School LIVE February issue

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M L A C Manish Paul: APJ School Sheikh Sarai Mentor’s Note: Pramod Sharma, Genesis Global School School In Spotlight: Amity International School Noida

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LIVE GAURAVA YADAV Quizzer dares you to take our quiz

KAVITA DEVGAN Nutritionist, weight management specialist and health writer

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Teena Baruah teenabaruah@gmail.com SUB EDITOR

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

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2015 volume 6 februaRY

EXAM SPECIAL

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CALM

JAISHREE SHARAD

Manish Paul: APJ School Sheikh Sarai Mentor’s Note: Pramod Sharma, Genesis Global School School In Spotlight: Amity International School Noida

PHOTO COURTESY: Genesis Global School, Noida

Renowned Cosmetic dermatologist with an enviable Bollywood client list FEBRUARY 2015 01

ed-note

LIVE

Hi,

Wish you all a very Happy Republic Day. This year it was more special than ever.

Especially for women and girls. We get super excited at any effort that helps move one step ahead in the direction of women empowerment.

What a joy it was to see Wing Commander Pooja Thakur leading the Guard of Honour at the Ceremonial Welcome of U.S. President Barack Obama. She became the first Indian woman officer to do so.

Another first in this years Republic Day Parade was the display of Women Power through the march-past of Women Units of all the three Armed Forces.

The sight of uniformed young girls, full of confidence and strength, saluting the President was an unforgettable one. My tears of joy rolled down as I stood up in front of my TV and clapped for the girls. The pride that I felt as a woman, as a mother of a young girl, can’t be expressed in words...

But, moving beyond symbolism, what needs to be remembered by all you privileged girls and boys is that even today only 50% of girls and women in India can read or write.

Of all the girls who are enrolled in primary education, a big number drops out at adolescence because of various reasons, like family pressure, lack of safe modes of commuting to school, no toilets in schools and many more...

YOUR generation can change the way our society treats girls and women. Girls, empower yourself with education, confidence, strength and “YES I CAN “ attitude.

Boys, get ready to accept the fact that you are in no way, superior. We all are equal :) Empowerment through Education…

Let’s each educate one girl child Lovingly yours

Richa Anirudh tweet to me @richaanir udh

LIST ’ T I ‘ MY ON MaYnIPtsOODf

Ch Pt India by nkar, a Ravi Sha ay to good w r day start you

ON MY PLATE Golgappe…Was craving for them for long

ON MY BOOKSHELF

Autobiograp hy of a Yogi by Paramahan sa Yogananda

FEBRUARY 2015 03

E N J OY T H E I N C R E D I B L E TA S T E A N D F L AV O U R

PRESENTS

FROM GRANDMA’s Kitchen tyle Goan S

SPROUTED MOONG Curry Recipe by Neelam Mahajan

INGREDIENTS: Whole Moong Dal Sprout Coriander Seeds Turmeric Powder (haldi) Cinnamon Stick (Dalchini) Cloves (Laung) Fresh Coconut (grated) Onions (Chopped) Curry Leaves Asafoetida (Hing) Mustard seeds (kali sarson) Red Chilli Tamarind Pulp (Imli ka Guda) Green Coriander (chopped) Oil Water

2 Cups 1 Tsp 1/4 Tsp 1 inch 3 Half a Cup Half a Cup A Handful A Pinch 1/4 Tsp 1/2 Tsp as per taste for garnish 4 tsp A Glass

PROCEDURE: 1. Heat 1 tsp oil of oil in a skillet on medium heat andadd coriander and cumin seeds.

2. When they pop, add cloves and cinnamon.

Add in the onions and sautĂŠ till crisp. Then add dry red chillies and grated coconut.

3. Keep stirring till the coconut turns pink. Allow it to cool and then add tamarind pulp. Grind this into a paste.

4. Pressure cook sprouted moong by adding salt and turmeric. The sprout should not contain any water, they should be dry.

5. Take a skillet and heat 2 tsp of oil. Add mustard seeds and let them pop.

6. Add asafoetida, curry leaves and the grounded paste.

7. Add one glass of water and bring it to a boil.

Then add boiled moong.

8. Garnish it with freshly chopped coriander and serve with rice or chapatis.

(This healthy recipe comes loaded with goodness. The Vitamin K and C rich sprouts are a blessing for those wanting to loose weight, whereas spices like cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves fight deadly diseases like cancer, diabetes, anemia, etc. Spices like coriander and tamarind are antioxidants, while cloves possess antifungal, analgesic and antiseptic properties.)

If you liked our recipe share your feedback queries@schoollive.in

contents

LIVE 03 Editor’s Note

Regulars 12

School in Spotlight: Amity International School, Noida 25 Page 99: Sachin: Cricketer Of The Century

by Vimal Kumar

23

Brainstorm: Quiz

22

Worthy Opponents: Media of Discontent

16

Teen Travelogue: Akshat Karulkar explores Goa

14

Career Chat: Counsellor Jitin Chawla 18 Rap Up: Reviews 21 Ask Nivedita 15 Fit for Life:

QUICK EDIT

I

n school, I used to dread taking examinations. One day, I found a lovely quote in Don Miguel Ruiz’s book The Four Agreements in the school library. It simply said: Always do your best. Your best varies from day to day, Ruiz says, depending on how you’re feeling. No matter. Give your best in every circumstance so that you have no reason to judge yourself and live with guilt and shame. That evening I went home and made a poster bearing these words and taped it to my mirror, where it stayed through my college years. I do hope you too find your inspiration from such maxims and do your personal best this exam. In this issue, we bring Nutritionist Kavita Devgan’s tips on how to cope with examination stress (Cover Story) and Superwoman Lilly Singh’s 5 minutes of epic comic motivation on YouTube (Rap Up).

HAPPY READING! Teena Baruah

Skin care tips from skin expert Dr. Jaishree Sharad

06 Mentor’s Note: Genesis Global School’s Director and Principal Pramod Sharma

26 Down the School Corridor: Manish Paul

Cover 09 Calm Your Exam Nerves

View Point 20

DIY: Joy of collecting autographs in the age of selfies

24

Expert Expressions: Shereen Bhan shares the formula to being a super entrepreneur

06 12

M E N T O R ’ S N O T E

Pramod Sharma

Making A Difference

A great teacher with 42 years in school education, Genesis Global School’s Director and Principal Pramod Sharma is an incredibly grounded academician who rarely engages in grandiloquent talk and at all times wears a benevolent, mildly amused grin. Interview by Teena Baruah Nigeria’s Ijebu-Ode Grammar School in Nigeria. Since 1989, I am heading schools with all kinds of curriculum, including, Mayo College, TN Academy & Yadavindra Public School.

I’ve been a member in Board of Governors at Lawrence School (Sanawar) and PPS Nabha. So it’s a varied experience that I’ve gathered.

I

started in 1972. I was working for my PhD in Medicinal Organic Chemistry. In research you pass through ups and downs and in one of the lows I thought, for my sanity, I must get out of the research lab.

