:: Lt Gen (Retd) Arjun Ray ::

One step higher than whole-education

01-August-2019

At Indus, we believe that holistic education (one step higher than whole-education) is the only way to prepare children for a future we do not know. This is why the role of the teacher is to teach the child, and not the subject alone.

The holistic approach to education challenges the assumption that, learning is a cognitive activity for economic benefits. Consequently, holism is based upon the following concepts:

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Do not see the world and the child as separate parts, because we are interconnected, and have responsibilities towards each other.

Education must help the child to discover her potential.

Every child is unique. This uniqueness arises when her potential is unlocked - her passion, her creativity, and her higher purpose in life.

(This is the essence of the message brought to newly elected Leaders of The Indus Student Council at Bangalore, by Lt. Gen. Arjun Ray (Retd.), CEO of the Indus Trust on the occasion of The Ceremony of Investiture on January 26th, 2012)

Innovation is the only way to succeed in a future

01-July-2019

Innovation is the only way to succeed in a future that is volatile and uncertain. Being innovative demands high levels of energy.

At Indus, we prepare teachers and students to manage their energy and not their time. We possess finite energy, and that has to be directed towards achieving one's vision, one's goals, one's vital tasks.

Energy does not diminish with age or circumstances. Energy declines when we have nothing to live for. A higher purpose is, therefore, an essential requirement to sustain one's energy and intrinsic innovation.

(This is the essence of the message brought to newly elected Leaders of The Indus Student Council at Bangalore, by Lt. Gen. Arjun Ray (Retd.), CEO of the Indus Trust on the occasion of The Ceremony of Investiture on January 26th, 2012)

Higher Purpose

13-June-2019

Our higher purpose is the source of our divinity; our innovation; of being good and doing good; being happy, and making others happy.

Without a higher purpose, innovation is not possible. Therefore, if students and teachers are not driven by a higher purpose, a school's culture of innovation will remain a pipe dream.

Our Beliefs

07-June-2019

Our beliefs are good substitutes for pursuing a higher purpose.

Beliefs are truths arrived at by individuals experientially. They are ethical and pro-life, and the individual has to be a practitioner. In case he is only inspired by the beliefs, he must build his capacity to export it to others for the common good. Only then will meaning arise.

The following steps must be taken :

Step 1 : Inspired by the beliefs either as a witness or through deep-reading.

Step 2 : Seek clarity on relevance and concept of the concerned beliefs.

Step 3 : Conduct a SWOT on what capacities are needed.

Step 4 : Practise it at work and in one's personal life.

Step 5 : Once the individual is confident that he is ready to influence others :

Set a vision.
Write down challenging goals.
Make an implementation plan in work and life.
Create meaning to life.

The future has arrived - a future where knowledge

01-June-2019

The future has arrived - a future where knowledge, jobs and technology are getting outdated rapidly. This has immediate implications for lifelong learning and continuous re-skilling - a personal responsibility in the 4th Industrial Age. Those who are not lifelong learners are illiterates.

Lifelong learning is not only about new skills and competencies, but learning about oneself - Who am I? Why am I here? In which directions am I moving? Therefore, education of the heart and mind, and not the head alone, assume great importance.

This is our endeavour @ Indus; to develop our teachers and students as lifelong learners.

(This is the essence of the message brought to newly elected Leaders of The Indus Student Council at Bangalore, by Lt. Gen. Arjun Ray (Retd.), CEO of the Indus Trust on the occasion of The Ceremony of Investiture on January 26th, 2012)

The Indus Training and Research Institute

01-May-2019

The Indus Training and Research Institute (ITARI) is the only of its kind in the world. ITARI has been designed with the help of the Birmingham City University, to conduct pre-service training of teachers in international education, and even in-service training.

ITARI ensures a steady and continuous supply of highly motivated teachers into Indus Schools and Early Learning Centres. These teachers are trained in pedagogy and leadership for the 4th Industrial Age, with pronounced abilities to train the heart and the mind of the students, and not the head alone.

The special ability we are instilling in ITARI teachers is to teach the child, and not the subject alone.

