School live december 2017 by School LIVE

ToTal pages: 60

Volume 03 | Issue 05 december 2017

The Art of

Giving

Celebrating the people spreading Joy and goodness Firing the Shots

The Story of and by Jyotika Laishram

Little Acts and People of Kindness

with Alaiha Vanjara

Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Message

Never Late to Listen and Act!

contributors

S C H O O L

L I V E Board Of Directors

Harun Robert, a.k.a, Rob

An arts & crafts wizard, and an award-winning designer.

Urvashi Malik

Founder & Managing Director of CollegeCore with over fifteen years of experience in guiding and aiding students.

Richa Aniruddha Sanjay Dua Hariharan Balagopal EDITOR Mansi Tikoo mansitikoo@gmail.com DESIGNER Ashish Kumar

For AdvertiSING M.G Ramachandran Mo. 9953593081 advertising@school-live.com

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

Amit Dubey

Crime Investigator and expert on ethical hacking.

Bina Nangia

Pioneer in the field of Special Education and Dyslexia, Associated with the NGO, Hope Ek Asha

Ranjoo Mann Pro Vice Chairman, Delhi Public School Sonepat

For subscription editor@school-live.com

C o n ta c t Kritika Negi 9810560472

School LIVE : Printed and Published by Richa Aniruddha fromPlot No. 202/2E-23, Jhandewalan Extn., New Delhi-110055 Printed at Rolleract Press Services A-83, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase 1, New Delhi-110028 Owned by FUTURE READY EDUCATION SERVICES PVT LTD. EDITED BY RICHA ANIRUDDHA

Connect with us at: www.school-live.com Twitter: @schoolLIVE_mag Facebook: School LIVE ToTal pages: 60

Volume 03 | Issue 05 december 2017

The Art of

Giving

Jaishree Sharad

Celebrating the people spreading Joy and goodness Firing the Shots

The Story of and by Jyotika Laishram

Little Acts and People of Kindness

with Alaiha Vanjara

Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Message

Never Late to Listen and Act!

Cover Photo courtesy: Khushi Singh, Class X, Khaitan Public School, Noida

Renowned cosmetic dermatologist SCHOOLLIVE

Volume 03 | Issue 05 | December 2017 | 3

Know for Sure Quiz

2 4 6 8 10

Who along with Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2015? a) CNR Rao b) Atal Bihari Vajpayee c) Sachin Tendulkar

What are the organisms that can produce their own food called? a) Monotremes b) Autotrophs c) Diurnals

Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest civilian airport, is located in which state? a) Nagaland b) Sikkim c) Jammu & Kashmir

Shiva Keshavan represents India in which sport? a) Luge b) Biathlon c) Figure skating

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Manushi Chhillar Malala Yousafzai Villi Luge Mewar

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What are finger-like projections on the inner side of small intestine, called? a) Villi b) Nephron c) Alveoli Rani Padmini was a legendary queen of which Rajput kingdom? a) Marwar b) Malwa c) Mewar

Answers

With whom did Kailash Satyarthi of India share his Nobel Peace Prize in 2014? a) Liu Xiaobo b) Tawakkul Karman c) Malala Yousafzai

Which Indian medical student was crowned Miss World 2017? a) Manushi Chhillar b) Anukriti Gusain c) Adya Shrivastava

Jantar Mantar Atal Bihari Vajpayee Autotrophs Jammu & Kashmir Proxima Centauri

What is the name of the star nearest to our Solar System? a) Andromeda b) Polaris c) Proxima Centauri

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

1 3 5 7 9

By what name do we popularly know the observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh II that contain sundials and other astronomical instruments? a) Jantar Mantar b) Bhool Bhulaiya c) Nakshatra Bhawan

ed-note

S C H O O L

L I V E

Hi All!

So what are your plans for Christmas and New Years? Have you thought of your New Year Resolution? I am hoping, this issue of School LIVE inspires you to make one resolution, of giving back to the society what we have received from it. Think about it. How many times do we actually sit and acknowledge all the blessings in our life? The roof above our head, the clothes that we wear, the food that we eat and all the luxuries that we enjoy…Cars, Movies, Parties, Travels etc etc etc. There are many many billionaires and millionaires in this world, and in our country but how many of them are generous enough to share a small part of their huge earnings? And that makes all the difference… We all earn for ourselves and our families. But we must remember one thing. There is no limit to greed and no limit to generosity as well. It’s we who decide what to choose. With Greed comes stress, competition, dissatisfaction, while Generosity brings satisfaction, happiness, peace…and it also brings smiles on the faces of people who are the beneficiaries of our generosity. Decide early in life what you want from it and act accordingly. My only message to you will be what Mr JRD Tata had once told Mrs Sudha Murthy (Infosys Foundation) - “If you make lots of money you must give it back to society as you have received so much love from it.” Wishing you a generous life….. Lovingly yours

Richa Aniruddha tweet to me @richaanirudh

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Volume 03 | Issue 05 | December 2017 | 5

CROSSWORD NO. 12

9 12 14

10 17

12 15

11 13

19 5

ACROSS: 6. Backwards (10) 7. Cage (4) 8. Withdrawn (8) 11 (3) 10 9. Insect 10. Colour 13 (3) 12. 16 Halt (4) 13. Lowly (4) 14. Consume (3) 18 16. Taxi (3) 17. Having a thick spire (8) 18. Urchin (4) 19. Opposed (10)

Down: 1. Forceful pr 2. Cut short ( 3. Narrow pa water (6) 4. Proposed 5. Manager (1 9. Copy (3) 11. Recede (3 15. Speak non (4, 2) 16. Trainees (6 18. Orders (4)

ACROSS: Down: 6. Backwards (10) 1. Forceful protest (13) 19 7. Cage (4) 2. Cut short (4) 8. Withdrawn (8) 3. Narrow passage of A. Hunting with Golden Eagles 9. Insect (3) water©(6)Amrita Bharati, Bharatiya Vidya Bha The golden eagle goes out with the hunter, perched on his left arm. The hunter is on Colour (3) 10. 4. Proposed (6) horseback. The eagle hunts down hares, marmosets, foxes and other furry animals. 12. 5. Manager (13) Where in the world is hunting with Halt (4) CROSS: golden eagles a traditional sport?13. Lowly Down: ANSWERS: (4) 9. Copy (3) 11.(13) Recede (3) 1. (3) Forceful protest 6. Backwards (10) 14. Consume B. The Film Star Surgeon 16. Taxi (3) 15. Speak non-stop 2. Cut short (4) ACROSS: 7. Cage (4) 7. Coop 8. Autistic 9. Ant 10. Dy 17. Having a thick spire (8) 1. Retrograde (4, 2) 3. Narrow passage of 8. Withdrawn (8) 12. 13. Base 18. Urchin (4) 16.Stop Trainees (6) 14. Eat 16. Cab 17. Steepl C. Scale to the Top water (6) 9. Insect (3) 19. 19.WhatOpposed (10) 18.Confronted Orders (4) are each of these scientific scales used to measure?

Proposed (6) DOWN: Manager (13)1. Remonstration 2. Crop 3. Strait 4. Mooted Copy (3) 5. Administrator 9. Ape 11. Ebb 15. Talk on Answers Recede (3) 16. Cadets 18. Bids Speak non-stop © Amrita Bharati, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 2017 / 12 (4, 2) 16. Trainees (6) ANSWERS: 18. Orders (4) b. Richter Scale d. Pyruvate Scale

Answers: A. In Kazakhstan B. South African, Christiaan Barnard. In an interview to TIME magazine he said: “The heart transplant wasn’t such a big thing surgically. The point is I was prepared to take the risk. My philosophy is that the biggest risk in life is not to take the risk.” C. a. Wind speed; b. magnitude of earthquakes; c. the colour of water bodies; d. the pungency of onions and garlic.

53- year- old grocer, Louis Washkansky had a diseased heart and was not expected to live for more than a few weeks. On 2nd December, 1967, a team of doctors led by a 44-year-old cardiac surgeon, removed the heart and put another in its place. It was the first ever successful human hear t transplant. The cardiac surgeon who performed the operation became an international celebrity, and because of his strikingly good looks was dubbed ‘the film star surgeon’ by the world press. Who was the surgeon and what was his nationality?

4. 5. 9. 11. 15.

13/ © Amrita Bharati, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 2017

a. Beaufort Scale c. Forel-Ule Scale

ACROSS: 1. Retrograde 7. Coop 8. Autistic 9. Ant 10. Dye 12. Stop 13. Base 14. Eat 16. Cab 17. Steepled 18. Brat 19. Confronted

Colour (3) Halt (4) Lowly (4) Consume (3) Taxi (3) Having a thick spire (8) Urchin (4) Opposed (10)

DOWN: 1. Remonstration 2. Crop 3. Strait 4. Mooted 5. Administrator 9. Ape 11. Ebb 15. Talk on 16. Cadets 18. Bids

ACROSS: 1. Retrograde 7. Coop 8. Autistic 9. Ant 10. Dye 12. Stop 13. Base 14. Eat 16. Cab 17. Steepled 18. Brat 19. Confronted 6 | Volume 03 | Issue 05 | December 2017 S C H O O L L I V E ANSWERS:

0. 2. 3. 4. 6. 7. 8. 9.

DOWN:

S C H O O L

contents

L I V E 5 6 8 13

Editor’s Note Indiannica Learning School in Spotlight Slam Poetry

Quick Edit

Cover 14 Exclusive:

Season of the Good 18 In The News 19 Fit for Life 20 Career Chat 22 Teen Travels 24 Expert Expression 27 Positively Positive 28 Open Letter 32 DIY : 3D Christmas Shadow Box 34 Worthy Opponent 37 Fun Side: Adventures of Maya 38 Storytelling 40 Blog 42 Cyber Safe 44 Study Guide 46 Rap Up 50 Watch this Space

Juniors 54 DIY: Cactus Coaster 56 Storytelling 58 Slam Poetry

As much as I would like to deny it, nothing makes me happier than receiving surprise gifts. One of my friend’s decided to be very clever about it and sent me a potato as a Diwali gift! I wasn’t even mad, I laughed till I dropped. So I guess it served its purpose by making me happy. That is our endeavour with the magazine, we hope to surprise you, shock you, and eventually provide you with plethora of information and emotions! Like the work of Alaiha Vanjara from Mumbai made us feel. At the tender age of 13, she decided to do something to help children with life-threatening diseases. It also fills us with warmth when we see Jyotika Laishram from Manipur writing about her experience of finding her passion for rifle shooting. We are afterall a platform for your thoughts and a medium to engage with one another. In the issue, we have Yatharth Vohra, Sanika Savdekar and Advait Mani debating on the different sides of technology use in schools. And joining our team of contributors, Aakriti Adhikari pens down a beautiful poem! With every issue, we try to put in as much diverse content as we can for you in an issue, and if you feel we are missing the mark somewhere or if you want to submit your own writings, do remember to write to us at editor@school-live.com. We would love to hear from you.

“Happy Reading!” Mansi Tikoo

18 20

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Volume 03 | Issue 05 | December 2017 | 7

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The Sanctuary for

Education As one of the oldest residential schools in the country, Birla Vidya Niketan Nainital has a long history to speak of. Team School Live had the opportunity to interact with the Principal of the school, Mr. Anil Sharma and following was our takeaway!

Q. How did the school come to life, and what was the idea behind its inception? A. The school which formally came into being in July 1947 is the dream child of Mahatma Gandhi and Bharat Ratna Pt. Govind Ballabh Pant-the renowned statesman and patriot. At the wake of independence, they were keen to have a public school for the new generation of India, in which love for the mother-

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land and its heritage would constitute the bedrock of modern education imparted with the devotion and parental care of the Gurukuls of ancient India. Their vision ultimately got materialized by the timely and generous donation from Shri G D Birla - the renowned philanthropist and industrial doyen. The then deserted estate of Philander Smith, which during the war years had housed the Hallet War

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Q. How do you feel the school evolve over the years you, as the Q. How would you describe the principal, have been associated educational philosophy of the with it? A. This is my second tenure as Prinschool? A. Besides imparting learning skills, cipal of this school since 2011. In a BVM believes education to be the most time-span of 6 years, besides the important instrument for the trans- amelioration of the academics and mission of culture and values from discipline in this school, some siggeneration to generation. Inculcation nificant improvements were carried of a sense of reverence in the young out in the infrastructure of the school generation for their culture and also which include the upgradation of the a desire successfully to discharge mess, installation of a central heating their responsibilities towards their system in all boarding houses, a comfamily, society, country and above plete make-over of the gymnasium etc. According to me, co-curricular acall towards humanity in general has been the avowed aim of BVM. It be- tivities and sports are an extension lieves in creating not only a successful of, and not a diversion from, a good social being but also a fully cultured educational program and they support the academic mission of the school. complete individual. School thus became the seat of BVM.

