School LIVE by Gaurava Yadav

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YEAR END

SPECIAL

N: PRINCIPAL’S PE JA, E SHARMILA RAH FOR L UTTAM SCHOO AD GIRLS, GHAZIAB SCHOOL IN SPOTLIGHT: GYANSHREE A SCHOOL, NOID

G N I K N I RETH N O I T A EDMUinisC ter Smriti Irani HRD

contributors

LIVE E D I T O R I N C H I E F Richa Anirudh richa@schoollive.in EDITOR

GAURAVA YADAV

SAURABH BHRAMAR

Quizzer dares you to take our quiz

Radio and TV broadcaster

Teena Baruah editor@schoollive.in EDITORIAL TEAM

Garima Srivastava Swagnikaa Roy DIRECTOR SALES AND MARKETING

Saurabh Bhramar (North & West) saurabh@schoollive.in Gaurava Yadav (East & South) gaurava@schoollive.in DESIGNER

Arunabh Mukherjee E D I T O R I A L & ADVERTISING OFFICE 510 Kasmanda Apartment, C Block, Hazratganj, Lucknow

NIVEDITA SINGH

JITIN CHAWLA

Psychologist-counsellor answers your queries about relationships, family, school and life

Educationist and career counsellor tells you how to pick the right course

PRINTED AT Mimansa Grafix H-44, South Extension Part-I, New Delhi - 110049 email queries@schoollive.in

2014 volume 4 DECEMBER

YEAR END

SPECIAL

PRINCIPALâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PEN: , SHARMILA RAHEJA L FOR UTTAM SCHOO GIRLS, GHAZIABAD SCHOOL IN SPOTLIGHT: GYANSHREE SCHOOL, NOIDA

DASTANGO VALENTINA TRIVEDI

ANU SINGH CHOUDHARY

Documentary filmmaker, storyteller, leads education workshops for children and teachers

Communications consultant, documentary filmmaker, writer, editor and translator

RETHINKING ION UCAT EDMin ister Smriti Irani HRD

DECEMBER 2014 01

ed-note

LIVE

Hi,

So! after trying for almost 2 months, I finally got the appointment for an Interview of HRD minister Smriti Irani by our young contributors. And what an experience it was. Eight super excited kids in my car, making as much noise as they could, brimming with nervous anxiety. We reached Shastri Bhavan well in time as I had kept some time for security checks etc. To my relief, everything was well-planned. The security at the gate was informed about our visit. There was no hassle at any point. A member of the Minister’s team received us at the gate of HRD ministry. He escorted all of us into a big room and asked us to wait. I HAVE to confess, I was nervous and apprehensive that this young team, out of their excitement might do something silly to upset the office. I kept telling them to lower their volumes, but all in vain. Smriti Irani came, and how beautifully, she broke the ice. She cracked jokes, did some serious talking and the children almost forgot that they were interviewing her. There were moments of fun, laughter, silly talks and of course Qs & As. Smriti Irani, for sure knows how to present herself in an interview. She smoothly began it and brought it to a conclusion. She left the room and the snack boxes came in. What I learnt that day, that the impact of good hospitality lasts long. Not only Smriti, but her charming assistant Noopur, P.S. Vinita ji, OSD Sanjay ji and the rest of the team, were all very warm, hospitable, polite. Nowhere did the children have to face the arrogance of a ministerial set-up. I am sure, all the contributors of School Live will cherish that evening forever. And I am sure, you will enjoy reading our cover story as well :)

Happy reading! Lovingly yours

Richa Anirudh tweet to me @richaanir udh

LIST ’ T I ‘ MY ON eMtoY IPstOaDrt

Tim to listening some as Christm carols

ON MY PLATE My favourite winter breakfast boiled eggs

ON MY BOOKSHELF

Princess by Jean Sass

DECEMBER 2014 03

contents

LIVE 03 Editor’s Note

Regulars 14 17 19 22 23 24 25 26 16 21 06

School in Spotlight: Gyanshree School, Noida Scoreboard: Racquet Girls Brainstorm: Quiz Worthy Opponents: Who Wants a Wi-Fi Enabled Smart City? Teen Travelogue: Top five Indian destinations of 2014 Page 99: What I know For Sure, by Oprah Winfrey Career Chat: Counsellor Jitin Chawla Rap Up: Reviews Ask Nivedita Watch This Space Principal’s Pen: Sharmila Raheja, Principal of Uttam School For Girls, Ghaziabad Potpourri: Timeline of Happy New Year

Exclusive 08 Rethinking Education: HRD Minister Smriti Irani

View Point 12 Positively Positive: Dastangoi for children 18 Student Blog: Testing the claims of Midbrain Activation

QUICK EDIT One of life’s greatest pleasures has to be the act of discovering. In Timeline of Happy New Year, discover who hosted the first new year’s ‘party’ 4,000 years ago: Emperor Julius Caesar. Anahita Garg takes us on an extraordinary journey across Incredible India in Teen Travel, reminding me of my longpending Christmas holiday at home amidst the tea gardens of Assam. Oprah Winfrey’s What I Know For Sure, in Page 99, takes us on a fascinating path of self discovery: “Whenever I’m faced with a difficult decision, she writes, I ask myself, what would I do if I weren’t afraid of making a mistake, feeling rejected, looking foolish, or being alone?” Priceless!

HAPPY READING! Teena Baruah

DECEMBER

08 21

P R I N C I P A L ’ s

P E N

Sharmila Raheja ‘My students use YouTube, Videos and Blogs for their daily lessons’ Principal of Uttam School For Girls, Ghaziabad, speaks on running a Microsoft Showcase school.

Q: How has your perception of a principal changed from the time you were a student, through the time you were a teacher and now, when you are in charge of that coveted position?

School as a founder teacher in 1995 and soon moved on to be the Headmistress, Vice Principal and then Principal of this school.