Around that time Doon school offered

You do not head a school unless you have grey hair. So why do I need to stay at one place and continue to do the same thing again and again?

Might as well go around the world, see places and teach different curriculum

me a job of a Chemistry teacher, which was a life changing experience and I left my PhD to become a full-fledged schoolmaster.

After five years in Doon, I did a stint in Indian Embassy’s India School in Kabul, and later, Government of

A Gypsy Life I realised early on that you do not head a school unless you have grey hair. So why do I need to stay at one place and continue to do the same thing again and again? Might as well go around the world, see places and teach different curriculum. So I’ve taught Indian School Certificate Examinations (ICSE) in Doon School, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in Kabul, West African Examinations Council School Certificate in Nigeria and then came

back to CBSE in Meyo college. It has made my experience so much richer and has helped me seek a variety of solutions for one particular problem.

Discipline: A Humane Approach Discipline is important but it should not break our soul. No one’s career should be jeopardised because of it.

You need to take people along. You need to be humane. For instance, while I was heading a residential school, a group of students slipped out to watch a film. My jeep and security officer

brought them back from the movie hall and I suspended them for a week.

But while they were making arrangements to go home, two other boys came to my room and confessed that they too had watched the film but we were not caught. “We think it is not fair that our friends are being punished and we are being left out.

Send us home too,” one of them said. I remember shaking their hands and saying that whatever this school had to teach them, it has already taught the right lessons. They were all suspended, but I rang up their parents and praised the children.

Later, at their farewell, they gifted me a cassette of Badal and I was touched. Only later, did I realise that it was the music of the same film they’d bunked school to watch! So even when you’re disciplining the feeling for and communication

with each other must continue.

Best Practices I have always had an open door policy.

No student, parent or teacher is allowed to stand outside my room, waiting to meet me. No appointments are required. It’s difficult because you can’t do your own work during the school time, and you need to add time from your personal life to be able to complete your work. But that is very important to build relations. And at school ultimately it’s all about relationships and respect for each other.

Today life is so stressful, with newer understanding of student psyche, nobody is allowed to give tongue-lashing, forget about corporal punishment, as children have become lot more sensitive. You can’t have an upset child going home. So you need to persuade, keep the parent in the loop and make the parent understand that they can’t be just pampering the child. Since they are also financial providers, they need to make sure that there is a give and take relationship between the child and his/her parents.

The child needs to fulfill certain expectations of parents in order to get FEBRUARY 2015 07

er C re a ti v e C o rn

b C o m p u te r La

rm S tu d e n t’ s D o

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certain gadget, clothes. All goodies are connected to performance. If parents can establish this relation early in life most of the other things fall in place.

Spearheading a School Today, schools in India are largely principal-centric. That’s why the history of a school fluctuates all the time. A lot is left to the imagination and enthusiasm of the principal. If he/she is enthusiastic, children get settled nicely. In our school, we have remedial class after 3pm for students who need extra attention and we don’t charge a penny for it.

Unfortunately, there is a dearth of good principals in this country, and it’s because teaching has not been a profession of choice in this country.

Men don’t take it up. 90% of the workforce in metropolitan schools consists of women who are wives and mothers as well and hence have very little time to give to their students.

That is a limitation principals have to deal with.

My core group comprises 30 teachers who live on campus, who can contribute and not think of the running meter, in taxi term. Teaching is a vocation, not a job. If you are prepared to put in extra then only you should take it up.

Campus Life I have lived all my working life in residential schools. My wife looks after my family, so I am relieved of that responsibility. I have all the time for my school. After school, I like to listen to Begum Akhtar’s music or Sufi numbers. In the evening I play tennis with boarders and go for evening walks with our two dogs. My son, who’s now 31 and works in Gurgaon, still lives in school. He must have had a tough life as being a principal’s son you don’t make friends easily. He jokes that he changed five schools, but found the same principal everywhere he went. But for me, it has been a very fulfilling life.

c o v e r

Calm Your EXAM NERVES

EXAM SPECIAL

Nutritionist Kavita Devgan shares tips on how to cope with examination stress

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henever the examination time comes closer, students approach me with certain uneasy symptoms like lack of sleep and hunger, anxiety, depression or a strange unknown fear,” says Dr OC Kashyap, Sr. consultant psychiatrist, New Delhi.

“Combination of many factors such as family environment, parental attitudes and expectations, peer pressure, social circle, individual aspirations, all add up, causing stress and worry. And paramount is the fear of failure, which multiplies tensions related to examinations”, he explains. “Some people find exam time so bad they become ill and in most, worry causes depression, forgetfulness, irritability and unsociability,” Dr Kashyap adds.

“It is very natural for stress to crop up given the circumstances and the situation. Their (the student’s) entire future depends on not what they are capable of or have been doing for the entire year or for that matter all through their schooling years but on the crucial three hours of examination.

The previous performance is just not considered. Add to this the unnatural parental expectations and their stress level gets increased manifold,” agrees Gowri Ishwaran, an innovative educationist with over 30 years of experience in leading schools in India.

The solution she feels lies in a two-fold approach – “firstly parents need to be counselled not to put too much pressure of expectations on their child.

This will alleviate at least half the anxiety. Also parents should comfort the child that if something does go wrong, it is not the end of the world.

And that everything can be rectified.

This will take a load off their head and they can prepare without unnecessary nervousness.

“Secondly kids need to be told that there are many career options available even outside of the regular (engineering and medicine) ones.

They need to be explained that just getting into a top-notch college (which requires 90% +) is not the only route to success. For example, for becoming a journalist one doesn’t need a 90% aggregate at +2. Instead what would stand a child in good stead FEBRUARY 2015 09

is perhaps an 80% in English and a more rounded education and development. And this is just one example. There are many more such options available. Here, the school has to play a very important role. It is important to talk to the children from earlier classes and give them a ‘whole’ view on education. Children should be made capable of understanding their limitations and more importantly their strengths so that they become capable of making right choices at all levels of life. We cannot kill the competition but we should not make it the ‘be all’ too. It is important to prepare our students for life beyond just these exams. And that I feel is much more important.”

Dr Shyama Chona, Educationist and Social Activist, feels that excessive competition and desire to achieve too much is what leads to examination stress. “Too much of reaction to the board exams is bad, as the professional colleges have their own entrance exams anyways. Besides there is only so much a child can do at the fag end of the year.

So it is important to study throughout the year,” she advises. A child must prepare for exams consistently right from fourth class onwards through

regular tests, weekly tests, quarterlies. This serves as training for the crucial examinations.

“Every child is unique and has an intelligence type unique to him. So they cannot be judged by absolutely set, rigid patterns,” concurs Lata Vaidyanathan, ex Principle of Modern School, Barakhamba. “Perhaps we can understand some day that children have multiple, rather different kinds of capabilities so accordingly we need different kinds of evaluation systems.

Some children might want to express by writing / project work / dance / singing… different style of learning, so different styles of evaluations are required. What we ideally need to do is to provide a conducive environment for them to be able to realise their potential in all

the fields that interest them, and not just academics,” she opines.