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Birla Vidyamandir has been the host of IPSC tournaments for the past few years and our students have achieved great success in the realm of sports. To sum it all up, my exertion in this tenure has whole-heartedly gone towards the establishment of a safe and supportive, quality learning environment at Birla Vidyamandir. Q. As an educator, how do you feel technology has seeped into the education system today?

Inculcation of a sense of reverence in the young generation for their culture and also a desire successfully to discharge their responsibilities towards their family, society, country and above all towards humanity in general has been the avowed aim of BVM. A. Undoubtedly, technology plays an important role in the teaching learning process. Following are the advantages of using technology in the education system: It unlocks educational boundaries. It simplifies access to educational resources. It makes subjects easier to learn. It promotes individual learning. It supports differentiated instructions. It promotes collaborative learning between teachers and students. It increases student’s innovation and creativity. more than 90% and this year, a student of ours secured 98% (the highest Q. Kindly talk us through some ever in the history of BVM). A similar of the achievements of the school, improvement was seen in the results especially in the recent years. of class 10th. In the year 2012, I initiA. There has been a marked improve- ated weekend coaching classes for the ment in academics and about 1/3rd of preparation of competitive examinathe students appearing for the class tions especially for the students for 12th board examinations have secured class 11th and 12th and consequently

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every year our students are securing admissions in prestigious institutions of Engineering, Medicine, Law, Fashion Design, Commerce and pure academics. Our students are doing very well in co-curricular activities like debates, declamation, dramatics, essay writing, Photography etc at the Inter School, State and National level.

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besides the three calendared ParentTeacher meetings in each session. Parents are allowed to take their wards for a night out every fortnight

Our students have also done very well in the sphere of sports winning accolades in taekwondo, football, chess and basketball. The efforts on my part were appreciated and reinforced by the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an educator in this country – the National Teachers Award 2013. BVM has been

ranked # 6 among top Boys Boarding Schools of India as per the survey done by Education World. Q. How accessible is the school for the parents? A. Parents contact the school through e-mail and telephone. We also arrange for need based meetings with parents

Q. What are some of the goals that you have set for yourself in the coming future? A. Ours being a heritage school, needs continuous and comprehensive upgradation of the infrastructure. We plan on adding more activities in the curriculum namely shooting, archery etc. Ultimately, the goal that we have in mind for this institution is to create a holistic learning environment for the student, which teaches them thought along with content. We, at Birla Vidyamandir aspire to improve the community it is embedded within and serves. Dedicated progress in accordance with the aforementioned goals is bound to take this school to even greater heights.

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S l a m

P o e t r y

Baby Shoes That Were Never Worn Waiting impatiently for the end of two-seventy days, Caring for the to-be-mother in each and every way; Stood a family outside the operation theatre, Whose anxiety made everything else look so meagre.

That girls were a load on everyone around, And in their presence the falling of community was surely bound.

Finally a happy nurse came out, Her arrival made everyone almost shout; For the much awaited moment had finally arrived, The thought of the new born baby made the atmosphere feel so alive. Nevertheless was the increasing excitement of the happy nurse, Her energy and enthusiasm, altogether so fierce; And before the nurse could let the secret be unfurled, The old grandmother asked,”Is it a boy or a girl?” And the next sentence made all the happiness die down, Somehow all the peoples’ smiles had turned to frowns; Was it the statement,”It is a girl, A pretty princess, with beautiful curls?” It would have been so, because no one went, To meet the mother as it was meant; Except the father who dragged himself inside, With a pair of new born baby shoes by his side. Some days later, the parents and the baby did come back, To a house where all the happiness and cheerfulness lacked; They had wet cheeks and teary eyes, Since they knew they might have to leave the child all by herself to die. This was because the society didn’t accept, A holy creature because it was an old percept;

It was not long before the society in which they thrived, Began to come forward and pressurize; The parents to give up their child so tender and mild, Just because she was born as a girl child. After failing through many sessions of violence and voice, The parents succumbed as they had no choice; They gave their girl as the society demanded, And let the people do anything with the child as they wanted. And so a pyre was set, On which the girl was kept; And with sticks on fire hovering around, Finally the pyre had started to burn down. This was not certainly the first time this had occurred, When a girl, by the society, had been murdered; It had been a custom since very old time times, Were the innocent ones had to give up their lives. Those innocent ones who had been born to rule the world, Those strong ones who had to let their wings unfurl; And soar up high in the sky and achieve the impossible, And sustain the Earth by being kind and responsible. One such being here had been laid on pyre, With whom humanity had been put on fire; The princess had been left to burn, Leaving behind those baby shoes that were never worn.

By Aditi Kaushik Class XI Somerville School, Noida

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S l a m

Me I am a product of stagnant fire, Bottled rage and steeped desire . I am strange to my own face yet I know all of this world’s ways. I have been given the faith of my kin , Taught and trained the colour of my skin, An introduction before introductions begin. My winds adjusted twisted and tested , to the sails of unknown. So much so I don’t even know , The essence of me, the direction of my flow. Falling snow , unclaimed ports But my ship is anchored safe to the shore.

P o e t r y

The Paradox of Choice From the flighty temptress of adventure to the stubborn mistress of fate, let us rejoice! For this mistress shall not leave you, in fact, she haunts. The wise men of wisdom, sitting high on the rock of solitude Peer into the crevices of an ancient and forgotten cave called fortitude. Through the cracks of the mundane world, talent shines like sunlight bright , fleeting yet resplendent in its might Despite us all bathing in that divine light Oh! frivolous hearts, we grasp at everything and attain but wisps for choice is immortal , infinite And we live within the limits. The endless paradox remains Whether choices make us or we make the choices. Destiny awaits with solemn eyes, Death stifles our voices and above them all Time sits upon its frozen stone Frozen by the stillness of inaction and fear. But come morn, A silent voice whispers “eppur si muove “.

By Aakriti Adhikari Class XI Bal Bharati Public School, Brij Vihar

By Udoyon Banerjee Class XII The Shriram Millenium School, Noida

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E x c l u s i v e

Season of the

Good

We all absolutely love receiving gifts, try finding an exception to that! Over the years, with world moving ever closer to one another, every festive occasion also becomes a platform for sharing the human goodness and warmth. But there are many many around us, who barely get access to the basic necessities in life, and for these lesser privileged, there are people who dig deep into their own pockets to become the real life Santas around the year. As we draw towards the end of the year, we did a round up on “top” good souls from around the world, which basically boiled down to the biggest philanthropists from around the globe. We hope reading about them inspires us to do our little good deeds this coming new year! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. —Eli Broad 14 | Volume 03 | Issue 04 05 | December November 2017

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E x c l u s i v e Lifetime donations: $27 billion

Net worth: $84.2 billion Bill Gates Generosity Index: 32%

While he is best known as the cofounder of Microsoft, Bill Gates now focuses most of his time on philanthropy, running the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation alongside his wife. The foundation works towards providing education through innovation, improving nutrition to reduce child deaths and investing in healthy mothers and babies, among other areas.

WarrenBuffett

Lifetime donations: $21.5 billion Net worth: $61 billion Generosity Index: 35%

The chairman and CEO of holding company Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett is not only one of the wealthiest people in the world, he’s also one of the most charitable. Buffet donated almost 83% of his wealth to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Lifetime donations: $8 billion

Net worth: $24.4 billion GeorgeSoros Generosity Index: 33%

George Soros, the retired founder of Soros Fund Management, currently serves as the chairman of the Open Society Foundations, a network of foundations he founded in 1979, which primarily donate to international causes, community development, social services, health, and education. A firm believer in promotion of democratic ideals, the Soros through his foundation has been at the forefront of fighting human right issues, including providing scholarship for black South African students under Apartheid.

Azim Premji

Lifetime donations: $8 billion Net worth: $15.9 billion Generosity Index: 50%

In addition to serving as the chairman of Indian consulting and IT company Wipro, Azim Premji is the founder and chairman of the Azim Premji Foundation, which works to reform India’s school and examination systems. The foundation has introduced initiatives such as the Computer Aided Learning program, which provides computer training in 18 languages, and Azim Premji University, a nonpro t university that awards degrees in teacher training.

CharlesFrancisFeeney

Lifetime donations: $6.3 billion Net worth: $1.5 million Generosity Index: 420,000%

Known as the “James Bond of philanthropy,” retail magnate Chuck Feeney is on a mission to give away his entire fortune — and with his current net worth down to $1.5 million, it seems he’s succeeded. The Atlantic Philanthropies, Feeney’s foundation, supports education, science, healthcare, and civil-rights causes across several countries, including the US, Vietnam, and Bermuda.

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E x c l u s i v e donations: $5.7 billion SulaimanbinAbdul Lifetime Net worth: $590 million Aziz Al Rajhi Generosity Index: 966%

Back in 1957, Sulaiman bin Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi cofounded Al Rajhi Bank with his three brothers. It grew into one of the world’s largest Islamic banks and earned Al Rajhi a 10-digit net worth. His foundation supports educational, religious, health, and social causes, including the Arab Institute for Arabic Language, National Guard Health Affairs, and the Sheikh Sulaiman bin Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi Mosque in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

GordonMoore

Lifetime donations: $5 billion Net worth: $6.5 billion Generosity Index: 77%

Gordon Moore co-founded Intel in 1968, but these days he is focused on philanthropy. He retired from his corporate positions in 2006, and currently runs the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation with his wife. The foundation aims to make an impact in environmental conservation, patient care, science, and the San Francisco community, and has wide-spanning programs that include everything from the Marine Conservation Initiative to the Thirty Meter Telescope.

CarlosSlimHelú

Lifetime donations: $27.3 billion Net worth: $4 billion Generosity Index: 15%

One of the richest self-made billionaires in the world and the chairman of Grupo Carso, Carlos Slim Helú’s primary philanthropic efforts occur through his Fundación Carlos Slim Helú. The foundation has invested $100 million in the World Wildlife Fund toward efforts to conserve Mexico’s natural environment, and in 2012, it gave $3 million to help provide internet to Latino families living in the US, in addition to many other donations to international organizations.

Eli Broad

Lifetime donations: $3.3 billion Net worth: $7.3 billion Generosity Index: 45%

Through The Broad Foundation, KB Home cofounder and former SunAmerica CEO Eli Broad invests in public education, science, and the arts. The organization operates as two entities, The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and The Broad Art Foundation, both of which aim to improve communities and advance entrepreneurship.

GeorgeKaiser

Lifetime donations: $3.3 billion Net worth: $9.3 billion Generosity Index: 35%

George Kaiser, chairman of BOK Financial Corporation, also founded the George Kaiser Family Foundation, which gives to educational, health, religious, social, and community-development-related causes, including the Tulsa Community College Foundation, Oklahoma City Educare, National Energy Policy Institute, the Tulsa Community Foundation and the University of Tulsa. In 2010, Kaiser joined the Giving Pledge, vowing to donate half of his fortune to charity. Source: Business Insider and Wealth X

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E x c l u s i v e

The Indian Do-Gooders ! Sanjeev Bikhchandani

Founder and Executive Vice Chairman of Info Edge (India)

He’s best known for cofounding and being an early donor to Ashoka University, a private liberal arts institution named after an ancient Indian emperor. He also backs several nonprofits that “are doing good work,” such as a charity that focuses on services for disabled people and another that helps children with cancer. He has donated $15 million so far.

SubhashChandra

Chairman of Essel Group

He and his brothers pledged $777 million (Rs 5,000 crore) in May to their DSC Foundation, to mark the 90th anniversary of the Essel Group. Its activities include funding social entrepreneurs. Simultaneously, Chandra also set up Sarthi, a non-profit firm which would connect citizens with the government. In addition, the tycoon has given away millions through Ekal Global, his 28-year-old charity that has provided free education to 1.4 million tribal children in 55,000 villages.

