The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World
The Hidden Life of Trees is a collection of anecdotal and scientific zingers—some startlingly novel and others reassuringly passé—about forest societies and the individuals which compose them. Trees, we are told, chemically communicate with each other, and will even support one another (even a cut-over stump!)
We read the book by Peter Wohlleben at My Good School some years ago, and here is a wonderful example of experiential learning, from our garden. Why not join us at My Good School every Sunday at 10:30 and experience the joy of learning comes alive?
Exploring the secret lives of trees
The Jackfruit, or Kathal, is a species of tree in the fig, mulberry, and breadfruit family. A mature jackfruit tree produces some 200 fruits per year, with older trees bearing up to 500 fruits in a year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our long-standing Jackfruit tree wilted.
Planted by my parents in the late sixties, the tree’s shade covered a sizeable portion of our garden, and we enjoyed the fruit, from pickles to cutlets, cooked vegetable style throughout the year!
Did you know that trees are in headstand mode!
What you see is the tail, as the brain and a large part of the tree are the roots that manage the nervous system and the nourishment. The roots are most sensitive and work like neural networks, with empathy and care. We decided to plant another tree at the base of the old one. To us, the skeletal remains carry memories of the years we have lived together, and we wanted to see the corner of our garden restored to its original glory.
Today, in nearly its third year, the baby tree seems to have entwined itself in the roots of the old, and we are hopeful that the new tree will entangle itself in the old and perhaps even sprout a shoot through the hollow stems. I will follow them closely and keep you informed year after year!
Modern Parenting Challenges and Insights
Brewing Knowledge Friday meeting began with introductions of new participants and a discussion of logistical challenges related to visiting Varanasi for the My Good School Retreat in the coming week. The group then engaged in a reading session - Kamala Mukunda’s What Did You Ask At School Today? Focused on reflecting on questions about Diwali and other festivals, and on sharing personal experiences and thoughts about the holiday. The conversation evolved into exploring the nature-nurture debate and its implications for child development, including discussions of parenting challenges in the modern age and the roles of genetics and environment in shaping human behaviour.
Concluding Session of the Masterclass on Productive Failure
The session started with Co-Hosts discussing Masterclass Plans. Sandeep expressed happiness about the large attendance and gratitude to Paul for co-hosting. He mentioned struggling with a borrowed machine and suggested another co-host, but Paul offered to help. Sandeep considered it one of his favourite weekly sessions, and the Masterclass was set to continue.
Masterclass 25 Progress Review
Sandeep and Gurdeep discussed the progress and completion of Masterclass 25, highlighting improvements in assignments and the value of teachers’ experiments.
Sandeep emphasised the importance of building learning communities and trust, while Gurdeep shared her personal growth and how the Masterclass has impacted her reading habits and professional development.
Paul reflected on his experience with the Masterclasses, noting its role in fostering a culture of reading and technology use among teachers. The group expressed hope for the program’s continued success and expansion.
Masterclass Progress and Expansion Plans
Sandeep reported on the progress of the Masterclasses, which started and will end in Varanasi, and highlighted the success in terms of registration numbers, the creation of a video library, and the formation of a community of 227 teachers. He discussed plans for future sessions and potential expansion to new locations, including Ballia and Mughalsarai. Sandeep emphasised the importance of teachers and suggested that participants carry books to encourage reading, sharing a personal experience from his work at a school in Varanasi. The conversation ended with an invitation for Manisha to share the Happy Teachers blog.
The stage is set for Masterclass 2026
Masterclass 26: “The Courage to be Disliked” Launch
Format:
Structure: Zoom Meeting format to enable direct interaction.
Requirement: Participants must purchase the book - The Courage To Be Disliked by Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi.
Opening Session: Join us for the book reading session on 1st of November 2025.
Style: A live dialogue between a “Philosopher” (Sandeep) and a “Youth” (Gurdeep).
Core Theme: Happiness is achieved by living truthfully, free from external validation and the need to please others.
Key Insight: The world’s complexity is subjective, a product of our own interpretations. The solution is to remove one’s “dark glasses” (e.g., inferiority complexes) and see reality directly, which requires courage.
The Youth is working to become a good teacher and the Philosopher helps him reflect and have the courage to teach #HappyTeachers.
गुरु नानक देव जी: सत्य, समानता और करुणा की गाथा
गुरु नानक देव जी का जीवन सत्य, समानता और करुणा की अमर गाथा है। उन्होंने हमें सिखाया कि सच्चा धर्म इंसानियत में है—जब हम दूसरों की सेवा करते हैं, सभी के साथ प्रेम और आदर का व्यवहार करते हैं, तभी हम ईश्वर के निकट पहुँचते हैं। उनका संदेश केवल धार्मिक नहीं, बल्कि मानव जीवन का आदर्श मार्ग है।
उन्होंने कहा— “ना कोई हिन्दू, ना मुसलमान—सब मनुष्य एक ही प्रभु की संतान हैं।”
यह विचार हमें याद दिलाता है कि हर व्यक्ति में वही ज्योति है जो ईश्वर में है। जब हम किसी के प्रति भेदभाव करते हैं, तो हम उस दिव्यता को ठुकराते हैं। आज के युग में, जब समाज में विभाजन, ईर्ष्या और प्रतिस्पर्धा बढ़ रही है, गुरु नानक देव जी का यह संदेश पहले से कहीं अधिक प्रासंगिक है।
अगर हम उनके बताए मार्ग पर चलें—सच बोले, मेहनत करें, और ईमानदारी से बाँटकर खाएं (कीरत करो, नाम जपो, वंड छको), तो निश्चित ही जीवन में शांति, संतोष और सुख की प्राप्ति होती है। उनकी शिक्षाएँ हमें यह सिखाती हैं कि शिक्षा केवल ज्ञान प्राप्त करने का माध्यम नहीं, बल्कि अच्छे इंसान बनने का साधन है।
गुरु नानक देव जी का प्रकाश हम सबके हृदय में उजाला फैलाए, और हमें प्रेरित करे कि हम अपने जीवन से दूसरों के जीवन में भी उजाला बाँटें।
“जहाँ करुणा है, वहीं ईश्वर है।
जहाँ प्रेम है, सच्ची उपासना है।”
— Simran Kaur, Arthur Foot Academy
Books of The Week
Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, 2025.
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny: Shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2025 | A Diaspora Fiction on Belonging, and Modern Relationships by Kiran Desai Rs 999/-
Kiran Desai is the bestselling author of two novels, Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard and The Inheritance of Loss, which won both the Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award
My Good School
Please excuse me from missing out the My Good School Sunday book reading session from this edition of the Good Schools of India joy of learning weekly, as I am en route to Varanasi for the My Good School Retreat. You will find the recording on our YouTube Channel.
Good Schools Alliance
The Learning Langar*
We cultivate a vibrant community of readers, igniting the thrill of discovery and a love for learning #ReadAndLead
*Langar, offered in a Sikh temple, embodies equality, service, and community, providing free nourishment and a sense of belonging. Our Special Projects initiative gives organisations the support they need to help every individual in their personal and social development #JoyOfGiving