She adds, “Besides the stress levels are high because today what the kid’s have to do better than what was best sometime back. And exams have become mere tests of writing skills and rote memory rather than the knowledge of the child. In short term though we should try to make it easy by providing an environment – at school and at home – that is ‘child friendly’– a gentle, reassuring and a nurturing environment. I feel that if we state our expectations less then their performance would be better. A child needs to balance his writing skills, knowledge and also time management and we have to give them this skill at school.

It is very easy to talk and just give a prescription. What we need to do instead is to instill confidence in each

“Examinations have become mere tests of writing skills and rote memory rather than the knowledge of the child” - Lata Vaidyanathan

c o v e r child in his ability to judge what is right and then follow the path to the best of his / her capabilities. And also provide the necessary skills for him to pass through tests at every level of life.

Then when they will go in for their exams they would not consider it a ‘be it and all’. After all exams are not everything and accordingly should be treated such,” s h e advices .

xam stress

Tips to quell e

Ÿ A problem shared is a problem

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

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halved, so don't hide your feelings. Talk to someone about it.

When making notes Use red ink.

The mind retains information in red easier – hence all the red warning signs.

Have a revision plan and stick to it. This will ensure that you will cover right things at the right time.

Use focused relaxation: meditation, self-hypnosis, yoga, prayer, etc. It reduces stress and helps focus the mind.

Get help: ask a teacher or tutor about how to revise, and exam skills - how to work when you are in an exam.

Stay healthy: get enough sleep, eat sensibly and do some exercise.

Be careful using caffeine – generally it is best to avoid it in huge amounts.

Do your best: no one can do more than that.

tudy Well

Eat Right to S

A pomegranate a day: While there are enough other reasons to love pomegranate - plenty of antioxidants and immunity boosting vitamin C,

and heart friendly properties, now a new study has declared that this juicy, tasty fruit has a miracle antioxidant compound that can help boost the brains faculty. So just chomp it, have its juice, or add to the raita and salads.

And every once in a while add 1/4th tsp to warm milk and have at bedtime.

A pinch of cinnamon goes a long way: It has certain compounds that help inhibit the memory robbing.

Sprinkle a bit in your first cup of tea in the morning, or on your oats or toast during the breakfast. It is great over puddings and pies too.

Don’t diet or skip meals: It is important to eat enough to make sure

Zero in on Zinc: This trace mineral has a huge

say in our brains’ health. Ensure that you score enough zinc rich foods.

Chicken and turkey are good sources.

If you are a vegetarian, get it from almonds, peanuts, pine nuts, cashews and sunflower seeds, and the super loaded pumpkin seeds.

Yellow pill: Get mummy to add extra turmeric to all the curries she cooks as it is a panacea for our brains health.

that your body and brain both don’t lack the necessary energy and nutrients to work efficiently. And make sure you have a high protein and fibre breakfast to get a good start every day.

Hydrate: Ensure enough water intake, even if you don’t feel thirsty due to cold temperature or tend to forget while studying. A good strategy is to keep a one liter water bottle next to where you are studying and finish two at least in a day.

Understand that our brain is mostly water, around 90 percent.

FEBRUARY 2015 11

SCHOOL IN SPOTLIGHT

NURTURING LEADERS Billed as the top most avant-garde schools in NCR region, Amity International School, Noida has carved a name for itself in both scholastic and co scholastic domains.

Smita Jain reports

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ith a firm belief that education is a powerful weapon to bring about a revolutionary change in the social and economic milieu, Amity International School, Noida has been providing holistic education for overall development of its students. The school is devoted to nurturing scholars, with deep-rooted values under the leadership of Founder President Ashok K Chauhan and Chairperson Amita Chauhan.

Vision for a bright future: Amity is a unique name in the field of meaningful education. It mirrors the vision of its Founder President, Dr Ashok K. Chauhan and Chairperson, Dr Amita Chauhan who believe in harnessing excellence in the field of innovative education. Under their able leadership, the Amity Group of Schools is committed to providing progressive education that also ingrains values and morals in its students. The school is committed to nurturing young minds in such a manner that they feel pride for their heritage and culture and at the same time yearn for global excellence.

World class infrastructure: The school campus is divided into six blocks to accommodate Pre Primary, Primary, Middle and Senior wing. Amity has the most spacious and well equipped

science laboratories that provide students hands-on knowledge about usage of different tools, data collection and inferring the results. This experience enhances scientific temper of the students and also prepares them for higher studies and research work.

Each laboratory houses a small, but well maintained library.

To facilitate the development of analytical skills, the school has a separate Mathematics Lab for primary, middle and senior wing. A well equipped Mathematics lab helps the student to visualise the problem using 3D modeling and paper folding activities. The students use the computer lab resources to learn the use of different kinds of software to enhance their knowledge and showcase their creativity. Amity believes in cultivating love for language and developing linguistic skills of its students. Language Lab not only works on developing the conversational or oratory skills of the students, but also helps them gradually gain mastery over the language.

All blocks are equipped w i t h firefighting solutions,

The school has a separate Mathematics Lab for primary, middle and senior wing

controlled PA system and emergency staircases. It has two spacious seminar halls and auditoriums with air conditioning and excellent light and sound systems. All classrooms and utility areas are provided with power backup.

A perfect blend of occidental and traditional knowledge: The curriculum followed in the school is an amalgamation of traditional educational system practiced in the East and the West. The curriculum is such that it lays the seed for holistic development of an individual by giving equal importance to scholastics and co scholastic education. In scholastic domain it focuses not only on providing just knowledge, but also on the development of concepts, skills and ideas. Students are

Photo Courtesy: Inaayat sachdev

encouraged to excel in music, dance, drama, art, technology, physical education, etc. It is designed in such a manner that it instills a love for Indian culture and tradition in the students and paves way for development of a sense of identity, spiritualism and ethics. The teachinglearning system is such that it makes the students more knowledgeable, confident and competent to make informed choices. It also enhances the inbuilt abilities of the students and also satiates the physical, mental and emotional needs of the students.

Keeping pace with technology: With the present generation of learners showing keen interest in technology-driven education, AIS Noida has weaved technology in its everyday curriculum. Smart classrooms have not only enhanced learning experience, but also made boring classroom lectures more interactive. The use of latest state of the art technology like Smart Board, LCD Projectors and digital learning, inclusion of software technology and teaching through power point presentations, Project Based Learning (PBL), Flip Activities, etc has really given impetus to learning and allowed students to question, evaluate, create, communicate and discover.

Putting values first: The holistic curriculum encourages students to be active learners who explore, understand and participate in the world around them. By exposing students to a wide variety of disciplines the school fine-tunes both cognitive and non-cognitive skills so

as to prepare them for a well-balanced life outside school. To inculcate this, An edge above others: The objective of the school is not just to inculcate a competitive spirit amongst students, but also to motivate them so that they excel in all fields. Regular Exchange programs and plethora of extracurricular activities make learning a joyous process and create all rounder personalities.

