, own them up and express them… Yes, this is the most significant step towards the journey of our self-confidence. The more we do it, the higher we grow in confidence… The self-doubts dissolve and we feel authentic about ourselves. So, I encourage everyone, who is keen to embark upon this journey, to get in touch with his/her innate thoughts… trust them, own them up… and sincerely express th...

“I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance.” -      e. e. cummings  I find it very amusing! Many parents come to me or call me to enquire about our ‘Personality Development’ programme. It’s for their little kids or for their young ones… “What’s that you teach them in this programme?” “Who are the teachers (trainers)?” “What’s the duration?” “Will there be any visible change in the kid/young one?” Etc, Etc, Etc… I answer none of these questions. To me, they seem too insignificant, even naive . Instead, I tell them about these: Why I started these activities, three decades ago, despite the fact that I myself had never, ever been to any such programmes… Why a dozen brilliant teachers/trainers volunteer to offer their expertise in carrying out this programme… Why, so often, parents, too, end up sitting with their kids and find it so enriching… Why there cannot be ...