(This is the essence of the message brought to newly elected Leaders of The Indus Student Council at Bangalore, by Lt. Gen. Arjun Ray (Retd.), CEO of the Indus Trust on the occasion of The Ceremony of Investiture on January 26th, 2012)

In a volatile and uncertain world

01-April-2019

In a volatile and uncertain world, innovation is the #1 leadership and spiritual competency. While most people are creative, only a few - just a few are innovative. There is a big difference between creativity and innovation and creativity.

To be creative is to come up with original ideas. This is a god-given gift and is part of the human DNA. On the other hand, innovation is the application of ideas and one's imagination, to either solve problems creatively, or transform organizations and society. About 1% leaders have this ability.

The good news is that you can become part of the 1%, because innovation is learnable. To be innovative, one must develop a separate set of companion competencies, particularly empathy, critical-thinking and risk-taking.

There are many ways to acquire these competencies. However, the experiential approach is practical and sustainable, i.e.:
Deep reading

Community service

Challenging goals

Make a beginning!

(This is the essence of the message brought to newly elected Leaders of The Indus Student Council at Bangalore, by Lt. Gen. Arjun Ray (Retd.), CEO of the Indus Trust on the occasion of The Ceremony of Investiture on January 26th, 2012)

A fair number of students

01-March-2019

A fair number of students remain unproductive as they are unable to select and focus on their critical few - the 20%. Consequently, they end up frustrated and stressed out, and underperform in their examination. Successful students never lift their eyes from their 20% - specific academic goals or key result areas. Given that there is a deluge of information available on the Internet, a lot of which is fake news, the challenge is formidable.

Setting a challenging goal is not enough. There must be a detailed plan in place to achieve the goal. This is where most students lose out. Goals without plans are meaningless.

(This is the essence of the message brought to newly elected Leaders of The Indus Student Council at Bangalore, by Lt. Gen. Arjun Ray (Retd.), CEO of the Indus Trust on the occasion of The Ceremony of Investiture on January 26th, 2012)

Obsolescence - jobs, technology and knowledge

01-February-2019

Given the rate of obsolescence - jobs, technology and knowledge; rapid change; and acceleration, we are living in a world that is increasingly becoming VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity).

We are finding it extremely challenging to:

Adapt to this phenomenon

To pause, and reconnect with ourselves

Be innovative to re-skill and reinvent ourselves

Prevent early burnout.

Adaptability is the greatest challenge we face; it is more relevant than Intelligence Quotient. Of the Future 500 companies in 1955, only 61 (or 12 %) remained in 2014. 88 % were bankrupt, merged, or financially unviable. Today's life expectancy of Fortune 500 is 15 years. Only those who are best in what they do will survive.

Of the several methods of becoming adaptable, the master strategy lies in pursuing a higher purpose in life.

Everything around you and beyond you will change. The one thing that will not change is the vision. Vision is derived from purpose. Most live their lives as a series of events, accidents and reactions. Fulfilment and the ability to lead through VUCA will come from purpose for someone or something greater than ourselves. It is the purpose that gives meaning; and meaning in turn gives us a vision. Without a vision we may perish.

(This is the essence of the message brought to newly elected Leaders of The Indus Student Council at Bangalore, by Lt. Gen. Arjun Ray (Retd.), CEO of the Indus Trust on the occasion of The Ceremony of Investiture on January 26th, 2012)

Indus in leadership as well as pedagogy

01-January-2019

2019 will be a defining year for Indus in leadership as well as pedagogy. Given that the purpose of education is preparation for a future we do not know, education of the heart and mind, and not the head alone, will assume significance.

Around mid-2019, all Indus schools will be organizing a 2-day leadership fest based on folk traditions of India and aesthetics. Indus students and folk artists will collaborate in this initiative. The fest will be based on the concept of thinking global and acting local. It will also evaluate the relevance of traditional Indian leadership models in modern context.

We sincerely hope that, with greater student-autonomy in taking responsibility for their learning, our students will acquire the requisite leadership competencies to improve their academic rigour.

Wishing all teachers, parents and children a very happy New Year!

(This is the essence of the message brought to newly elected Leaders of The Indus Student Council at Bangalore, by Lt. Gen. Arjun Ray (Retd.), CEO of the Indus Trust on the occasion of The Ceremony of Investiture on January 26th, 2012)