Cq june2013

Vol 2 / Issue 5 / 56 Pages / June 2013 RNI No. APENG/2012/44693

R50

Your Educational Search Begins Here

A Monthly Educational Magazine for Students, Parents & Teachers From Letter to Email Evolution of communication

Appropriate Friends

mpanionship

How kids build bridges of co

es

Career in the Armed Forc Protecting our country

Patience

A key to successful parenting

www.crystalquestmagazine.com

Wikimedia Commons

Salvador Ă lvaro Nebot/Age/Dinodiaa

Map not to scale

Illustration by Team Oktopus

Rook/Yay/Dinodia

Ivan Vdovin/Age/Dinodia

Š sv:P.A. Sparre (1828-1921) | Wikimedia Commons

Editor’s Note

Dear Students, Teachers and Parents, Warm greetings Quest!

from

Crystal

So, we’re back to school. New books, a new class, new teachers, new friends, a new syllabus, and more knowledge to make us smarter. How exciting it is to wait for the new academic year to unfold before us! Busy days are here again, and it is time once more for early rising, rush-rush mornings, studies, homework, and retiring to bed on time.

Friends, this is the month of June.

Do you know why it is called so? The Latin word for ‘June’ is

‘Junius’. However, there are some who say the month has been named after the Roman Goddess Juno, while some others believe it comes from ‘juniors’ or ‘junior’.

surprise your parents?), as well as a closer look at the game of cricket, which can mean a lot to many people, especially with the recently concluded IPL craze.

The month of June also marks the celebration of World Environment Day, and I am sure you will do your bit to safeguard our wonderful planet. Do read our Eco page for some tips on how you can do so.

Let me not take up too much of your time, as I am sure you are looking forward to flipping through the pages and enjoying all the interesting articles we have put together for you. Wishing you all the best and that you begin your new academic year with a bang!

Also, did you know that some parts of the world celebrate ‘Donald Duck Day’ on June 9? It was on this day in 1934 that this iconic cartoon character made his on-screen debut!

Neelambari Shelar EDITOR

There is so much to gain from information like this. Hence, we at Crystal Quest put together many exciting things for you to go through and learn. After our previous Holiday edition, we have compiled a variety of articles in this issue that can help you benefit during the back-to-school season. We have recipes of mango shake and other delights so that you can treat your taste buds (in fact, why not attempt to make these after school and

CQ

Refresh, Recharge, Resume

CQ TEAM EDITOR Neelambari Shelar EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Nandini Sengupta FEATURE WRITERS Neelambari Shelar Nandini Sengupta Suchandra De Sarkar Abin Pramanik

Anupriya Sengupta Tullika Roma Dindi Zainab Dehegamwala CREATIVE DIRECTOR Neelambari Shelar GENERAL MANAGER Jayasudha Gantasala

MARKETING MANAGER HYDERABAD Venkata Ramana Murthy MARKETING MANAGER GOA Sandeep Kamble MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS Deepa Bajamahal, Sarvesh Veluskar

LOGISTICS & DISTRIBUTION Reddy Ramkumar DESIGNED AND PRINTED BY Spenta Multimedia CONCEPTUALISED AND PUBLISHED BY Neelambari Shelar

Contents

08

06 Feature – From Letter to Email 08 Career – Career in the Armed Forces 10 School Review – Hyderabad 12 School Review – Mumbai 13 School Review – Goa 14 School Review – Vizag 15 Flavour of the Month – Post-Holiday Blues 16 Passion to Profession – Illustrator 19 Angels in Disguise – Upkaar Charitable Trust Visakhapatnam 20 Education Abroad – Come and Study in Russia!

22 Little Globetrotter – Kashmir 25 Inventions – The Wireless 26 Grammar – Evolution of Modern Words 28 Expert Talk – Eye and You 30 Sports – Cricket 33 Confessions of a Prankaholic 34 Student Talk – Appropriate Friends 35 Parent Talk – Appropriate Friends

16

36 Teacher Talk – Appropriate Friends 37 Recipe – Mango Shake 38 Recipe – Papaya Shake 39 Recipe – Nutella Banana Sandwich 40 Soft Skills for Parents – Patience 41 Soft Skills for Students – Patience 42 Soft Skills for Teachers – Patience 44 Grooming – Make a Big Splash!

46 Lost Games – Chinese Whispers 48 Eco – Catastrophic Effects of Climate Change on Birds and Animals 50 My Moral Strongest – Telling Tales and Tattling 53 Yoga – Stretching to Good Shape 54 On the Shelf – The Thrilling Detectives

Crystal Quest Magazine Editorial Office: Flat No. 402, Trendz Developers, Rushikonda, Opp. Gitam College, North Gate, Visakhapatnam: 530045, Andhra Pradesh Tel.: +91-97011 10566 Hyderabad Office: Srinivas Nagar Colony, Shivam Road, Hyderabad: 500013, Andhra Pradesh Tel.: +91-87909 41414 Goa Office: Edcon Towers, Unit No. 306, 3rd Floor, Near Fidalgo Hotel, Panaji: 403001, Goa Tel.: +91-95525 65923 Mumbai Office: 36 Turner Road, Unit No. 201, Turner Road, Bandra (West), Mumbai: 400050, Maharashtra Tel.: +91-97011 10566 Website: www.crystalquestmagazine.com Helpline No: +91-97011 10566 Email: info@crystalquestmagazine.com Advertising Enquiry: info@crystalquestmagazine.com

Published by Mark International Cover Image Credit: Shutterstock / IndiaPicture

36

40

Credits for images inside: Shutterstock / IndiaPicture, Dreamstime.com, Dinodia photos

DISCLAIMER: Duplicating all or any part of this magazine, including photocopying, recording, facsimile transmission, electronic or physical transmission, or otherwise, is prohibited. This magazine and its articles are for information purposes only and do not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation to buy any products or services.

The content of this magazine does not seek to influence the opinions/behaviours of the readers. The views and opinions expressed in the articles contained in this magazine are those of the authors and do not constitute the views of the publisher, Mark International, or the printer, Spenta Multimedia.

The publisher and the printer are not responsible for any damage or loss resulting from reliance on or use of any information provided in this magazine.

7 mail where one message can be electronically transmitted to one or more recipients. The general public has been using this method of communication for business or personal purposes extensively since 1993. However, the United States government departments had been sending messages on their own networks since early 1970s and the first email was sent over the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) in 1971. Then came instant messaging, where a text message is transmitted immediately either through a computer over the internet or on a cellular phone.

NOSTALGIA OVER COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE Email and instant messaging are friendly, easy-to-use and extremely effective tools of communication in today’s fast-moving world.

The United States Postal Service commented that “the adoption of the Internet as a preferred method of communication” has caused a decline in writing letters. However, emails can never replace the feeling of touching a piece of paper and feeling the presence of a loved one through their handwriting. Even though we no longer have the time to write a long, rambling letter a postcard from a long-lost friend, or an elderly relative, or a friend from school still excites us. It’s the personal touch that sets apart a hand-written letter, with blotches of ink or scratched out sentences, from the email. No doubt emails are here to stay due to their convenience, people’s busy schedules and the lack of time to complete even dayto-day tasks. Good old traditional letters will however remain a legacy, to cherish and respect, and not forget human history which we are children of.

SEE WHAT A LETTER CAN DO! In 1980 a librarian of a small county school in California wrote to the famous American film director Francis Ford Coppola on behalf of her school’s students, requesting him to consider making a film from their favourite novel S.E.Hinton’s The Outsiders. She enclosed the book and a petition signed by 110 students. Coppola read the book and then made a film starring Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez and Diane Lane. The Outsiders was released in 1983.

Here goes the letter:

“Lone Star School Library 2617 South Fowler Avenue Fresno, California 93725 March 21, 1980 Mr. Francis Ford Coppola 1 Gulf and Western Plaza New York, N. Y. 10023 Dear Mr. Copolla: I am writing to you on behalf of the students and faculty of Lone Star School. We hope you will take the time to consider our request.

We are all so impressed with the book, THE OUTSIDERS

by S. E. Hinton, that a petition has been circulated asking that it be made into a movie. We have chosen you to send it to.

In hopes that you might also see the possibilities of the movie we have enclosed a copy of the book.

Lone Star is a small school in Fresno County. We have a student body of 324 students. It is a kindergarten through eighth grade school. I feel our students are representative of the youth of America. Everyone who has read the book, regardless of ethnic or economical background, has enthusiastically endorsed this project. This plea comes from our seventh and eighth grade students.

We feel certain that if you will read the book you will agree with us.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely yours, (Signed) Jo Ellen Misakian (Mrs. John Misakian) Librarian Aide”

Crystal Quest

June 2013

8

Career

Career in the Armed Forces I (name) hereby solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India, as by law established and that I will, as in duty bound honestly and faithfully, serve in the regular army/ air force/ navy of the Union of India and go wherever ordered, by land, sea or air, and that I will observe and obey all the commands of the President of the Union of India and the commands of any superior officer set above me, even to the peril of my life. ……………………..the oath of allegiance

a ri / Age / Dinodi Pietro Scozza

Tullika Responsibility!! The heaviest word for today’s youth is however an integral part of growth and development of self and career.

Though career planning took its own time to make way into the adolescent mindset, but is now the buzzword in every interaction. Bacha!! Apne bhavishya ke liye kya socha hai?? Aage ka kya iradaa hai beta??? Even at school, the interim period of cross bench discussions involve future prospects, planning and preparation for the next decade. The substantial movement of logistics in pursuit of the ever growing goals would bow down to wrong choice and failed planning, unless the traits are best analysed and harped upon right from day one towards fruitful culmination. For those who aspire for a dignified, decorated, eventful, elite, envious but disciplined

June 2013

lifestyle a worthy effort would lie in seeking a career in the Indian Armed Forces.

The one and only service offering a viable entry into officers’ cadre immediately after school/junior college offers the finest recognition and stability in addition to the ever expanding avenues of adventure and probability to explore.

National Defence Academy. The beginning of the career lies in the combined entrance test for entry into National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakvasala, Pune.

The eligibility criterion to appear for this test is the most basic, being only a simple 10+2 undergraduate from any recognised Higher Secondary Education program.

The training involves a rigorous 03 years of seamless physical training at NDA as cadets for any of the three services, Army Navy and Air Force in addition to a graduate program awarded by Jawaharlal Nehru University. The graduation is followed by one year of advanced training at Indian Military Academy, Deheradun, the Air Force

ystal Quest

9 RANK STRUCTURE IN THE INDIAN ARMED FORCES Ranks

Service INDIAN ARMY

INDIAN NAVY

INDIAN AIR FORCE

LIEUTENANT

SUB LIEUTENANT

FLYING OFFICER

CAPTAIN

LIEUTENANT

FLIGHT LIEUTENANT

MAJOR

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER

SQUADRON LEADER

LIEUTENANT COLONEL

COMMANDER

WING COMMANDER

COLONEL

CAPTAIN

GROUP CAPTAIN

BRIGAIDIER

COMMODORE

AIR COMMODORE

MAJOR GENERAL

REAR ADMIRAL

AIE VICE MARSHAL

LIEUTENANT GENERAL

VICE ADMIRAL

AIR MARSHAL

GENERAL

ADMIRAL

AIR CHIEF MARSHAL

FIELD MARSHAL

ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET

MARSHAL OF AIR FORCE

Academy, Hyderabad and onboard Naval Training Ships for Army, Air Force and Navy respectively.

PhotosIndia/Dinodia Photo

Indian Naval Academy. The common entrance test for NDA caters for selection as naval cadets into the INA, Ezhimala with minimum qualification being 10+2 undergraduate with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics with 70% marks aggregate and 50% marks in English in 10th or 10+2. The training includes 04 years of B Tech course in addition to the mandatory physical training followed by commissioning into the Indian Navy.

Indian Army 10+2 Technical Entry Scheme. This entry caters for entry into the Indian Army as Technical Officers. The training curriculum includes first phase of training of 01 year at Officers Training Academy (OTA),

Chennai followed by 03 years of professional training at College of Military Engineering, Pune culminating in awarding of a B Tech Degree. The application for enrolment can be filled up online or as notified in employment news.

There exist several such entry schemes for graduates in technical as well as non-technical trades as permanent and short service commissioned officers in regular combat arms. The non-combat arms which include logistics, education, law, construction etc too have direct entry schemes for specialist graduates.

The entry schemes for women are predominantly in the non-combat arms.

Every chunk of brass on the chest speaks volumes of the pain, denial and ardent persistence that the officer has gone through to achieve the privilege of being decorated. The obedience, discipline, decision making, bravery and above all patriotism are the building blocks of a strong character capable of facing the most daring situations. “When going gets tough, the tough gets going” and it never stops once it has commenced, come what may. That’s the way the armed forces are…. After all it’s not about earning a living but within itself.

“ It is a way of life” Crystal Quest

June 2013

10

School Review – Hyderabad

Indus International School And Indus Early Learning Centre SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE SCHOOL Category(Play School/Day School/Residential School): Pre School and Day School Website: www.indusschoolhyd.com, www.indusearlyyears. com Grades: Nursery – PP2 at IELC (Indus Early Learning Centre, Jubliee Hills) Grades 1 – 12 (Indus International School, Shankarpally).

Syllabus: IISH offers the IB (International Baccalaureate) curriculum.