Q: Have you ever tried to bring in c h a n g e i n t h e c o n ve n t i o n a l My school principal was an extremely educational system? How? What charismatic personality who I put on were the challenges and how did you an exalted pedestal, however, I also override these? remember him as extremely approachable. During my tenure as a Uttam School is a Microsoft Showcase teacher, I have learnt a lot from my principals and mentors. Today I am of the strong belief that a leader also has to be a learner. I hope to be sensitive in all my dealings with students. I am aware that each day I can make a difference in a child’s life, every deed and word of mine goes far ahead. Q: Please give us a quick summery of your journey as a principal, to understand your unique approach to education and schooling. After a short teaching span of two years as a senior English teacher in DAV School, Sahibabad, I took a break when my children were born. I joined Uttam

school with technology interspersed with all processes, both in and outside the classroom. However the transition hasn’t been a very smooth one with initial opposition from the parent community against the extensive use. Q: Do you use social media and other technical aids to reach out to students and the community outside these walls? Why is it relevant? And which are the social mediums you’d

like to optimize and why? The students here, use YouTube, videos and blogs for their day to day lessons both in school and at home, with guided instructions from teachers and take the classroom lessons far beyond the expectations. Flipped classroom, personalized learning plans which I strongly believe in are still taking shape. Youtube videos have to be optimized

for the benefit of our students and I also see its immense scope for those deprived of quality education in the community, a fact I tested in my own school by organizing computer classes for village girls Q: How would you like to shape up the destiny of girls in your school? How are they unique than say girls you grew up with in Convent school. How are you nurturing them

differently? It is my mission to work towards a learning environment which nurtures the intellectual and emotional growth of students. All the activities in school uphold human values which will develop a strong character in each of our student. I think I am determined to involve everyone in the learning process. The school tries to give opportunities to everyone to realize their potential and in this lies our uniqueness. Q: What are the lessons you have struggled with and finally come to know for sure? I have often struggled with various ideas people have about â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; school. I would want the girls to retain their grace, dignity, take pride in themselves but also to have deep respect for all human beings. I dislike comparisons with coeducational schools since each school is unique in its ethos and must be true to its vision. DECEMBER 2014 07

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E x c l u s i v e

‘

I never got a JOB because of my EDUCATION

In a freewheeling dialogue, School LIVE student reporters engage feisty, young and incredibly sporty HRD Minister Smriti Irani on issues ranging from school dropouts, education policy and being naughty in school

ANAHITA GARG: From Miss India contest, television, politics, to finally being a minister at 38. Tell us about this incredible journey. SI: Why do you say finally? This is not the final chapter of my life. I have always had supreme confidence that whatever career path I choose I will succeed in it. Even at 15, I was like this. My confidence came from reading a lot of books. Not school books. Books opened up my mind to possibilities. It taught me to grab every opportunity that I get. Don’t think time will be merciful to give you another chance. Also, choose your path with responsibility. ANAMIT CHANDA: Were you naughty in school? SI: No, I was extremely boring. If I look back I would not sit with myself during lunch hour. I was too engrossed in books. If five girls got together to discuss who the rock star of that year was, I would be clueless. So it seemed like I was not in tandem with whatever

was the rage of my time and age. And that’s why I stood out and stuck out as a very boring individual. And in high school, I used to beat up boys. SHREYASH NIGAM: Should we be scared? SI: All I have to do now is sit on you. Pun withstanding, I had a great aversion to children with special needs being heckled or girls being troubled by bullies. I would not engage with such people in a dialogue. I would just go and thrash them. Once I got hit back by a boy and then I hit him more and when I got back home my mom beat me more, so it was not a good deal. SURBHI SACHDEVA: Not many people get an opportunity

to serve the country at such a young age in a position of such power. Is it overwhelming sometime? How do you make the most of this opportunity? SI: I think I just got lucky. I know there are many people out there who are smarter and more hardworking than I am, but possibly they don’t have the same luck factor. Also, when you talk about service to the nation, you don’t have to be in the army or a minister to serve the nation. You get to serve as an ordinary citizen too. Doing good is like paying forward. Somebody was good to me so I am being good to others. And now that I am in this office, I use

the same philosophy. When I make a policy, I think from the perspective of a parent whose child will get affected by that policy. That makes governance more humane. And if education can’t teach you humanity, nothing can. ANAMIT CHANDA: What are the challenges of your role as a minister? SI: When I get caught in conflicting emotions while taking a decision, I only think of two things. One, if I was at the receiving end of it, how would I react? Two, whatever decision I take I bear the consequence of its reaction. SURBHI SACHDEVA: You agreed for this interview in the middle of the Parliament session. How important is it for you to be accessible? SI: I get a lot of requests from kids to meet me and I always personally respond to them, even if I have to say no to them. The reason is when my kids invite celebrities to school they usually get rude answers. So before I walked into this room I thought to myself, do I want to engage with them and have fun, or give out boring answers? If you get boring answers from me today, one of you might go back and say this is not worth it and quit dreaming about being a journalist. KAUSTUBH AGGARWAL: What are your strengths and weaknesses? SI: I don’t think you can measure a human being in such strict parameters. Your ability to absorb nonsense can be a strength or a

weakness. Your assertiveness can be a strength or a weakness. It depends on the situation. I don’t judge my weaknesses, because I don’t claim to be Miss Know It All. I would rather let others judge me.

SHAMBHAV TEWARI: Today, education is something we necessarily go through to be able to get a job. Would you like to make the fundamental change of making education more relevant to our lives? DECEMBER 2014 09

E x c l u s i v e

will have a smarter generation of kids only if I give them something better than what I got to study.