FEBRUARY 2015 13

c a r e e r c h a t

CAREER CUES We asked you to put your career questions to Career Counselor Jitin Chawla.

Here are his answers to your career concerns Q. I am a student of BA Economics Honours. What are the various avenues that are available for an economics graduate? Please guide.

Susheel Bramha A sea of opportunities awaits an Economics graduate. The most obvious choice is to become an economist. The job of an economist entails conducting extensive research, monitoring demand and supply ratio, keeping a tab on business trends, employment rates, etc. They know the pulse of the economy. An Economics graduate can choose from array of fields, such as Development Economics, Financial Economics, Agricultural Economics, Health Economics, Business Economics, Labour Economics, Rural Economics, Industrial Economics and International Economics, to name a few.

Those interested in higher studies can pursue studies from premier institutes and universities like Jawaharlal Nehru U n i v e r s i t y, D e l h i S c h o o l o f Economics, Jamia Millia Islamia,

Ambedkar University, all based in Delhi. Some other prominent colleges, include, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune; Madras School of Economics, Chennai; Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research; Central University; Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi; BITS-Pilani; TERI University, IIT-Kharagpur and Centre for Development Studies, Kerala. A postgraduate in Economics can easily take up a job in KPOs, banking, finance and insurance sector, stock market, sales and marketing consultancy, business journals and newspapers, government enterprises, public sector companies, etc.

An Economics graduate can also appear for the Indian Economic Service Examination and manage a job with the RBI too. Economics graduates below 30 years of age can sit for the Civil Services Examination.

The Union Public Service Commission conducts the IES/IAS examination every year. Career opportunities are abound in research at institutions such as the National Council of Applied Economic

Research and the Institute of Applied Manpower Research. Those who have interest in research can pursue M.Phil. or Ph.D. after clearing the National Eligibility Test of the University Grants Commission. A doctorate degree comes handy when eyeing higher posts in research and development or taking up teaching in colleges and universities.

A postgraduate in Economics can easily take up a job in KPOs, banking, finance and insurance sector, stock market, sales and marketing consultancy, business journals and newspapers, government enterprises, public sector companies, etc.

F I T F O R L I F E

Skincerely YOURS Learn to take care of your skin early on to prevent pimples, wrinkles, pigmentation, balding as you age, says skin expert Dr Jaishree Sharad

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any of the skin issues you're likely to face at this age come from lifestyle: too much partying, unhealthy food, sleeping late night, working or playing on the computer until late.

Here are a few skin care routines ideal for you: Cleansing Cleanse your face twice daily with a gentle cleanser. If you have oily or combination skin, use a foaming cleanser. But if you have normal or dry skin, use a cream-based cleanser. Make sure you wash your face after every sport that you play in order to clean the sweat, dust and grime that collects on your skin surface.

Sun protection Never venture out in the sun without applying sunscreen. You will thank yourself later for using a sunscreen now. When you see your friends with dark patches on the skin at your 25th school reunion, while you still have flawless skin, you will surely remember me for the sunscreen tip.

Nutrition Unhealthy diet is directly proportional to unhealthy skin. Make it a point to include generous amounts of fruits and vegetables in your daily

coloured fruits and vegetables— carrots, beetroot, spinach, plums, strawberries, oranges, cherries, etc.

Drink plenty of water and fluids such as lemon juice and coconut water to stay hydrated. This is the age when you don't like to carry your lunch boxes from home, you skip meals and binge on junk food or go on fad diets to stay slim. Be ready to face the challenges of balding and early skin ageing in a couple of years if you compromise on your protein, mineral and vitamin intake.

Moisturising Use a light moisturiser for the day and an oil-free moisturiser at bedtime. They will protect your skin against dryness and help in keeping it radiant.

Inadequate Sleep Just as the body needs eight hours of sleep, the skin needs those eight hours to restore and repair itself. Sleep deprivation increases

stress and as a result skin conditions such as acne & pimples, dark patches, dry dull skin and eczemas will increase. Those who do not sleep well, age faster. They develop wrinkles and dark circles easily.

Production of Vitamin D Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. Calcium and phosphate are two minerals that are essential for normal bone formation. Lack of vitamin D can cause softening and weakening of bones and lead to bone deformities. We do get vitamin D from egg yolks, fish such as salmons & mackerels, fortified milk and fortified cereals. However, most of the vitamin D is easily produced by exposure of the skin to ultraviolet B (UVB) rays of the sun. You need not burn or tan your skin to obtain Vitamin D. We need up to 30 minutes of sun exposure per day for the adequate production of Vitamin D. FEBRUARY 2015 15

T E E N t r a v e l

GOA DIARY Not Just Beaches There is much more to Goa than its alluring beaches and tantalising cuisine. Akshat Karulkar explores this Konkani paradise

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himmering sand, azure coloured water and a kiss of sun, this is what makes Goa, a heaven for those who want to let their hair down and soak in its beauty. Here is a dayby-day account of my recent visit.

Day 1: W\e checked into the Army Holiday Home at Panjim and enjoyed a sumptuous meal at George’s restaurant and bar. As we were making our way to the restaurant, I came across a magnificent church called ‘Our Lady of Immaculate Conception’. With Christmas just a few days away, the church was beautifully decorated. The

nativity scene displayed in the church, kindled love and warmth in my heart for baby Jesus. After an hour long discussion it was decided that we would visit North Goa first.

Day 2: The beaches of North Goa looked very inviting, though they were immensely crowded. We decided to soak in the sun at Morjim beach.

Giant waves greeted us and we found it difficult to stay away from the water.

After a delicious lunch at one of the shacks we decided to visit some other beaches like Little Vagator, Anjuna, Chapora and Baga. Baga is probably

one of the most crowded beaches in Goa. If you are someone who does not love crowd, Baga is not the beach for you. Next on our agenda was catching the sunset at Fort Aguada and enjoying a swim at the nearby Sinquerim beach. We ended the day by enjoying an awesome dinner at the Ritz Classic restaurant.

Day 3: We headed towards South Goa; its untouched beaches were appealing with their greenish-blue water, white soft sand, tropical climate and far less tourists. Velsao beach topped our itinerary. It was unlike Baga beach and

had sparkling clean water. What followed next was a trip to Majorda and Utorda beach. Soon, it was time to head back to Panjim. Situated on the banks of river Mandovi, Panjim boasts of grand Portuguese architecture. The city has lot to offer to tourists: a science city, boat cruise, splendid natural beauty and much more.

Day 4: At day break we set out for Sunaparanta art gallery situated atop Altinho hill, I am not an art enthusiast, but I have to admit some of the works on display at the gallery kindled in me love for art. The gallery set in a renovated Portuguese villa housed several galleries, a large multifunctional space for workshops and lectures, studios, two residency rooms for visiting scholars, artists and faculty, an open-air amphitheatre, Café Al Fresco and a gallery for budding artists. Later, we visited the ever popular Miramar and Dona Paula beach. We quickly made our way to planetarium. The day concluded with a cruise on the famous Mandovi River, where local artisans stole our heart away with their enthralling performances. It is difficult to wind up the trip to South Goa in a day, so we decided to cover some other major

attractions the next day.

