Imagination is something that you should always let loose. The day we stop becoming imaginative, we would be soon nearing the end. The best of inventions in the world are outcomes of an imaginative mind. The education system in our country is very restrictive in terms of letting students become as free as possible. Children start mugging up concepts from a very young age. Recently I came across a friend telling me about how children from kindergarten are being asked to learn complex subjects. What is the end motive? Do you want to take away the innocence of childhood from children so early? At an age when children should be ideally running around playing a few games, they are asked to mug up something. This will definitely affect the overall development of kids. Academics should not be the only focus in schools. Sports and other extracurricular activities should be given equal importance. This will make students ready for all kinds of challenges that they would face when they grow up. They could be introduced to different kinds of hobbies that will not only keep them occupied and happy, but also will increase their general knowledge. Schools in India should introduce children to Stamps of India so that they are learning facts about our country in an interesting way.
The main problem with our education system is that it is obsolete and boring. Teachers only stick to textbooks and do not go for innovative teaching aids. Old Indian Stamps can prove to be a fun way to learn about our country. There are so many interesting subjects that are depicted on Rare Indian stamps. Everything from important personalities to inventions, traditions, cultures, geography, historical events, wildlife etc! The list is endless really. Now imagine if kids are asked to start collecting Stamps of India and asked to read up on the subjects that have been featured on them. This would definitely have a better impact than learning about these subjects from textbooks. I have had personal experiences when I have fallen asleep while reading some of these textbooks. Basically there is no kind of motivation to read these textbooks. When learning is clubbed with a fun activity then it definitely becomes even more effective.
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| Image Courtesy: mintageworld.com |
Till the 2nd grade, I was this dull student who had no interest in studying. I was always looking out of the window and waiting for the recess bell to ring. The recess was the only exciting time for me in school, when I got a chance to interact with my friends and play a few interesting games. The summer vacations arrived and thankfully I was introduced the hobby of collecting Indian Stamps for the very first time. My uncle from Jamshedpur came over with his collection of Rare Indian Stamps. The moment I looked at those Rare Stamps of India, I fell in love with them. I kept pestering my uncle with various kinds of questions. He told me how he had started building his collection of Stamps in India from the last 15 years. Honestly, I was inspired by my uncle to start collecting Old Indian Stamps. Suddenly, I started losing interesting in playing outside and spent several hours only talking to my uncle about his collection of stamps.
If it wasn't for him, i wouldn't have owned a collection of such amazing rare stamps of India. He was 70 years old back them and left me with his bounty before he left. Those were the first ever Indian Stamps that I collected in life. Even today, these stamps are really close to my heart. I can't imagine misplacing them somewhere and always make it appoint to keep them safely inside a drawer. Even today, the first thing that I show my fellow collector friends is that special collection of stamps that I borrowed from my uncle. I am greatly thankful to him for introducing me to this amazing hobby.
From the day I graduated to 3rd grade, i was a changed boy. I started concentrating on different subjects and topics. I looked at ways in which I could relate what I was learning at school with the collection of Indian Stamps that I had with me. The result was astonishing really. I suddenly started scoring more marks in exams. I was not bored of reading and gaining knowledge. Clearing exams and scoring marks was not my only intention. I wanted to read just to know more about my country. Stamps of India were a medium through which I was doing it. When my parents observed that I started reading, they also started supporting me to pursue my hobby. Ever since then, there was no looking back. I kept collecting Indian stamps as and when I got some free time. When I look back at my early days, I feel lucky that i found my passion in stamp collecting.