SI: I never got a job because of my education. Education need not be your passport to freedom. Honestly. It should not be used to judge your possibilities. It should not be the only key to possibly unlock your dreams. We need to separate people who want knowledge and those who want education. Today, we have technology that gives us that interface. I want to Indianise it. Even countries like the UK are curious to know what India will do different from the rest of the world. I am doing a review of all schools all over the country, to understand where the gaps are. As a parent, I want my kids to have access to a curriculum that is latest, and prepares them for the future. So we have researchers and scientists to highlight education goals and we will draw up a curriculum accordingly. I

RANVEER AUJLA: Most of us are aspiring IITians… SI: Then go to a portal called knowyourcollege-gov.in. I have put up 20,000 hours of video lectures there for you to choose and study, for free. When students want to register in a college, you can check infrastructure, faculty available in it. If you do not find these facilities when you visit the college, you can complain here too. Every institute which is registered with UGC and AICTE is on this portal. SHREYASH NIGAM: You are trying to formulate a new national education

policy “reflecting the aspirations of India now and opportunities in the next decade.” What will be its priorities? SI: Everything is a priority. From the next academic year we have got a system of choice based credit transfer system and it applies to all the educational institutes of this country. How did my education get disrupted? I started my first year in Delhi and moved to Mumbai for my job. And by the time I would have taken a migration certificate and applied in a Mumbai college I would have lost a year. But now you can seamlessly move across the country without a migration certificate and carry your credits from one university to another. ANAHITA GARG: You have entered

an area which was dominated by people with expertise and are trying to completely transform it with original thought, with original ideas. How has your experience been as the minister so far? SI: My job is not to implement my ideas. My job is to facilitate with a platform so that the best minds can give us a solution and I will implement that solution. ADHIP TANWAR: PM is trying to be accessible to common people and students, what about you? SI: My email ID is available in the ministry website and I look at all my mails personally, not the PMO or my ministry. TANVI JHUNJHUNWALA: How can we make the current education system more skill oriented? SI: We have set up first sector skills counsel. There are a lot of kids who drop out of school after Class VIII. They pick up some skill and do not come back to school because of the gap. We, for the first time, have given

a credit framework, to students from Class IX to post graduation. So, if you drop out after Class VIII, your skill and the number of hours you give to it gets counted as a credit. And you can get back into the system and study again. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s implemented from November 11. We are engaging with all states so that they also apply it. It is vetted out through the UGC and AICTE and applicable throughout the country. AYESHA THATTE: Should students take up politics as their career?

SI: Why not? There is a misrepresentation of politics as being dirty so that normal people are averse to it. This is a scare that is deliberately created so that good people stay out of it. ADHIP TANWAR: Your message to School LIVE readers? SI: I wish everybody has an opportunity to serve their parents back. Whatever you do make sure it brings a smile on the face of your parents. And donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to pay back to the society.

DECEMBER 2014 11

P o s i t i v e l Y

P o s i t i v e

LIFTING THE MAGIC VEIL DastangoValentinaTrivedi lifts the magic curtain and conjures up the fantasy world of Dastangoi for children

“

o you see the two people behind me?” says Mahmood Farooqui addressing the eager-eyed audience of children, their parents and adults, who have kept alive the child in them. “No!” they all scream excitedly. Mahmood feigns surprise and then says, “That’s because the magic curtain hasn’t been lifted.” With a dramatic hand gesture, he lifts the veil and ‘dastangoi for children’ is ready to roll. Dastnagoi, that mystical word which holds the tantalising promise of a journey to magical worlds, is an art form revived by Mahmood in 2005.

DASTANGOI The word dastangoi is a compound of two Persian words, dastan and goi. Dastans were epics with themes of adventure, magic, romance, trickery and warfare and goi means to tell a dastan. Among the earlier stories, the exploits of Amir Hamza stood out with its tales of magical encounters and confrontations between tricksters and magicians, encountering many adventures, beings, species and realms inhabited by fairies, djinns and prophecies. A dastangoi performance required an exceptional command over r h e t o r i c , d e l i v e r y, m i m i c r y, ventriloquism and spontaneous composition. City squares and other public areas being their natural site of performance, the skill of the dastangos lay in commanding the audience attention at all times, an audience likely to fritter away at the slightest drop of intensity. This demanded acting and performing skills that range from drama to dance to mime to performance art. Yet rather than occupying a central place in our

artistic heritage, the popularity of dastangoi was clearly waning by the mid 12th century. With the death of Dastango Mir Baqar Ali in 1928, dastangoi passed into oblivion. A few years later with the emergence of Indian film industry, dastangoi as a performing art receded into the pages of history. DASTANGOI TODAY Historian, writer and translator Mahmood Farooqui’s tryst with

In Dastan Alice ki, Alice meets a host of interesting characters as she traverses the chess board to finally become a queen

dastangoi started in 2000, when he read his uncle Shamsur Rahman Faruqi’s study on dastangoi and became interested in it. The first show happened around 2005. He was joined a year later by Danish Husain. Together, Mahmood and Danish have conducted workshops in Delhi and Mumbai and new dastangos have emerged from these, taking the count to about 20 dastangos in India. Apart from tales from Dastan-e-Amir Hamza, Mahmood and his group of dastangos have also devised their own stories. Dastan-e-Taqseem-Hind, for instance, is on the Partition of India. Dastan-e-Sedition, on the incarceration of Dr Binayak Sen, and Dastan-e-Chouboli a folk tale from Rajasthan. DASTANGOI FOR CHILDREN In 2014, a new chapter opened in dastangoi with the first few dastans specially created and performed for children. Dastan Alice ki recounts the adventures of Alice in Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Ably performed by Ankit Chadha and Poonam Girdhani, it takes the listeners through a magical land where things are topsy turvy, Alice’s height changes several times, and she meets a host of interesting characters as she traverses the chess board to finally become a queen. The second dastan created for children, Dastan Goopy Bagha ki, is based on Satyajit Ray’s popular children’s film Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne. It is the story of Goopi, the singer and Bagha, the drummer. Their antics and their transformation from being simple village bumpkins, who are chased out of their respective

villages, to musicians who hold their audience spellbound, forms the crux of the story. Warring kings, beautiful, coy princesses and the ghost king who grants them the life changing boons are some of the other interesting characters. This is also the first dastan

from Mahmood’s dastangoi team that incorporates songs which have been translated from the film, keeping the original music composed by Ray intact. This is just the beginning and there are more dastans for children in the pipeline to look out for. December 2014 13