Day 5: Benaulim beach brought out the adventurer in me. I decided to try all the water sports. Then we headed towards Cola beach, it was indeed a foodie’s paradise. In the evening we went back to Panjim and had a gala time shopping and exploring the streets of Panjim. Goa boasts of Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary which houses hundreds and thousands of birds - local and migratory. Goa also has the only Naval Aviation Museum in India which is maintained by the Indian Navy.

Day 6: We took a ferry to Chorao Island which is home to Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary in the morning. I was fascinated to see mangrove forest during my journey to the sanctuary.

What awaited us there were beautiful and diverse species of bird. I was excited when I spotted birds like the Median Egret, Little Egret, many subspecies of Kingfishers (not the beer one, the bird), Brahminy Kite, Red Shank, Green Shank, the very rare Greater Adjutant Stork, Wire-tailed Swallow, etc. Then we visited the Naval Aviation Museum which is situated near the famous Bogmalo beach. It had all sorts of radars, naval

planes and naval helicopters. They even had sonar equipment and gigantic models of aircraft carriers. I was amazed to see cove-shaped Bogmalo beach. This beach is famous for Joet’s Bar and Restaurant. Soon, it was time to bid goodbye to Goa and head home. We left with a heavy heart, but with a promise to come back soon.

Till then........ adios amigos!

Don’t forget to try Goan delicacies like chicken xacuti, pork vindaloo, fish ambotik, prawns balchao, bebinca, dodol, plum cake, etc. They are bound to leave a lingering aftertaste. The Portuguese influence is quite evident in the cuisine here as the food is very spicy. Goa is a paradise for non vegetarians.

Akshat Karulkar Class VIII The Emerald Heights International School, Indore FEBRUARY 2015 17

movie R A P

U P

An open letter to my 10-year-old niece and her batch-mates across the world. By Marya Shakil

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o you remember last summer when we had gone out for lunch at a restaurant near our home and mummy told you to be polite and courteous in your conversations with the aunt we met that day? It was a lesson for life dear. The lesson that teaches us not to cross a line in conversations and hence become unacceptable to society at large.

What distinguishes a man/woman of society from a vagrant? We are by temperament human beings, hence are expected to be civil. So, why am I saying all this to you today? Recently there has been a lot of debate on Bollywood star Aamir Khan's film PK and the terror attacks on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. I am sure you would have watched PK. It's a wonderful film which tells us to have a direct connect with God and do away with the paraphernalia that religious practices bring with them. It was critical of not one religion, but all religions. The fact is not all who practice Islam believe in

regressive fatwas or diktats that are issued by Maulana.

Remember that the essence of a religion isn’t in what its’ preachers say, but always in reading and understanding the text for yourself.

It’s always a personal journey.

Several right wing groups protested against the release of film PK saying it showed Hinduism in a poor light.

It started a vigorous discussion on Freedom of Speech. Article 19 of the Indian Constitution guarantees the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression. But with freedom also come responsibilities, the responsibility to exercise the right respectfully. There is a thin line between use and abuse of rights.

PK is a cinema. I am a strong advocate of artistic freedom, as artists are expected to challenge society’s sensibilities and trigger debates on contentious issues. At the same time at the very heart of artistic practice is often the desire to

correct the erroneous systems. The artistic freedom is absolute. There is a Central board of Film Certification that screens the films before their release. It ensures the necessary cuts in a film, ensuring that while there is artistic freedom, there isn’t misuse or abuse of it. Did Aamir Khan as PK hurt religious sentiments? PK showed a mirror to believers on how they practice their religions at present. The central character was an extraterrestrial being, hence didn’t have prejudices.

He was a neutral observer to what ails our understanding of our religion. Now what I would suggest to you, my niece, is to question such practices. Remember nothing is sacrosanct.

That bring s us to what happened outside India, in France.

A popular satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo was a victim of a terror attack. The vicious cycle that began, engulfed France for a few days till the leaders from across the world marched hand-in-hand to fight terrorism. France is a country of thinkers, such as Voltaire, who advocated Freedom of Speech. He had said, ‘I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.’

The satirists at Charlie Hebdo were exercising their Freedom of Expression. When you read cartoon strips, think about the words that are there in those boxes. Are these words making you laugh or do they make you shut the book?

R A P

S

ometimes comedy, sometimes life changing – Superwoman Lilly Singh has become a part of the lives of many people all over the world. This Indo-Canadian YouTuber is a Dr. Phil, student guidance counselor, cracked up humorist and a sister from another mister, all in one.

Honestly. Mixing up brown jokes, Punjabi stereotypes along with crazy yet deep talks – she makes people fall over, laughing like lunatics. The best thing about Lilly Singh is that you can relate to her. While watching her videos you’ll find yourself thinking, “Oh, I know how that feels” or, “That is so true” and most importantly, “Gosh, I really need to stop watching her videos and start on my

homework”. Listening to her rant about stuff is like listening to a friend, because even though in reality she’s halfway around the world, she’ll never let you feel alone. Most people end up drowning in her wacky humor without realizing that she has faced a harsh early life yet come out of it with her head held high and her ambitions higher. To get to know her before watching any of her other videos will give you an idea of who she is to herself and who she hopes to be and she has shared all of that with us in her ‘I draw my life’ video. All the pressure she has faced yet here she is, one of YouTube’s most popular personalities, an idol to millions. Another thing that sets our Punjabi super girl apart is the fact that

By Mujadid Gilani Class IX, Apeejay School, Sheikh Sarai

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ed shadow is a book which talks about Russia in the days of World War II at some point of Nazi-Soviet pact. Mikhail, a teenage boy whose father works for the government, one of Stalin’s inner circle and his mother was taken away

by NKVD (Russian secret agency) to a camp in Keive, accused for being a German spy. Mikhail has to face the struggles of living in a country at time where one wrong word can lead to someone never being seen again. Mikhail watches friends and enemies disappear after speaking out of turn, from people as young as him to old people.

Mikhail lives in the lap of luxury while his

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she constantly makes videos enacting her parents’ reactions to various ‘firangi’ situations, and the combination of the strict, rule regulating Indian mom and the lost looking, “I really think my daughter is just stupid” dad make for some pretty hilarious moments indulging the audience in a mix of day to day Indian domestic life and foreign puns. Some of her best videos include, “My parents reaction to…” where she acts as her typically conservative Punjabi parents, reacting to different songs, videos and pictures; various “types of…” videos classifying teachers, kids at school, friends, selfies and even texters among many others. All her videos have something new and original, yet with the familiar touch of unicorns and rainbows to it. I love Superwoman, that is a wrap and zoop!!!

By Keshavi Bharadwaj Class IX, Step by Step School, Noida

Red Shadow Paul Dowswell

friends live in poverty for which he is bullied in school since his father works for Stalin.