Grades Nursery to PP2 – Indus Early Learning Centre Grades 1 to 5 – PYP: Primary Years Program Grades 6 to 8 – MSP: Middle School Program Grades 9 and 10 – IGCSE: International General Certificate of Secondary Education.

Grades 11 and 12 – IBDP: International Baccalaureate Diploma Program Admission dates: All year long School strength: 317 Timings: 8:45 am – 3:15 pm

June 2013

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK Principal: Mr. Omkar Joshi

At IISH we believe in whole education but not at the cost of academic excellence.

It is a difficult task to get the right balance between academics and whole education. With Leadership development among the students and teachers at the heart of Indus, we strive to find the right balance. We believe that every child is born potential, It is the environment and the opportunities that the school provides to young minds that ultimately decide the kind of world citizens that the school gives to the community.

At Indus we strongly believe that children should experience the core values of Indus – Love, Empathy, Respect and Discipline.

Crystal Quest

11

HISTORY Indus International School was established with an ennobling vision: Creating leaders of the future, by imparting holistic education, in an environment of excellence. Indus International School, Hyderabad came into existence in July 2008 at Mokila near Shankarpally, and is a brainchild of the Indus Trust. The 1st Indus school was established in 2003 in Bangalore. Indus - Bangalore has been judged the 1st best international school and Indus Hyderabad as the 11th best International school (2011-12) in the country. This is a survey conducted by Education World. Bangalore is now host to 950 students from 28 countries. Indus - Hyderabad has 317 students from 13 countries.

DESCRIPTION Indus schools are managed by the Indus Trust. Our CEO ensures that we retain the culture, values, mission and vision across all Indus International schools. The

Crystal Quest

FROM THE FOUNDER’S DESK The vision of Indus is to create global citizens and leaders of tomorrow through traditional values of love, respect, empathy and discipline – 21st century leaders who think globally but act locally.

With this vision in mind, Indus schools have incorporated the Leadership Curriculum for students and the Leadership teacher track for teachers. In Indus schools, leadership is experiential and acquired by deliberate practice.

faculty, teaching pedagogy and facilities are of truly world-class standards which kindle a love for learning, a respect for cultural diversity and a strong sense of social responsibility among the students.

The ethos of the school is rightly captured in its motto - In Omnia Paratus or ‘prepared for all challenges’, and this is achieved through a unique and well-defined curriculum, as well as a strong emphasis on “learning beyond the classroom”.

As a part of our co-curricular activities we offer Dance, Music, and Art. Sports offered are swimming, horse riding, football, basket ball, lawn tennis, table tennis, cricket, badminton, yoga, and karate. We also encourage a variety of activities: Student Council, cooking, gardening, reading, and photography, sewing, drama, music as a part of the Hobby Club.

June 2013

12

School Review – Mumbai

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (OLPS) SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE SCHOOL Category: Day School Address: St. Anthony’s Road, Chembur, Mumbai – 400071 Tel.: +91-22-2521 1614 Syllabus: Maharashtra Board (SSC) Grades: Pre-primary (St. Gerard’s Kindergarten) to Class X

HISTORY The foundation stone of OLPS, Mumbai, was laid in January 1957 by the then President of the Bombay Pradesh Congress Committee. Initially, the school was part of the nearby St. Anthony Girls’ High School.

However, it later shifted base to its present building and started functioning as an only-for-boys’ school.

The initial strength of the school was commendable for an institution that had just commenced operations — 853 students in kindergarten through Class VII. Besides, the school, at that time, had the services of 21 teachers and masters. The student count received a great push with Galway University (Ireland) graduate Rev. Fr. Brian McGrath-Css.R. taking over as the Principal in October 1961 — in less than four years of his appointment, the number of students increased to 1,413! Since then, OLPS has grown by leaps and bounds to the highly successful school it is today, under the effective leadership of its brilliant principals, headmistresses and managers. Last year, OLPS was included among the top 10 schools in Mumbai’s east zone in the Hindustan Times Top Schools Survey list.

FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES Facilities such as laboratory, library, air-conditioned audio-visual room, and a convertible stage with a quadrangle that doubles as an auditorium with a dome-shaped fibre rooftop.

MESSAGE FROM THE MANAGER The quality of a school is reflected by its students, and the boys of OLPS, with their tremendous potential, have put Fr. Paul Julius their school among the city’s most prestigious and renowned educational institutions. It’s a good thing that our students pass their exams with flying colours.

We, however, realise that this is not enough. We believe a child’s overall growth is also reflected through various extracurricular activities. That is why, time and again, our school brings out a host of events for kids to participate in, including sports such as cricket, football, martial arts, lawn tennis, and swimming; science exhibitions; nationallevel competitions; arts; essay writing; and social activities. The children are also exposed to the diverse cultures and the breathtaking beauty of our country through excursions, treks and camps.

What began 56 years ago continues its journey with a focus on growth and on providing better facilities through new ventures.

A good number of extracurricular activities.

A strong and dedicated PTA. The school yearbook titled Clarion, which showcases the achievements of the school’s students and also covers the current affairs of the country.

A Student Discipline Squad that maintains discipline in the school.

EMINENT ALUMNI

Anil Kapoor (actor) Shankar Mahadevan (music director and singer) Parsuram Bros. (musician group) Aditya Tare (cricketer who also plays for the Mumbai Indians IPL team) Abey Kuruvilla (cricketer) Ram Sampath (music director)

June 2013

Crystal Quest

School Review – Goa

13

Mushtifund High School SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE SCHOOL Category: Day School Address: Panjim, Goa Phone number: 08322222699 Syllabus: Goa Board School strength: approx 1,000 Timings: 8.00 am to 1.30 pm Principal: Aparna Chari

BASIC INTRODUCTION Mushtifund Saunstha (Konkani) or simply The Saunstha, is a not-for-profit educational institution founded in 1908 in Goa, India by locals aspiring to spread elementary education in the native Konkani/Marathi language as opposed to that in the Portuguese language in use then as a primary language of instruction as a direct consequence of the Portuguese rule in Goa. The Saunstha currently is one of the largest in the state, having a student community of over 2,500. It runs three elementary schools, one high school, one junior college, and one technical school. The school has been known for over a decade for its top notch academics in high school. The Saunstha operates from its main building in the heart of the Panaji city on Dr.Dada Vaidya Road.

The Mushtifund Middle School operates from the Mala Fontainhas (quarter) campus.

The School Centenary was celebrated in 2008. The word “Mushtifund” is derived from the Sanskrit word “Mushti” for “fist” and the English word “fund” for “funds”. The school has recently partnered with Next Education (smart learning services) in a bid to modernize the school’s infrastructure and each class has been provided with a projector, computer unit and interactive board facility. It is based on digital audio-visual content to enhance the learning experience.

various vocational courses. The first part of the new building seen here was operational in 1995, and it was almost doubled in size in 2001.

Mushtifund High School being a government-aided organization provides free education to students and subscribes to the Goa Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education’s 10+2 system of education, and boasts of distinguished and experienced faculty. The high school, in recent years, has been popular in the state for its excellence in quizzing and sports. The Mushtifund High School graduates are frequent on the state’s most prestigious Rajhauns SSC Toppers’ List. The school has a legacy of imbibing in its students self discipline and the noble principles of honesty, and of instilling in them the perseverance to tackle challenges in the real world.

Education is the gradual process of acquiring knowledge and skills. Activities of education are carried out formally at school. Mushtifund High School is one such establishment where a seat of learning is housed.

Efforts are taken here to promote and foster all round development of a child. Every academic year has special plans for the students and efforts are taken to materialize them. We inspire values, discipline, quality, culture, attitude, approach etc in children. Here along with academics, we do impart knowledge in music, dance, drama, literature, art, painting, folk arts etc.

The Mushtifund Higher Secondary School’s science section has a rigorous admissions procedure to induct only the cream of the student community. It boasts of top notch academics in the state board’s HSSC. A good student teacher ratio ensures healthy teacher-student relations and quality learning. The school also features a library with world-class books. It subscribes to reputed publications like Scientific American and Random House.

Compiled by Sandeep

HISTORY The history of the institution dates back to more than a hundred years ago. In 1908, a handful of locals gathered to establish an educational society to propagate knowledge and elementary education using Marathi/Konkani as a medium of instruction. This resulted in what we know today as the Mushtifund Saunstha. Funding was not easy . So it was decided that they collect a handful of rice instead of cash from Goan households, and sell it in the local markets in exchange for cash to run the Saunstha. This explains the name “Mushtifund”, which means, funds collected in handfuls. Originally a primary school, it expanded to 10th grade in 1996 and added a higher secondary to take it to 12th in 1998. Subsequently it has also added Crystal Quest

June 2013

14

School Review – Visakhapatnam

Divine Touch SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE SCHOOL Category: Play School, kindergarten and crèche Address: 11-3-6/A, Plot – 9, Gangapur Layout, Near Governor Bungalow, Siripuram, Visakhapatnam - 2 Website: http://www.divinetouchplayschool.in Phone: 0891 2592233,9848198614 Grades: Nursery to UKG Syllabus: Montessori system Admission dates: April 30th - June 1st, 2013 New session: June 10th, 2013 School strength: 150 Timings: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. for the Play group, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. for the Kindergarten and 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. for the crèche

Lessons at Divine Touch include the right blend of ancient wisdom and modern. There is the required amount of knowledge imparted to children through yoga, moral science lessons, lessons on respect for elders, on Indian culture and in making them realise from a young age that ‘it is in giving that we receive’. All this combined with a modern infrastructure contributes to making this school ideal for the complete development of a child.

The focus is on physical, spiritual, mental and aesthetic growth of the child. Learning is activity based. Children are taken on field trips to make them more curious about the world around them. A doctor is always available on call. Prayer is also a part of the learning process here.

Children are taught to be responsible and have fun at the same time.

June 2013

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK Every child is unique.

At Divine Touch we want to enhance their ability in whichever area his or her Mrs. Neha Das natural talent is. The structure of the school is non-competitive in nature, since true human capabilities do not find expression in competition but only in relaxation.

Mind and body works best only when one is joyful, peaceful and quiet within. In the words of Thomas Dewar “Minds are like parachutes. They only function if they are open.” This is what we are trying to give at Divine Touch - an atmosphere that is free from pressure and full of love and warmth where learning is a joy.

FACILITIES The school is very well equipped with not just appealing, colourful classrooms but also ball pool, splash pool, a puja room, art and craft room and Audio Visual room.

The vision is “to recognise, understand and focus on the specific ability of each child, and to actively encourage the trait which makes his aptitude different from the rest.

This is most likely to give him happiness and joy in the long run.”

Crystal Quest

Flavour of the Month

15

Post-Holiday Blues

The best solution to holiday blues is to do something for someone special”…..so hurry up and get going, make that special coffee for your mother, that greeting card for your friend’s birthday or iron your Father’s shirt, make someone feel special and feel good yourself. You will soon stop pining for the bygone holidays and look forward to a brighter tomorrow with loads to be done!

Roma Dindi A long, lazy summer vacation is coming to an end and you can already feel the blues creeping in. You aren’t the only one feeling the post holiday let-down. Anyone and everyone indeed feels this way at the end of a fabulous vacation. How you wished this would never end but who can avoid it. But it is not the end of the world because you could still do a lot of things after a vacation.

Share your thoughts with family and friends and you will find out they are having the same post-holiday blues. After you verbalize your feelings there are things you can do to alleviate your sadness...

Make a short to-do list of activities you’d like to do along with your school work. You could have movie nights with your family or a slumber party with your friends during the

Crystal Quest

weekend. Don’t let the post-holiday blues make you inactive.

In other words, keep moving.

Put on your best clothes and step outside for fresh air. It’s better to breathe refreshing air than to stand in your shabby at-home clothes staring gloomily out of the front window.

Have an afternoon tidying your home with your family where everyone tackles a room and discards left over or waste material as twine and ribbon, tinsel, boxes or wrapping paper.

Do not forget to recycle. After the cleaning when the house is back to normal everyone will feel more comfortable and better. Plastic bottles and other holiday paraphernalia must be necessarily recycled, floors swept, table tops cleaned, the linen changed and the towels washed. It is a good idea to put on your favourite music while you are doing this and sing loudly. Singing while whisking through your home will break through your post - holiday blues.

Glance through your calendar and see what you have to look forward to. It could be anything. A birthday, a wedding in the family or a visit to another city during that month. There is bound to be something written on that calendar that will bring a smile to your face.

Take an hour to upload all the photos from your digital camera to a computer so that you can look at them and send them to family and friends. Share the good times with your loved ones. The memories are yours to keep eternally.

Phone a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while and catch up on your lives. We often lose out on this as we forget to keep in touch with people and in this way you can also dispel the blues by communicating with someone you miss and value.

Stepping outside your “blue” zone will be easier than you imagine once a good conversation is started.

You could even ask your parents to take you out for shopping.

Buy good books to read. This will keep your mind occupied in case the feeling starts to creep in again.

There are many ways to get rid of post-holiday blues but the best way is to keep moving and to think ahead of everything that will bring you happiness. The most important thing is not to forget the importance of your routine. A routine life could be boring at times but it’s only you who can make it exciting.

June 2013

16

Passion to Profession n

Illustration is art and an artist’s job is to present thoughts through pictures, the better he can do it the more successful he will be!

Suchandra Kar Gupta If you love to doodle, if you express yourself more freely in drawings than texts, if you make your own greetings cards rather than buy them, consider the profession of an illustrator.