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SMART SCHOOL Equipped with the latest pedagogies and best practices in the domain of education, Gyanshree School, Noida aims to usher in a social transformation. Saurabh Bhramar talks to Principal Vandana Midha

Q: What was the idea behind this school? Gyanshree School is the first educational venture of Haldiramâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s group. It was conceived as the c o m p a n y â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s C o r p o r a t e S o c i a l

Responsibility Project, as we believe that education is the only route to any social transformation. Gyanshree follows the CBSE curriculum and in future, will offer CBSE-I as well to its students. The school was planned

along the four pillars- Infrastructure, Teacher, R & D Centre and Curriculum. Q: Do you have a tech-edge over other schools in Noida? Advanced language and Math labs, robotics, equipped R & D Centre, online & collaborative projects with schools abroad, interactive classrooms, wi-fi enabled campus, School ERP, Gyanshree FM through which online interactions are broadcast via the PA system are the newer technologies embraced by Gyanshree School. We offer an array of indoor and outdoor sports to children, including, Aerobics, Aquatics (Swimming Pool & Splash Pool), Badminton, Basketball, Billiards, Chess, Cricket,

We want to start a counselling cell, student exchange programmes and career mapping for children. Caroms, Football, Skating, Squash, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball and Yoga. Q: Why has education become so expensive? A well trained, quality faculty with relevant experience comes at a price. Integration of technology into the classroom has added to the cost of education. Due to the emergence of new age schools for the 21st century learners where there are a lower teacher-student ratio, with students receiving individualised attention and practical exposure through regular educational trips and excursions and material based activities, the expense of quality education has increased multifold. Q: In the next 5 years which are the major milestones Gyanshree would like to achieve? A fully functional sports facility, a Counselling cell and a SEN cell, active R & D Centre, student exchange programmes and successful career

mapping for children. Q: Where do you think our education lacks and needs to improve? The greatest challenge of education is to ensure that the students possess the correct beliefs, attitudes and behaviours. Schools need to equally emphasise on value education and building life skills. Q: What is the admission process here? Admission in Gyanshree is on the basis of SLA (Student Level Assessment) instead of an admission test and interactions with parents. The SLA

ascertains the cognition level of the students based on which the grade is recommended. Interaction with parents helps understand whether the parents have the right mindset for education of the child and ascertain their readiness to partner with school in the process. Q: Your thoughts on School LIVE? School LIVE is a magazine for everyone, regardless of age and varied preferences. Even though I make it a point to read every section of the magazine, Back to School and Expert Expressions are usually the first pages I flip over to read. I strongly endorse School LIVE to all students, parents, teachers and heads of the school. DECEMBER 2014 15

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N I V E D I T A

No Worries

Counsellor Nivedita Singh answers your queries about relationships, family, school and life

Aspiration Check Q2. I am 13 year-old girl and an 8th grader. My parents pressurise me to get the best grades every single time and I work really hard towards it, but somehow my grades don’t always meet their expectations. This effort to be on the top has made me quite competitive and my friends (which are very few) have labeled me as a ‘nerd’.

Plain Jane Q 1. I’m a 15 year-old girl, studying in Class X. I feel that I’m not as good-looking as my other friends. At times they make me feel conscious unknowingly, especially the boys. They casually say something rude about my appearance, not thinking how hurtful it can be for me. I spend too much time thinking about it and it makes me upset. How do I handle these insults? We all know that at fifteen, body image and peer appreciation matter immensely. The good news is that you’re not the only one going through this. Most adolescents and many adults suffer from similar feelings of inadequacy. What can however make it ugly and self defeating is the amount of time one invests in brooding over it, at the cost of activities which can contribute to making us appealing and attractive. Believe me, nobody till date has been successful in thinking their way to being desirable to others. The potential to exude grace, charm and a positive personality lies within all of us. What is important is to love, trust, respect and believe in oneself; and focus on investing in areas where the gains are permanent and exponential.

Don’t permit your daily experiences and reality to be controlled and shaped by definitions scripted by others

All parents want the best for their child. So do your teachers, your relatives and maybe friends. In the process of desiring so, they don’t realise that they come across as a mini but formidable army. Most children at any age would find this a stressful situation to be in, but you seem to be contributing generously by adding more than your fair share to it. Sure, challenge yourself to give your best. Try and excel at what you commit yourself to. All that is wonderful and the way it should be. However, competitiveness, perfectionism, unrealistic expectations from the self, inability to deal with setbacks, lack of friends are all self sabotaging behaviors and bigger threats to your achieving ‘success’ and to your sense of wellbeing. To begin with, stop taking things so seriously and just loosen up. You’re only 13! Build a communication channel with your parents and bridge the gap you seem to have with your peers. Help your parents understand that you feel pressured by their expectations. Seek help in getting an insight into where you are going wrong in the way you prepare for or respond during your exams. Participating in some sport or any form of extra curricular activity also acts as a great stress buster.

S C O R E B O A R D

RAC UET Girls N

o Indian woman could strike a chord in racket games until the later part of the last decade, when Sania Mirza and Saina Nehwal proved their mettle in tennis and badminton respectively. Born to a middle class family in Haryana, Saina’s success is truly exemplary. She attained a world ranking of 2 in 2010, which is the second highest ranking of any Indian in any individual sport after Prakash Padukone’s top ranking in early 80s. Saina went on to win bronze medal in 2012 Olympics, which is the only Olympic Badminton medal of India till date. However, she is not the only woman

Saina Nehwal

player who did India proud in the badminton court. The first major success by Indian shuttlers in a truly international tournament came in the 2011 World Championship, when gutsy Jwala Gutta teamed up with Ashwini Ponnappa to win a bronze medal and became the first Indian ladies to do so. Hyderabadi southpaw Jwala is a doubles specialist and a fierce competitor. Success to Jwala did not come on a platter as she honed her skills after years of hard work in the international arena. Her quick net play and reflexes make her an extremely formidable opponent. Six years younger than Jwala, Ashwini was born in Bangalore, but later shifted base to Hyderabad and teamed up with Jwala. Ashwini has a lean