This story shows the effects of WWII through the eyes of a teenager. The Germans are invading his country; the NKVD is searching for him for being a German spy but he isn’t; Stalin is losing his grip.

This is a story of a teenage boy who survives the struggle along with his girlfriend, Valentina, escaping the wrath of the Germans as well as the Soviets. They encounter danger from every side as they run for their lives, leaving their homes, family, friends and finally each other.

FEBRUARY 2015 19

D OI T Y O U R S E L F

NOT JUST

SQUIGGLES Joy of collecting autographs in the age of selfies.

By Shambu collecting signatures of celebrities. The hobby of collecting autographs is known as ‘Philography’. Collecting celebrity autographs is as old as the written script itself. One of the most personal of human attachments is the name, and a person’s autograph is an extension of this attribute. An autograph is a personalised gift from a celebrity to his/ her fan. Giving an autograph is opening oneself to another person. Autograph collectors even today are not as appreciated as they ideally should be. If not for them, many documents that we appreciate and treasure for their historic value would not have existed or passed down from one generation to another.

I

n this age of impersonal e-mails and faxes, when handwritten correspondence is getting increasingly scarce, collecting autographs and historical manuscripts is an ideal way to connect with the past.

Autograph aficionados insist a slice of history is more intimate and revealing than the age old practice of collecting coins or stamps. It is a delight to see the personal feelings of the world’s greatest figures come alive on engraved letterheads or even scraps of tattered paper. We can read tomes about artists, statesmen and scientists, but it is their pithy confessions, underscoring all the wit and wisdom that makes them immortal. Autographs are nothing but personalised gifts from some of the greatest men and women who have created history through their thoughts and action.

All About Autographs Autographs refer to a famous person’s artistic signature. This term is used in particular to define the practice of

How to Collect Autographs?

Children can start collecting autographs by writing to the celebrities they admire. A simple letter requesting a celebrity for his/her autograph will bring a lot of happiness to the fan and also go a long way in developing their letter writing skills. Another way to collect autographs is to approach the celebrity in person.

Celebrities attend various events wherein they sign autographs for their fans, a quick scan of the local newspaper will help them source

the necessary event details. The collector can utilize this information to secure their favourite celebrity’s autograph.

How to Preserve?

Autographs can fade on exposure to light and moisture. It is best to preserve them in albums made of non acidic sheets like ‘Mylar covers’.

Memorabilia can be appropriately framed and preserved. Docket each autograph and write a short note on how the autograph was obtained, these notes will add to your happiness when you read them later.

Each autograph is special and is a reflection of an important moment in a person’s life. This personal touch enhances the joy of autograph collection. Enjoy Collecting!

A S K

N I V E D I T A

No Worries

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

Wrong Company

Goodbye Buddy

Q. I am a 14 year old girl. I have a big friends circle in school. My mother has a constant problem with my friends. She feels that I don’t hang around with the ‘right’ kind of children. This is a regular cause of arguments between us. I don't know what to do. I love my friends no matter what they are and how they are.

Q. My best friend in Class V is Neerja. We are inseparable in class, but recently she told me that she will be soon shifting with her parents to New York. I feel unhappy about this, especially since she is my only true friend in class.

This is not about your friends, but about you.

There are c e r t a i n behavioural expectations parents have from their children which when not met are seen as stemming from keeping “wrong company”.

It is ‘normal’ for parents to get into a denial mode and see their children as anything

A close friend moving not merely school or cities but continent is akin to the pain of bereavement. The feeling of loss can be experienced with acute intensity at the tender age you are at. The good news is that it is easy in today’s day and age to stay connected and both of you can continue to remain in touch.

What is equally relevant and important is that this will give you an opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and reach out to others in your class who might prove to be equally good friends. With time the pain and feeling of ‘unhappiness’ will get better as you find others to fill the vacuum left by Neerja’s going away.

Over a period of time you can begin to start introducing your friends to her so that she can change her opinion about them less than perfect. As a result, whatever is unacceptable, undesirable or disappointing from their point of view is attributed to external influences ‘corrupting’ their child. Since you’re the one writing in, look into where your behaviour could be found wanting and leading to her getting hurt/disappointed. Keep the communication channels open and ask her specifically where and how she thinks your friends are influencing you. If possible, over a period of time you can begin to start introducing your friends to her so that she can change her opinion about them.

The good news is that it is easy in today’s day and age to stay connected and both of you can continue to remain in touch FEBRUARY 2015 21

W O R T H Y

O P P O N E N T

MEDIA OF DISCONTENT With cases of sexual harassment spiraling its way up, media for some is the obvious culprit. Who would you blame?

Surbhi Sachdeva

Natasha Gupta

Class XI, Modern School, Vasant Vihar

Class XI, Modern School, Vasant Vihar

An Unconscious Propaganda

Awakening to New Throes of Reality

They try to kill me at every step, crush my soul; rip my body apart. I know they feel happy to see me surrender meekly. Revolt is not congruous to effeminacy, because I’m taught to be pretty, not predacious. I am the Indian woman.

My shattered notion of equality and a ripped individuality is a grim reminder of their masculine prowess. I am reminded that submission is not congruous to masculinity.

I’m taught to be misogynistic, not meek. I am the Indian man. I am not an end product of ignorance, but I have been bred on a staple diet of hatred for the very culture and traditions that our country stands for. Some may blame the western culture for eroding the value system, but I beg to differ. Influence is mild.

Influence is avoidable. What we witness is a phenomenon nothing short of unconscious propaganda.

In a reckless world, so overtly commercialised, media plays a pivotal role in molding our choices. Despite women’s right activist crying hoarse, it is not uncommon to find scantily clad or dolled up women staring out of magazines, movies, advertisements and internet. Does it not amount to objectification of women? It comes as a rude shock to see people groove to double meaning lyrics of a popular rapper.

The acceptance of lewd, obscene lyrics as a part of our evolving culture is a silent reminder that we have accepted the new age philosophy. Though, we might not openly admit there is a cause-consequence relationship between the gender policing, sexist side of the media and the alarming rise in the cases of sexual harassment. We can curb this trend by changing the mindset of the public, who are nothing but a passive recipient of the horrifying content churned out by media.

The feeling of queasiness which sets in on hearing, yet another case of sexual harassment is fleeting. Contrary to the popular belief the discomfort does not stem from the fact that the television screens are flashing images of item girls dancing to lewd numbers, or national dailies carrying images of scantily clad women. What sets in this sinking feeling in the pit of our stomach is the overwhelming truth that the media throws at our face, the spiraling crime graph against women. And our reluctance, rather incapability to accept this reality leads us to blame the broadcaster for being insensitive, irresponsible and irrational.

The public, however, should understand that media is simply doing what it does best, unveiling what is meant to be unveiled.

Sexual harassment is a broad subject having myriad definitions, ranging from eveteasing to molestation. And in a country like India where it’s so rampant, it’s shockingly and ironically inconspicuous.