The saying goes-If you want to be happy for a lifetime, do the work that you love. Any career counsellor will start his session by asking you to follow your passion.

How can you add value to an image which can be perfectly captured by a modern digital camera? It’s with your imagination and innovation. As Tejas Modak, illustrator and graphic novelist from Pune says“Basically, an illustrator mirrors his world on paper or the computer screen.”

An illustrator’s job is to tell a story or convey an idea through graphic elements such as drawings, paintings, sketches, graphs, charts, maps and cartoons-made by hand or digitally. His medium will be paints, ink, pencils or computer programmes for designing.

June 2013

PREREQUISITES

Excellent drawing skills Aptitude for working on the comp uter.

Capability of underst anding the client’s requirement (brief) and adaptin g your style to it.

Creative and imaginative powe r Ability to visually produce ideas and themes. Flair for artistry and de signs.

An eye for details.

An extensive interest in the visua l arts.

Ability to meet deadlines.

Awareness of ethics and copyrig ht issues.

AFTER YOU FIND YOUR CALLING So you are good with that pencil and paintbrush. How do you give shape to your brilliant ideas like nobody else does? How to prepare for carving your own niche?

We are in 2013. Almost every idea has been tried.

The key to success is not being a copycat but adding your personal touch to an idea. Interpret what you visualise in your own way.

New experiences broaden our scope for creativity every day. Moreover, a voracious reader is more endowed with ideas than others. Read all kinds of books. Keep your eyes and ears open for new ideas.

Keep separate sketchbooks for different themes.

Crystal Quest

17

Get rid of your ego, find others with shared interests and learn from them. Analyse the techniques and growing process of old masters but in the end be your own master and find your own style.

Maintain a blog and post examples of your sketches.

Start a website when you have enough material to promote. Promote your work through the social media. Give updates and post examples of the new techniques you are experimenting with or have mastered.

Take small steps initially and work harder every day.

Experiment with a new medium from time to time.

Be kind to yourself when you make mistakes.

POSSIBLE MARKETS Illustrators can work in different fields and use different artistic media to blaze their trail.

Magazines, stamps.

periodicals,

newspapers,

journals,

Books and book jackets.

Covers of music albums.

Children’s books.

Cartoons, Comics and Graphic novels Films-storyboard artists Fashion illustration-working with designers and art directors to create designs for a line or brand of garments, shoes and accessories and also promotional material for merchandising the apparels on websites, in the print or audio-visual media.

Design or advertisement form - leaflets, billboards, fliers, brochures, logos.

Merchandise-ceramics, stationery, shirts, caps, greeting cards, calendars, wrapping paper, wall paper, packaging for consumer goods.

Multimedia-graphic art; video games; designing for web pages, microsites, graphical user interfaces; flash cartoon illustration, vector illustration, animation etc using digital software.

Medical illustration- for use in medical study material, books, journals, instruction manuals, lectures and powerpoint presentations.

Archaeological illustration Scientific or technical illustration-detailed, accurate and realistic pictures and diagrams for assembly or maintenance manuals, and other documents enclosed with products and machines.

Crystal Quest

June 2013

18

Passion to Profession Botanical illustration.

Architectural illustration-the University of Newcastle, Australia subdivides this into a few groups such as “artefact illustration, interpretation and reconstruction illustration, photography and surveying”.

Mechanical drafting-computer aided designs are used to create images and intricate diagrams of mechanical equipments.

SO YOU LOVE YOUR INDEPENDENCE Freelancing illustration is extremely popular in the job market. You need to establish contacts with publishers, ad agencies, design farms etc. or take professional help from brokers or agents. In an article published in The Guardian, British illustrator Emma Block tells us that art was all she “wanted to do” and she started a blog at 16 to share her artwork.

The comments motivated and inspired her. Then she shifted to courses in art and designing even before graduation. She advises aspiring freelance illustrators to “have a good online presence, be nice to people, know your industry, don’t just do what’s expected of you – work harder and do more, learnt to accept rejection, value your work, be patient and love what you do”.

Creativity and dedication are time-tested values. If you have them and if you are open to new experiments, remember, there is always room for a new kid on the block.

COURSES OFFERED IN INDIA After completing high school (10+2) you can opt for specialised courses. Some of the premier institutes in India are Sir J. J. Institute of Applied Art, Mumbai offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (BFA) in Fine Arts and Sculpture and Master’s degree (MFA) in Fine Arts.

Kala Bhavana, under the Visva-Bharati University at Shantiniketan, West Bengal offers BFA, MFA, Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses in various disciplines of Fine Arts including Painting and Graphic Art (Print Making) College of Art, Delhi (under the University of Delhi) offers both BFA and MFA in disciplines such as Applied Art, Print Making, Visual Communication and others. This institute also offers a 4 years’ Diploma in Fine Arts and a 4 years’ PG Diploma in Fine Arts for the speech and hearing impaired.

June 2013

Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts, affiliated to the University of Kerala offers BFA degree in painting, sculpture and applied arts.

J D Institute of Fashion Technology - New Delhi, and Arch Academy of Design - Jaipur, Rajasthan are some of the institutes to offer courses in Fashion illustration.

Generally the Graduation courses take 4 to 5 years to complete and the postgraduate courses two years.

PEOPLE WHO MADE ILLUSTRATION A SUCCESSFUL CAREER Ram Waeerkar illustrated for the Indian comic strip series Amar Chitra Katha which featured stories from Indian mythology and history. He had illustrated for a calendar at the age of 12. Later he was artist for the children’s magazine Kishor and also the Tinkle Comics and a political cartoonist for the Times of India.

Bhanu Athaiya, a gold medallist from Sir. J. J. School of Art worked as a fashion illustrator in prominent women’s magazines in India before shifting to costume designing for films.

Satyajit Ray, India’s foremost film-maker and winner of numerous national and international awards including an Oscar for Lifetime Achievement, illustrated in his own books written for children and also in the leading Bengali children’s magazine Sandesh, carrying on the legacy of his grandfather and father-himself a skilled and famous writer and illustrator.

Owner of the Padma Vibhushan and the Ramon Magsaysay Award R.K.Laxman drew cartoons for comic magazines before becoming a political cartoonist for the Times of India, a career which spanned over fifty years.

Crystal Quest

Angels in Disguise

19

Upkaar Charitable Trust Visakhapatnam “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” said Rabindranath Tagore.... and this is also the sole inspiration behind the organisation whose satisfaction lies in seeing happiness light up the faces of numerous underprivileged children as they look in wonder, at the electric fan turning above their heads at the peak of summer, walk through puddles in shoes during the monsoon and line up to paint on the computer screens with eagerness!

Have you ever thought why the maid’s son goes to the municipal school and wears chappals while you go to a school, in a car and wear good clothes and well polished shoes? It is because his parents cannot give him what yours can.

The Charity that is a trifle to us can be precious to others said Homer and truly it is so. What you and I take for granted as a simple glass of milk to drink, which many of you even probably throw out when mom is not looking, is a luxury for many kids in our country.

In a country like India where a certain majority lives below the poverty line there are many who require care and help. Donating money to give a better life to someone is one thing, caring for them is something else. At Upkaar Charitable Trust in Visakhapatnam the Trustees believe that every child has the right to live a decent life and thus they created a NGO that helps the underprivileged children by providing them with a unique study atmosphere.

Upkaar has two adopted schools in Village Vellanki in Bheemliputnam mandal where they have built upon the basic infrastructure that is provided to the primary schools by the Government. The dilapidated buildings with leaking roofs have been restructured, maintained and secured with boundary walls. When the Trustees first saw these schools the children used to sit on floors. Within a span of six years they have provided them with benches and computers, and play equipment. Uniforms and shoes are provided routinely along with school bags and every paraphernalia that a child deserves. The Trust employs a computer teacher to teach the small children because they believe that if their own six year olds can get this privilege why not the village kids.

Lack of nutrition was a major cause of many diseases and today the children here enjoy a daily glass of milk and two biscuits at eleven every morning. Many of them come to school with no breakfast in the morning as the majority are children of farm labourers.

The Trustees of Upkaar have a genuine love for any child who deserves something more than what he has and they have adopted and been taking care of each and every need of Harish, Neelima and Yamuna, three orphaned siblings of parents who died of aids and have only the maternal grand parents to turn to.

Aids being rampant in some parts of Andhra Pradesh, there are many orphaned kids and the St Joseph’s orphanage and hospital for such children at Pratipadu are supported by Upkaar in many ways.

Besides this Upkaar offers a plethora of scholarships to college going deserving candidates from underprivileged families and supports two Engineering college female students as well as six other students doing their graduation at present. These are only a few of their activities.

Thus the Trustees of Upkaar can definitely be called angels in disguise for many kids …kudos to them!

Crystal Quest

Compiled by The Crystal Quest Team

June 2013

20

Education Abroad

Come and Study in Russia!

Zainab H Dehagamwala Russia or the Russian Federation – India’s age old friend and ally is the largest country in the world. Its education system is one of the strongest too. Right to education is stipulated in their constitution. Russia has a free primary and secondary education system which is guaranteed for all its citizens, leading to a literacy rate of 98% (higher than most nations in the world). It is chiefly provided by the state and regulated by the Ministry of Education and Science. Hence, most of the schools are run by the state. Recently, both private and international schools have also been established in bigger cities of Russia, like Moscow and St. Petersburg. Year 2010 was designated as the “Year of Teachers” in Russia.

EDUCATION SYSTEM Education in Russia aims at developing an individual, academically, emotionally, ethically and physically. It caters to the development of the individual to adapt them to the society life and to enable them to make correct choices of higher education.

June 2013

Education begins with kindergarten, that is, preschool, which is not compulsory. The basic general education begins at the age of six, and comprises of three stages – 1. Primary education – four forms/standards -6-7, 7-8, 8-9 and 9-10 years of age 2. Basic general education – five forms/standards – 10-11, 11-12, 12-13, 13-14 and 14-15 years of age 3. Secondary education – two forms/standards – 1516 and 16-17 years of age Education till the 9th form/standard is compulsory, allowing the student to choose secondary education or a vocational course thereafter. Also, there exist schools providing 12 years of education which offer part-time education.

RRICULA

ACADEMIC YEAR AND CU

lly begins on 1st of The academic year typica first week of June, post September and ends in the inations are held. Study which, the yearly final exam out of which study hours year consists of 34 weeks, ly 27-36. Scho ol work per week are approximate oral tests. Students are includes both written and ive. Each student owns a graded on a scale of two-f are registered diary where these grades Crystal Quest

21

Philippe Michel / Age / Dinodia

Academic year consists of four terms. Following are the number and duration of vacations that students receive every year: 1. November – one week 2. January – two weeks 3. March – one week 4. Summer – three months A normal day in a school starts as 8 a.m. and finishes by 2 p.m. Most schools follow a five-day week schedule with some exceptions running on Saturdays as well.

Normal teacher to pupil ratio varies from 1:20 to 1:30. Primary school students study four classes in a day, secondary school, five to six and senior high school six to seven; each class lasting for 40-45 minutes with a short break in between.

Russian language & literature, Mathematics, Arts, Technology, Social Sciences, foreign languages, Natural Sciences, Computer Science and Physical Education are compulsory subjects of general education. Optional subjects are also offered. The curriculum is designed by each school as per their judgment and requirement.

Also there are schools that provide specialization in particular subjects like Math, Music, Arts and Sports along with the general course. Some schools offer out-of school activities, such as Philosophy and Economics. And there are others that operate under the tutorship of higher education institutes, providing them their facilities and teaching staff. Moscow State Linguistic University is one such university that provides its auspices to two institutions.

Crystal Quest

LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION In all state-accredited institutions, Russian is the language of instruction.

However, the basic general education is also provided in native languages in certain schools to the diverse citizenship of the Federation. Moscow has a number of international schools that provide education in English and French amongst the other foreign languages. Most children of the expatriate community study here.

Some of the international schools are listed below:  Atlantic International School  The British International School  Slavic-Anglo-American School  Lycee Francais  The International School of Moscow  The English International School Unlike state-run schools, these schools charge tuition fees for an academic year ranging from approximately €11,970 for pre-nursery to €21,400 in senior school. Other charges such as for uniforms, bus-service, meals, assessments, school material could be extra.

Certificate of Basic General Education Students appear for the final exam s after finishing their basic gene ral education.

On passing whi a Certificate of ch Basic General Ed ucation (Attesta obOsnovomObs t hchemObrazivan ii) is awarded them. This allow to s them to apply fo r fu rt he r studies – secondary gene ral education, vo ca tio na l education or non-university education at colle ges/technicums.

June 2013

22

Little Globetrotter

KASHMIR

“Jannat-e-Jahan”! That’s where we are now. The sparkling streams, floral wonders of royal gardens, snow clad mountains, enchanting valleys, untainted air, untouched horizon, enchanting scenery, welcoming populace: The Little Globetrotters are in the heaven on earth, the heartthrob of natural beauty.

Located within the picturesque PirPanjal and the Himalayan range, 830kms from New Delhi, lies the exotic civilization of kashmiris. The colourful amalgam of art and architecture, culture, culinary, religion and above all tranquility qualifies Kashmir over and above every summer holiday destination. A one and half hours journey by air lands us in the lap of the majestic creation once and for all to enjoy.

Tullika SRINAGAR The capital city has it all. The ever bustling bazaars, meandering roads, beautiful Mughal gardens, the ever welcoming Dal Lake with the unique houseboats and shikara rides form a photographer’s delight. The city is rich in Mughal, ancient Hindu and Buddhist art displayed immaculately at the Mughal fort, Shankaracharya Temple and Buddhist monastery.