Pankaj Agrawal traces the rise of India’s new league of feisty racquet champions

Sania Mirza

PV Sindhu

body which makes her movements quick on the turf. She partnered Jwala yet again during their triumph in 2010 C o m m o n w e a l t h Gameswhere Jwala’s quick reflexes complemented A s w i n i ’s agility perfec tly. P V Sindh u too is a formidable young entrant in the sport. She c r e a t e d sensation

Jwala Gutta

when she won the bronze medal in 2013 World Championship, a feat, even Saina couldn’t achieve. The last i n d i v i d u a l m e d a l i n Wo r l d Badminton Championship was won by Prakash Padukone, 30 years ago, in 1983. Sindhu again won a medal in World Championship recently which made her the only Indian shuttler to win back-to-back medals in World Badminton Championship. Currently, Saina Nehwal is at 4th and PV Sindhu is at 11th position in world ranking. Saina has recently won the prestigious China Open and Sindhu has successfully defended her Macau Open title, this certainly is an hour of glory for India’s new racquet queens.

DECEMBER 2014 17

S T U D E N T

B L O G

The BEAUTIFUL

MIND Testing the claims of Midbrain Activation of a stronger memory and better concentration among children aged 5-15 years at IBN 7 studio, Noida

By Shambhav Tewari Class IX, Step by Step School, Noida

n November 8, I was invited to the IBN 7 studio where two extraordinary children, Samayak and Shloka, showed the world the true potential of the mind. Blindfolded, they read complex text, recognised colours, copied iconic poses and recognised famous people in images all by just smelling and feeling various items ranging from wristwatches to white-board markers. However the main question that was bugging me was, “How is it possible to compensate for the lack of sight by smelling and touching objects?” The answer was hidden quite

literally in the middle of the brain. Our brain is composed of several parts. The midbrain is a part of the central nervous system associated with vision, hearing, motor control, sleep and wake. If this midbrain is stimulated or used to its full capacity, it can do wonders. Thus there is a three day course known as midbrain activation which stimulates the brain by certain sound waves. This mid-brain however can only be activated in the developmental stages of the brain that is from the ages 5 to 15. After one crosses the age of 15, the mind stops developing and hence it is not possible to activate the midbrain. Apart from being able to read blind folded, midbrain activation improves

concentration, memory and helps develop talents like arts, singing, speaking etc. Throughout the two hours I spent in the studio not one moment passed when we weren’t awestruck by the supernatural powers of these children. One of the most memorable moments was when blindfolded Samayak recognised a picture of Shah Rukh Khan and even ‘spotted’ a small spot of blue that was on one edge of the picture. Shloka, blindfolded, read the time on a digital watch and read the fine-print at the back of an ordinary whiteboard marker. It is not possible to summarise the amazing feats that these two talented kids. All I can say is that after that day I cannot question the true potential of our brain.

B R A I N S T O R M

SCHOOL QUIZ LEAGUE WHAT'S IN A NAME? 1

With which great warrior would you associate the Battle of Haldighati?

If you are in the Capital City of Sophia, which country will you be in?

Which Indian sporting champion’s autobiography is titled Unbreakable? She also has a Bollywood movie on her life.

Which Indian Bollywood star from yesteryears was the Founder and Chairman of Internet Users Community of India (IUCI)?

Mi6 is the Intelligence agency of which country?

Which popular author uses the pen name of Robert Gailbraith for her major works?

Which cricket playing nation has scored maximum number of 400+ scores in an ODI match?

Ramnath Goenka founded which Indian media group?

Which country will host the next Commonwealth Games?

Prius was credited to be the World’s first …….. car? For answers see page 21 DECEMBER 2014 17

P a r e n t i n g

TWO TANGO to

How to raise multiples with confidence? Anu Singh Choudhary shares her wisdom and experience

wasn’t an easy person to live it. I was hyperactive, and I just couldn’t stay still. I needed a lot of excitement and challenges in my life. Therefore, the Universe had a bigger plan for me – a challenge that would supersede everything I had known and experienced so far. Someone who couldn’t sit still was told to be in bed rest for several months because she was to have twins. Someone who loved to read, and talk, and watch films was forced to be on the bed flat on her back for several months because the twin pregnancy got complicated. When you are physically incapacitated, the only desire you have in your life is to be back on your feet. Come to think of it, twin (and multiple pregnancy) is nothing short of a science fiction. So, I couldn’t take a chance. I had to go through this complete personality metamorphosis because I wanted my twins to be healthy, and safe, inside my womb. That was the first sign of a BIG change that was to follow!

We came home with twins, and without a clue of what I was getting into, I was completely sucked into the rigmarole of staying awake through the nights (and days) feeding, changing diapers, giving medicines, bathing, changing, feeding, changing diapers, giving medicines… It seemed

never-ending, and fact of the matter is, however much support you gather from family and domestic help, raising twins exhausts the mother to no end. While raising twins, I gathered some pretty valuable ‘gyaan’ about life in general which I would like to share with you. Trust: Identify your support system, and trust them. Like everything challenging in life, raising twins is somewhat like a teamwork. You will have to learn to delegate, and you will have to learn to trust that the team will eventually deliver. Like a good leader, it also teaches you to be the most reliable troubleshooter. Be self-loving: You need that wink of sleep. You also need that extra cup of milk. And yes, you definitely need some time off. In the process of selfless giving, be a little selfish and take out time to do something you would love to do. Just find that goddamned hour. Whichever way you can. That’s the only way to save yourself from crumbling. Resist comparison: You are raising twins, yes, but they are two individuals. Like everywhere else in general, there are no stereotypes in twins, and you can’t definitely generalise. Prioritise: You can’t do it all. You can’t be everywhere. And you definitely can’t have it all. So, choose what you want – for your kids, and for yourself.