SanjayLalbhai

Chairman and managing director of Arvind Limited

The textile magnate and his wife, Jayshree, converted their more-than-acentury-old ancestral mansion in Ahmedabad city into an art museum, which is now free to the public. It includes such treasures as Mughal miniatures and a 16th-century Persian manuscript from the library of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

AnandMahindra

Chairman of the Mahindra Group

He donated millions of dollars over the years to causes such as educating girls, providing clean drinking water and supporting tribal farmers. He chairs the Naandi Foundation, which has spawned three for-profit social businesses—a JV with Danone, to put up clean drinking water community centers across different parts of India; a partnership with the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation which offers afterschool support to students in city slums through a technology platform

Muthalampet Chairman of Oriental Cuisines Mahadevan

He started the Swiss bakery Writers’ Café in Chennai, where a third of the staffers are burn victims. The profits of the non-profit organisation trains these burn victims as bakers. Mahadevan plans to set up a second café, at the Spastic Society of Tamil Nadu, which supports children with cerebral palsy. Source: Forbes

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Volume 03 | Issue 05 | December 2017 | 17

I n

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N e w s

Can We Stop the

Choking?

The unprecedented pollution that Delhi NCR witnessed the past month has been nothing short of a nightmare. We tried to pull together all the factual data on the issue, and here is what was alarming.

ack in 1964, Pandit Nehru wished his birthday (14th November) to be celebrated as Children’s Day because he believed children are the future of a Nation Today, 53 years hence on Children’s Day, we thought we should check how the “future of the nation” is suffering. Average time inside a school bus is 40 minutes Air quality recorded outside a lot of “top” schools in Delhi on 14 Nov’17 over 700 PM 2.5 Average wait at the bus stop- 15-

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20 mins Average journey time to school40-50 mins * 2 Children inside the school daily- 6 hours Average SPM outside 7 school measured - 709 Total exposure equals smoking 160 cigarettes a month for school One cigarette per day is the rough equivalent of a PM 2.5 level of 22 μg/m3 Doctor’s Speak, “It is going to take a toll on the children on the intellectual quotient, the developmental

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problems, even early heart attacks, early cancers.” Children have been asked to stop going out, to play or to even attend school in many cases. But is that the viable solution? This year can we hope to gift them the joy of going out and playing? Smiles that are not hidden behind masks? Can we gift them back their future? Can we vow to stop choking our children? Their tomorrow is a disaster, but what about their today? Source: 3Minutes.Life

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Shielding the

Skin

Delhi NCR, and several parts of North India saw severe pollution only some weeks back. To add to it, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem like any serious steps are being taken to curb it. We asked our expert dermatologist, Dr Jaishree Sharad to share a few tips to take care of our skin and health in such circumstances.

ir pollution occurs due to road dust, soot from vehicles, fumes from industries and fires. Polluted air and smog contain tiny particles called PMs, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and chemicals such as polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These agents are known to cause damage to the lungs. A lesser known fact is that they also cause oxidative damage to the skin cells. They increase the free radicals or toxins in the skin, leading to allergic rashes, itching, blotchy skin, dry skin and increased skin sensitivity. In the deeper skin layers, there is collagen degradation and increased pigment formation resulting in fine lines, open pores, wrinkles and increased pigmentation. Chronic inflammation of the skin also causes rosacea or redness of the face. Premature skin aging and premature greying of hair can occur due to exposure to pollutants.

Skin care and protection from pollution: Always cleanse your skin well after returning from any outdoor place. Use a facewash which can unclogs your pores and removes all the dirt and grime from the skin surface as well as the pollutant particles which sit on the skin. If you have normal, oily or acne prone skin, you can use a salicylic acid based face wash for

this purpose. If you have dry or sensitive skin, use Sebamed olive face and body wash or Cetaphil cleansing lotion to cleanse. Baby oil will also help to remove the grime. Next make sure you apply a good moisturizer. Pollution dehydrates the skin, leaving it dull and more exposed to environmental damage. A moisturizer will protect the lipid barrier layer of the skin. Do not forget to apply a sunscreen with both UVA & UVB protection. Opt for physical sunblocks which will also form a protective layer on the skin, making it difficult for the smog particles to reach the deeper layers of skin. At night, make sure you apply a serum or cream containing vitamin C & E, which will detox your skin.

Do not forget to wear a mask which not only covers your nose and mouth but also your entire face except the eyes. Physical protection is the best method of protection from pollutant particles. Make sure you drink enough water, a minimum of 2 litres per day and have a lot of brightly coloured fruits such as all the berries, pomegranate, dark grapes which are all rich in antioxidants You may take a vitamin C, E & vitamin A supplement to protect the skin. Supplements of polypodium leucotomos, a potent antioxidant prevents cellular damage from exposure to harmful rays. In extreme conditions, you must have an air purifier at home, so you at least breathe in clean oxygen.

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Volume 03 | Issue 05 | December 2017 | 19

C a r e e r

C h a t

Sports Medicine in

India

Sports in India is an ever widening horizon. With newer and newer sports added to the premier leagues in the country, the need for the sports persons to stay fit has also gone up drastically. With it has gone up the demand for professional health carers. Our expert, Jitin Chawla gives us a round up on the career options for the same.

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ports is all about competitiveness. Sports persons need to remain at the top of their fitness regimes at all times. This has naturally led to the immense and critical importance & necessity of Sports Medicine specialists in the lives of sports persons. For those intending to specialize in the field, a diploma or degree is the first step towards numerous roles such as that of a physiotherapist, top-flight trainer, psychologist, nutritionist, or physician.

C a r e e r

C h a t

Institutes/ Universities

National Institute of Sports, Patiala: The Faculty of Sports Sciences at NIS, Patiala offers a 2-year Post Graduate Diploma in Sports Medicine which is affiliated to the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot and is recognized by MCI. Number of seats: 6 (All India Quota-3 seats; State/Institutional Quota-3 seats). Eligibility: MBBS + 1 year compulsory rotatory internship. You also must have a permanent registration with MCI or any State Medical Council or should obtain it within 1 month of the date of admission. Applicants who are foreign nationals or NRIs have to obtain their PG study registration from Medical Council of India.

Armed Forces Medical College- Pune: AFMC, Pune offers a 3 year M.D. program in Sports Medicine. Number of seats: 2 seats, Eligibility: Admission is based on NEET-PG

Sri Ramachandra University: The Department of Arthroscopy And Sports Medicine at Sri Ramachandra University offers an MCI-approved M.D. course in Sports Medicine (3 years).

All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health, Kolkata

Eligibility

Sports Medicine is a highly specialized branch of medical science, which can only be studied after the completion of your MBBS degree. For getting admission into a diploma course, you need to appear for the All India Sports Medicine Post Graduate entrance test, followed by an interview.

Job Profiles

Sports Medicine specialists can also work as counselors, consultants, and performance educators. Your scientific knowledge and guidance can help sportsmen/ women improve their fitness and performance. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a general idea of what you will be involved in as a Sports Medicine Doctor: Assisting a sportsperson to recover from injuries and analysing the recovery process. The rehabilitation process includes strengthening muscles, improving flexibility, etc. Helping differently abled people Keeping a check on the supplements which a sportsperson takes so as to ensure there is no inadvertent use of banned drugs. After all, doping in sports is a major issue Checking the fitness level of a person, giving an analysis of training and helping to predict and enhance performance.

Doctor. Job opportunities with government organizations like Sports Authority of India. Armed Forces who have sportspersons participating in national and international competitions. Hospitals having a special Sports Injury Centre . Sports academies and educational institutes with sports teams representing them at inter-school/ inter-college/inter-university competitions. Sports Medicine Doctor at corporate houses which provide sponsorship to sportspersons.

Pay Package

Salaries for Sports Medicine specialists vary according to their roles, experience, and location of job. With sponsorships getting bigger and better in the world of sports, players have to constantly maintain high Job Opportunities levels of fitness. Hence, Sport MediOnce you have the requisite qualifi- cine practitioners are also getting cation and training, hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how you paid rather handsomely! The avercan launch your career as a Sports age starting salary in India is around Medicine Doctor: Rs. 60,000 per month. With more experience, this increases to up Health and fitness clubs which to Rs. 1 lakh per month. An expert have a large membership may seek can earn as much as Rs. 4 lakh per the expertise of a Sports Medicine month.

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Volume 03 | Issue 05 | December 2017 | 21

T e e n

T r a v e l s

Every Mile a Memory:

Hola Adventure! T

he Andaman & Nicobar: a set of 572 islands. The island of the Jarawas, inhibited by the generations of the freedom fighters, is the place where the Kaala Pani is located. A destination you can escape from your daily hustle and achieve the epitome of tranquility. I reached Port Blair on a muggy October day with my over enthusiastic parents and checked into an army guesthouse, because there arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t many resorts available on the islands. What actually caught my eye was the over crowded city of Port Blair, which was totally unexpected. I had expected a peaceful and quiet place but with people selling fish to coconuts and the long traffic jams, it felt just like home (Delhi). I realised this was a popular place with the tourists and you could notice foreigners strolling by. One look at this scene made it impossible to imagine that you were surrounded by water all around.

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T e e n

T r a v e l s

Some valuable advice • • • • • • • • •

•

• •

Book flight tickets in advance Make it not more than a week’s trip Travel either from Kolkata or Chennai Don’t take a package tour Travel in the months of Nov-Jan Make your place of stay in the central part of the island Carry basic beach essentials Sea food is a must all days (for non vegetarians of course) There is literally no mobile network so forget about posting pictures on social media or even a hi to your friend (just relax) You do not need to do each and every water sport as the islands aren’t disappearing tomorrow, keep a check on your wallet, as locals will try to influence you about all the not needed expenditure Surely take a cycle as that will pour in the most amount of happiness and adventure you could ever ask for Don’t miss the light and sound of Ross Island

You could really get the beachy vibes only after you strolled down the cellular jail area, which was windy with high tides. A visit to the cellular jail gives you an insight to the brutalities faced by our brave hearts, the light and sound show in the evening is something which will surely give you goosebumps. The Jolly Buoy Ross Island is a must see but the real surprise is the Havelock Island. We boarded the Green Ocean ferry early morning to cover the deep seas to reach Havelock Island. The waves were higher than my grades and it was not a very comfortable ride.We checked into our hotel after which scuba diving was the next stop. The vast expanse of the prismatic sea was worth a million snaps. At certain parts, you can feel like it is your personal beach as the locals are really not interested

down the road to a beachside cafe called Full Moon, which was dog friendly with two sniffing huge pets. Havelock did host us exceptionally well, the beauty of havelock is enough to keep your thoughts captivated even after months of travel. We boarded the Green Ocean once again bidding havelock a sad goodbye. Enjoying the last 1-2 days left in Port Blair at the beaches, it felt as if I want to take all this packed in my lugin the shores anymore. I can easily call this place the Mal- gage to Delhi and never let it go away. dives of India. At the Radhanagar We finally took off from the Veer Sabeach will see a huge Indian crowd varkar Airport and there came an end spread over the foreshore and you to a week well spent away from the will just not want to leave. After the chaos and the politics. The place will salty sunbathing, we went for lunch always be stored in the pages and my to Anju Coco for mouthwatering fish memories. delicacies and it was a good treat for the hungry tummy. My dad and I By took a cycle to explore the place and Almanya Singh Class XI interact with the most loving locals Sanskriti School, I have ever seen. The sun sets early New Delhi and with pin drop silence we walked

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Volume 03 | Issue 05 | December 2017 | 23

E x p e r t

E x p r e s s i o n

Learning Styles and

Accommodating Variations in Dyslexia

The human brain is a complex and fascinating organism about which little was known until about the past 15 years. School curriculum must be ‘brain-compatible’ or it cannot be learned. Since different kid’s brains function and learn differently it stands to reason that we must teach them differently. Our expert, Bina Nangia helps us understand the different ways learning functions.

o make new learning happen, we must connect it to a pattern the brain already knows and recognizes. When we do this, the brain perceives the new learning in a ‘language’ it can easily understand. Equally important the learning environment must be comfortable. The three styles of learning are auditory, visual and tactile-kinesthetic. Auditory learners are logical, analytical, sequential thinkers. They are comfortable with typical school tasks including analyzing sounds and numbers, following directions in order and just ‘doing the right thing’.