June 2013

PAHALGAM The ‘humble shepherd’s den’ as the town was once known as, Pahalgam is the starting point of AmarnathYatra. The town has several resorts for every tourist at varying affordability. The hospitable terrain and soothing climate is a perfect recipe for avid trekkers. The temperature never crosses 25degC. The woolen cloaks, shawls, gabbasetc adorn the local markets.

Crystal Quest

23 GULMARG The fabulous beauty of snow clad mountains, close proximity to the state capital and exotic winter sports facilities re-affirm Gulmarg as the most favourite tourist destination of the state. The hamlet is famous for its world class skiing resorts and is home to several international winter sporting events. In addition, the overwhelming beauty of the grassy slopes covered with wild flowers attracts every solace seeking soul.

SONMARG Located 84kms from Srinagar, the drive to Sonmarg takes us through the Sindh valley which is testament to the pristine reputation of Kashmir as ‘Heaven on Earth’.

Each and every peak speaks volumes of the never ending exploration opportunities for visitors.

CLIMATE The climate in Kashmir is forever icy but is extremely pleasant in summers. The best time to visit Kashmir is from March to September. The snow starts to melt from March onwards and the weather is extremely pleasant till September.

Winter The minimum temperatures in winter are well below 0°C and the maximum is only about 15°C.

Summer Maximum temperature is 30°C and minimum is below 14°C.

THINGS TO DO

T

est of ail with r R d n a ir d by A Delhi connecte om New r ll f e e w iv r is d r kms est Srinaga wns is b r the 830 o e t v e e h w t o H in try. laces the coun rs. The p u o h 4 1 out t akes ab

by Taxi. covered

OR T RANSP

Crystal Quest

 Skiing nt aineering  Trekking-mou ide  ShikaraBoatr  City Walks cling  Mount ain Cy  River Rafting  Para Gliding g  Bird Watchin  Golf  Horse riding

June 2013

24

Little Globetrotter

PLACES TO VISIT  Srinagar  Pahalgam  Gulmarg  Sonmarg  Daksum  Kokernag  Yusmarg  Kaharbal

FOOD Wazwan the thirty six course meal served at weddings is the pride of Kashmiri cuisine which has a strong influence of the Mughal food .The only difference is the two culinary styles which differs because there are two types of Kashmiris, the muslims and the pundits.

The pundits use hing or asafetida abundantly while the muslims use onion and garlic freely in their cooking. The popular dishes are roganjosh, which owes its rich red colour to the generous use of Kashmiri chillies Gushtaba, which is the last item to be served in a traditional wazawan, which are meatballs made out of pounded mutton like large-sized Rista but cooked in thick gravy of fresh curd base, Rista(meat balls) made of finely pounded mutton and cooked in a gravy, seekh kababs, tabak maz, or flat pieces of meat cut from the ribs and fried till they acquire a crisp crackling texture,. Yakhni, a cream coloured preparation of delicate flavour, is made with curd June 2013

as a base. Dam-Aaloo and chaman are the commonly served vegetarian dishes.

Mughal Durabar, Ahdoos and Grand, are restaurants on the Residency Road, that offer authentic Kashmiri food.

CLOTHES/THINGS TO CARRY If you are visiting Kashmir during summers you may carry cotton clothes, though it’s not really hot. Light woolen clothes are appropriate for spring and autumn but winters are chilly and require heavy woolen garments, jackets, warm socks, scarves, caps and weaters as also woolen vests.

SHOPPING Kashmiri carpets are very famous and you can also buy shawls, crewel which is a very special type of embroidery on tapestry, wood craft, paper machie items, wire baskets, silver and bronze work, You can buy these to carry home in addition to some food products that this place is famous for as Saffron, Honey, Almonds, Walnut kernels and apples.

Crystal Quest

Inventions

25

Let me tell you a brief history of how I was born.

How is it that certain devices work without any wires or plugs? It’s because of me, the Wireless, and here’s some important information about me and how I work.

Kalyani Majumdar Once upon a time, all long-range communications used wires and not only were impractical and messy but also had their limitations — and then I was born. I am a wireless device, and I do not need a physical wire for relaying information to another device. I can communicate and transfer information between two or more points that are not connected by an electrical conductor. Usually, I use electromagnetic wireless telecommunications such as the radio.

Out of the many wireless devices known to mankind today, we have chosen, for your understanding, a gadget that can be found in almost all homes nowadays — the TV remote control.

Here’s what the inside of one looks like.

MY BIRTH It was during the Second World War that shore-toship communication was made possible through radiotelephony links invented by Reginald Fessenden, and, since the 1940s, handheld radio transceivers have been made available. My ancestors were bulky in size and consumed high power, and the network was not so evolved — it could only support limited conversations — but my contemporaries have better networks now. In 1946, engineers in Bell Labs, United States, began working on a system to allow mobile users to place and receive telephone calls from automobiles, and, in the U.S.S.R., during the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, engineers developed experimental models of handheld mobile phones that weighed only 70 grams. In 1973, Motorola launched the first handheld mobile phone and, not to say, the prototype offered a talk time of just 30 minutes and took 10 hours to recharge!

In 1974, I made history as the successful Motorola Pageboy.

Pagers played an important role in wireless communication for some time. I have come a long way since then and, in the ‘90s, I was being manufactured by leading brands such as Apple, Nokia and BlackBerry. The Research and Development departments have designed me by altering my shape and form and adding applications to make me user-friendly. Now, with advancements in mobile networks and phone models, I have been through the first-generation 1G analog cellular network, second-generation 2G digital cellular networks, and thirdgeneration 3G broadband data services to the current highspeed network of 4G.

Illustration by Team Oktopus

HOW I FUNCTION Many of you might be wondering that, if I don’t have wires, how do I function? I use either radio frequency (RF) or infrared technology to communicate with a transmitter that is connected to the sound source, say a television. In most cases, however, when I am being mentioned, I am a networking device that can pass data to other wireless network gear without being physically connected.

I am almost everywhere around you. With radio wireless technology, I come in various avatars — mobile and portable applications, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), wireless networking, Global Positioning System (GPS) units, garage door openers, wireless computer mice, keyboards, headsets, headphones, radio receivers, satellite television, broadcast television, and cordless telephones. In homes and offices, wireless routers with built-in modems, hubs and switches broadcast a local area network (LAN) for computers in the area to join. Today, I am a necessity, as everyone wants to stay connected all the time, and I help achieve this aim.

Crystal Quest

My future definitely looks bright, as I am evolving every day into something new that is going to be introduced in your world very soon.

June 2013

26

Grammar

Evolution of Modern Words Do you realize how many modern words are there today in our jargon? Some of them are not original, some are the evolution of old words, used in a modern way and some have crept into the language somewhere down the line and has become a part of our spoken and at times written English. Let us study a few of them.

Nandini Sengupta

TALK TO THE HAND

FUNKY This word is slang but has been in use since the 19th re century. It probably originated in the United States whe any in the early twentieth century it was used to refer to ld music that had a strong dance rhythm and people wou s as say that it had a funk beat. People use it in many way funky food, funky clothes or funky cars whenever they off want to refer to something that is a little different or . beat. In British English this word originally meant fear r to It also could mean useless, tasteless, and could refe discomfort as for example ‘I feel funky”.

June 2013

Now this is only for your knowledge, it is not recommended that you this phrase. It means “I am not listening to you’ and you want the other person to stop, so you put up your hand and say “Talk to my hand”. But this is a confrontational and aggressive method of asking the other person to shut up without actually saying it. So do not be rude enough to use this at any point of time!

Crystal Quest

27 AWESOME

How many times in a day do you say awesome?

I know that most of you say it at least five times a day! I am glad that you think that things are awesome but why do you use it?

In the 1980s it was very popular in the United States but originally it referred to something that is wonderful. Today people do use it to refer to a wonderful view as a sunset or a sunrise but it has come to a stage when people refer to anything that is beyond impressive. Today anything that is “cool’ may be called awesome…a car, people, a dress, a sight and it is not clear as to what the person means only that he is delighted with it!

Young and old both use it but it’s more popular amongst the youth. However at times the usage can be rather ridiculous as when they say ….the chocolate cake was wickedly awesome!

CLUELESS

This refers to the fact that you and do not know what is happening n. atio you have no evidence or inform what Hence “I’m clueless”. Clues are ce pla the detective looks for at the rd. of crime and this is a very old wo son per a t Today it refers to the fact tha is has absolutely no idea of what t this tha happening. Hence we can say clue. is an informal usage of the word are Today the youth say ‘you an to clueless’ when they actually me d’. nde mi say, “you are stupid / absent word to However this is a much milder d”. upi “st use in this case than to use One can also say…I am tot ally clueless when he has no idea of what is happening or when he . is unable to execute something Examples would be es I am tot ally clueless when it com to driving. es I am tot ally clueless when it com to spellings.

‘WHATEVER!’

This is a grammatical expression that has been in use in the English language for ages. It is a pronoun and is used as a determiner example: “Eat whatever is there on the table’Note the tone and context in which it is used, it is the tone that often makes the difference.

Whatever is also used to give emphasis as “They had no whatever reason to walk out in that manner” or “Whatever n in happened?” This usage is very commo bus English as when we say’ “We will go by e or whatever is available.” But sometim down the line people shortened it to one refer word, and started using ‘whatever’ to to living and non living objects.

So men women and youth, all use it today to refer to any thing as whatever!

Crystal Quest

MAKE MY DAY

This means to please someone or make them happy. When someone makes you very happy, praises you or gifts you something exciting you feel incredibly happy and to express that emotion you may say, ‘Oh you made my day!’ The saying originated from a film but is today used often in colloquial English.

June 2013

28

Expert Talk

Eye and You When you read and when you write, Just sit up straight; don’t turn left and don’t turn right.

As told to Priyanka Agarwal Text compiled by Parijat Belliappa with Priyanka Agarwal There are mainly two categories of eye problems children can face — vision-related problems and infections.

COMMON EYE PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN Refractive errors (eye problems that require glasses for correction) Amblyopia (some children who do not use glasses can develop this visual-impairment condition — also known as ‘lazy eye’) Conjunctivitis (infection of the outer part of the eye) Stye (infection of the sebaceous glands on the eyelids) Squint (deviation of one of the eyes, due to which the eye does not look straight) Ptosis (drooping of the eyelids) Blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids) Corneal diseases (a group of eye diseases that affect the cornea — includes keratoconus) Allergic eye diseases (causes may include seasonal changes and pollutants) SYMPTOMS TO WATCH OUT FOR Poor academic performance Difficulty or lack of interest in reading, writing or paying attention

They say there is more to good vision than good eyesight. Dr. Vandana Jain, Co-founder and Director of Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute, Navi Mumbai, shares her insights on how children’s eye health can be ensured.

Headaches, eye pain or squinting Holding objects too close to the face Watching the television at a really close distance Tilting of the head to look at things Improper posture when reading or writing — almost lying down while working Time taken to do homework is longer than usual Eye rubbing Tears flowing Swelling in eyes Redness in eyes Pus formation Crust formation Sensitivity to light Bulging or jiggling eyes Droopy eyelids Formation of white, yellow or grey-white material in the pupil

TESTING FOR EYE PROBLEMS The first testing should be done at the age of six months, even if the child’s eyes appear normal.

The next check-up should be at the age of three, then at 8–9 years of age, and later at 14–15 years of age.

If a problem is detected or there is a family history of eye problems, the check-ups should be done even more frequently.

June 2013

Crystal Quest

29 IMPORTANT POINTERS Parents should let the child choose their own glasses, in terms of colour and style.

For children, plastic frames with plastic, unbreakable glass are advisable. The glass should be a light, polycarbonate material and of an anti-glare variety.

It has been found that almost 40 per cent of the children who are supposed to wear glasses do not wear them because either their peers tease them or they think they don’t look good, apart from other reasons. Hence, the teacher should intervene, have a discussion with the child, assure them that it’s alright to wear glasses, and encourage them.

Children should not be glued to the computer or video games for long hours — an hour or two of these activities per day, with breaks interspersed in between, is safe.

Normal reading distance is half a metre.

For reading and writing, children should sit on a comfortable chair alongside a table; the height of both should be as per that of the child. The child’s back should be straight, not bent, and their hands should rest on the table. There should be normal illumination from a source of light such as a tube light, with the light thrown onto the object and not on the child’s eye.

Do not apply kajal to newborn babies or wash their eyes with rose water.

Encourage the use of protective eyewear during swimming and contact sports.

If eye problems are not detected or treated in time, the brain may prefer the better eye over the affected eye and so the affected eye may become amblyopic or ‘lazy’. A squint may also occur in case of such a delay.

The child may, as a result, develop low self-esteem, low self-confidence, and a general lack of interest in studies and academics.

DIET Indian vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian diet is good for the eyes. As vitamin A is essential for eye health, the following foods are recommended: Carrots Mangoes Papayas Beetroot Green leafy vegetables

EXERCISES As long as there is no muscle imbalance, the eyes do not need any exercise. However, a child’s eyes should get adequate rest, especially after activities such as reading, studies, computer sessions, and video gaming. Teachers should make it a habit for students to relax their eyes, look at a distant object, and rub their palms together and place them on the eyes in between classes.