W a t c h

t h i s

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BATTLE OF THE BRAINS Talking Book Library

Grand Finale School Quiz League

Kothari International School, Noida

oet-politician Kumar Vishwas and renowned playback singer Mohit Chauhan unveiled the first Talking-Book Library to facilitate book-reading amongst visually challenged students at Kothari International School, Noida on November 26.

t was a epic battle of wit, knowledge and talent as the teams from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh competed in Grand Finale of School Quiz League Pratibha Ki Khoj, at India’s fastest growing State Centric Quiz program in its 2nd edition hosted by ace commentator and host Charu Sharma on November 22 at Gyanshree School, Noida. In a nail biting finish, the team of Akshat Karulkar and Madhav Pandya from Emerald Heights, Indore, won the junior category, whereas the team of Anushree Jain and Shambhavi Srivastav from Carmel Convent, won the hearts and winner’s trophy in the senior category.

“Don't limit your challenges, challenge your limits” G.D Goenka Public School, Kanpur

MUSIC BY CHILDREN, FOR CHILDREN

he Shubhendra and Saskia Rao Foundation organised a very unique programme, Music By Children, For Children to celebrate Children’s Day on November 14 at Select Citywalk mall, New Delhi. The evening started with a performance by the toddlers of Music for Hope project in Nizamuddin Basti. The highlight of the show was Ishaan Rao’s piano show with Zargam Khan on tabla and Ayesha Thatte on vocals, accompanied by Leo Hayashi on tabla and live painting by Jason Ranjit.

lympian MC Mary Kom was in GD Goenka Public School, Kanpur, to felicitate the winners of Expression 2014, an event that comprised various activities like clay modeling, transport fabrication, poster designing, collage making, jewelry making, music, sports, cultural events etc. Tennis sensation Sania Mirza also conducted a special workshop for the aspiring tennis players in the school.

SCHOOL QUIZ LEAGUE ANSWERS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Maharana Pratap Bulgaria JK Rowling Mary Kom Shammi Kapoor

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

British India(4 times) Gold Coast, Australia Indian Express Group Hybrid DECEMBER 2014 17

W O R T H Y

O P P O N E N T

WHO WANTS A WI-FI ENABLED SMART CITY? Net users are expected to touch 302 million by end of this year in India, overtaking US as the second-largest Internet market in the world. Buoyed by this strong growth in Internet consumption, would you like to live in a Wi-Fi enabled Smart city?

Shambhav Tewari

Firdaus Mohandas

Class IX, Step by Step School, Noida

A Model City

A Divided City

I feel that a Wi-Fi enabled city would take us a step closer to being a true digital India. Contrary to the popular belief, setting up a smart city is not a very difficult task and neither is it a very expensive proposition. If long range Wi-Fi extenders and industrial grade Internet plans are used then the entire proposition for a city like Delhi comes out to be around Rs 130 crore only, which is approximately 40% of the entire money the MLAs of Delhi get for development. Furthermore not only will this be a positive step forward, but it shall also boost India’s international image as a potential superpower in the future. There are several advantages of having a Wi-Fi enabled city. There will be a vast amount of data on the Internet available to everyone, government can plan out egovernance schemes, e-banking can be actively promoted and people can be better connected by social-networking websites. Apart from Wi-Fi, a smart city can exponentially decrease the number of crimes in our country as everyone will be simultaneously connected to the Internet. Thus after much deliberation we can easily conclude that a Wi-Fi enabled Smart city has the potential of becoming a model city that the world can emulate.

A Wi-Fi enabled Smart city, as perfect as it sounds for a bourgeois audience, is simply divisive, and serves only to improve the already lavish lifestyle of the urban elite, which constitutes maybe 4-5% of the nation’s population. Presently, in our country, there are nearly over 15,000 partially successful cyber-attacks on the government portal every year. Last year, in the US the hacker group Anonymous successfully managed to take down the CIA website. Millions of American citizens first had their information collected through illegal, invasive secret surveillance by the government. Next, several cyber-criminal groups used malicious software to access this, and sold the information to terrorist groups. Let us also consider the possible cost of building these Wi-Fi enabled smart cities. India is 3,287,590 km². Even if we were to develop 1% of the country’s area as Smart cities, it could cost about Rs 288 crore. Since most areas of our country still lack access to water, housing and electricity, how selfish and urban-centric do we have to be to even consider this possibility anytime in the near future? So, to sum up, Smart cities are a serious invasion of our privacy, they pose a major security threat, they are elitist and could widen the gap between the rich and the poor, and are financially, not just impractical, but crippling.

Our next topic for Worthy Opponent is: Do you think new year resolutions are still relevant?

T E E N

T R A V E L

Incredible India! Explore the top five Indian destinations of 2014 with Anahita Garg MUNNAR, KERALA In India, Munnar is the most breathtakingly beautiful place I have ever seen. Known for its tea gardens, it also has numerous spice plantations and tea estates. We even saw a massive waterfall. Sitting in a jeep with my parents, I journeyed to India’s oldest tea factory, drank the finest brews, trekked to waterfalls, stuffed our suitcases with spices of all kinds, saw wild elephants and had a lot of fun. GOA I have been to Goa for more than once, and every time I discover something new. It is the Goan culture that attracts me the most. The beaches are magnificent, and people tend to stay constantly in a good mood. I love Goa also because of the cuisine and the huge variety of fish available in cool shacks right on the beach. And of course, who can miss the elegant churches and bustling markets in the town. Walk along the shoreline, wriggle your toes in the sand, soak in the gorgeous sunset, sounds like paradise, right?

