The Merchant of Venice is classified as an early Shakespearean comedy, more specifically, as a “Christian comedy” and it is a work in which good triumphs over evil.
For Grade XI – Science and Commerce, the new academic year began by performing this most appreciated and loved play of William Shakespeare – The Merchant of Venice. It was a great learning experience for all the students of Grade XI. Right from the time the play was introduced, read, analysed and understood there was no end to their excitement. Each and every student of XI – Science and Commerce appealed to let them stage the play.
Everything was professionally planned and the work began. They named themselves professionally as “All-Star Production”. The Directors, Co-directors, Editors, Costume Designers, and Music Director were appointed. Then started the audition for the casts of the play. After taking the audition the following were selected as the casts of the play:
Antonio – Kishan Viradia
Bassanio – Bhadra N. Parikh
Portia – Atmiya K. Patel
Shylock – Jay Tailor
Gratiano – Siddharth Shah
Lorenzo – Sarveshwar Viroja
Nerissa – Roneet Chaudhary
Jessica – Kishan A. Patel
The Prince of Morroco – Anand V. Patel
Tubal – Harsh Patel
Salarion & Saliano – Hitesh Yadav & Mitul Patel
Servants – Ashish Pandey & Dipen Reshamwala
Dukes of Venice – Sarthak Jariwala, Karan Patel, Mihirbhai
Lawyer – Rushi Patel
Doctor Balthasar – Atmiya K. Patel
Director – Sarthak Jariwala
Co-Director – Kishan A. Patel
Narrator – Mantavya Patel
Music Director – Abhishek Rathore
Costume Designers – Robin Patel & Suharadam Nayak Sir
Property Managers – Krunal Vakil, Gavravbhai, Atmiya Kalavadia, Robin Patel, Ravi Patel
Students learnt many things apart from relishing the Shakespearean English. For example,
1. Friendship requires sacrifice. Antonio risks his fortune–and later his life–to help Bassanio win Portia.
2. Appearances are deceiving. Neither the gold nor the silver casket contains the key to winning Portia. Instead, it is the plain lead casket. Shakespeare expresses this theme–appearances are deceiving–in a message inside the golden casket. It says, “All that glisters [glitters] is not gold”.
3. Revenge ultimately destroys its perpetrator. Shylock seeks revenge against his enemies, but it is he who suffers the downfall after Christians unite to trick him. Perhaps he would have had more success if he had pursued justice instead of revenge.
4. Jews suffer bigotry and other forms of mistreatment because of their religion and race. Christians alienate Shylock simply because he is a Jew. In ancient, medieval, and Renaissance times, Jews almost always encountered prejudice from non-Jews around them. (Helped in enhancing students’ knowledge of the rivalry between the Jews and the Christian)
5. Women can be just as competent as men, maybe even more so. Portia, disguised as a man, speaks eloquently in defense of Antonio and persuades the Duke of Venice to rule in Antonio’s favor.
Moreover, they learnt that the real evil in The Merchant of Venice was the corrupt value system of the principal Christian characters who are, of course, representative of people in Shakespeare’s time.
After all the learning, analysis, preparation and rehearsal, the play was professionally staged on 27th July, 2010 in the Auditorium of the school in front of the students of Grade VIII, IX & X and all the Teachers, the Principal, the Housemasters and the Hostel In-charges.
The best thing about performing “The Merchant of Venice” was that each and every student of Grade XI participated wholeheartedly in one or the other roles. They enjoyed every moment of it right from the introduction of the play till its final performance on the stage.
Hopefully, everybody enjoyed the play to their heart’s content.
Written by: Paras Sir
Pursuing the guided goals: Sundaram House
/0 Comments/in AVM Updates, Value Based Education /by AVM TeachersInculcating the sagacity between having right to find pleasure and doing right to become happy, Once again Sundaram House made a humble effort through morning assemblies and display boards to contribute in building characters which are enduring while forged in the furnace of responsibilities which in larger sense become duties.
Students of Atmiya Vidya Mandir are blessed and privileged to have some daily duties guided by P P Hariprasad Swamiji so that they can live an ideal student life which eventually lead them to achieve great success. Sundaram House members have attempted to channelize their activities towards the guided path showed by Him. With a backdrop of thought provoking and noteworthy features of daily duties of an ideal student. The morning assembly stage was well set with an imposing banner of Sundaram house and it’s slogan ‘House Of United Hearts And Unbeatable Spirit’. Along with a magnificent artificial hibiscus (flower) having the daily duties of the students written on its petals.