LENSES In general, wearing contact lenses before 15 years of age is not advisable. The age around 15 is when a child is usually mature enough to take care of their eyes and contact lenses.

Although children active in sports may be given contact lenses, they are still advised to not wear them for long hours.

Monthly disposable contact lenses are what children are initially prescribed. In case of the problem of dryness, kids may be given fortnightly or even daily disposable contact lenses. Cosmetic contact lenses for children are a no-no.

LASER SURGERY FOR CORRECTING MYOPIA This is definitely not recommended for children below 18 in normal cases. The only time when LASIK may be performed in a child is when their one eye has a very high number and the other eye has a far lesser number — for example, –8 in one eye and –1 in the other. (A child can’t wear the normal kind of glasses with more than 2.5 dioptres of difference between the two eyes.) Also, the number in an eye should be stable for the LASIK to be performed.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT EYE INFECTIONS SUCH AS CONJUNCTIVITIS Everything the child uses — towel, soap and other things — should be kept separate. The child should be made to wear sunglasses, especially if there’s any discomfort, and disallowed from touching their eyes. In case the child is given eye drops, they should stop wearing contact lenses. These lenses, along with the case and the solution, should be discarded. Eyes need rest at this time, so the child should avoid too much of homework or using the computer. The child should avoid going to school so that the infection does not spread to others.

A cool water compress may provide relief to a child during an allergic pink-eye. If viruses or bacteria have caused the conjunctivitis, a warm compress may be useful.

To maintain eyelid hygiene, gently scrub only the lid margin with a facecloth or cotton swabs dipped in warm water and a few drops of a hypoallergenic baby shampoo.

Conjunctivitis does not spread by looking but by touch.

Crystal Quest

June 2013

30

Sports

CRICKET

Cricket originally known as the ‘Gentleman’s game’ is extermely popular in India and is played by every lad in the nook and corners of this country, each one aspiring to be a Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara or Vivian Richards. This game originally played by the English aristocracy has now become a profession for some!

Abin Pramanik Cricket is a modern bat and ball game started by the Englishmen in the 13th Century A.D. It started as a game of the shepherds and became popular among other classes of England in the 13th century.

Cricket was introduced in India by the British royalty. The Parsee community of India was one among the first to take up this game because of their association with British colonial people.

What started off as a “gentleman’s game” because of its skill testing demands rather than general physical bravado, is now the most popular and commercial game in south Asian countries; especially the Indian subcontinent. It also has a significant impact on the pop culture of Commonwealth countries where it is played.

In India, after the country won its first World Cup in 1983, the popularity of the game reached a skyhigh level and pre-dominantly became a fanaticism to reckon with.

Gameplay Cricket is played between two teams consisting of 11 players each on a circular ground with a 22 yard pitch in the centre of the field. Depending upon the toss of a coin at the beginning of the match, each team gets its chance to bat and subsequently bowl and field while the opponent team is on the crease. The number of turns to bat — which is called “innings” — depends on the format of the game. Also dependant on the format of the game is limitation of overs (6 balls per over). In a professional cricket match, the game’s duration varies from 20 over per side in the Twenty-20 format to Test cricket played over 5 days. The rules of the game is maintained by International Cricket Council [ICC] and Marylebone Cricket Club [MCC], the former being the sports’ highest governing body and the latter being the sport’s premier club from the early days.

BY GWEBSTOCK http://gwebwt.blogspo

June 2013

Crystal Quest

31 ated Terminologies

el Rules and Sports R

em and two bails dist ance between th n ai rt ce a game dismissed by the on the format of the them. If the bails get of p to on Innings- Depending or 2 the batsman on er there would be 1 ever it might be, then w ho ll, ba it gets decided wheth d that is considered out an se merely suggests that It ea e. cr m e th ga e of th e in s sid ng that inni an in waiting to ch sequence where hi w in ith w t ba e for the next batsm to tim ts its en th team ge the ead. bowls/field. It’s set by me to the crease inst co as the opposite team e. d by an appointed ginning of the gam The game is regulate re pi Um toss of a coin at the be m se, cides everything fro get down on the crea de en ho m w ts , ba on o rs Tw pe l gra in ut ne Batt extras, from playing to score runs. While d h, an tc pi es th or sc ng le to rd s al ya dismiss the 22 There r st ands on the he ot e th d end of the game. r le w bo e th suitability to st art an one faces one being behind ease. umpires on the field, o tw e ar opposite side of the cr -leg ler, to other in the square delivered by the bow e th is ll d ba an e Th ps gum st lin w e th Bo pire sits behind ending upon the skill ep –d to t no or while another third um ns n, ru io sit po score t the using the intention to resis ings to make calls the televised record of each delivery, with . video evidences. batsman to score runs e the th of ge ar ch s ke e errors made by wler ta th bo e e ar th e le es hi W Th ng as di tr Ex Fiel s ) the batting side gain other players (fielders ch 10 hi e w th to s, e ie du er e liv sid de g g fieldin bowlin strategically place d an ld fie e th ke ta additional runs. of the team e th by g in or sc ways to get a e th stop ls- There are 10 sa is sm Di themselves so as to s. ps is being rare occurrence em eeper behind the stum th t-k of ke 5 ic t, w ou A . an an m m ts ts ba ba e ong the 11 players ar am 10 l til s ue in nt t. co This a mus overs per innings chance to produce e th ts ge r le w bo e number of limited ch th or t ou Over- Ea at the on the format of Hence the batsman pleted; depending up m co ts ge 6 deliveries in a go. mber se gets the same nu ea cr e th of d en r he the game. ot e a tie–that is the gam . of ns se ru e ca or In sc ch to s at ce m an Draw of ch g equal runs or an in the field after the ill st is ll ba e th le ith both teams scorin hi w ng di en Runs- W run to considered as a two batsmen get to e match–the match is et pl m co in bowling delivery the of the mber . In the limited format pitch to score. The nu e ch th at m of e aw sid dr r he ot e th for at becomes an issue mber of runs scored. th nu if e th e, is m n ga ke ta s rn of tu dary tournament, ll rolls on to the boun the progress of the Boundary- If the ba e ball oken by runs are scored. If th then the tie is br of the field then four ical the complex mathemat dary without rolling on un a bo e th er ov es ss pa ewis hod– Duckworth-L e scored. et ar m ns ru six en th nd grou – are of wickets–3 in each method.

Wickets- Two pairs ng ni ai nt ai ds of the pitch, m stumped at both the en

Crystal Quest

June 2013

32

Sports

Various formats of the game In professional cricket there are 3 formats of the game

Test Cricket- It is considered the highest standard of the game (and also the oldest). It spans around 5 days with two innings to play for each side. There are total 10 test playing international cricketing nations- England, Australia, West Indies, South Africa, India, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Zimbabwe,Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Twenty20- The most recent format with 20 playing overs for each side.

One Day match- This is one of the limited formats of the game with 50 overs for each side to play.

Equipment Used

Sudharak Ol we/Dinodia Photo

odia on /Age / Din Classic Visi

Manoj Patil/Dinodia Photo

Cricket is played with a bat and a ball. The other ne wickets. Players tr cessity is the aditionally wore w hi te an d had no helmets. Bu the years with hu t over rricane bowling co m in g in to ef fect helmets become an integr have also al part of the cric ke te r’ s at tir e.

The bat is made of willow wood, a tree that genera the Northern hem lly grows in isphere. It is abou t 38 in ch es long and 4.25 in width. It genera inches lly has a cane ha nd le an d its first known probably in 1624. use was

There have been many great cricketers in this world but the most remarkable impression that has been made in the game, of all times, is by perhaps two players who are thought to be arguably the greatest in the cricketing world are- legendary Australian, Donald Bradman and the Indian prodigy, Sachin Tendulkar.

Benefits of the game

Cricket, being a team sport, essentially inculcates a sense of team spirit which is one of the basic virtues of any human being. Being termed as the “Gentleman’s game”, players also have to abide by certain additional laws called “Spirit of the Game”. Moreover, since it is an outdoor game, players have to be fit totally in order to adjust to different climatic conditions, different types of people and different cricketing grounds.

For more please visit our website: www.crystalquestmagazine.com June 2013

Crystal Quest

Confessions of a Prankaholic

33

THE “MADE UP” PRANK Our English teacher is not only bossy but she has this little thing for facial make up which she always indulges upon whenever she gets free time; be it her time in the staff room or be it the time between her classes, she never loses the opportunity to open her makeup kit. So one day while returning from our P.E. class we saw her sitting under the fan with full concentration on that face powder of hers. The prank mind in us got ignited and her most “favorite” student locked the classroom door silently. It was summer time and worst of all; there was a power cut within the next minute! While she couldn’t get what had just happened immediately, we unlocked the door after five minutes to see all face drenched in sweat along with all the “pretty” powders. We pretended to be innocent and on hearing her misery, blamed some random students of other classes since none of us were there for her to see. Sure The Tempest sounded really amazing that day!

Jagdish Singh, 14 Years

THE WHOLE GAME

CHEMISTRY CONFESSION

Video games are sometimes like what we can even die for, as if there is no other thing interesting enough happening in the world, for us boys. There is this friend of ours who is more into it than the rest of us and is always on the hunt for the latest games.

One day I told him that I got the CD of the latest version of the coolest football game and as expected his eyes lighted up to ask me for lending it to him. With the promise to return it over the weekend he thanked me enough for the rest of the day. The CD actually contained some dialogue of his, dubbed in a girl’s voice, but it was all inside the game’s icon. He was very angry the next day when we met, but by then the news had spread enough for him to get teased and he saw the humour in it himself and eventually burst out laughing.

The Biology class is the most boring one. Trust us— there is simply no chemistry between the subject and the students thanks to the amazingly “interesting” teacher. So one day while he was teaching how to examine slides under a microscope, one boy questioned him about dissecting frogs. For the first time the class turned interesting enough for all the rest of the class to listen attentively and also for the first time the teacher faced such a question. Since he thought all were actually interested to listen to what the process was, he kept on relating everything with a calmness as cool as ice. Little did he notice the subtle laughing faces and the questions came pouring one after another. Few minutes later when he realized that no one was actually interested in the dissection part of it, he loosened up a little to tell stories about how his son also asks questions like that to him sometimes. In all this dilly dally the bell rang and the class was dismissed; at least there was some chemistry we felt for the subject that day. We had successfully diverted the teacher’s attention from the actual lesson!

Brian Lewis, 13 Years

Anand Ahuja, 13 Years

Crystal Quest

Compiled by Abin Pramanik

June 2013

34

Student Talk

Appropriate Friends In one of the stories of British author A. A. Milne’s charming book Winnie-the-Pooh a piglet asks Pooh the bear- “We’ll be Friends Forever, won’t we, Pooh?”

Pooh replied-“Even longer”. Friendship generates emotional and social bonding, a sense of belonging to a community, the concept of win and loss. Children learn how to accept defeat gracefully, make up with people when misunderstandings occur, cooperate and communicate, solve problems in difficult situations by facing hurdles in the relationships they make.

Suchandra De Sarkar

I am extremely dependent on my friends. I have always been outgoing and social.

I like to talk a lot too. So I have always been making friends in school, my tuition classes, playgrounds and my swimming school. My friends are an integral part of my life as with them I can share everything that comes to my mind or happens in my life. But more importantly, I get ideas from them when mine stop coming to me. For instance, my friend Abhishek has been looking at career options which were hitherto unknown to me. He has also been dabbling with extra-curricular activities which can be good professions later on. Now I am toying with them too and have been discussing options with my parents.

I try to choose my friends with care and often make friends with boys and girls who have the same interests as I do.

I am not an introvert and like outdoor activities. However I always choose friends my parents would approve of.

— Riju, aged 16 years

June 2013

I do not open up to people who are bossy or who brag about their grades and other achievements. I make friends easily with people who listen to me and who are sensitive to my feelings. My best friends share their thoughts with me and always find time to spend time with me. I share my interests with most of my friends but there are some as well who have other hobbies or whose lifestyles are a little different than mine. For instance, Kunal comes from a broken home and has extra responsibilities at home where he lives with his mother and grandmother only. Robin likes to read books more than playing. There is no problem in sharing with them as they are willing to hear me out and appreciate nice things, or be happy with my presence. From them I have learnt to admire other pastimes and interests, and also be nice to people different than me.

— Prateek, 15-year old

Crystal Quest

Appropriate Friends

Parent Talk

35

Mixed-age friendship also plays an important role in establishing bonds and enabling children with social skills.

In their book Children of six cultures: A psycho-cultural analysis, American anthropologists Beatrice B. Whiting and John W. M. Whiting showed that pro-social behaviour develops when older children are given the task of caring for younger children. The older children learn to take responsibility while the younger children learn from their elders with whom they can bond more easily as they are not deemed as authority figures like teachers or parents.

Suchandra De Sarkar My son is basically a shy and soft-spoken child and I think a positive influence from good friends is extremely important for him. I wouldn’t like it if he got involved in street-fights or squabbles, since he is a quiet person and can be bullied by dominating older children who are physically stronger than him. We have observed that he is most comfortable in the company of a few close friends and not with a host of people. So we respect his social style. Initially we were apprehensive of his quiet nature and consulted a counsellor. After evaluating my son she told us not to worry and not to thrust friends upon him. She asked us to respect his solitary space and let him grow normally with his chosen friends.

We try to know his friends and invite them over to our home or arrange picnics or outings. We don’t make the list of invitees but leave it to him. He has been doing very well in his studies and has a keen interest in the Arts and Humanities.