Goa

Rajasthan

Lonavala

Amritsar

JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN The diverse culture, people, food and colours are what attract you to this beautiful city. The Pink City is known for its forts and palaces - the greatest being Amber fort, or Amer Ka Qila. It is also a shopper’s paradise, because of its huge variety of sarees, lac bangles, jooties and other handicrafts. The Rajasthani food was finger-licking good! Jaipur beckons you to experience the royal spirit of Rajasthan.

purest form of divinity and eating in langar and doing kar-seva is immensely satisfying. The Jallianwallah Bagh is a heart-touching memorial for all. The Wagah Border gives a truly patriotic sentiment. It is a foodie’s paradise, with dhabas selling authentic Punjabi cuisine and roadside stalls with fried fish, tandoori chicken and of course, creamy lassi. I enjoyed sitting in open rickshaws, riding down a street, to find something new each time, be it Punjabi suits or just paranthas.

AMRITSAR, PUNJAB The holy city of Amritsar is a popular pilgrimage and tourist destination. The Golden Temple is the

LONAVLA-KHANDALA HILLSTATION, MAHARASHTRA Popularised by a famous Aamir Khan song, Lonavla and Khandala

Munnar

have been my childhood favourite. Being only a three-hour drive from Mumbai, this is where Mumbaikars like to go for picnics. The best time to be there is monsoons, when there are waterfalls on every turn – big and small. The roadside stalls sell steaming tea, pakoras and Maggie. Hope it will tempt you to experience the truly Incredible India!

Anahita Garg Class IX, Step By Step School, Noida

DECEMBER 2014 17

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TRUTHS

In What I know For Sure, Oprah Winfrey lists all the lessons she has struggled with, cried over, run from, circled back to, made peace with, laughed about, and finally come to know for sure.

very morning when I open my curtains for that first look at the day, no matter what the day looks like—raining, foggy, overcast, sunny—my heart swells with gratitude. I get another chance. In the best of times and worst of times, I know for sure, this life is a gift. And I believe that no matter where we live or how we look or what we do for a living, when it comes to what really matters—what makes us laugh and cry, grieve and yearn, delight and rejoice—we share the same heart space. We just fill it with different things.

HERE ARE

15 OF MY FAVORITES:

1. Planting vegetables in my garden. 2. Making blueberry-lemon pancakes on Sunday morning for Stedman. Never fails to delight him— like he’s 7 every time. 3. An off-leash romp on the front lawn with all my dogs. 4. A rainy day, a chill in the air, a blazing fire in the fireplace. 5. Picking vegetables from my garden. 6. A great book. 7. Reading in my favorite place on earth: under my oak trees. 8. Cooking vegetables from my garden. 9. Sleeping till my body wants to wake up. 10. Waking up to the real twitter: birds. 11. A workout so strong, my whole body breathes. 12. Eating vegetables from my garden. 13. Being still. 14. Embracing silence. 15. The daily spiritual practice of gratitude. Every day I bless my life by counting my blessings. —Extract from What I Know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey

WHAT I KNOW FOR SURE by Oprah Winfrey Pan Macmillan India ( `599)

C A R E E R

C H A T

MATHS Anxiety Age-old career stereotypes have helped perpetuate the myth that great careers begin with studying Maths and Science subjects, says Career Counselor Jitin Chawla

Q. I am studying in Class X and I am not really good at Maths. My parents insist that Maths is essential in Class XI and XII. Please tell me if it is true. Would I have good options if I don’t take Maths? Navi Alam Ans. Without Maths, there is a choice of more than 30 good career options. Each subject adds some value to you as an individual. So if you have thought of doing Law; Mass Communication; Design – fashion, graphic, interior, product, furniture; Fine Arts; Advertising, Hotel Management, Psychology, Teaching, Social Work, you don’t need Maths in Class XI and XII. People have a misconception that Maths is useful in competitions. The Maths that you encounter in MBA entrance test is of Class VIII-X level, and is more reasoning oriented. CA also does not require Maths of Class XI and XII. Accounts doesn’t need Integration, Differentiation, 3D and Vectors. Similarly if you pursue Sciences, if you are really focused on Biology and are not good at Maths or don’t like it, you can leave it. You can then look at doing Biotech (BSc and Msc), Microbiology, Biochemistry, Botany, Zoology, MBBS, Veterinary Science, Environmental sciences, or Agricultural Sciences. It ultimately depends on how clear you are on your career goals. If you want to do Forest Management (check IIFM, Bhopal), you can skip Maths. Many competitions happen after graduation, like Bank PO, Asst. Grade, LIC Officers exam, ITBP, Law entrance and CDS. The entrance test comprises English, Reasoning, Maths, GK and Legal aptitude questions (for Law). The Maths you need is of Class VIII-X level.

Q. I am student of class XII with Science. I want to join NASA as an astronaut. After B.Tech, what should I do, please suggest? Khagesh Raj Ans. NASA selects astronauts after a rigorous selection process. Ability to pass a NASA space physical test, which is similar to a military or civilian flight physical test and includes the following specific standards, Distance visual acuity: 20/200 or better uncorrected, correctable to 20/20, each eye, Blood pressure: 140/90 measured in a sitting position, height between 58.5 and 76 inches. After Class XII, do B.Tech in Aeronautical Engineering, Avionics or 5 year Integrated MS from Indian Institute of Science Education Research, National Institute of Science Education & Research- Bhubaneswar, DAE Centre for Excellence in Basic Science-Mumbai, IITs, BITS & 4 Yr BS from IISc-Banglore are available. Also one can opt for BSc Physics and thereafter MSc research fellowships are available at ISRO, DRDO, funded bodies like Indian Institute of Science-Bangalore, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre–Trivandrum, IIT’s, Institute of Physics Bhubaneswar, Indian Institute of Astrophysics-Bangalore, Physical Research Laboratory-Ahmedabad, Institute of Plasma Research - Gandhinagar, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research - Mumbai, Raman Research Institute, Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics - Pune, and National Centre for Radio Astrophysics - Pune. DECEMBER 2014 17

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2014 was a milestone year for Bollywood queens. Saurabh Bhramar lists 5 reasons to prove it

his year has been amazing for the girls in Bollywood because some of them have really outshone the male talent with great roles that were offered to them. So here’s my applause and appreciation for production houses, directors & scriptwriters for moving away and risking it all to make some meaningful cinema. I have five reasons for saying that 2014 was a transformational year for the ladies in Bollywood. REASON 1: Queen: A small town actress from Himachal made a name for herself in Bollywood. It isn’t a small achievement. Though her talent was considered only good for kissing and pumping male egos, this year Kangana Ranaut has shed that image by doing a hilarious movie, which was completely devoid of any glamour/bold scenes. Queen would be a trendsetter not only for the movie makers but for aspiring actresses. Kangana has shown that talent cannot be compromised and compensated and eventually would never be ignored.