To begin with the house week, on very first day, Harshil Soni from VIII Std delivered thought about Daily Prayer as an important duty of a student. Extending his thought on the power of prayer and its magical contributions in the student life, Priyavadan Sir gave a brain storming session to the students. He defined the act of saying a prayer and actually praying. Giving some practical tips on communicating with God through daily prayer, Priyavadan Sir suggested students to involve and invoke God’s intervention in all their enterprises.
The next day, it was the time to review the most talked about yet important duty of a student that is completing the home work on day to day basis. Dhimant M Rambhia from IX B shared thought for the day and Seema Madam urged the students to remove the preconceived notions about homework as a burden but to do it for practice and revision. She also explained how doing homework on daily basis can help to adopt habit of regularity and sincerity. The following day, the most sensitive aspect of student life was highlighted which is keeping good company. Sagar N. Patel from IX B spoke thought for the day saying ‘It is mandatory for a student to keep good friends who can show him his areas of improvements’. Rupashree Madam elucidated about an ideal living by a student. She said that a student should help his class fellows in solving their educational problems. He should be sincere, hard-working and co-operative. He should wear neat and clean dress. He should also know his religious duties.
Yet another and must-practice-it-now and always duty of the student is to keep his senses positive all the time. Arpit Trapasia from VII B presented food for thought that it is our duty to keep our internal- self neat and pure by receiving only the appropriate things through our senses. We should not see, hear, smell, speak and even think about the matter which is not of any worth. Speaking on the same topic, Anand Kalawadia from X Std shared his thoughts on this most obvious duty of keeping the senses positive, it is one of the highly recommended duties given by P.P Swamiji. He also provided reference of Vachanamrut (Gadhada Pratham 18) presenting its practical relevance and amazing outcome.
Students of Atmiya Vidya Mandir just not try to perform these duties given by P.P Swamiji but adopt them as a habit .One fine example of the same was presented by the students of class 2 based on the true incident happened at Atmiya Vidya Mandir when Niramaybhai Mehta of Class 2 was performing his duty sincerely.
Thus Sundaram House jog the memory of the students on the duties prescribed by P.P.Swamiji that they should be respectful towards their parents as well as their teacher. They should always seek knowledge from teachers. They should complete their home work in time. They should be punctual. If they are confused about any topic they should ask their teachers about that topic.
Written by: Seema Madam
Bidding Adieu to Lord Ganesha
/0 Comments/in AVM Updates, Value Based Education /by AVM TeachersThroughout the five days of the celebration of the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesh, during the evening prayer, the prayer hall area of the school was conspicuous with the sight of students, teachers, housemasters, didis and other members of Atmiya family, giving off a general aura of faith and fun. They remained engaged in observing and witnessing with folded hands – the rituals being performed by the Sanskrit teacher Pushpak Sir who was chanting Vedic Mantras in front of the idol.
Besides its religious sanctity, this five day festival played an important role as students were able to perceive impeccable harmony while participating in daily prayer, aarti and bhajan. They were all set to take fresh spiritual resolves and pray to Lord Ganesha for inner spiritual strength to attain success in all their undertakings.
Each day in Atmiya Vidya Mandir brings a new experience with a new learning. Rejoicing with such festive celebration students get an opportunity to understand culture through religious ceremonies and adopt holistic development with a spurt of balancing act while walking on the tight rope finely woven with academics, values and convictions.
Despite long period of studies, festivals retain their uniqueness in Atmiya Vidya Mandir and are celebrated with deep devoutness. Throughout these five days of Lord Ganesha’s birth anniversary celebration, students participated in daily pooja of the elephant headed God which offered them an insight that religious rites and rituals have created connections to universal truths that are shared in every culture.
This five day festive fervor put to hold with immersion of the idol of lord Ganesha into a nearby holy river. Students, teachers and entire Atmiya family congregated to see off the lord back to His eternal abode, with a wish for His early and sure return. On this auspicious occasion let’s pray-
May the blessings of Sri Ganesha be upon us all!
May He remove all the obstacles that stand in our spiritual path!
May He bestow on us prosperity as well as renders stillness to the mind enabling us to be choicest children of the eternal father!!!