Most of his friends are of the same age and personally I think it is easier for them to share and exchange that way. They understand the likes and dislikes of each other and their priorities are similar too.

Also, they are at the same stage of physical, mental and intellectual growth. However, I have noticed that he is very much influenced by some of his talented older cousins and tries to emulate not their clothes or hairstyles, but their academic patterns, schedules, creative outlets and reading habits etc. I think this is a very positive thing and so this can happen with older friends too.

I have observed that she is quickly getting the hang of different perspectives and feelings or emotions. So when I read her stories at her bedtime I ask her simple questions like how she thinks a certain character feels or thinks in a certain situation in the story. Or, I ask her to tell me about her school experiences that day and ask her if she realised why a certain friend reacted in a certain way, like excluding her from a game team, or sulking and not talking to her. That way she is encouraged to see other viewpoints and learn that she can handle different situations with tolerance and an open mind.

It’s very important for her to develop the social skills of interacting with friends as every day the world outside is getting more difficult to negotiate. We have had no qualms about getting her enrolled in a coeducational school where she can learn to meet boys and interact with them from an early age. We are aware that as she grows she might feel attracted to children who will not be as bright, well-mannered, disciplined, bright and honest as we want them to be. It’s normal to feel an interest in people who are not similar in nature and we have to monitor that she does not get drawn into delinquent or anti-social circles. Even though we will be encouraging her to grow into an independent person we have to draw a line between experimentation and danger. The first step towards protecting our child is to stay informed without being nagging and to be nice persons ourselves so that she trusts us and shares her life with us.

— Amrita, home-maker and mother of a 14 year-old son

— Simon, IT professional and father of a 7 year-old daughter

Crystal Quest

June 2013

36

Teacher Talk

Appropriate Friends For preschool children friendship implies geographical proximity. They are just interested in playing together and exchanging playthings. From 7 years onwards children start to become aware of the different traits and personalities of their peers. They start to evaluate and help each other; reciprocate; begin to trust allies. Then in adolescence they are more dependent on their friends than family for emotional support, shared activities and companionship. According to Dr. Paul Schwartz, American professor of Psychology, children who have both boys and girls as friends adjust better to social situations than children who have friends of the same gender.

Suchandra De Sarkar

I teach 3 groups of students who are 13-16 years old. After classes they interact, make friends, exchange study material and books. I have observed that mixedage grouping helps the students to learn, express and share more. I encourage them to think of the classroom as family where each has responsibilities and people are older or younger than others present.

The ‘seniors’ explain stuff to the ‘juniors’ and help them to understand their syllabus better, in the process enjoying self-worth, emotional fulfilment and satisfaction from having nurtured and tutored.

The gratitude and thanks they receive from the juniors help build their confidence and boost their morale, so that they put more effort in studies. In that way all students have a better bonding and the classes can be conducted in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

— Subinay, teaches Italian in a centre for learning foreign languages

Socialisation is an important aspect of growing up as children will grow up into adults and will have to adjust to different kinds of people in the outside world one day. As a teacher it’s my duty to monitor that they do not develop deviant nature and friendship plays an important role in a child’s performance in school and in their social circles.

An unpopular child will suffer from loneliness and social rejection will lead to depression.

I have some shy and hesitant students in my classes. I group them with the students who have obvious leadership qualities and who can exert a positive influence. However, it’s important to distinguish between a lonely child and a child who enjoys some solitary time. Keeping the channels of communication open, not only with the students but also with the parents, is the most effective step.

— Chandan, teaches students of 8th-12th standards.

June 2013

Crystal Quest

Mango Shake On long and dull summer days, when nothing feels interesting enough, a chilled drink always brightens up the mood.

What better way than to prepare one with the gift of the season, the king of fruits- Mango! It’s tasty, healthy and above all COOL! Abin Pramanik Here are some easy to do steps for the simple drink: Ingredients Serves per person Ripe Mango 1 whole Milk 2 cups (chilled) Sugar 2 tbsp

Recipe

37

METHOD Peel the mango.

Take the pulp of the peeled mango by deseeding it.

Put the mango pulp in a mixer along with the milk and sugar.

Blend them in the mixer until a smooth consistency is reached.

Serve in a tall glass.

TIPS A couple of ice cubes can be added while serving to make it cool.

Essence can also be added to make it more exotic.

PRECAUTIONARY NOTE Always use chilled milk Use mixer under adult supervision.

Choose sweet variety of mangoes.

Crystal Quest

June 2013

38

Recipe

PAPAYA

SHAKE

With the health benefits of multiple vitamins and anti-oxidants, Papaya always serves as a fruit for many occasions. However the name sometimes comes with a feel of dullness for a few.

Well, not anymore! Here’s an easy and interesting way to enjoy this fruit which has so much to give, the PAPAYA SHAKE! Abin Pramanik Ingredients Ripe Papaya: Chilled Milk: Granulated sugar: Lime juice: Black Pepper powder:

Serves per person 1 cup (peeled, cubed and seeded) 1-11/2 cup 1 tbps 1 tsp A Pinch (optional)

Method Put the papaya cubes in a mixer.

Add the milk, sugar and lime juice to it.

Blend them all in the mixer until a smooth and fine consistency is reached.

Tips The sugar and the lime juice can together be substituted with 1 tbps of honey.

If honey is chosen then amchur (sour dried mango powder) can be used instead of black pepper powder.

June 2013

Serve in a tall glass with a pinchful of black pepper on top.  Remember to use chilled milk.  Always use appliances under adult supervision.  Do not forget to wear rubber slippers while working with electrical equipments.

Crystal Quest

Recipe

Nutella Banana Sandwich

39

A sandwich that is power-pac power-packed and delicious, yet so easy to make!

Sana Krishna METHOD

INGREDIENTS

Heat a pan on the gas (take the aid of a helper or your parents for this step).

Slice the banana in a plate or bowl.

Butter each side of both the slices of bread.

Spread the banana slices on the buttered part of one slice of bread.

Apply Nutella onto the banana.

Stack another slice of bread on top to make a sandwich.

Place this sandwich on the heated pan and toast it for a minute, on each side, until golden brown.

Take the sandwich off the heat and serve it on a plate. Enjoy!

2 slices of bread 1 tbsp. Nutella 1 medium banana

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Serves: 1

Nutritive Value

Bananas contain a great amount of healthy antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

The pulp from this fruit is soft and easily digestible. It contains simple sugars such as fructose and sucrose, which replenish energy and instantly revilatise our body.

Banana is also an excellent source of vitamins B6 and C. One medium banana packs in around 422 milligrams of potassium, which proves beneficial while studying, concentrating and remembering things. Bananas are brilliant to eat before tests and exams, as the

fruits produce a healthy blood flow to your brain, helping you relax and think properly.

Nutella, besides being delicious, contains cocoa. Cocoa has zinc, iron and magnesium.

Cocoa also has certain compounds that can help lift your mood.

Fun Facts

Butter

The word ‘banana’ is derived from the Arabic word banan, which means ‘finger’.

Banana is actually a berry.

Bananas contain 75 per cent water.

The fibre from the banana plants

can be used to make clothes.

February 5 is World Nutella Day. The amount of Nutella produced worldwide in 24 hours is equivalent to nearly three times the weight of the Statue of Liberty.

If you line up the number of Nutella jars sold annually, the Moon can be wrapped around four times.

The original Nutella started off as a block and later went on to being produced as a creamy paste.

Tip: You could use wholewheat bread instead of white bread; the former is a healthier alternative. Also put a few sliced strawberries in this sandwich for a dash of something different! You could also drizzle some honey on top of the sandwich. Experiment all you like with this combination; it will always taste delicious!

Crystal Quest

June 2013

40

Soft Skills for Parents

Patience

Ekmeethisijhappi, ekpyarbharipappi!!!!! Love, care, compassion, guidance, protection, sacrifice: too much to practice at the very start of the responsibility called ‘Parenthood’. The only reply to the mandatory magnanimity involved in enduring all the tantrums and pranks right from toddlerhood till adolescence is the magic pill – Patience.

Tullika PATIENCE

Parenting, from day one drives you towards the ultimate trial of patience.

Do you remember the time when you were ready to go for a party and your child developed a sudden stomach ache, or the crashing of the rubber ball into your cup of tea? It really is hard to cope especially at the end of a tiring day. But, the prize for patience is the kid’s ever pristine smile when adversities are endured and handled well by parents. Comes one single outburst and the day is put off. The burden of the small broken heart is in fact too much to bear. There will be times when we as parents have to adjust and fit into the boot or give up on maturity for immediate gains. It is time for the pill named patience!

Confrontation emanates on every encounter with the most mundane aspects of parentage.

The initial years of growing up opens several doors of competition. Friends, siblings, grades, curriculum, entertainment, peer pressure….all on the platter and too much to handle. Comes with all this, the baggage of ‘parental expectations’. The road to achievement is too long for a sprint and would require a persistent and cheering buddy which the children expect their parents to be.

Come adolescence, the hardship is compounded with June 2013

struggle to survive. The avenues to explore expand by leaps and bounds and so does the knack to conceal shortcomings.

The traits of the upcoming personality are clearly visible at this age if not predominant. Their recognition from multiple quarters brings with it the baggage of confusion and the true ‘self-identity’ which could only come from introspection is buried deep. Peer pressure, academic milestones, personal interests….everything within a day with only 24hrs.

Envisaged strongly at this stage is a strong parental support. But what more is required is the ability to priorities the efforts, required for which is a calm and patient analysis of strengths and limitations. Guidance with maturity with expectations set aside is the call of hour. Patience is a quality which needs to be cultivated early and steadily.

The demand to be ambidextrous cannot always be met in every field but what is achieved out of this is a satisfied approach that the best has been done and the better is on the way.

WHAT DOES IT REQUIRE? Hold on to yourself before decision making Seek guidance from experts and well wishers Ask yourself “Is this the right place, right person and right time?”

Three long breaths before jumping to conclusion Analyse past results and plan for next course of action Go back to first rule

WHY IS IT REWARDING? Right guidance Right decision making Thorough analysis Persistent efforts Room for adverses Time to enjoy Crystal Quest

Soft Skills for Students

Patience

Patience means showing self control and staying calm when you are disappointed, it also shows that you know that some things are worth waiting for!

It is indeed important to wait for the right time and place to speak and act.

Being patient does bear worthy fruits.

Tullika

Rational Minds, Dexterous Hands, Smiling Faces

41

So how can we inculcate Patience in ourselves?

When your patience is tried, you are stressed or do not like a situation just stop and quit for the time being. Remember you have not lost a war by doing this.

Relax and understand what is happening.

Recognize what happens to you when you lose your patience, is your head heavy, does your mind not work, are you irritated. One by one understand and consciously rectify them by relaxing your body.

Another way to develop patience is by keeping quiet and silent and sitting in one place for ten minutes every day.perform poorly. Do not choose to be a victim, but develop your own problem solving tactics.

: too much to practice at the very start of the Love, care, compassion, guidance, protection, sacrifice ry magnanimity involved in enduring all the responsibility called ‘Life.’ The only reply to the mandato magic pill – Patience. adversities right from toddlerho od till adolescence is the Life, from day one propels you towards the ultimate trial of patience. Remember the last missed birthday party or the recent ink stain on your favourite outfit? Same was with the expected exam result and fallen apart friendship. The price of patience is the ever pristine smile when such adversities are endured and handled. Comes one single outburst and the day is put off. The burden of the spilled milk is in fact too much to bear. There will be times when matters won’t work out your way and the sudden adrenaline surge instigates immediate retaliation. It is time for the pill!

“A man who is a master of patience is master of everything else” said George Savile and how true it is. Without patience no good thing can be achieved in life and good things come only when we are patient. Patience develops our character. So practice patience to emerge as the winner.

Crystal Quest

June 2013

42

Soft Skills for Teachers

Patience Patience is necessary in all human beings because as the age old saying goes “Patience is a virtue” and we can attain happiness by being patient and get outcomes that are to our satisfaction.

Suchandra De Sarkar ore than our force” “Our patience will achieve m (1729 A.D-1797 A.D) - Edmund Burke

ASPECTS OF PATIENCE Persistence Even if we do not experience a direct or immediate result we must strive on and wait.

Balance and tranquillity Work to achieve our target with peace of mind.

Tolerance Accept the different attitudes and perspectives that collide with our own and accommodate them in our life and schedules with an open mind.

Constancy Carry on with steadfastness. Do not let trials, tribulations, misfortunes and sufferings change the course of your path. Stay loyal to your own direction.

Restrain Control our anger, frustration, worry and stress.

Practise moderation in our actions.

June 2013

For teachers patience is a prerequisite. Let us not forget that some students pick up the subject with minimal effort while others need repeated explanations.

It is important to remember the following while handling difficult students: Identify the problem Usually a student who performs poorly has some genuine problems. Even if he is simply lazy and unwilling, that is a problem. If he lags behind it is not only his loss, but also yours as you could not achieve your target.

Study your students. There are unique features for every difficult student. A teacher gradually comes to know them even better than parents. Bank on that special knowledge.

Do not be bitter Being patient not only applies to our surroundings but also to our own selves. Be kind to yourself. Beware of frustration, self-pity and remorse when the students perform poorly. Do not choose to be a victim, but develop your own problem solving tactics.

Trust yourself Have faith in your own power. We all have strong points. Identify and build them to regain your motivation.

