It has always been a pleasure contributing to the spaces where children observe, introspect, participate, engage, discuss, debate and learn. One such movement that I have been part of as a volunteer, contributor and advisor has been ITIHAAS, an endeavor by a team of strong-willed and highly capable youth lead by Smita Vats and Shivani, has been doing a yeoman service for over 15 years now, in the space of Heritage Education for children. The movement now addresses children and institutions in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh while children from across the country travel to these states to soak in and also learn the heritage of our rich, composite nation.

There are many initiatives by ITIHAAS, year around, that engage the children, schools and the entire education community not only through their walks but also through facilitation of research in literature, music, traditions, livelihoods that are integral to Heritage.

As part of the latest initiative, first in the series of Changemakers talk, His Holiness Dalai Lama delivered the ITIHAAS ANNUAL ADDRESS to the school fraternity… What an interaction, it was !!  Always a pleasure listening to His Holiness. It was a wonderful opportunity to interact with him too. Just observing him silently is good enough to absorb so much about purposefulness towards humanity…

As he was addressing the children, teachers and education community, laced with his inimitable humour, I made it point to tweet whatever I could gather. Here I collate my tweets and share for posterity. Each of the points that he shares are invaluable –

• Every #child receiving #love, affection, hugs of #parents in #childhood, will grow to be a confident and compassionate adult
• we, generation of 20th century created a lot of problems, your gen of 21^st century, has to solve. Solve Disagreement by talking
• Young generation, #brothers and #sisters, think how to build a happy and compassionate world, through education and learning
• Through warm heartedness you will be able to resolve every issue in the world; love, forgiveness will help you to bring peace
• Anger brings violence; conflicts need to be solved through dialogue; love others and respect them to facilitate. Create peace
• Non violence, peaceful dialogue by you will create a peaceful and happy family, society and world
• #Secular #education needs to include moral #values, ethics; value of warm heartedness makes the difference to humanity
• fear is part of human being; I train my mind through analytical #meditation; analyse the source of anger; you will solve
• Positivity begets positivity, creates peace; work towards eliminating negativity; Ahimsa and Karuna can solve all problems
• without inner #peace we cannot develop world peace? #Trust & #affection will beget happiness & peace at home and society
• As an youngster, I can contribute to solving every problem with my small actions with awareness; environmental issues, example
• People’s movement – I must think, I must talk, I must work – our vision, on sharing, can gather mass to bring change
• All religions, all traditions talk of love, harmony. #India needs to take lead in promoting tolerance, forgiveness and peace
• Different #religions may have different approaches for different people, but the final purpose is #oneness and #love
• Be a kind-hearted and #compassionate person. #Education needs to just contribute for this one purpose. That is the basic value
• I never saw my mother angry. Not just me, she cared for every child ….First teacher of love and compassion is my mother
• Every teacher has responsibility towards every child.Yr love helps every child understand whatever U impart. Infuses Happiness
• Secret of my youth. 9 hrs of sleep and rest of 15 hours with peaceful thoughts. Have healthy mind. Smile adds to handsomeness

He also interacted with students by taking their questions and responding. I shall get the complete video across soon…

I have not done justice to this event if I do not speak about the Live painting by Artist Vilas Nayak that mesmerized His Holiness The Dalai Lama Dalai Lama. I consciously did not do, as I felt I need to write a separate story on it. I shall.