REASON 2: Mardaani: Bollywood has for long believed that wrinkles, wisdom, experience & intelligence, especially in leading ladies, has no place on the silver screen. Rani Mukherjee, for instance, for years was trying to compete with the newer and fitter breed of Katrinas & Kareenas. However, she ignored the fact that she is much more than a glam doll. After a string of disappointments, finally she has got it right, as she effortlessly portrayed a cop in "Mardaani". This movie is a reminder for Bollywood that experience enhances the talent and not diminishes it. Kudos to Rani.

REASON 3 & 4: From “Student Of The Year” to "Highway" & "2 States". Alia Bhatt is the most unpredictable & unassuming talent we have in this industry. She is pretty, intense and has a wonderful comic timing. "Highway" proves that she has a great understanding of even the most complicated character & "2 States" puts her as a lady who has no qualms about what she wants out of her life. Alia is going to be one of the most sought after artists in the coming years.

REASON 5: This is not a movie but a girl who everyone expected to follow her dad’s footsteps. She has made her share of mistakes. Every time she has fallen, she stood up and has performed even better. Deepika Padukone is one actress who has done it all. From Kingfisher Calendars to dating cricketers, mini non performing assets of an industrialist to a Bollywood star. Her strength has been her courage to accept her mistakes and move on. Her strength has been her gradual improvements. Hope that the trend continues in 2015 and years to come, after all this trend is not only needed in the film world but our society as a whole. Cheers & a very happy new year to all my review lovers and haters as well.

By Tanya Dutta Class XI, DPS, Mathura Road

The year 2014 has been another tumultuous roller coaster ride for all of us. It has brought us many bittersweet memories and a few heartbreaks too, like the demise of literary gems Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Maya Angelou. We saw some brilliant new novels too. Here’s my top five bestseller list:

books

The ICING on the CAKE Revival

The Paying Guests

Redeployment

By Stephen King

By Sarah Waters

By Phil Klay

Stephen King whips out yet another masterpiece with this book. A deeply dark novel, it spans five decades, delving deep into the relationship between Jamie Morton, a rock and roll enthusiast, who soothes his familial wounds with heroin, and ex-Reverend Charles Jacobs, who bonded once over a terrible obsession. An unsettling read with a horrifying conclusion, it truly is a modern horror marvel.

Set in an industrial era London, this story revolves around widow, Mrs Wray, and her daughter Frances, who after feeling the after effects of the recession; open up their genteel villa to lodgers. The new guests, the Barbers, a modern young couple, rattle things up in the Wray household. But only time will tell the full impact they’re going to have on the lives of the Wrays…

Gray Mountain

One More Thing

By John Grisham

By B.J. Novak

True to the acclaimed storyteller’s masterful style, the story revolves around a determined career woman whose life takes a sudden turn for the worse. She gets relocated to a remote town in the midst of the Appalachia, after losing her job. But is the town as simple as it is small? Read to find out!

This book promises glass-shattering realism to the reader, playing along with deep emotional undertones. Incorporating Phil Kay’s wonderful promising writing with raw themes like survival and helplessness, and faith and desperation, this is one book which stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

Spanning various themes such as love, family, fear and ambition, this comic gem from actor, director and writer of the hit TV comedy The Office, B.J. Novak, is a collection of stories that boasts of fresh narrative tones, bursting with an electric sense of humour. DECEMBER 2014 17

P o t p o u r r i

Timeline of

HAPPY NEW YEAR Julius Caesar celebrated the first New Year’s Eve 4,000 years ago. Saurabh Bhramar and Garima Srivastava chronicle this much loved tradition

he first New Year’s celebration dates back to 4,000 years ago. Julius Caesar, the emperor of Rome, was the first to declare January 1 as a national holiday. He named the month after Janus, the Roman god of doors and gates who had two faces, one looking forward and one looking back. Ring in the New Year with family and friends because the first people you see will either give you good luck or bad luck. Forty-five percent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. The top resolutions are: to lose weight, get organised, to spend less and save more, to stay fit and healthy and to quit smoking. About 25 percent of them give up on their resolutions by the second week of January. Be sure to eat leafy greens on New Year’s. Tradition says that the more leafy greens a person eats, the more prosperity he or she will experience (what an incentive for s t a y i n g healthy!).

GERMANY Berlin is home to one of the largest New Year’s Eve celebrations in Europe – over a million people normally show up! The festival is called Silvester, and usually involves lots of parties, fireworks, and a glass of Sekt (German sparkling wine) or champagne. ---------------------------------------------------

ITALY In Italy people enjoy celebrating a few ancient traditions, like wearing red underwear. Revellers enjoy a dinner usually made with pig trotters and lentils, and a spoonful is eaten with every chime of the bell at midnight. ---------------------------------------------------

RUSSIA New Year’s Eve in Russia became a very big celebration in the 20th century, because religious holidays like Christmas were banned under the Soviet Union. Because of this, everyone put all of their party energy into New Year’s Eve, and it’s become a much loved tradition. ---------------------------------------------------

SCOTLAND In Scotland, New Year’s Eve is called Hogmanay and is usually celebrated by visiting friends and family with gifts of whisky or a lump of coal (which was traditionally used as fuel). ---------------------------------------------------

BRAZIL New Year’s Eve is one of Brazil’s main holidays, and officially starts the summer holidays, which last until Carnival.

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