Crystal Quest

43 CASE STUDY

finds 10 year-old Angshu learn. When his Mathematics hard to for the po or grades mother scolded him her did not ask his teac he hy w m hi d ke as and was s he replied that he to repeat the lesson k r and did not dare as terrified of his teache This ultiple explanations. for extensive and m the fact that some ‘terror’ stems from mper fast and get teachers lose their te r ef forts to impatient when thei fail despite transfer knowledge genuine ef forts.

Be realistic in your expectations Not every student will be a Nobel Laureate.

Accept setbacks They are normal things to happen. They are also temporary.

WHAT YOU CAN TELL YOUR STUDENTS TO DO Learning through fun and games is long-term. Games such as Red Rover, Red Rover; Red light, Green light; What’s the time Mr. Fox; Mother May I; I spy; simple card games like Solitaire; jigsaw puzzles, building games etc.

Crystal Quest

can help young students to develop their patience. Chess is a superb game for building both focus and patience.

In her article“Teaching Kids Patience” paediatrician, columnist and parenting counsellor Dr. Marilyn Heins wrote that board games can help children learn patience because

a) They learn to wait for their turn in the games. b) They learn that games come with both win and defeat.

British horticulturist, designer and artist Gertrude Jekyll said- “A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness”. It is a good idea to get them to plant a seed and water it every day. When the plant grows and a flower blossoms or a small vegetable peeps out, the sense of being rewarded will be uplifting.

Ask them to observe how birds build their nests, or ants stock up food for bad times, or the spider spins its web diligently and then sits in it waiting for its prey.

These are Nature’s own ways of telling us why perseverance pays.

Today’s world urges us to say: “I need it yesterday”.

We do not tolerate ‘no’, we want our cup of tea to be served in an instant, and we cannot wait for the elderly gentleman in the bus to move. The impact of impatience has been utter dissatisfaction and hence a general cynicism towards life. If we remembered that difficulties exist for counterbalancing the rewards of life, we could be at peace with ourselves. As Helen Keller said: - “We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world.”

June 2013

44

Grooming

Make a Big

Splash!

Stay healthy, happy and wise‌ Don’t neglect your daily bath.

June e2 2013 0 3

Devarajan Mahadevan with Priyanka Agarwal Many of you may not find bathing fun, right? Although you might like that dip in the swimming pool, some of you may feel like the comic character Calvin (who dumps his partner Hobbes into the tub when he is forced to have a bath) when Mom pushes you into the bathroom.

WHY IS BATHING SO IMPORTANT? What you may not realise is that the big splash you dread so much is really important for your overall health and well-being. Here are some reasons: Being children, you are active and always on your feet. You play games, come running back home, roll in the dirt, and perspire under the sun. All of this means that germs are always building up on your body. So, the only way you can keep your body hygienic and free from ugly infections is by having a bath (not just once but twice a day).

A healthy body is a healthy mind. A nice body scrub removes all the germs and also keeps your mind fresh and raring to go!

Crystal Quest

45 SOME USEFUL TIPS TEMPERATURE

Experts say that 35°C is the ideal temperature for a bath.

SKIN TYPES

We are all blessed with different kinds of bodies, so skin types too vary. If you have dry skin, a few drops of almond oil in your tub of bathwater will aid in avoiding dehydration of the skin. Lemon extracts help those with oily skin. Besides, you should apply some moisturiser to your skin after your bath — choose one that suits your skin type. This helps retain and restore the ideal amount of essential oils in your skin.

HAIR CARE

Avoid using hot water for washing your hair.

You need not wash your hair daily — once in three days should be more than enough.

However, if you are a sportsperson, you should wash your hair immediately after you come home in order to get rid of all the grime and dirt.

Don’t just use any shampoo that you find in the bathroom closet. Use shampoos that are mild; they do the cleaning job well and will leave you smelling good too!

Dandruff can be a huge problem to cover up, especially if you wear a dark-coloured uniform to school. Dandruff is the name given to white or yellow crusty flakes that generally come off a person’s scalp. These flakes can cause itchiness on the scalp and, in some cases, even lead to hair loss and some diseases.

To get rid of dandruff, wash your hair at proper intervals — neither too often, nor less than required — with a powerful anti-dandruff shampoo. If you still experience a dandruff problem, especially coupled with hair loss, you should consult a doctor.

DISINFECTANTS

Disinfectant liquids such as Dettol are extremely common in most households. However, you can even go the natural way to rid your body of germs. In fact, why don’t you give Daddy (or Mummy) a pleasant surprise? Get some neem leaves home the next time you go on a school picnic.

Neem leaves can be boiled and added to water, and everyone will feel refreshed after coming out from the bath. Germs? You are not going to get any of them!

Crystal Quest

BATHING SAFETY

Bathing can be a fun experience, but ‘Safety First’ is a rule you must observe here too. To protect yourself from unwanted events such as injuries caused due to slipping or hitting your head and even drowning, ask Daddy to put some padding to exposed bath fixtures, replace the slippery bathroom floor tiles with non-skid/non-slip surfaces, and always be around so that he and Mommy can easily reach you when you call out to them during an emergency.

In this heat, we sweat a lot and a good percentage of the sweat produced in our body is meant for the regulation of body temperature by enabling heat loss through evaporation. Sweat smells, so it is essential to wash it off.

So, after you’re done brushing your teeth in the morning, take your towel and clothes and get started on this major cleansing activity called bathing. Doing this routinely will help you get rid of the dirt and germs on your body and safeguard you from a host of unwanted diseases.

MAKE BATHING FUN The next time Dad offers to get some toys for you, ask him to buy you some rubber bath toys, colourful soaps in attractive shapes, or a pack of soap crayons. These will add a lot of fun to your daily bathing experience.

Why don’t you make your own colourful and fragrant bathing salts? Just take some sea salt or Epson salt or both and mix in some food colour and any perfume or aromatic essential oil. Apart from using these salts for your own bath, you could also gift them to your friends and family members on their birthdays!

June 2013

46

Lost Games

CHINESE WHISPERS Lost Games of yesteryears bring back nostalgic memories for many of us….about the numerous birthday parties where we played Chinese Whispers and had loads of fun, giggling and mumbling into the neighbour’s ear presumably because we ourselves did not hear it right. The end result was nearly always something entirely different from the original and it would all finish off with everyone especially the girls bursting into peals of laughter!

Suchandra De Sarkar Today in our Lost Games section we bring to you the eternally popular game of Chinese Whispers.

A seemingly simple and juvenile game this one is nevertheless a powerful example of how information can be distorted.

HISTORY When trade and imperialism brought the west into contact with China in the 1600s westerners deemed

HOW TO PLAY People line up or sit in a circle. The larger the group the more enjoyable the game.

The first person whispers a sentence to the next person. Others must be unable to hear what has been said.

The second person whispers to the next person what they think is the word or sentence they heard.

The whispered message is passed on till the last person of the group hears it.

The last person shouts out the phrase in front of the whole group. Most of the times the final version turns out to be radically different from the original one.

June 2013

the Chinese language to be confusing and difficult to comprehend. Hence the allusion. However, with the progression of civilisation, an understanding of the human race as multi-dimensional and multi-ethnic, intercultural exchanges, a spread of communication and a growing demand for respect to all cultures there have been allegations of racism. To avoid cultural sensitivity the game has been given other names such as Telephone, Grapevine, Operator, A Whisper Down the Lane and Pass It Down. The English translation for the name, as used in different countries and languages, now stands as Silent Post (Germany), Arab Phone (France), Cordless Phone (Portugal, Italy and Romania), Deaf Telephone (Serbia and Poland), Damaged Telephone (Russia), Telephone Game (Italy), Broken Telephone (Finland and Ukraine) and so on. In traditional Chinese the game is known as “Passing along rumours and gossips”.

PROBABLE CONNOTATIONS TO THE ORIGIN Relaying messages from one watch-tower to another.

Relaying messages from the frontline of an army to the soldiers at the back.

Crystal Quest

47 EDUCATIONAL VALUE This game has been used as teaching tools in the following ways: Moderation of speech volume.

Tangible pronunciation and voice modulation for facilitating the comprehension of listeners.

Dangerous possibility of presenting knowledge and information with distortions.

Harmful effects of rumours, hearsays and gossips as compared to truth.

Importance of field survey rather than blind faith. Importance of analysis, investigation and verification of indirect communication to arrive at a conclusion.

Development of memory retention.

IMPACT ON POPULAR CULTURE This game has long been seen as a social metaphor due to its overtones. Rene Yung, a designer, writer,

poet and artist immigrated to the United States from Hong Kong and graduated from Stanford University. As a tribute to her heritage she created a community story-telling research project and named it Chinese Whispers. It collects stories of forgotten eras and collective memories as narrated by Chinese immigrants who worked with the Transcontinental Railroad, gold mines, fisheries and farms in the San Francisco region.

The concept of Chinese Whispers has also caught on with photographers who, with the convenience of internet, have fun projects where one photographer posts a photograph in their blog and the next photographer-blogger captures the same idea in their own photograph.

There is no winner in this game. The final products are pure entertainment and clean fun, since the final version is invariably transformed beyond recognition and is often hilarious. In today’s world of intense competition and break-neck speed this game is a genuine stress-buster.

I took my dog for a walk and gave him some food so that he didn’t have to go hungry.

I took my dog for a walk and he ate some foods of his choice.

I took my dog for a walk and gave him some food because he was hungry.

I took my dog for a walk and fed him the things he likes to eat.

Crystal Quest

I took my dog for a walk and gave him food to eat.

June 2013

48

Eco

Catastrophic Effects of Climate Change on Birds and Animals Storm clouds are gathering on the horizon, and many birds and animals are on the way to extinction. Let us love and care for this incredible Planet called Earth. Let us save it and make it habitable for Man and Animal alike!

Anupriya Sengupta “Save the trees, save the bees, save the whales, save those snails.”……the mercury is climbing and our tolerance levels are falling. Humans are either sweating it out on the roads, pulling rickshaws, bearing loads or selling vegetables by the roadside or they are wrapped in a cocoon of comfort in air-conditioned rooms. The humans who are sweating it out have their own way of cooling it off with cold water baths or eating food that cools the body but what about Nature, what about the animals and birds who do not know how to tend to themselves?

June 2013

Let us examine why the world is so hot today and what are the ways in which we can help the birds and animals to survive this great heat.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIODIVERSITY “The image of a forlorn looking polar bear on a tiny ice floe has become the public’s image of climate change in nature, but the impact reaches species in nearly every habitat in the world’s wild places,” said Dr Steven E. Sanderson, WCS President and CEO The mean temperature of the earth is increasing as a result of global warming caused by greenhouse gases, such as carbon-dioxide. The IPCC has predicted an increase of 6 in the average temperature of the earth caused by the Crystal Quest

49 combustion of fossil fuels. The impacts of global warming are severe: Melting of ice-caps, Rise in sea levels, and Destruction of ecosystems.

The increase in the earth’s temperature has an adverse impact on ecosystems and biodiversity, causing habitat loss and threatening species diversity.

In other words the irresponsible acts of Man has led to an increase in temperatures thus having devastating effects on Nature.

It has been estimated (by the Centre for Health and Global Environment, (2012) Harvard School of Public Health) that about a quarter of species would be on the verge of extinction by 2050, as a consequence of habitat loss and climate change.

The increase in temperatures threatens the survival of plants and animals because, they are unable to adapt to rapid temperature changes, and many species are shifting towards the poles. The melting of sea ice, warming of oceans, and change in migratory patterns threatens the survival of endangered species such as migratory birds, polar bears, penguins, and salmon.

HOW DOES CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECT THE SURVIVAL OF SPECIES? Bicknells Thrush: The Bicknells Thrush nests in the high mountains and elevations of North America and an increase in a degree of the mean temperature reduces more than half of the breeding grounds in the mountains.

Magellanic Penguin: In the past 20 years the numbers of Magellanic Penguin has declined more than 20% owing to the drastic increase in oceanic temperatures and the unavailability of prey, causing difficulty in reproduction.

Research conducted by the WCS indicate that a delay in laying eggs and swimming long distances in search of food, for chicks has threatened the population Musk Ox: The Musk Ox, which is a Pleistocene relic resides in The North American Arctic Coastal Plain and foothills and is threatened by climate change. Grizzly Bears which are also impacted by the warmer weather are shifting northwards from their habitats: The Brooks range and Boreal forests. Thus the Musk faces threats of predation from The Grizzly Bear.

Crystal Quest

BowHead Whale: The BowHead Whale lives in The Arctic Poles, in areas of heavy ice cover. The increase in global mean temperatures which has caused melting of ice caps and has an adverse impact on oceanic productivity endangers the survival of BowHeads

OUR CONTRIBUTION TO PROTECT AND CONSERVE WILDLIFE We can create a certified wildlife habitat in our apartment balcony, or farm or garden to preserve and protect birds and animals in our community. We could do this by adopting the following methods:

Install bird baths and ponds to supply water.

Clean water is necessary for drinking, bathing and reproduction. However, there is a reduction in the sources of clean water, because of the lower levels in the water table as a consequence of drought and reduced rainfall caused by climate change.

The heat waves effect birds flying over long distances, and they descend in search of water and shade.

Deforestation has had an adverse impact on birds in search of the cool green foliage of huge Gulmohar, poplar and other trees.

These, birds often dehydrate and fall sick and exhausted, in the summer heat from heat strokes.