Multisensory learning Most people have a dominant learning style

AUDITORY LEARNERS

KINESTHETIC LEARNERS

VISUAL LEARNERS

20-30% of school age children remember what is heard

30-40% of school age children remember when they use their hands or whole body to learn

40% of school age children remember what is seen

Talk to themselves Like physical activity Neat and tidy workplace Mouth words Move a lot Like tidy work Speeches/singing Make and/alter things Plan ahead Tell jokes Remember by doing Like detail Prefer verbal instructions Like action words Like to look good Easily distracted by noise Use gestures Like simile and metaphor Listen well Fidget Like pictorial lessons Like lectures Like close proximity Don’t listen well Enjoy rhythm and rhyme Need to visit a place to remember it Daydream often Remember by listening Like overall view Recall conversations Kinesthetic learners say “let’s tackle the issue” Draw, scribble, doodle Use talk well “run that by me” Prefer images to words Spell out loud I’ll handle that” Visual learners say “that looks right to me” Auditory learners say” that rings a bell” “I can picture the scene” “I can see what “sounds great to me” you mean”

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E x p e r t

E x p r e s s i o n

ADDRESSING DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES IN LESSONS. Auditory learners

Kinesthetic learners

Visual learners

Explain

Be practical

Use pictures

Repeat Discuss Use tapes Use poems Tell stories Use dialogues Use drama Read aloud

Use three-dimensional Models Make things Use tactile experience Move about Write

Use diagrams Use color coding Use highlighting Use handouts Do practical Demonstrations

Left brain and right brain functions LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS

Uses logic

Uses feelings

Detailed oriented

“Big picture” oriented

Facts rule

Imagination rules

Words and language

Symbols and pictures

Present and past

Present and future

Maths and science

Philosophy and religion

Can comprehend

Can “get it” (i.E meaning)

Knowing

Believing

Knows object’s name

Knows object function

Forms strategies

Presents possibilities

Practical

Impetuous

Safe

Risk taking

Visual and tactile-kinesthetic learners are global thinkers. They are not good with logical, analytical sequential tasks unless they see the “big picture”. They can learn to think logically, analytically, and sequentially, but they must do it working backwards from the whole to the parts. They must learn new material in context. Their thought patterns tend to be random; classrooms discussions lead them onto divergent thinking pathways, and they make unusual associations with the subject at hand. Conflicts with the students can be minimized by adjusting their environment. Once the environment is more compatible with your student’s learning styles, their ability to learn improves automatically and dramatically. Your ultimate goal is to provide a brain-compatible environment for all students. We all use both sides of our brains. Most people are ‘left-brained’. Dyslexics are ‘right-brained’.

Right-Brained Learning Strategies:

Use: • Imagery • Music • Drawing • Visual-spatial patterns • Humor • Empathy • Intuition Encourage sensory exploration and ‘hands on’ activities Develop visualization skills

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Volume 03 | Issue 05 | December 2017 | 25

E x p e r t

E x p r e s s i o n without preparation • Teach unfamiliar subject words • Help with study skills such as skimming, scanning, selecting key words • It helps if teachers’ handwriting is legible and worksheets are typed

Encourage imagination

Teaching To Complement Learning Styles Of Dyslexics

Visual and tactilekinesthetic learners are global thinkers. They are not good with logical, analytical sequential tasks unless they see the “big picture”. They can learn to think logically, analytically, and sequentially, but they must do it working backwards from the whole to the parts.

When you want to remember what’s most important in helping global thinkers to become successful learners use the acronym HOLISTIC: Whole to part; hands-on learning, organize information visually; learning styles focus; immerse the senses; seek patterns and connections; technology assistance; integrate skills into context; concrete to abstract. • Never conduct an entire lesson in any one modality. • Incorporate visuals into every lessingle most important factor in son achievement according to pupils • Provide appropriate background themselves music while kids are working • Use information supplied in the • Provide hands-on experiences IEP if the pupil has one. The spe• Offer a good balance between cocialist will have assessed the pupil operative learning and indepenand prioritized what needs to be dent work learnt • Regularly give students time to re- • Give two instructions at a time. flect on what has been taught and Ask pupils to repeat instructions learned to you. Repeat instructions until she/he can repeat them back Supporting Pupils With • Allow more time for tasks such as Dyslexia In Mainstream getting out books, getting started, Classrooms: completing work. General: • Raise pupil’s self-esteem. Reward Reading: what can be achieved. This is the • Do not ask pupils to read aloud

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Spelling: • Mark written work on content and encourage the use of a wide vocabulary • Correct only a few errors. Do not cover work in red ink • Teach the spelling of subject specific words. Do not overload pupils • Give all pupils a list of specific words to be stuck into their exercise books for reference • Have lists of subject specific words on display in teaching rooms • Allow the pupil to read work back to you if you cannot read it. Written work: • Encourage legible handwriting but do not expect it to change • Do not ask for work to be written out again unless it is much worse than usual • Either give more time, or photocopy notes from another pupil or a ‘parallel’ book kept by a TA Accept less written work Assessment: • Assess through oral responses • When setting long responses, use writing frames

Ways Of Assessing Understanding Without Too Much Writing:

• • • • • • • • • • •

Matching questions to answers True/false statements Sentence matching Multiple choice Labeling diagrams Categorizing Table/grid completion Title-paragraph match Choosing a précis Sentence completion Sequencing

P o s i t i v e l y

Little Acts and

P o s i t i v e

People of Kindness

No one has ever become poor by giving. This is a phrase I BELIEVE is one of the most inspiring and true facts that will ever come our way, because when you give, you receive much much more. You can give absolutely anything, it could be anything not only money, it could be your time or sometimes all people need is someone who can listen to them. I am Alaiha and this is my story.

y mom was scrolling through Facebook and I as usual was taking sneak peeks at her phone. As she was scrolling, we came across a post which was about the hard times that a young little child named Veer and his family were facing. Veer Powar, a two year old child was suffering from a rare type of lung cancer. He was admitted in SRCC HOSPITAL where his condition was quite critical. The article went on to speak about the financial crisis the family was facing and how urgently they required the funds to save their young, innocent child. As I read the post, I was filled with sorrow and concern for the boy and his parents. I immediately decided on helping this little child to regain the best gift of all....the gift of Life. I decided to donate 10k of my own pocket money, which I had been saving for something else. But my efforts did not end there.. I called up friends and relatives and encouraged and asked them to donate for this cause. A few responses we got were negative, but that didn’t put us off. We continued working towards this and finally were able to raise rupees one lakh twenty three thousand, one hundred and one. We managed to save little Veer and he returned home completely cured. Many people asked me what made

me do such a thing. The answer is simple... Love for one another and a will to help. It’s time for us to stand up for each other and help our countrymen. Lets leave our footprints in the sands of time and hopefully others too will get inspired to follow in our footsteps and help anyone and everyone they come across. In the world nowadays, people have become so self centered that they have absolutely no concern for anyone. It’s time to put yourself in somebody else’s skin and feel what they are feeling. That’s the best way to help because you realise the different types of problems and disturbances people face. To encourage people to do this, I have started a blog called alaihasupportslife.wordpress.com where we put

up cases about terminally ill children and receive donations in order to help them. We have already collected Rupees Seventy thousand and saved the lives of two other children. Doing this made me realise that anybody and everybody can help to save the life of a child. Age does not matter. Even keeping that child in your prayers and sincerely hoping for him to survive is a noble deed. I encourage each and everyone of you to help as much as possible and make our world a better place to live in.

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By Alaiha Vanjara Class VIII Bombay Scottish School, Mahim Mumbai

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O p e n

L e t t e r

How to Adult

Children’s day often leaves all of us adults craving for the times we left behind. And we try to live it through the eyes of the children around us. This children’s day, we asked our contributors what was the one piece of advice they would like to give to the adults around them. Dear Adults,

This children’s day we invite you to revisit your childhood along with us and to once again enjoy the freedom that comes with the tag of being-a-child, because in this fast paced world everyone has to grow up much before they do age-wise and have to start “getting ready” for the adulthood, even before we start thinking about it. So much so that the time, that is childhood, filled with fun and innocence has been shortened to just a few fleeting years in our lifetime of being an ‘adult’. Being a child is to live a tension free life, to live in the moment, to dream above and beyond ourselves, to explore a world parallel but different from ours, to be our own unbiased selves, to create mistakes into memories worth remembering for a lifetime, to live life to the fullest without any restraints and just enjoy the joy of being without any worries or consequences. The spectrum of childhood is something that passes us by in a moment but to resurrect it is not difficult, one just has to wake up the sleeping child in us.

Rishika Tomar

Class XII Ahlcon International School, Mayur Vihar

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not live in the 20th century anymore. We can’t not question things, because we hate to be fooled. We can’t shut up and listen to or see something wrong and stay quiet about it, because we know that the world can be a better place to live in if everybody brings change. You have a lot of expectations Dear Adults, which we do try to fulfil, and we do This letter, coming from a teenager that just for you. Yes, we feel happy might feel like another one of those when we accomplish something and rants you see on the internet and com- we do want a good future, but there is ment on, because ‘they are just teens, nothing better than seeing you swellthey don’t know what the world is’. ing with pride and saying ‘I am proud Firstly, no. With all due respect, we to be your parent’. We know you love know exactly what it is. Also, you us and we know you want to see us should know that your rebellious new happy, but sometimes, let us be ingeneration loves you. You might feel dependent- girls and guys both. We we have an intolerable attitude, we want to show you that we are capable love to disobey you, and a hundred of managing it and we want you to other things which make you say ‘Ye give us a chance. dekho, ye hai nayi generation’ but I Ending on a happy note, I’d say have to say what I always say- we do that your children love you the most So this children’s day let’s relive those moments and memories from our childhood that we might or might not have made and enjoy the world through the eyes of a child again. Sincerely, Childhood

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O p e n

Chitralekha Makhija Class X Delhi Public School, Sec-45, Gurgaon

and won’t miss a chance to show you that, and no, we aren’t as intolerable as you think. Love, 21st Century Teenager

Dear Adults,

I know you have had your work cut out bringing us up, pushing us onwards on the right track and pulling us back from traversing the wrong ones. You mixed in us just the right amount of goodness, with a trace of fire, a hint of mischief and made the perfect blend of happy memories and a bright future. There’s so much you have taught us, from trudging our first steps, to winning sports championships; from speaking our first syllable to excelling at oration; from reading our first word, to topping competitive exams. But there’s so much I wish you had taught us. I wish you had shown us that there was more to life than our

Khushi Singh

Class X Khaitan School, Noida

sheltered upbringing. I wish you had told us, that life is not always fair and not everyone reaps the benefits of the good they sow. I wish that along with the stories of fairies, mermaids and unicorns, you had mixed stories of politicians, murderers, terrorists and fanatics. And I wish like anything, that we kids didn’t have to be disillusioned in a snap, that with just a toe in the outside world, we did not have to find that life is not always about cupcakes and rainbows. Dear adults, I believe that it’s time you started telling your daughters “women don’t cry” and started telling your sons that emotions are a part of every living being. It’s time you started teaching your daughters to fend for themselves instead of waiting to be rescued by their prince charming and your sons, to respect them. It’s time you told them that a rope around their neck won’t solve their problem. It’s time you told them how amazing, how unique they are, how they truly are god’s gifts, sent as tiny bundles of joy. It’s time you took out some time to talk to them, to answer their lists of seemingly endless questions. It’s time we really celebvrated children’s day.

L e t t e r

and when we do, you pause. The only conclusion here is mutual acceptance and respect. You have been through different social situations and developed your lifestyle as the circumstances allowed you to. We are going through a similar molding process. Don’t get us wrong, we are eternally grateful for your warmth, guidance and presence, but please do not tell us that you’ve had it all figured out for us. You might give us the shortest distance between two points, but we’d rather skip pathways and be lost for a little while until we find our own route to where we belong or where we are truly supposed to be.

