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ISSUE 55
MAY 27, 2020
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W H AT I S
THE MYTH OF THE PHOENIX?
Akbar Birbal: Neither here nor there
THE
FARMER AND
HIS QUARRELSOME SONS
WHY IS
IT ‘IN' A MOVIE BUT ‘ON' TV?
FOLKTALE
Akbar Birbal: Neither here nor there
Akbar was always full of praise for Birbal’s wit and
The courtier did not give up easily and kept looking
sense of humour and because of this the other
for the things required by the Emperor, from one
courtiers had grown jealous of Birbal. They always
shop to the other. After a day’s long and tiring
looked out for an opportunity to let Birbal down in
search, he dragged himself to the court and
the eyes of the Emperor.
reported to Emperor, “Jahanpanah, I am sorry to
Once, one of them approached Akbar and said,
have come empty handed. I tried my best but failed
“Huzoor, you have found all of us worthy of being
to get the things that you had asked for. Such
inducted in your royal court. But, we have observed
things do not exist in this world! So, if Birbal can get
that you assign most of the tasks to Raja Birbal only.
those things for you, then all of us will accept his
This deeply hurts us. We can also do the same what
superiority over us.”
Birbal can do, just give us a try.”
Akbar, then called Birbal, and asked him to bring
Sensing the growing resentment in the courtiers,
the same things. Next day Birbal came into court
Akbar said, “Very fine! Let me give you some work.”
and told Akbar what he had done with the three
He thought for a while and said, “I will give you
rupees. He said, “Jahanpanah, I gave the first rupee
three rupees. You have to buy three things from
to a needy beggar. That reached God, from here to
one rupee each. The first thing should be of ‘here’,
there, in another world. I spent the second rupee to
the second thing should be of ‘there’, and the third
buy some sweets, hence it was used here and I
thing should be of ‘neither here, nor there.'”
spent the third rupee in playing dice. We can say
The jealous courtier immediately rushed to the
that this rupee was neither used here nor there (the
market and asked for those things from the
other world)."
shopkeeper. The shopkeeper laughed loudly,
All courtiers were astonished to hear Birbal’s logic.
“Where in the world did you come to hear about
Akbar was pleased to hear Birbal's intelligent reply
such strange things? No such things exist in this
and rewarded him handsomely.
world!”
spot ten differences
Engquiry
I am confused as to what is going ‘on’ ‘in’ my mind!
Questions about the English Language
Why is it ‘In' a Movie But ‘On' TV?
Why is it that when we are talking about actors in a movie, we use the word 'in' but when we refer to them as acting in a TV series, we say they are 'on' television. A movie is like a book. You can be ‘in’ a book or ‘in’ a movie. A television is a physical object and you can be ‘on’ a television. When you are watching television, you are watching pictures displayed ‘on’ the television screen. But a movie is not an object. It is a collection of information or a story and the characters are all ‘in’ a movie. It all started before the invention of movies or television. People used to act in plays, on a stage in the form of stage plays. Another reason can be that television shows are ongoing but movies are not. Thus, you are ‘on’ an ongoing television show but you are ‘in’ a movie. 2
stories in rhyme Three sons an honest farmer had; And it so happened, never a lad Could with the other two agree; All quarrelling perpetually. Their time in idle contest spent, Garden and farm to ruin went; And the good farmer and his wife Led but a miserable life. One day as this unhappy sire Sat musing by his evening fire, He saw some twigs in bundles stand, Tied for the basket-maker's hand. Taking up one: "My boys," says he, "Which is the strongest, let me see;
The Farmer And His Quarrelsome Sons
He who this bundle breaks in twain, The preference, and this prize shall gain," (Showing a pair of Sunday shoes.) The rivals every effort use In vain. Their utmost force when tried, The father took the twigs untied, And giving to them one by one, The work immediately was done. "Yon twigs," he says, "that broken lie, This useful lesson may supply: That those in amity who live, And succor to each other give, Double their forces to resist Oppression, and their work assist."
Fun with Words
AMUSING NEWS
The Phoenix is a Popular Bird!