Rape, for instance, was one of the most underreported crimes in our country, till the brutal gang rape of paramedical student shook the conscience of the public in 2012. Had the media not pursued this heinous crime relentlessly, Nirbhaya would not have got justice.

What I’m trying to convey here is that people should refrain from viewing media as the biggest culprit. They should wholeheartedly acknowledge that media has done a phenomenal job by making women more informed about their rights. I think for every Honey Singh, who demeans women with his lewd lyrics, there is an Arnab Goswami who fearlessly fights for women’s security and safety.

Our next topic for Worthy Opponent is: Is it important for politicians to dress up well or not?

B R A I N S T O R M

SCHOOL QUIZ LEAGUE WHAT'S IN A NAME? 1

2

What is the slogan of the Vistara Airline which began its operations recently?

3

Rashtrapati Bhavan is the Indian President’s residence. What is the name of the Chinese president’s home?

6

5

4

Expand NOIDA.

On account of its numerous temples, which city is also known as the 'Cathedral City of India’?

7

8

Right to Information (RTI) Act in India is not applied in which state or union territory?

Titan, the only moon (natural satellite) known to have a dense atmosphere, is the largest moon of which planet?

The “Indira Paryavaran Bhavan”, India’s first Net Zero Energy building is located in which city?

MYSORE PALACE

Which Indian state would you be in, if you were watching birds at Ranganathittu Birds Sanctuary, situated on an island in the Cauvery river?

9

If you are reading about a comic hero who lives in Skull Cave, has a trained wolf called Devil and a horse named Hero, which series are you reading?

10

Considered to be the southern boundary of the Panchala kingdom, the ancient name of this river referred to the practice of drying leather on its banks. Which is this river, which originates at Singar Chouri peak, and forms the boundary between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh for around 145 kms?

• For answers see page 25 FEBRUARY 2015 23

E X P E R T E X P R E S S I O N

TRACKING The Trailblazers Shereen Bhan shares the formula to being a super entrepreneur with School LIVE

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ver the past 13 years as the Series Editor and anchor of Young Turks, India's longest running show on young entrepreneurs on on CNBC Awaaz, I have met men and women who have had the courage and tenacity to think different, to think big and challenge the status quo. Their stories have helped me identify what I believe are the principles of creating profitable, sustainable businesses.

For me, entrepreneurs are not mere creators, but are people blessed with inherent power to take their dreams to conclusion. It is difficult to decipher what governs their thought process and gives them edge above others. Here is the

Facts Not Fiction In God we trust; all others must bring data. The actual quote is attributed to American statistician W Edwards Deming, but I understood the full force of his thought during a conversation with the Founder of Infosys, NR Narayana Murthy. He said guard against business decisions driven by the founder’s ego and sometimes delusion. Listen to your gut but back it up with logic and data. guru mantra of success that I decoded with my years of experience: Purpose to Profits In life and in business we often get caught up in trivial things and forget who we are and what we stand for. Purpose is different from addressing a problem in the market place. It is about defining your core values, your priorities, etc.

It is Lonely at the Start The excitement of starting up is all consuming in the first few months but then reality bites. It is not easy to be around friends and peers who are climbing up the corporate ladder, while you as the CEO are probably making your 25th visit to the MCD office to secure a No Objection Certificate (NOC) of some sort. But you can't stand tall if you are always fitting in, so entrepreneurs need mighty hearts and a tough gut to roll with the punches.

Carve a Niche If you are not first to hit the market, than create a market for their product. Businessmen always reel under the pressure of being better than their competitors and in the process they forget to divert their energies on being different.

After all you don't make money by making what all can make.

Inside Out-Outside In An organisation must be receptive and responsive. As a leader you have to learn to read the clues the market place throws up now and then. Try and make sense of them and use them to formulate your own strategy. Don’t forget that necessity maybe the mother of invention, but adaptation is the father of innovation.

I would like to conclude with a line by Mark Twain. He said that he never let his schooling interfere with his education. I may quite similarly venture to suggest that starting up is for those who never let their business interfere with their entrepreneurship. n

P A G E

9 9

PLAY

POSITIVE

WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO TEST A NOVEL BEFORE YOU READ IT? OPEN THE BOOK TO PAGE 99 AND THE QUALITY OF THE WHOLE WILL BE REVEALED TO YOU. SCHOOL LIVE TRIES OUT THIS EXPERIMENT ON LATEST RELEASES.

In this chapter, Irfan Pathan pays the ultimate tribute to the greatest batsman the modern era has seen

I

t was in Bangalore in 2002 when I first saw a 'live' Sachin Tendulkar during a fast bowlers' camp. What struck me was the “chamak” (aura) on his face. Even after playing so many years under the sun, he was beaming with positive energy. He has an unmistakable presence…

In IPL 2011, I bowled an over against him. I summoned all my energy, experience and skills and somehow managed to get him out.

That wicket alone gave me the satisfaction of a 5-wicket haul against a good first-class side in challenging conditions. His wicket can do wonders to a bowler's confidence, and if someone manages to beat him once or twice even in net practice he will feel infinitely superior! As a bowler, you

tell yourself: if I could do this to Sachin, I can do anything. On the rarest of occasions, when a bowler gets him out in the slips or LBW or clean bowled, he is over the moon.

I have two memories of Sachin that I will never forget. In my debut Test in Sydney in 2004, I was batting with him. Brett Lee was about to bowl to me and Sachin paaji told me to be prepared for a yorker. But Lee bowled a bouncer instead! The moment I looked at Sachin paaji, he smiled and his apology showed in his eyes. That taught me a great lesson: even if he outsmarts and out-thinks most of the champion bowlers more often than not, when he doesn't (as on this occasion), his ego doesn't come in the way of expressing this to even a debutant like me.

The other memory is of our next tour in Pakistan in 2004, at that time I used to eat a lot. Just before we were about to bowl, I was having lunch with my plate loaded with food. He

School Quiz League Answers 1. Fly the New Feelings; 2. Zhongnanhai; 3. Saturn; 4. Bhubaneswar (Orissa); 5. New Okhla Industrial Development Authority; 6. Karnataka; 7. Jammu & Kashmir; 8. New Delhi; 9. Phantom; 10. Chambal River

saw my plate, smiled and asked, “Irfan, are we batting or bowling now?!” I got the message!

For my parents, watching their two sons, Yusuf and me, playing for India was the greatest joy. When Sachin came to our house in Baroda for the first time with the Indian team for dinner, their expressions of joy and happiness were the same as they were the first time they saw us playing for India. That is the magic of Tendulkar!

There are only three things that are unique: the Taj Mahal, Amitabh Bachhan and Sachin Tendulkar!

— Extract from Sachin: Cricketer of the Century

by Vimal Kumar

SACHIN: CRICKETER OF THE CENTURY

by Vimal Kumar Penguin India (`399)

FEBRUARY 2015 25

D o w N

T h E

S c h o o L

C o r r i d o r

BEING FUNNY Manish Paul

Popular TV actor Manish Paul relives magical moments of his school life. Interview by Smita Jain

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eminiscing the golden period of life: I have a lot of fond memories associated with my childhood days. I was not too much into academics, but I never neglected my studies at the same time.