Muskan Lamba

Class XII Ahlcon International School, Mayur Vihar

The only thing I ask of you is – teach us kindness, empathy, patience We live in a world that constantly and values, but let us dream for the shapes our beliefs and values - some- infinite. Let us imagine and explore times way more differently than you, things ourselves before you give us a much of which isn’t directly under definite explanation of the world, its your control or ours. Like people of people and how it all should evenother ages, we battle. Mostly with our- tually be. We are born with just the selves. The competition in this society same mind, just the same heart, just is ever-increasing - growing at a faster the same potential and you certainly rate for us than it did for you. Times have had more experiences than us, are changing. They can be ruthless. but we’d like to have our own set beWe are easily misunderstood, and that fore we simply hold onto the opinions is not a fault on your part. It isn’t easy imposed by you. We don’t wish to be to know whose fault it is, so we isolate, mere photocopies of each other, but succumb or move back. As for you, embrace the individual differences we you think we are indifferent and that have always had. The future depends we probably don’t care. Little do you upon these vivid differences, these know that we care with all our might uncertain explorations and the bright but lack in expression. existence of our creativity and origiSome of us try really hard to reduce nality. Don’t let it fade. the distance between us, but when Respectfully, you are trying, we don’t reciprocate A 17 year old.

Dear Adults,

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Volume 03 | Issue 05 | December 2017 | 29

D I Y

3D Christmas Shadow Box Card The merriness is around the corner, and who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enjoy the festive spirit, and the holidays! We found the perfect little DIY to give an extra spark to your room this Christmas.

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D I Y

You Will Need: • Styrofoam Sheet • Cardboard

• Cutter • Fevicol • Fairy Lights

Now Follow These Steps

• For our first layer, draw the artwork of trees on a paper. • Leave a lot of blank space in the middle • With the same technique draw more trees and more forms, to layer up our card • Once you have finished drawing all your layers, take a cutter and start cutting them cleanly • Add detailing to your form, to make the silhouette look more interesting • Cut out other layers similarly • Cut out some styrofoam strips, according to the size of the sheets • Take the first layer, flip it and using Fevicol stick the styrofoam strips to the sides, and make the frame • Stick on the other layers, one by one, to create the box effect • To add the snow effect, add another layer • Take a frame, and stick a white sheet on it and punch some holes on it • Take any sharp object, and make holes in the sheet • Now stick the last frame in place, our 3D box is now ready

• Take some cardboard strips, and cut them to size to fit with the frame • The thickness of the cardboard box must be more than my 3D layered card • Stick them together with tape, and paint it white • Hide the rough edges of the cardboard box by pasting a styrofoam frame on it • We will add fairy lights to the space behind the 3D card • Take a cardboard piece, and close the box from behind using sticking tape • Switch on the lights, and watch the magic light up! Keep in Mind Make sure leave a border while making the artwork While using the cutter, be careful. Don’t hurt yourself To watch video, look for “DIY 3D Christmas Shadow Box Card II Mad Stuff with Rob” on YouTube Follow Rob and share your DIYs with him @: Facebook.com/MadStuffWithRob Twitter.com/MadStuffWithRob Instagram.com//MadStuffWithRob

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W o r t h y

O p p o n e n t

To Make that Call Technology today brings with it a lot of questions of good and bad. We asked our contributors what they thought about being phones being allowed for students in the school premises. This is their takes on it!

Definitely, Maybe

et’s get real. The education system is evolving, as it must, to cope with the changing requirements of a radically changing job market. The fact is, that with this change in the education system coming around, allowing phones in school is one of them. It’s not about whether phones should be allowed at all, it is more about when we are going to allow phones. This has been coming for awhile, ever since the advent of e-learning. When education goes online, it allows the visualization of concepts that are nearly impossible to simulate in the real world. It is common today for schools that cater to the more affluent require tablets to be brought in by the children. These tablets assist in organizing notes, promoting concep-

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tual understanding, and streamlining the process of learning. Since this is an extremely efficient method of education, it will obviously end up being adopted in the future. Where does this leave government schools? While they want to move toward efficient, technology powered learning, they cannot ask children to buy expensive tablets and laptops. The solution to this problem lies in smartphones. Smartphone penetration in India, over the last decade, had risen exponentially. Today, prices of smartphones remain stable at shockingly low prices. Nearly every government school student would be able to switch out the money meant for books and stationery to spend it on a smartphone, which will have other benefits and uses as well. So, essentially, the affluent already have technology, arguably even a phone, in school – through tablets, computer

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access etc. The poor will move toward the smartphone, due to its unparalleled efficiency and value for money in the current market. The conclusion this brings us to, is this matter remains no longer, a moral debate. It is no longer a question of what psychological effects or distractions a phone in school may have. Those effects already exist, in the age of e-learning. The situation becomes one of survival, survival of the fittest, or in this case, the most productive form of learning. Since the smartphone takes the case on that basis, it becomes an absolute necessity to allow it in schools. By Advait Mani Class XI DPS Sushant Lok

W o r t h y

Have you even looked it up?

hile I strongly believe in the digitalization of the learning process, I think smartphones are not the way to execute it. In my opinion, gadgets must play only an auxiliary role in the education process. Smartphones, though now very multifaceted, have served one prima facie purpose since their creation - networking. What truly differentiates our smartphones from other gadgets is that we can connect with people easily through them, be it virtually or through call. Phones have now become an irreplaceable part of our lives, and one in every three teens has developed a common social condition known as FOMO, or simply, the fear of missing out; missing out on updates, gatherings , memes and so on. It has become almost second nature for us to open up a social networking app and scroll through it idly. In a place as sacrosanct as a school, is it not our duty to keep aside these distractions and aim for better learning? School, for the 7 - 8 hour duration that it runs, provides a respite from these addictions. While we aren’t completely isolated from the digital world, it is kept at an arm’s length - used only for the sole purpose of learning. Take the example of the government of Goa - it provided its public schools with the Aakash tablets, which are 20% cheaper than an average smartphone. These have not only boosted Goa’s literacy rate, but also cut down partially on the high cost of study material needed by the students. However, all learning is not virtual. Teachers still teach inside classrooms, discussions are held actively, and the basic principles of schooling are upheld. To promote complete digitalization of classrooms would be destroying the very ideal of a learning institute - if everything can be learnt through smartphones, why do we even need a brick and mortar building called school? The answer lies in what only human resource can provide - inter-personal

Phones have now become an irreplaceable part of our lives, and one in every three teens has developed a common social condition known as FOMO, or simply, the fear of missing out; missing out on updates, gatherings, memes and so on. development. While smartphones are highly resourceful, humans are losing out on the basic ability to talk to each other in real time, leading to loneliness. Allowing smartphones in schools will lead to a highly isolated life, and may also lead to an almost horrifying situation where conversations between class partners are held on social media rather than in person. It is undoubtedly a question of moral, psychological and physical effects. While I do agree that we must evolve, we ought to remember that various branches of the Homo went extinct only because they made decisions that ended up being the reason for their doom. How can we talk about the survival of the fittest when smartphones make us weak and dependent? It is important that we keep the sacred process of learning as free of distractions as we can. Digitalization is essential, no doubt, but not at the cost of the pupil’s development. By Sanika Rahul Savdekar Class XI Amity International School, Sector-46, Gurgaon

Umm, are you living under a rock?

O p p o n e n t

Gone are the days when cellphones were used. Smartphones exist, caveman. The worst possible arguments I hear about most new technology include: “That’s not what they were intended to do!” Or, “It will be misused!” So to all confused (eh, misinformed sounds better) adults, WE ALWAYS FIND NEW USES FOR EVERYTHING. Now, the slippers weren’t initially bought to threaten your child, were they? Or that denim jacket to cut out and make a pochha out of? Similarly, this phone was purchased to contact y’all and inform you of our whereabouts and safety, now we use it to look up word meanings and research for our school assignments. Surely, we aren’t expected to carry around huge dictionaries and encyclopedias, are we? Nope, just like you don’t carry your heavy suitcases of money but use e-banking. Or do you? Or “REAL FEEL TOH HARD CASH ME AATI HAI YAAR?” *funny* Let’s speak of misuse. What isn’t? The credit card is misused to scrape out the chicken strand between your teeth. How about using aftershave to close your pores before the foundation floods out on your skin? (Background noise : “Ajjfksbfkahfjd they’re alternative uses!! !!” *angry adult sounds* “these products are still used to fulfill their original purpose!”) Let me get to the conventional merits, before others tell you how _horrible_ phones are. (No seriously I’m not doing that GO google it, or Safari, you piece of apple) P. S. : Students are so diverse, and it’s the duty of schools to accommodate all of their interests. Some students work best with music, some work best by timing themselves or some love to take breaks as motivators.

e love to offend the rigid controllers who want to limit EVERYTHING in a young soul’s life, starting at 3 and going till 18. “Cellphones in school?” HELL YES.

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By Yatharth Vohra Class XI Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram

Volume 03 | Issue 05 | December 2017 | 35

THEY SAY IT’S A SCARY PLACE!

PASSING THROUGH! WHEN THAT MONSTER, GHANTAKARNA IS OUT THERE! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU’RE FOOLING!

WHO ARE YOU? WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM US!

THERE’S SOMETHING SCARY ABOUT THIS VILLAGE, BANGLE! IT’S HIM! YOU’VE BROUGHT HIM HERE!!

THERE’S NOBODY IN SIGHT! VILLAGERS ARE USUALLY UP AND ABOUT AT DAWN, AND NOW IT MUST BE AT LEAST EIGHT!

NOTHING. MY DOG AND I ARE JUST PASSING THROUGH. ACTUALLY WE’RE LOOKING FOR A CAVE...

HELLO! ANYBODY HOME?

I WONDER WHO THIS GHANTAKARNA IS! THAT MAN LOOKED TERRIFIED!

HELLO, THERE! I… I…

WHERE’S EVERYBODY?

WE’D BETTER HIDE TOO, BANGLE! IF GHANTAKARNA’S THE ONE RINGING THAT BELL, HE’S DRAWING NEARER! 50

49 YOU, GIRL!

COME IN, QUICK!

THANK YOU!

HE MUST HAVE SMELT YOU AND COME HERE

BANGLE! STOP THAT! WOOOF WOOOF WOOF!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THIS DANGEROUS PLACE, CHILD? YOU SHOULDN’T BE OUT AT A TIME LIKE THIS! THERE’S A MAN-EATING MONSTER OUT THERE!

YES! WE’VE BEEN LIVING IN TERROR EVER SINCE HE MADE HIS APPEARANCE A FEW MONTHS AGO, ONE DARK, RAINY DAY SUCH AS THIS ONE…

YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT GHANTAKARNA, I SUPPOSE?

A MAN FROM OUR VILLAGE BY NAME OF GORAMBA WAS RETURNING FROM A PILGRIMAGE WHEN HE CAME ACROSS THE HALF-EATEN BODY OF A FOREST DWELLER. AS HE STOOD THERE STARING WITH HORROR AT THE SCENE HE HEARD…. HE HEARD…

QUIET!

WE’RE DEAD

WE’RE SAVED! OOO... OOOOO... OOO...

HE’S GOING AWAY!

NOBODY WHAT DOES THIS GHANTAKARNA HAS SEEN HIM! BUT AS HE’S WEARING BELLS AS LOOK LIKE! HOW EARRINGS HE MUST BIG IS HE? BE HUGE!

THAT! HE HEARD THAT BELL!

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Volume 03 | Issue 05 | December 2017 | 37

S t o r y t e l l i n g

In a Parallel Universe

Was it really a dream you dreamt or did you for a moment cross over?

have come with my friends to my aunt’s’ house which seems more like a haunted house to me as it has all kinds of crazy and wacky stuff in it. My train of thoughts got interrupted with a sound. “Help us, somebody please help us. Please come,” someone shouted. I followed the voice and reached the attic. As I opened the door to the attic a blinding light flashed out. “Ouch,” I said in pain as I was unable to see anything. There were clouds of smoke that filled the attic. I stepped inside and found myself between the white

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pawns of the chess. All of them were staring at me and speaking in a language that I couldn’t understand at all. Then came a man wearing white clothes, who was a bit taller than the pawns. It appeared to me that he was the King as all the pawns bowed to him as he entered. “You are looking confused? Can I have a reason for it?” He asked me with his glittery eyes staring at me. I fumbled a bit but fortunately my voice reached my throat, waiting to be spoken out. “A few minutes back, I was at my

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aunt’s’ house, Sir. A voice brought me here. Can you please tell me where am I at the moment?” “You don’t know!.. Ok don’t worry. Let me tell you. You are in the world of chess, a parallel universe to yours. You have come here as our savior. God has himself sent you to help us... You are ‘THE CHOSEN ONE!’..” “Sir, don’t mind but I have friends and family who would be waiting for me so I need to go,” I said while feeling anxious. As I turned and started walking towards the attic door, ‘Thud ‘ came the voice and the door was shut within a few seconds.