Written by: Seema Madam
Teachers! its just not a Day
/0 Comments/in AVM Updates, Value Based Education /by AVM TeachersIt was much beyond the imagination to find the students putting their earnest efforts to reciprocate the love and affection of teachers. A memorable programme was organized to honor teachers in fullest with most powerful expression. Bestowing it with dignity and enriching it with a deeper sense of respect, they welcomed the teachers by doing poojan and showering flowers on them.
Nothing happens beyond the reach of almighty, having been well instilled with this belief, they began the programme by inviting the elders of the school management to do the poojan of Thakorji .
The gusty and feisty show holders Mantvya Patel and Bhadra Parekh were right at the nook much like well trained professional hosts with their witty remarks, humorous expressions and some glimpses of poetic flourishes for their beloved teachers. They were able to maintain an enticing blend of devious humour and warmth of extreme regard and fondness for the guests of the show.
Joyous mood swept across the venue of the programme, as the fire of this noteworthy evening was set by the first performance of solo singing by Karan Bhakta singing a touching song “Tumse Hi”. This track just arrested the attention of the audience off their feet as he attempted some artistic brilliance. Karan sang wholeheartedly to showcase his soulful voice with supporting phenomenal music projecting an influential symphony. To ultimately take the audience by storm, there were dancers (Love Patel, Harshit Agrawal, Umang Mistry, Suraj Yadav, Krushan Patel, Vaishvik Maisurya, Vaishvik Patel) doing a jig in the backdrop giving a mesmerizing performance. The budding choreographers Piyush Sarda and Harsh Ambalia took initiative to add this concept of backdrop dancing with an effort to do something special for their pioneers (teachers). This special appearance of this heart- to -heart act created an evening that can never be forgotten.
Characteristically making the show intimate enough, the hosts, Bhadra and Mantavya left no chance to convey their message to their beloved teachers and to do the same, with enticing queries, they moved around the audience asking the jubilant students to say a few words about their favourite teachers. It was prominently a heart touching approach, depicting an idea of respecting teachers. Truly ensconced itself in the statements as some of them expressed meaning of a teacher which goes beyond the dictionary limit. Announcing their favourite teachers amicably even with some heart-touching reference students were able to ferrets out admiration for their teachers. Abhishek from XI Sci and Manav from X Std stated “Our teachers help us to make choices more empowered with values”. A senior student stated his feeling for his teacher “Right from pre-primary ,we have been benefited by our teachers who have gone beyond their call of duty, to mould us into better human beings, first and foremost, and then to instil in us a sense of purpose for life.”
This was followed by the groundbreaking dance performance by IX and X Std students (Harsh Ambalia, Smeet Bhatt, Deval Patel, Mishal Kansara, Vinay Rathi, Siddharth Shah, Akshay Patel) ‘Everything will be alright’ – something that was widely requested by the loyal fans of these ‘smashing dancers’ who displayed scintillating performances. These students offered an unmatched diversity of styles, making for a fast-paced, electrifying one-of-a-kind performance that never ceased to surprise the teachers. They were able to take up all contemporary style, while the music spans the breadth and depth of all that’s possible. Every dancer added his unique move like somersaults and free falls which were particularly noteworthy and must surely have momentarily provided the performers with a completely new angle of felicitating or honouring teachers. These dancers of the budding choreographer Siddharth Shah (XI Science) who channelized their energy and enthusiasm which was executed at a high magnitude that teachers were fully impressed with. All the sequences and moves were blended harmoniously with the beat of the music.
With the perfect decorum of the surroundings of prayer hall, teachers couldn’t escape the charm of the evening. The hosts left no chance to make the audience giggling away with some witty remarks.
Saturated in convincing scenes of teacher-student bonding, the next appealing presentation was a small skit (Conceptualized by Saumya Madam and directed by Pravartak Sir and Tarun Sir and performed by Sarveshvar, Rushi, Akshat, Harsh, Ashish, Raj, Ronak and Kishan Viradia). It illustrated inherent events and moments of teacher-student tie, hard to untangle, sort of Tom and Jerry bond. The characters were at ease posing and preening to get under the skin of the roles. The stage had a dramatic tint with a backdrop sound- effect of a moving train. The music had crystal clear dramatic effects. Characters enacted and rocked the stage with a spoof which had a preaching climax with a message of unparalleled patience and understanding – a teacher possesses.
The sustenance of education was palpable in the conduct of these students who left no effort to make the show grand. Teachers were spell bound and overwhelmed and remained glued to their seats throughout the programme.