I always wanted to join the entertainment industry and as a result co-curricular activities fascinated me more than academics. I was quite proactive in singing, dramatics, dancing, etc. Despite, being naughty and mischievous, I was every teacher’s pet. Mathematics was one subject that used to send shivers down my spine. I used to dread appearing for a maths test. History was one subject that I was in love with. I was good at mugging up things, so I found it easy to remember dates of all historic events.

Coming to friends and masti, I vividly remember that I used to love hanging out with my friends at Moti Sweets and Bengal Sweets, Sheikh Sarai.

The mere mention of these two eateries, till date makes m y mouth water.

I

can vouch for the fact that these two places serve the best samosas in the world. I still enjoy digging into samosas, jalebis and rasgullas, whenever I am in Delhi. I used to shop like crazy at Sarojini Nagar and Dilli Haat. I had a huge friend circle in school and whenever, I get an opportunity I hang out with them.

School, my training ground: I studied at APJ Sheikh Sarai and used to participate in all the cultural galas organised in the school.

When I was growing up there were no pen drives, CDs or DVDs, teachers and students alike used to bank heavily on the cassette

player during cultural events? And true to its reputation, the cassette player used to deceive them every time. Every time a crisis of this sort rose, I was kicked on to the stage to entertain the audience. I never felt that I was an extraordinary child; I enjoyed being myself on the stage. I never suffered from any stage fright rather I was very confident and loved interacting with the audience. During school days only I could figure out that I was born to be an entertainer, who could handle any situation on the stage.

My teacher, my guru, my guide: I owe my success to my school principal Ms Meenu Goswami, who bestowed full faith in my abilities and never failed to encourage me. She could probably foresee that I was a born entertainer and a career in the entertainment industry beckoned me.Childhood crushes: I had a huge crush on Mennakshi Seshadri and Madhuri Dixit; it was a dream come true when I got to work with Madhuri

Dixit in season 7 of Jhalak Dikhla Jaa (JDJ). I could not believe my fortune when I got to know that Madhuri would be one of the judges in JDJ. Delhi in my blood: I have spent good 24 years of my life in Delhi. I love everything about this city.

One thing which struck me immediately when I landed in Mumbai was that the city is always on the move and people hardly have time for each other, whereas in Delhi neighbours not only exchange daily pleasantries, but special dishes with each other.

The bonhomie and warmth that exists here in Delhi is missing in Mumbai.

Getting the first break: Like any new comer who lands up in Mumbai with a dream of making it big in tinsel town, I had to struggle my way up to land my first assignment. I started out as a RJ and VJ. After doing some popular shows I realised that I was getting stagnated and decided to move to Mumbai (ocean of opportunity) .

My parents did not like the idea of my shifting base to Mumbai. I got my first break in television when I got to play a ghost in the tele soap ‘Ghost bana dost’. My other popular television shows include Radha ki betiyaan..., Zindadil, Wheel ghar ghar main. I soon realized that fiction shows on television were not my cup of tea. It was then I decided to host shows. I

started enjoying it and more than me it was the audience who enjoyed the show.Quintessentials of being a good host: Spontaneity and a good sense of humour keep the audience entertained and glued to the television screen. I don’t stick to my script. My script writer Siddharth Dey writes interesting situations for me, but leaves handling the situation on me.

Holding on to Madhuri’s pallu or teasing Karan Johar and Remo is something which I do on my own to lighten up things on the show.

Bollywood vs television: I recently had the good fortune of acting in the film Mickey Virus. It would be difficult for me to choose between the two mediums. I enjoyed working in both. In films you have the opportunity to go in for a re take if you are not creatively satisfied, whereas in a show you have to bank upon your spontaneity to bail you out of a tricky situation. You will get to see me in the sequel of ‘Tere Bin Laden’ shortly.

Ÿ Jhalak Dikhla Ja or Indias Got Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Ÿ

Talent: Jhalak Dikhla Ja Films or Tele Shows: Tele Shows Spontaneity or Sense of Humour: Both Karan Johar or Kiron Kher: Karan Johar Comedy or Classics: Comedy Any actor that you would like to work with: Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit Any classical remake that you would like to star in: Deewar FEBRUARY 2015 27

P o t p o u r r i

Timeline of

CHOCOLATE

As Valentine’s Day dawns, dip into the history of chocolate with Ayushi Ahuja

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he world’s most trusted pain killer, chocolate is a comfort food and a perfect gift for any celebration. So, this Valentine’s Day, while you surrender to its impeccable taste, do take out time to delve into its short but sweet history.

Ancients get a taste of chocolate (1200s to 1300s): Cacao tree was believed to have been first cultivated by the Olmecs, inhabitants of Central America. But, by 300 AD the Olmecs had disappeared, and the Mayan civilization was flourishing in the southern part of Mexico. The Mayans strongly believed that the chocolate pods were a gift to man from Gods.

A sweet symphony (1590): Basking in choco-mania, Spanish nuns in Oaxaca, Mexico became the first to sweeten chocolate with honey, cinnamon and cane sugar, making chocolate a popular drink amongst the colonials.

Breakthrough (1732 to 1847): The invention of steam engine brought about a revolutionary change in chocolate processing. It paved the way for not only grinding of cocoa beans but also large scale production of chocolate. This caused a drastic fall in the price of chocolate. Meanwhile, Coenraad Van Houten invented the cocoa press, a hydraulic press, to squeeze out some of the cocoa butter

from the beans, leaving behind the defatted cocoa powder. The year 1847 saw the first solid chocolate bar roll out. It was prepared using melted cocoa butter with cocoa powder and sugar. The paste prepared by combining all these ingredients was pressed int

o a mould. Now, people started relishing chocolate bar as much as they enjoyed drinking it.

Cadbury and Nestle make an appearance (1861-1879): The credit of improving the taste and texture of chocolate goes to Rodolphe Lindt, who in the year 1879 discovered a

process called “conching”. He invented a machine that was made of a shell-shaped granite bed and hard rollers that grinded the chocolate liquor, sugar and milk into a fine paste.

Richard and John Cadbury were the first ones to develop a heart-shaped candy box for Valentine’s Day and market it. Not far behind was the team of Daniel Peter and Henri Nestle, who devised a new way of making milk chocolate, using condensed milk. This led to setting up of the world’s largest producer of chocolate –Nestlé.

Trouble in paradise (1939): No story is complete if it does not come packed with its share of troubles. World War II dealt a heavy blow to the chocolate industry wherein chocolate was given away as ration. In Europe, each person was supposed to receive 4 ounces per week. During this period the sale of chocolate was half of the pre-war sales.

Happy days are back again (2000): People began to experiment with chocolate and it found its way into major cuisine across the world. The choices and opportunities became endless.

Ayushi Ahuja Class XI, Amity International School, Mayur Vihar

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