S t o r y t e l l i n g “You cannot escape from this universe now unless you help us. You are bound in a spell which will turn you into a pawn if you refuse to help us,” the King said with his fearful eyes staring at me. I knew I could not abscond or disappear so I decided to help them in whatever way I could. “Sir, can you tell me what do I have to do?” “Yes, my child and thanks for helping us in our days of sorrow. God will surely reward you for it. In a few days we are going to have a war with the black army of the chess. As white stands for peace, so do we. We whites don’t want to shed blood or kill people. We want to live in peace. I had promised my mother when I was young that I would not kill anyone in my life. Because of this promise I cannot fight the war and the blacks are not ready the stop the war. So I want you to become the army chief and fight the war in my place.”

“I don’t even know how to hold a sword. I am still a kid! I don’t want to put my life in danger because of you all,” I said almost on the verge of crying. “You have no choice my kid but don’t you worry, I will give you the best of training.” I pleaded and cried but he didn’t listen to me.. Finally, I gave in. I was given training by the best of the fighters and I was sure that I will win the war. AFTER FEW DAYS... We won the war. I killed the black king, smashed his head. I felt uneasy as I had killed someone for the first time ever in my life. I had blood all over my attire, which made me feel nauseous. I was lying in my bed inside the army camp. That night I couldn’t sleep at all. Suddenly during the middle of the night I felt someone enter my room. As my eyes darted in the direction of the door, I saw the black king with his sword.

“I had killed you,” I shouted aloud The king came forward and ‘smash’. He took out his sword and killed me. I woke up with a start and found myself still lying in my army camp bed. I wasn’t able to breathe properly. What I saw in my dream had freaked me out. But then my eyes caught the sword that lay on the table beside me. It wasn’t my sword. It had the symbol of the black army on it. And then I recognized it was the black king’s sword. “H...ho...how..come it is here?” I asked myself, still not able to breathe properly. It was just a bad dream I reminded myself. Was It A Dream Or A Vision?? By Aditi Vohra Class XI Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar

On Your Mark

rationales.They can propose different ways of problem solving and evaluate their merits and consequences. They would look for the process and phrases’ on the other hand’ or ‘ in another way’. In the process, they would progressively develop We have all heard of Ivan Pavlov’s experiment on a set of moral principles to govern their own behav‘Classical Conditioning ‘. I see this ‘ conditioning ‘ each day in the classroom. iour, they also become more adaptable to change their We teach a method to solve a problem which seems minds in light of convincing data, arguments or ratioto be the ‘ only way’. Students follow that ‘only way’ nale. This ability further makes it easier for them to as the method which leads to the answer- the correct resolve conflicts through compromise, express openness about others’ ideas and to strive for consensus. answer! When students become more aware of their own So instead of being challenged by the process thinking, they can describe what goes on in their heads, of finding the answer, they are more interested in what they already know versus what they need to know, knowing whether their answer is correct. Students are what data are lacking and their plans for producing daunable to sustain a process of problem solving over time, they avoid ambiguous situations.Their minds tas. Before they begin to solve their problem, they can are made up , and they resist being influenced by any describe their plan of action, list the steps, and tell where reasoning or datas that might contradict their beliefs. they are in the sequence.In retrospect, they can trace A need for certainty outweighs an inclination to doubt. the pathways and blind alleys they took on the road to The challenge today is to create learning environ- a problem solution. ment which aids students to be more flexible in their Mrs Ranjoo Mann thinking, they can be heard considering, expressing, Pro Vice Chairman, or even paraphrasing other people’s point of views or Delhi Public School Sonepat

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Volume 03 | Issue 05 | December 2017 | 39

B l o g

Firing the

Shots!

Being young is itself a difficult task at times, and then having to sail through life not quite sure what you are adept at can be even tougher. But what about the time you finally do discover your passion, how wonderful would that moment be! This is the story of eleven year old Jyotika Laishram, in her own words.

grew up feeling like nobody. I was always criticised for not being good at studies in school. No one ever noticed me at school, and at home I was constantly scolded for not studying hard enough. However, eight months back when I held the rifle for the first time at school my life changed overnight and it’s never going to be the same anymore. It feels like I have realised what I truly aspire to become in life. I was one of those kids who had no serious interest in studies. I liked painting and craft but I didn’t excel at it. So, no teacher ever recognised me for anything at school. At home I was constantly compared to my younger brother who used to be one of the toppers in his class. It made me feel like I was not good at anything. And that’s how I grew up, feeling like a nobody. I thought it was unfair of others to treat me like that. But my life was going to change in a way no one ever expected. It was in February this year when my school (The Blossom School Imphal) was starting the first rifle and pistol

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shooting training at school for a competition. Since, I was a resident student I just happened to be included. And in the same month, I participated in the 1st Air Weapon Shooting Competition organised by Manipur Rifles Association. To my surprise I won a bronze medal. It surprised a lot of people as well. Immediately after I participated in two different shooting competitions where I won a silver at the district level and four silvers at the state level;

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both organised by Manipur Rifles Association. The feeling of achievement was surprising and overwhelming. I didn’t realise immediately but my life had changed a lot. There was suddenly a lot of pressure about not failing and achieving more. During competitions the practice was rigorous. I didn’t get enough time to study, so I had to do late night study during competitions. It tired me out. But the idea of the next competition was too thrilling to stop. After I won four silvers at the state level, I got selected for the 5th Northeast Zone Shooting Championship 2017 held at Shillong, Meghalaya. The

B l o g training was difficult and there was more pressure. And since the school didn’t own rifles and was relying on borrowed rifles from here and there, adjusting to the availability of rifles was a problem. My parents were also clueless about the whole process from training to equipment. The uniform cost them fifteen thousand rupees which was a lot of money and they had to pay for the journey to Shillong as well. Going to Shillong for the northeast Championship was a great learning experience. It was a beautiful city as well and the shooting range, the infrastructure was much more than what I had seen before. However, my luck proved otherwise. I fell sick on the second day in Shillong. I could not eat well and became weak. On the day of the championship I could barely hold the rifle for long and make proper targets, so I didn’t perform well. As expected I didn’t win any medals there. I came back to Manipur heartbroken, I kept crying on the way back home. And at school, during another intense practice session my eyes suddenly seemed to have difficulty aiming for targets for long duration. The problem persisted for long, so my parents took me to an ophthalmologist. It turned out I had severe eyesight issues and it had been blurring my vision as well. Then I realised this was also a factor why I didn’t perform well in Shillong and not just because I was sick. I began to worry what most shooters worry about: eyesight problems. When I look back at the past eight months it has been quite an unbelievable journey. I have always been a nobody and now I am winning medals. Sometimes it’s embarrassing when people recognise me as a shooter but deep inside I am really happy. And to see my parents feeling proud of me finally it means a lot. However, sometimes I feel as if everything has happened too fast and I am missing out on teenage experience. The whole practice regime

concentration. Through regular exercise and meditation I feel I have overcome my temper and concentration problem. And that has been my biggest achievement. And at home I am usually lazy about doing household chores, now I can easily get away with it. I am not forced to do household work anymore. That’s also an achievement indeed! Recently, I qualified for the Northeast Shooting Championship to be held in Mizoram in February 2018. I am going to concentrate on preparing myself for the next few months. Though, I still have to sit for the final exams in school and the schedule is getting pretty tight already! tires me out, I don’t get to relax a lot anymore. But then I also remind myself the things I have gained. The biggest gain has been my ability to remain a calm, with higher level of

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By Jyotika Laishram Class VII The Blossom School Imphal, Manipur

Volume 03 | Issue 05 | December 2017 | 41

C y b e r S a f e

Return of the

Trojan Horse

It is an old saying, nothing teaches us a good lesson like experience does. We bring to you a series of true tales from one of the foremost cyber crime experts in the country, Amit Dubey. A young software engineer who, as a hobby, starts helping the Police in solving criminal cases, turns into a critical resource for the Force. He becomes entrapped in the system. Return Of The Trojan is the riveting narration of how he is compelled to draw inputs from his personal life, and use sharp thinking and advanced technology to solve the criminal cases he is brought into.

6 September 2008

It was Day 1 of the training programme. They were all there so I asked them to introduce themselves before we began. I wanted to gauge their current capabilities and strengths. “Sir, I’m Yogesh, the one who pestered you to do these classes. I’m an Electronics Engineer and have been working with the CBI since 1994. I’m well versed with PHP and .Net programming.” I nodded. It was a good place to start. “Sir, I’m Nitin. We met briefly. I graduated with Computer Science and Engineering, and I’ve been with the CBI since 2001.” I nodded again, remembering his almost silent presence that first night. “Sir, I’m Avinash. I don’t have a technical degree but I’m a hard disk recovery expert. I want to learn to hack like you.” “Very good. I’m sure each of you has been involved in many investigations by now.” “Yes Sir,” they responded in chorus. ... “So where should we start?” I asked. “How do we create a secure system

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and how to hack it.” Avinash replied without hesitation. “Okay. Well, security is invented by humans; it is not a part of nature. The challenge in digital networks, as with people working in teams, is that no chain is stronger than its weakest link. Companies spend millions of dollars on firewalls, encryption and secure access devices, but it is money wasted, because none of these measures address the weakest link in the security chain. Every programme has (at least) two purpos-

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es – the one for which it was written, and the other for which it wasn’t. We are interested in the second.” “How can we hack a PC or email?” Nitin was clearly interested in the mechanics of this nefarious activity. “Hacking is not rocket science...actually it is harder!” I told them with a smile. “But I heard that a 12-year-old hacked the NIC web-

C y b e r S a f e site,” Avinash noted. “Yeah, he didn’t know it was impossible, so he did it.” This lightened the mood as everyone laughed. When there was silence again, I quietly said, “Actually hacking is more of a psychological game than a matter of technical skill.” I spoke to them as if I was telling them a deep, dark secret. “How can that be? Can we also hack a system or email password?” Nitin wanted to know. “Yeah, yeah...why not? But before that you need to know the psychology of the person you are targeting. A PC or mobile, and passwords, are like underwear – you don’t let others see it; you change often; and you don’t share it with strangers.” “Psychology? Like...?” “Like...what exactly are the likes and dislikes of the person? And what kind of email content or WhatsApp messages he would definitely open and see. Actually, you need to lure the person to the extent that s/he becomes curious not only to open your email, but also to download any attachment you send. We normally sent a Trojan or Key Loggers through such attachments. As soon as the person opens the email and downloads the attachment, the Trojan or Keyloggers gets stealthily installed in his PC or mobile. Then this Trojan works as a spy agent in that system, sending us details of whatever the person does on that PC or mobile. It sends us all the passwords, call details, SMS, etc.” All three were listening intently. “Sir, what is this Trojan?” Avinash asked, “Hmm...Trojan...there is an interesting story behind it. Do you guys know about the famous story about Helen of Troy?” Avinash nodded. “Yeah, I thought it was something like that.” “Actually, Troy was a small Greek island-state, protected by strong walls. During the Trojan War, the attackers could not breach that wall, so they resorted to subterfuge to enter the city of Troy and win the war.