Captured in leisurely yet with convincing grace, once again it was the time for the hosts to be among the audience to know more about what they think for their teachers. Het Adhvaryu (VIII A) said “My teacher helps me to get ready to become more intimate with myself and my world.” Another student offers a similar appreciation: “My teacher is always kind and makes me feel so at ease whenever I go to him with questions.“
Speaking on the occasion, the Principal Swayam Madam extended her thanks to the teachers and students. She also appreciated the students for their intense, passionate and vibrant performances showcasing their sheer creativity and sublime joy to perform for their teachers.
On this day , students expressed their indebtedness by presenting greeting cards to all the teachers individually having their qualities printed on it, Students got an opportunity to exhibit their privilege to be taught and guided by such teachers but the arrangements of this wonderful evening force the teachers to be proud of them.
The most charming and impressive part of this evening was the sumptuous candle light dinner being served by 11th Std students with warmth and regards. This event also proved a spectacular display of adoration and split-second precision with which each student went through his paces reflecting the caring attitude they have acquired so far. This, too, was an event of considerable merit earning the acclaim of all the teachers and staff members who beheld it. The teachers were at relish seeing their efforts turning their students into perfect hosts and event managers.
Finally, after witnessing these touching outpourings, it is inevitable to say that students of Atmiya Vidya Mandir are growing with sixth sense.
Written by: Seema Madam
I, We and India
/0 Comments/in AVM Updates, Value Based Education /by AVM TeachersIs Exam really a matter of concern?
/0 Comments/in 21st Century Skills, Thinking Skills /by AVM TeachersHuman Pyramid & MatkiPhod: Load of fun on small shoulders
/0 Comments/in AVM Updates, Value Based Education /by AVM TeachersIt was Janmashtami celebration and here were mischievous Bal-Gopals of Atmiya Vidya Mandir, energized by some power unseen, all acting in clique, but somehow connected to each other in a giant plan. A large swathe of area around administrative building ground was bustling with joy and fervour, celebrating Janmashtami — the birthday of Lord Krishna – who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
The day began with the morning assembly by Suhradam House, showcasing a short video on birth and childhood of Lord Krishna and a brief speech delivered by Nishit Banka of VIII explaining the importance and sanctity of the festival.
The topmost student on this human pyramid was to break the Handi by hitting it with a coconut placed on the pot, and when that happened, the buttermilk was spilled over the entire group, symbolizing their achievement through unity.
The participants in human pyramid in the DahiHandi were from V to XI std. Other students kept cheering and encouraging which motivated the performers to keep going. Apart from the students, who struggled to build the pyramid for breaking the Handi, the little Aman D Patel from std I was the show stealer who sat on the top of the portable structure dressing up to replicate the Lord Krishna. Saints from Haridham, teachers, housemasters and didis were present to witness the programme and cheer the Gopalas. When the Matki was finally broken by the senior group, a resounding cheer came from the crowd, thus bringing a fitting climax to the celebration.
Keeping the Indian custom alive, Atmiya Vidya Mandir celebrates all the festivals with zest and zeal. Our aim is to make children appreciate the rich culture of our nation which has a number of festivals, castes and religions. Celebration of festivals in such a manner infuses values and virtues pertaining to our long tradition among the future citizens of the country.
The entire school was actively involved in the event, contributing their share in some way or the other. The young kids who formed the human pyramid had practiced a lot a fortnight prior to the actual demonstration. Teachers and staff members guided the little Gopalas to execute the final show.
So for all the students of Atmiya Vidya Mandir who would be reaching greater heights and achieve together; here are some wishes –
May the Lord Krishna bless all!!!
Satyam House Chooses To Be Proactive
/0 Comments/in AVM Updates, Value Based Education /by AVM TeachersStudents’ Photography
/0 Comments/in AVM Updates, Creativity, Students' Creations /by AVM TeachersI am for my country
/0 Comments/in AVM Updates, Value Based Education /by AVM TeachersMr. Pavan Kumar addressed the students wishing everyone on the occasion of this National Festival. He reminded students that everyone has to do their bit to take the country ahead on the path of progress. Through his speech, he conveyed this important message that freedom does not mean absence of rules and regulations, he explained the students that freedom means bearing responsibility as a part, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially.
The Merchant of Venice of William Shakespeare By “All-Star Production”
/0 Comments/in AVM Updates, Creativity, Students' Creations /by AVM Teachers