The phoenix is a very popular bird and has been mentioned in several books and movies. The most popular of these is its mention in the Harry Potter series of books as Fawkes - the pet phoenix of Albus Dumbledore. The mythical phoenix is also in the famous 'Chronicles of Narnia' series!
comic story
einstien iyengar
Science in Art
Eeshan said, “Let us make our very own t-shirt.” Martin said, “How are we going to do that?”
Eeshan smiled and said, “Nitin, can you get me a plain white t-shirt, all the permanent markers you have and the rubbing alcohol from your father’s medicine cabinet. Also, get me a plastic bag and a dropper.”
7
Nitin gave these to Eeshan. Eeshan cut the bag from one side and placed it between the two layers of the t-shirt. He drew patterns and concentric circular dots, using different coloured permanent markers.
He poured the rubbing alcohol in the dropper and said, “You should be careful with the rubbing alcohol, it will burn if you touch your eyes with it. With the technique of chromatography, I am going to make you a t-shirt with an exclusive design!”
As he added drops of rubbing alcohol on the colour, they saw a beautiful pattern emerge. “How did you do that?” asked Martin.
Eeshan explained, “Although permanent ink does not dissolve in water, it will dissolve in alcohol. As the alcohol gets absorbed into the fabric of the shirt, it carries the molecules of colour with it. When the ink evaporates, the colour is left behind. Here, you try!”
Nitin and Martin took turns and made a t-shirt with beautiful patterns. Eeshan said, “Just ask your mother to wash it with coloured clothes. So, do you still want to quit the class, Martin?”
Martin smiled and said, “I am going to wear this t-shirt to class and surprise the others with my knowledge. Thanks, Eeshan!”
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Pondering Corner
What is
a Phoenix?
A phoenix is a mythical bird with colourful feathers and a tail of gold and scarlet. In the ancient Greek and Egyptian mythologies, it is described as a large bird, much like an eagle, with supernatural powers to come back to life. The appearance of this bird has been described differently in different cultures but everywhere, the phoenix bird is looked upon as a symbol of immortality, rebirth and life after death. According to a Greek legend, the phoenix bird lived in Arabia, in the woods near a cool well. Every morning at dawn, it used to bathe in the well and sing melodious songs. Even the sun god stopped his chariot near the well to listen to the beautiful songs of the phoenix. The sun god was supposed to be the mentor of this bird. It was believed that each phoenix bird lived for 500 years, and when it was about to die, it collected some twigs and spices like cinnamon and constructed a nest. Then it calmly sat on the nest and waited for a ray of the early morning sun to set fire to the nest. The bird fearlessly faced its fiery death and did not make any effort to escape from the burning nest. Soon after the phoenix was reduced to ashes, a worm used to come crawling out of the ashes and, within no time, it metamorphosed into a new, beautiful little phoenix. 8
Complete the
Story...
The whole village gathered in front of the Emperor's palace. Legend had foretold that a new phoenix would be born on this day. It was a known fact that each time a phoenix was born, it would fly out of the palace and bless one child from the village. They all waited expectantly, till the palace gates were suddenly thrown open...
fun facts
with Hamlet the Hamster
To know or not to know, that is the question! Well, wouldn’t you prefer to know?
Fun Facts about the Phoenix The phoenix was a popular bird; there is mention of the phoenix in the Persian, Roman and Chinese mythologies. Some accounts say that each phoenix lived for 97,200 years and could also turn into human beings! People believed that the phoenix had the spirit of fire. Owing to the phoenix’s mysterious ability to be reborn, this bird is a very popular symbol used on flags. The cities of Atlanta, Georgia, and San Francisco, California, have the symbol of the phoenix rising from the ashes depicted on their flags.
Match the bird with the Shadow
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The Team Editor
Assistant and Copy Editor
Aryaa Naik Dalmiya
Contributing Writers Kaniz Fatima Khan
Priyanka Garegat
Deepti Raavi
Ekta Bhatnagar
Raunaq Amarnani
Rituparna Chatterjee
Archana Rajagopal
Content
Lavanya Khare
Layout and Design Walmik Pawar
Artists
Kalpana Siromani
Amol Padwal Shailendra Havane Sujith VS
Distribution
Rohini Dusane Sitanshu Bhartiya Atul Wankhade
Digital Marketing
Archana Rajagopal Bharat Pillai
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Creator Jesh Krishna Murthy
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