Every programme has (at least) two purposes – the one for which it was written, and the other for which it wasn’t. We are interested in the second.” After a fruitless 10-year siege, the attackers constructed a huge wooden horse, and hid a select force of men inside. The others pretended to sail away. The jubilant Trojans pulled the horse into their city as a victory trophy. That night, the force crept out of the horse and opened the gates for the army which had sailed back under the cover of night. Troy was destroyed and it decisively ended the war. So, in our work, the decoy we send is called the Trojan Horse. We use a simple virus programme as a Trojan Horse to enter someone’s PC or mobile. Then this Trojan starts sending us back the hidden details of that PC. There could be many types of Trojan viruses and we will learn to create

some during these sessions.” “But why would anyone open an unknown attachment? Suppose they do not?” Yogesh was not convinced. “Precisely! That’s why we need to hide our Trojan virus in some video or flash file, so that the other person never knows he is downloading a Trojan along with the video.” “We would need to send the Trojan or Keylogger in a video which would interest the targeted person to the point that s/he would certainly download it,” Nitin chipped in. I nodded in agreement. “But Sir, what if we don’t know the person? I mean, we might know the person but not his psychology likes and dislikes etc.” “In such a case we take the help of social media. Today, almost everyone has a social media presence. We analyze his likes, posted content, his close friends etc.” “Why close friends?” Avinash asked with interest. “Because we can send the hacking email from the email account of one of his close friend, so the targeted person does not doubt it.” “But for that we would need to hack his friend’s email ID rst.” I smiled, sensing Yogesh’s concern. “No, not exactly. You can open a new email account in his friend’s name. Normally, when we receive an email we just look at the name of the sender. We rarely look at the sender’s complete email ID. That’s how it works.” All three nodded. I could see they had taken the point but were troubled by it as well. Excerpted with permission from the author and Platinum Press, an imprint of Leadstart Publishing from the title “Return of the Trojan Horse: Tales Of Criminal Investigation” by Amit Dubey

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S t u d y

G u i d e

US vs. UK Admissions: What You Need to Know! Winter is Coming… And with that, so is the Jan 1st deadline for Regular Decision applications to the US. However, this is right around the time that students start to consider the possibility of applying to the UK. Why now? Well for some, their Early Decision strategy didn’t work out. For others, they didn’t think about applying abroad and the overwhelming amount of work needed to apply to the US is a huge deterrent. For others, it’s just the fact that they still have some deadlines available to them. Our expert, Urvashi Malik helps you with the tough choices to crack.

hile we generally don’t espouse a hurried decision to apply abroad, we recognize that for many students, applying to college is an opportunity to gain new experiences and the UK is an option they may want to consider. So while we covered Canada vs. the US way back in July, we are still providing information for “just in time” applications as allowed for the UK. Note, we are not differentiating on the education systems here. There is plenty to be said on that! However, we are talking about the admissions process in particular. But what do you need to know?

The Application: CommonApp vs. UCAS

While some US universities still have their own applications (MIT for example), they largely all have a presence on Common Application where the burden is lifted off the students by allowing them to apply to multiple colleges through the main application and then providing specific responses to supplements for each college. Effectively, this means each application is unique and really there is a lot of flexibility in present-

44 | Volume 03 | Issue 05 | December 2017

ing even different CommonApp essays, supplements etc. to each university you apply to. For the UK however, students use the UCAS form or the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. Now this sounds like a similar thing to the CommonApp. It is, with a few key differences.

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Every college in the UK uses the applications The application limits you to 5 total colleges and no more It is not modified or personalized to the colleges This last point is very important. Students need to declare their major upfront and so, have to apply

S t u d y

G u i d e

not mandatory. It comes down to academics. However, it is important to highlight that TOEFL is required for the US and IELTS for the UK to test your proficiency in English if you are an international student.

Similarities

to a specific major within each college. While each application has a supplement for the US, the UK has only one Statement of Purpose, focused on your academic and career goals and preparation for the same and so you cannot express interest in a particular university but instead must focus on your preparation for college and your major in general. Moreover, you cannot apply to both Oxford and Cambridge, but only one college of the two.* *It is to be noted that the deadline to Oxford and Cambridge has passed however it is important to know this for applicants applying next year.

Academic vs. Holistic Review

Folks talk a lot about the Holistic Review process of the US applications which takes into account test scores and grades but also a number of other things including the extracurriculars, essays, personal experiences etc. UK, the focus is largely academics. Rather like India! (Or you can say India’s education system is like the UK’s). While the statement of purpose allows you to elaborate on extracurriculars, since the focus is on academics, that is the only way that extracurriculars should be included – to support your desire for a major. UK universities look for academic achievements in the SOP and also for academics to make decisions re-

Not everything is about the differences, there are similarities as well! Emphasis on grades – while the US is “holistic” in its approach, grades are king in both admissions processes Recommendations – both processes need recommendations from school though the requirements are different (more for the US, less for the UK) Deadlines – similar deadlines in that UCAS opens in September and CommonApp in August. Both are due in January though US colleges are largely Jan 1st and UK colleges Jan 15th Whether you plan to apply to the UK or finish up the applications you’ve been working on for the US, at this stage remember 1) Stay Organized 2) Finish your Research 3) College is what you Make of it. There are people who will be thrilled by their choices and those who will be disappointed. We are lying on your grades from school to as a population, some of the most offer admission. educated people in the world and competition is increasing more and Testing Requirements more. But your admissions journey SAT, ACT, PSAT, TOEFL – there is your own and yours alone. While is a LONG list of standardized test it’s important to aim high, don’t be scores in the US. Students need to distracted by big names or what take the SAT or ACT which covers your neighbor or friend may be doa variety of subjects in Math and ing. Focus on what makes you happy. English and some even need to take Leverage your counselors to choose Subject Tests to show prowess in the best fit for YOU as a person. As long as you apply to a range of Physics etc. colleges, you’ll make it to an amazIn the UK however, there is no ing place where you will get a great equivalent of the SAT and ACT. education. Colleges is what you They will take university specific exams for some colleges and pro- make of it, not the be all and end all. grams – Thinking Skills Assessment for Cambridge or MAT for Math ma- For more information, log on to jors. Other tests are considered but http://www.collegecore.in/

While some US universities still have their own applications, they largely all have a presence on Common Application where the burden is lifted off the students by allowing them to apply to multiple colleges through the main application and then providing specific responses to supplements for each college.

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Volume 03 | Issue 04 | November 2017 | 45

R A P

U P

ohit Shetty and team is back with their latest offering, the much awaited, Golmaal

Golmaal again: A review

Director: Rohit Shetty Starring: Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor ‘When you can fight for the meek without hating the mighty, you follow Dharma.’ The Boys Who Fought by Devdutt Pattanaik teaches an important lesson, that Dharma is love, not hatred; fairness, not revenge; and peace, not war. It tells us how important it is to share, love and have forgiveness in our hearts. Between the fight of the Pandavas and the Kauravas, this version of the Mahabharata for children brings the story to life! After their father died, the Pandava brothers along with

Again! Well, after 3 consecutive meaningless films, it was expected of Rohit Shetty to hire a decent scriptwriter for the 4th film in the series. Alas, that was not to be. As Rohit Shetty himself confessed and pleaded during the promotions of the film, “ iss film Mein logic matt dhoondo, sirf magic dhoondo.” (In this film, don’t look for any logic, just look for magic). The film revolves around a gang of five orphans who were raised at Seth Jamnadas’ orphanage in the scenic town of Ooty. When they return after several years to mourn the death of their beloved mentor, they find out about the sinister plans of a builder who has his eyes on the land on which the orphanage stands. In an attempt to acquire the land, the builder and his partner commit two murders. The souls of the murdered people return as ghosts and attempt to seek revenge with the help of the five orphan brothers. Though the story might seem pretty straightforward, it is unfortunate to note that there have been several unnecessary add ons to the script, which have overcomplicated it.

their mother, Kunti, decided to visit their cousins, the Kauravas. When their cousins declined to share anything with them, the Pandavas studied under the guidance of Drona, who taught them the skills of warfare. But when Duryodhana (the eldest Kaurava brother) realized that the Pandavas were stronger, smarter and more skilled than his own brothers, he burnt down the palace of the Pandavas. Fortunately, the Pandavas and their mother somehow survived, and escape into the forest. The Pandavas realized that The Boys Who Fought by Devdutt Pattanaik

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The attempt to add an element of takeaway of this film. The acting is horror and mystery to an otherwise what makes this film worth watchmainstream comedy is quite intrigu- ing, be it Tusshar Kapoor’s stunning ing and it is refreshing to note that an representation of a dumb ‘Lucky’ or attempt has been made to innovate Johnny Lever’s supremely hilarious and move away from clichéd stories. interventions.Unlike most people, Sadly, this hasn’t really worked out. these actors have truly becom e betThe only ones who could possibly ter with age! be spooked by the ‘horror’ scenes in Putting it frankly, the jokes are this movie are 5 year olds. rather juvenile (barring a few excepThe impeccable acting of the age- tions) and the storyline is difficul t ing yet vigorous actors is the major to follow. In that light, it is truly

they had left the forest as orphans but returned as refugees. When Arjuna won the archery contest held in Panchala, organized by Drupada, the king married his daughter, Draupadi, to Arjuna, as promised. In order to divide the reward equally among all the Pandava brothers, Draupadi was married to all of the brothers. What they did not know was the purpose of Draupadi’s birth. During the wedding, the Pandavas met Krishna, their cousin who accompanied them in their journey. To make peace, back in the kingdom of the

Kauravas, the kingdom was divided into two parts. But after losing twice in gambling from the Kauravas, the Pandavas were sent back into the forest as exiles. However, after they returned to their Cousins’ kingdom and saw how the rich treated the poor, they were furious and when the Kauravas denied on sharing the kingdom even on Krishna’s request, they decided that peace couldn’t be made. And so, war was announced. It was a war where ‘the mighty were fighting to deny the meek their share of the land, it was adharma.’

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impossible to explain the reason behind the uncontrollable laughter of the audience, throughout the movie. Though we may denounce it as absurd and moronic, there was something truly and inexplicably surreal about the movie which left those watching it rolling on the floor laughing. In hindsight, yes the movie didn’t make sense, it had no logic. But did that matter? I don’t think so. There are some things in life which are hilarious simply because the don’t make any sense. This movie was one of those. The enthralling scenic beauty of the setting just added to the magnificence of the entire experience. The volley of jokes kept the audience on it’s toes, with tears of laughter in everyone’s eyes. To conclude, all I can say is that the movie was truly ‘magical’. What it lacks in the plot and sequence of the storyline, it makes up in other segments. It does not have a decent plot. Yet somehow, unexplainably, it ticks all the right boxes when it comes to being a laid back, fun filled family entertainment film. By Tavashya Kumar Class XI Delhi Public School, Hyderabad

On the whole, the book is an interesting, new–age take on the Indian mythological epic which – while staying true to its philosophical and devotional essence – with its unique narrative & quirky illustrations, is sure to enthrall children for generations to come.

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By Zara Javed Class IV Raghubir Singh Junior Modern School, New Delhi

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U P created over a decade ago, Lady GaGa. Her unpredictable now became predictable; it’s just a new spin. A strong blatancy is an inherent feature of this strong Italian woman who isn’t supine in the face of injustice or hatred towards any artist. Although like most liberal people she detests the present political painting, she knows there is never going to be any change to the freedom of an artist. We watch as she has conflicting views while speaking to her doctors and contemplating her album leak - all this with her beloved Sarah Tanno applying makeup on her. Chronic pain makes her weep and hug a lot. She is worried about looking pathetic as she is going through immense pain and full body spasms, further wondering if she could get pregnant with the kind of hip pain. The most intense scenes include her grandma listening to Joanne for the first time and the hypnotic chase and confusion as she leaves her apartment, each time.

Après! - FINAL AND UNCOVERED ANECDOTES

Now you might’ve deemed some of her actions provocative; however, they are just unarticulated contemporary desires. Being topless for a woman might be outrageous for you, but logically it is a personal decision - her expression, her business. Definitely not sexual (but I have a feeling it left her cooler). That’s something about Gaga the director managed to capture. Gaga : Five Foot Two Brilliant job on that one. Before : Brace yourself! What is admirable is that she doesn’t wish to his documentary is important because misconcep- complain, but rather fix her pain. She doesn’t tions about female pop stars and their transforma- want to seek attention, but rather heal others tion upon constant catharsis in perhaps the most with lesser resources through her own journey. She doesn’t lose herself or panic right before stressful jobs is the main cause behind the chaos of the the Superbowl, as much as I did watching the mainstream and sudden emergence of new pop stars, and footage. Good job on the editing there! the whole story of “a new queen” claiming the throne and Sonja is briefly mentioned, and I would’ve loved so much replacing the old one, which results in a detrimental effect more of her, considering she recently passed away. in the minds of the public who sways according to what It is obvious to state that almost all little monsters felt is introduced to them, rather than enjoying good quality it was too short and covered a short, yet important period music - and it seeks to clear the air. of her life. To some, she’s unhappy; to some, she’s taking a backseat from her career. The truth is, she’s just living in a different I would rate it 4/5 stars. music era, embracing the rawness it brings. Being a warGo on, watch it, my buddies. Netflix is free for a month! P.S. - I believe this piece of writing seems slipshod, but rior, she will continue to be herself till her coffin is closed. that’s literally how the documentary is compiled.