One can help the parched birds by placing water in the terrace or balconies, and add glucose to it to save the birds from heat strokes and dehydration especially from 12 noon to 6:00 p.m.

In addition, millet seeds can be placed on a tray beside the water and mixed with cold milk.

June 2013

50

My Moral Strongest

Telling tales and tattling Idle talk and telling tales never did anyone any good. So do not waste time on any of this. Think positive and talk positive so that you are someone all your friends will always want to be with!

Nandini Sengupta Tattling is always a waste of time and never reflects well on the person. Friends dislike people who tattle, parents feel fed up when there is continuous tattling and teachers are at their wit’s end as to what to do with tattlers.

What is tatling? Tattling is telling tales and complaining about your peers.

Why is it done?

It’s done basically to get people’s attention, boost one’s self esteem and show power. Children do it as a form of sibling rivalry or to get the attention of parents or teachers.

Do you tattle? If yes why? If you complain because you want to protect someone then it is alright but if you tattle because he has been annoying you and you want to get back at him in this way, then it is high time you got rid of the habit!

Tattling is speaking negative about others. Tattling yourself or encouraging others to tattle and passing on tales to others are equally bad.

Do you recall a time when you went for a birthday party and none of the others seemed to want to talk to you? Then you realized that they were avoiding you because they thought you were always tattling and so they thought that they should avoid you. They were afraid that you would spill the beans about whatever harmless mischief they had been up to.

So before you tell tales or tattle, make sure that your information is genuine and you are not harming anyone by your tale and the negative feelings that go along with it.

June 2013

What you must realize is: If you tell tales or tattle you are not only harming others by your tall stories but by tattling you are losing the ability to solve the problem yourself. Conflict resolution and problem solving abilities are very important skills and we must acquire and practice the same in our day to day lives.

If a classmate has been troubling you, try to solve the problem yourself either by talking it out with him or handling him with intelligence. Avoid complaining about him as this might worsen the situation.

When you face the big world outside neither your parent nor your teacher will be at your side to help you face it. You have to solve your own problems and meet the challenges. So start young, and handle problems instead of tattling.

Distinguish between what is important and what is not. If it is important enough to complain then do so.

For example if it is a bully problem you are facing, you need to complain before it gets out of hand.

What is your motive behind the complaint, is it to get someone into trouble because he got you into trouble or is it to help another?

Your voice volume, timing, setting and tone of voice also have far reaching implications when you complain. So think before you talk.

Is this something you can handle yourself or should you go to a higher authority?

If all else has failed and you still need help then go to the appropriate authority and take his help to solve the problem.

Always remember what Dame Agatha Christie said “….idle tittle tattle is very wrong and unkind….” and better avoided.

Crystal Quest

Yoga

53

Stretching to Good Shape If you find yourself bent over more than you’d like to be, chances are your daily activities have influenced your posture. Here are some simple and effective asanas to help improve your posture.

Gayatri T. Rao

Are you hunched in front of the computer or television? Do you carry a heavy school bag daily? If your answer to all of these questions is ‘Yes’, you must have now realised why you have a poor posture. Did you know that gravity pulls your body forward due to what you do during the day?

This is what is known as postural deformity. Yoga expert Dr. Kranti Mali believes the muscles of our body need to be stretched regularly if we want to overcome this deformity. “Stretching provides the right support to your spine,” she says.

If you love mimicking animals, then these fun exercises will make your daily routine a whole lot more fun. Dr. Mali takes you through the different poses or asanas.

BHUJANGASANA (COBRA POSE)

1. Lie on your stomach with your chin touching the floor.

2. Place the palms of both hands on either side of your chest.

3. Take a deep breath and lift your upper body, with the help of the back muscles and not the arm muscles, while keeping your navel on the floor.

4. When you come to the cobra position, breath normally for five counts.

5. Return to the original position, while exhaling.

6. Gradually, increase the number of counts to 15.

7. Repeat the above steps twice.

BENEFITS 1. Bhujangasana gives the spine a backward bend while stretching it.

2. It helps contract the muscles in the back, releasing the tension when you hunch during a normal school day.

3. It also aids in correcting your posture.

4. When you stretch the front portion of your body, the organs in the belly region are stretched simultaneously, so their functionality increases.

5. The controlled breathing improves the oxygen intake of the lungs.

6. The asana activates your pineal glands, which, among other things, helps reduce the pain during monthly cycles (for older girls).

USTRASAN (CAMEL POSE)

Illustrations by Team Oktopus

1. First sit in Vajrasana (see illustration).

2. While breathing normally, take both your hands behind your body and place them on the heels of your feet. Slowly lift the upper body.

3. Hold the position and breathe normally for five counts.

4. Repeat the above steps twice.

Crystal Quest

BENEFITS 1. The muscles in the back relax and contract easily.

2. The asana improves lung capacity and helps with one’s breathing.

3. It also improves blood circulation.

4. It helps tone the muscles of the back and spine and compensates for the hunching caused due to the weight of school bags.

June 2013

54

On the Shelf

The Thrilling Detectives Sit back and relax while indulging in a little adventure with these classic mystery series.

Manik Roy with Annabel Dsouza and Esha Chanda THE FAMOUS FIVE One of the most loved and celebrated works of Enid Blyton, The Famous Five is one of th the few series in children’s literature that have stood the test of time and are still cherished by readers. Brimming with childhood innocence and old-world values, this series has played a formative role in many a child’s imagination. The five protagonists of the 21 books in the se series are Julian, the eldest of the five; his siblings, Dick and Anne; his tomboy cousin George, a girl who keeps her hair short and is annoyed if addressed by her birth name, Georgina; and G George’s lovable furry little pet, Timmy.

Each book presents a new adventure on treasure islands or mysterious moors. The usual se setting of the book is the summer holidays, when ginger ale and ham rolls are the children’s st staple adventure accomplices. Their plans to go hiking and camping are soon turned into qu quests to uncover hidden truths. As the pages turn, the simple plot unfolds and, inevitably, the fiv five young enthusiasts are right in the middle of strange scenarios. A fun and light read, readers w will fall in love with the five characters.

THE HARDY BOYS Since its first publication in 1927, The Hardy Boys series has captured the minds of children all over the world. It is primarily based on solving mysteries, and the fictional teenage characters, Frank and Joe Hardy, make relatable protagonists. The manner in which the books are written makes for easy reading. Targeted towards children, the series embodies action and mystery-solving techniques as depicted in a child’s mind. This way, kids can enjoy the adventures without any difficulty.

As far as the story goes, The Hardy Boys follows the adventures of Frank and Joe, two amateur detectives following in their father, Fenton’s footsteps. The stories reflect a great deal of camaraderie and teamwork and generally involve light-hearted investigations that are filled with various new adventures. Despite frequent dangerous encounters, the boys never lose their nerve. An interesting observation is that the overall tone of the series is a mix of humour and seriousness, with a lesson to be learned with every case.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS The first book in The Famous Five series is Five on a Treasure Island, which was published in 1942. All books by Blyton have been well received across the world. Although The Hardy Boys series is the brainchild of the founder of the Stratemeyer Syndicate, Edward Stratemeyer, the books have been ghostwritten by a number of writers under the pen name Franklin W. Dixon.

June 2013

Crystal Quest

CRYSTAL QUEST STUDENT DISCOUNT CARD – NATURE OF DISCOUNT AND VALIDITY PERIOD Visakhapatnam Merchant Details

Nature Of Discount/Offer

Discount Period

Chill Out Ice Cream Parlour She Collections Clothing Store Punjabi Tadka/Hangout Cafe Dolls-n-Chic Boutique Purple Fashions Aarif Opticians Wardrobe Clothing Store WFC - Food and Gaming Zone Deep Blues Clothing Store 13 Square - Food and Gaming Zone Suhagan Beauty Parlour Sai divya beauty clinic Life way tours travels Kalavathi hospitals Bala vinyagar mixtures Venkat communications Rehin sons Star sports National sports centre Paragon foot ware Lucky sports Pioneer shoes Moon walk shoes

Get an ice-cream Sundae worth ` 65/- on bill value above ` 400/10% on Clothing 10% on Food 10% on Clothing 10% cash discoount on all products 15% to 30% discount 10% discount on clothing 15% on Food 30% on Clothing 20% on party hall, 12% on food and gaming 10% on all services 10% of any kind of treatment 5% of 1000/- and above booking ticktes 15% of any surgery 10% of purchase of 1000/- and above 5 % of purchase of 1000/- and above 10% on MRP 20 % on MRP 10% on MRP 10% on MRP 15 % on MRP 20 % on MRP 20 % on MRP

01-10-2012 to 30-04-2013 01-09-2012 to 01-09-2013 01-09-2012 to 01-09-2013 01-09-2012 to 01-09-2013 01-07-2012 to 30-06-2013 01-07-2012 to 01-06-2013 01-07-2012 to 30-06-2013 01-09-2012 to 31-03-2013 01-09-2012 to 01-03-2013 01-10-2012 to 31-01-2013 01-09-2012 to 01-09-2013 15-04-2013 to 14-04-2014 11-04-2013 to 31-12-2013 15-04-2013 to 14-04-2014 15-04-2013 to 14-04-2014 15-04-2013 to 14-04-2014 25-04-2013 to 24-04-2014 25-04-2013 to 24-04-2014 25-04-2013 to 24-04-2014 25-04-2013 to 24-04-2014 25-04-2013 to 24-04-2014 25-04-2013 to 24-04-2014 25-04-2013 to 24-04-2014

Nature Of Discount/Offer 10% on any sale 10% On Gifts 10% On Gifts 10% From ` 3000 & 5% From 1K to 2999 10% From ` 500 Onwards 5% on all items 10 % on all treatments and products 10% on all books and stationery (except note books) 10% on all gifts and toys 10% on all ranges of bags 10% on all gifts, toys and stationery 5 - 10% on all items 10% on any kind of treatment 5% on any purchase 10% on any item 10 % on all products and services 10% on all products and services

Discount Period 30-08-2012 to 30-08-2013 30-08-2012 to 30-08-2013 30-08-2012 to 30-08-2013 10-09-2012 to 10-09-2013 16-08-2012 to 16-08-2013 27-09-2012 to 27-09-2013 24-09-2012 to 23-09- 2013 27-09-2012 to 27-09-2013 27-09-2012 to 27-09-2013 27-09-2012 to 27-09-2013 15-09-2012 to 14-09-2013 25-09-2012 to 24-09-2013 28-02-2013 to 27-02-2014 08-04-2013 to 07-04-2014 28-02-2013 to 27-02-2014 08-04-2013 to 07-04-2014 30-04-2013 to 29-04-2014

Nature Of Discount 10% on all products 10% on all products 15% on all range of pearls 10% on all branded earrings / 15% on other prodcuts 10% on all accessories 10% on stationery and gifts / 5% on sports wear / 20% on bags 10% on all books (other than notebooks) 15% on all range of clothes Free entry to the park (FLAT ` 350/- discount) Free entry to the park (FLAT ` 250/- discount) 10% discount on all Books (Not applicable for Notebooks & Textbooks) 15% discount

Discount Period 01-10-2012 - 01-10-2013 01-09-2012 - 31-08-2013 05-09-2012 - 04-09-2013 10-09-2012 - 09-09-2013 01-09-2012 - 31-08-2013 01-10-2012 - 30-09-2013 10-09-2012 - 09-09-2013 01-10-2012 - 01-10-2013 01-10-2012 - 01-10-2013 01-10-2012 - 01-10-2013 10-09-2012 - 9-09-2013 05-09-2012 - 04-09-2013

25% discount on Mobile Repairing

01-11-2012 - 31-12-2013

10% discount on all Phone Repair 2% discount on purchase of Rs.1000/- and above 10% discount on any item except Recharges & Vochers Upto 10% on services 10% discount on Event organised by our company 10% discount on any item 10% discount for total bill amount of Rs.1,500/- and above on Food and Beverages 10% Discount on note books 10% Discount on All Toys

28-12-2012 - 28-12-2013 01-01-2013 - 31-12-2013 01-04-2013 - 31-03-2014 01-04-2013 - 31-03-2014 01-04-2013 - 31-03-2014 01-04-2013 - 31-03-2014 01-04-2013 - 31-03-2014 01-05-2013 - 30-06-2014 01-04-2013 - 31-03-2014

Hyderabad Merchant Details Priyanka Enterprises Archies Dilshuknagar Archies Kothapet The Looms Sri Rama Kids Wear Nagender Ribbon and Bangle store Abhinav Homeo stores Heera Stationery and Novelties Tripura Gifts and Novelties Honest Bag Centre Bombay Gift House YSSR Computers Kolors Health Care Staedler Sri Lakshmi Gifts and Ladies emporium Queens Aerobic center and beauty parlor Sri Shanmugan Skin and Diago center

GOA Merchant Details Ahsaan Bags Footmark Bicholim Goa Jai Santoshi Pearls,Panji Kanekar Corner KGN Gifts and Toys Corner Laxmi store (book store) Singbal’s Book House Tanin garments Blue Lady water park Time Zone (Play area for kids) Singbal’s Books House Jai Santoshi (Hydrabadi Pearls) Sainath Cyber Zone, Gaming & Mobile Repairing & Computer Repairing Shrey Enterprises M/s. Froyson Laxmi Mobiles NKIS Computers Bulls Eye Entertainment Raza Food Joint Mermaid (Swimsea Beach Resort) Sai Durga Traders (Stationery Shop) Gifts & Toys Center