During: My Notes

We all start off wanting to appear complex but as life transgresses we only realize it’s alright to be simple and raw, too. That ideology basically covers this part of Stefani’s life, who is really bored of the extremely glamorous character she

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By Yatharth Vohra Class XI Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram

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ncle Tom’s Cabin is one of those books, an almost unread history classic. Here’s a quick-fire trivia round for you: name any three distinguished authors of your choice. Most people will come up with answers such as Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Enid Blyton etc, whose books are very popular. Now ask them about Harriet Beecher Stowe and her heart-warming book Uncle Tom’s Cabin and they will draw a blank. This book is almost unrivalled in its category of depicting cruelty and torment, other than Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty and Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist. This book revolves around a subject that you and I are not familiar with: slavery. Set in the backdrop of the American Civil War, this book was written at a time when America was in the bonds of slavery. It is about a character Uncle

tories can hurt, Stories can lie, Stories can heal, Stories can fly. Stories can be wound up and hidden away and Stories can be used to incite hate. Stories can show the unseen and hide the visible. Stories can give hope and tear down a life or they can create false worlds and hide the magic behind. The story weaves its magic to bring to life a protectorate whose people leave a child deep in a forest every year as an offering to please a witch, hoping that it allows themselves to be left in peace. Little do they know that the witch is actually kind hearted and she rescues these abandoned children and puts them up with welcoming families on the other side of the forest. The story spins around this good witch, one abandoned girl who the witch is looking after as her own as this child drank a dose of moon magic inadvertently and what happens when the little one is coming of age. Finally, after many years we have come across a writer who is able to write a fantasy with the touch of a classic. An epic coming of age tale that

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

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one finds tears at the end of reading it and very few writers manage to do that. It shows that the author knows her way to the reader’s heart. Ms. Stowe can be termed as a writer whose books are made up of masterstrokes. In the case of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, she tells us about slavery and at the same time makes us realise how privileged we are. This book is a gem and I strongly recommend that you read it.

Tom, a black slave, who despite being the subject of a joke, is shown to be emotional and dutiful towards his white masters. An impeccable book

By Aditya Saha Class VII Pragyan School, Greater Noida

pernatural ability. However, the real magic is in the style of writing which is lyrical and captivating and yet so different that it keeps you rooted and asking for more. The characters are very unique and their entrances and exits are very well plotted. Each scene is so well written and thought through that one can’t help but keep reading. Children above nine can easily read it as the language is simple but keep a dictionary close, Kelly Barnhill’s usage of words is rareThe Girl Who Drank the Moon ly found today. A most by Kelly Barnhill wonderful book for parents to read speaks about, for a change, a good- aloud to their children while enjoying hearted witch complete with dragons it themselves. and magic and what have you. The book evokes empathy for the witch By who is misunderstood and misjudged Naayaa Mehta even though she is caring and doing Class VII all possible good. Almost every female The Shri Ram School, Moulsari character turns out to have some su-

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Volume 03 | Issue 05 | December 2017 | 49

W a t c h

T h i s

S p a c e

Annual Award Giving Ceremony and Choir

he 62nd Annual Award giving Ceremony and Choir Presentation at Springdales School, Pusa Road took place on Sunday, the 19th November, 2017. It was the culmination of a month-long series of cultural mornings presented by over a 1000 students from Std VI-X showcasing their talent and potential. On November 19, parents and distinguished guests saw a ballet presentation with a live experience of voice, vision and versatility. The students depicted the synergies and conflicts that exist in a constantly evolving democratic world through dramatization, mime, poetry and dance. A musical rendition of a medley of songs by the senior school choir mesmerized the audience with their melodious voices. In his welcome address Lt. Gen. Arun Kumar Sahni, former commander- in- chief of South West Command of the Indian Army encouraged the students to involve themselves in school activities and develop life skills, take up challenges and envisage a better world for themselves. The annual school report was read by the Principal, Mrs. Ameeta Mulla

Springdales School, Pusa Road Wattal and the school prefects with a visual reflection of the happenings at school. This was followed by the prize giving ceremony. The Chief Guest, Justice (Retd.) Ajit Prakash Shah, former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court and Chairman, Managing Board, Springdales Pusa, Dr.Kavita Sharma, President South Asian University and Lt. Gen. Arun Sahni gave away the academic awards. Justice Ajit Prakash Shah addressed the gathering and talked of developing in students respect for diversity, scientific temper and the need for protecting human values

and freedoms. He commended the school’s endeavour in producing responsible citizens and hoped the students of today will emerge strong with good values. Dr. Rajni Kumar, Chairperson Springdales Education Society bestowed the Alumni Award upon Ms. Hiroo Mirchandani who was felicitated by Dr. Jyoti Bose, Director, Springdales Schools and Mrs. Loomba, Manager, Springdales School Pusa Road. Dr. Kavita Sharma thanked the august gathering of dignitaries and parents for their presence.

Founder’s Day Celebrations

ision Valley School, Kashipur hosted their Founder’s Day celebrations on 22nd November 2017. Ms. Richa Anirudh graced the occasion with her presence as the Chief Guest. The school adorned a festive fervour as the guests were welcomed to this thematic presentation which was especially curated to bring the rich folk and cultural heritage of India to the audience. Colourful, ethnic rangolis and indigenous music greeted the guests as they walked in. The stage decor also represented the folk and tribal art of our country and was hand

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crafted by the students themselves. The Principal Mrs. J Rao said in her address that the rich folk and tribal cultures of India are an integral part

Vision Valley School, Kashipur

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of our cultural milieu and it should be our prerogative to preserve the same and pass it on to the future generations. She also presented the

W a t c h

T h i s

S p a c e

The 11thR.L. Chopra Memorial Creative Writing Competition

he 11th R.L. Chopra Memorial Creative Writing Competition was organized by New Era Public School, Mayapuri on 16th November 2017. This literary event was instituted in the memory of Late Shri R.L.Chopra, the Founder Chairman of New Era Public School. Mr. Chopra, an avid reader himself, was of the firm belief that reading leads to refinement and enrichment. This event marks the school’s commitment to foster a culture of reading in students. The occasion was graced by the dynamic Director Mrs. Usha Chopra, who welcomed all the participants and the charismatic Principal Mrs. Vandana Chawla, who is always a source of inspiration. Mr. Rohit Chopra, Director of NEPS, Dwarka, Mrs. Kanwal Kohli, Principal of NEPS, Dwarka and all Headmistresses from various branches of the school were present to witness the event. Four eminent writers, Rashna Imhalsy Gandhi (The Emerging Feminine), Bubbles Sabharwal (Dude, it’s about Attitude), Manju Kapoor (Difficult

Daughters) and Aanchal Malhotra (Remnants of a Separation) were invited to take part in a Panel Discussion and share their thoughts with the students, particularly on the challenges of writing. Around 27 leading schools of Delhi/NCR participated in the competition. The books explored this year were- The Emerging Feminine by Rashna Imhalsy Gandhi for English and Mrigtrishna by Sudha Murthy for Hindi. It was an enriching and

Annual Report that enlisted the outstanding academic achievements, sporting success as well as cultural accomplishments of the students. The chief guest Ms. Richa Anirudh addressed the parents on the occasion and said that children tend to emulate the behaviour that they observe and hence, it is imperative for all adults to put their best foot forward in order to bring up a sensitive and responsible generation. The programme presented by the students of classes VI to XII commenced with a special musical presentation with live music which was a fine blend of folk and classical. This was followed by the folk dances

the eyes. The energy of the enthusiastic bhangra dancers was infectious and the grandeur of Ghoomar from Rajasthan was unmatched. The Bihu dancers brought to life the subtle beauty of the north eastern state of Assam. The two most applauded presentations were the Tribal dance and the Kalbelia folk dance from Rajasthan that set the stage on fire. The students enjoyed reliving from different parts of India repre- India’s rich folk tradition and were senting the different hues of our cul- elated after the stupendous success ture. The Kumaoni dance depicted of the show. Mrs. Vatsala Gupta and the characteristic features of the Mr. Vineet Gupta from the mannative state of Uttarakhand whereas agement also congratulated the the Koli and Lavni dances from far students as well as teachers for the away Maharashtra were a treat to huge success of the show.

New Era Public School, Mayapuri overwhelming experience for everyone present. The winners for Creative Writing, both English and Hindi will be announced on 8th December, 2017 The participants displayed an indepth understanding of the issues raised in the novels and impressed the author’s with their analytical questions and won their appreciation. This one day long literary festival reasserts the significance of literature in our lives and helps us to understand the world better.

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Volume 03 | Issue 05 | December 2017 | 51

How to Choose Your Career

Path in High School? Have you ever wondered, “What subjects will I study after high school, and then in college?”

“W

hat will I do when I grow up?” Each one of us aspires to have a meaningful career; but how does one actually ensure that? Our experts at Career Launcher are here to guide you. Often, students first complete their education before deciding on their future course of action. Choosing a career on the basis of “My friends are opting for it”, “I shall start liking it”, or, “My parents want me to do this” do not work. When you choose a career indifferently, frustration is bound to set in when you do not get the results. Making a good

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and meaningful career decision is actually about making a choice that will provide you the lifestyle you seek. However, it is not that easy to decide whether the career you choose will suit you for a lifetime. But do not worry. We will guide you through the necessary steps, so that you don’t end up toiling throughout your life doing something that does not really interest you.

stance, what are the classes you find inspiring? What all activities keep you so absorbed that you often do not realize how much time has passed? If you are, say, intrigued by technology, then Science is the correct stream for you. But, if you are fascinated by History and Philosophy, Humanities is definitely your cup of tea. On the other hand, if the intricacies of Economics, share markets, and stock markets captivate you, then you should opt for Commerce as your career path.

Select a stream that you can connect with—that which matches your aptitude and interest: Ask Do not jump on the bandwagon:

yourself: “What do I aspire to be?” Do not fall into the trap of doing what and “What do I love to do?” For in- everyone else is doing, unless it is

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that what you too really want to do. Remember, besides you, no one else can possibly know what truly works for you. Do your own research; and stick with your convictions. Do listen to others for advice, but the ultimate decision has to be yours.

Consider your flaws and fortitude: Strength and weaknesses tell a lot about you. Contemplate on these; and, accordingly, explore what type of career calls for a particular type of skill. Either work to improve on your weakness that might keep you away from your goals; or, steer away from a career that requires skills you are not confident about.

Design a self-portrait: List the

qualities you think describe your personality. Ask your friends and family, because other people see you more clearly than you do yourself. Add their suggestions, like whether you are friendly, adventurous, inquisitive, impatient, funny, creative, organized, etc., and then think about what sort of career would fit the person your list describes.

Time is money; don’t make a decision until you are ready: Many students are pressured into choosing a career path before they are really sure of what it is they want to do. For instance, there are several instances of students deciding to study Commerce to pursue an MBA, just because their parents wanted them to; when, in fact, they wanted to take up Science and become an engineer! Here’s a quick fix: be clear cut about your life. Spend some time to figure out what is it that you really want to do; and work towards that goal. That way, you will save both time and money by not wasting them in doing what you don’t like.

Step out of your comfort zone:

To build your career, you will need to step out of your comfort zone. For example, if you want to become an

Making a good and meaningful career decision is actually about making a choice that will provide you the lifestyle you seek. However, it is not that easy to decide whether the career you choose will suit you for a lifetime. engineer, you need to choose PCM, even if you fear Math. When you come out of your comfort zone, you have many new experiences. In addition, it will also widen your network and broaden the scope of opportunities. In other words, it will play a vital role in building a career path for you over a period of time.

Keep upgrading your skill-set:

Reinvest in yourself. Always keep your skill-set up to date. If you think you are capable of taking up a joint course, go for it. Say, if you aspire to be a doctor but you are intrigued by Math, then don’t give a second thought in opting for the PCMB (Math and Biology) combination. It

will benefit you, and hone your skills. Just grab it!

Keep your eye on emerging career options: If you think you can adapt to any kind of career, then you need to keep track of the emerging career options. As you explore those careers, imagine yourself in different roles. To have a meaningful career, focus on the areas based on your field of interest and the skill-sets emerging in them. Thereafter, work towards a career in that particular profile.

Always think long term: Similar

to investing money, in the case of planning a career too, both shortterm and long-term goals should be kept in mind. To achieve the longterm goals, you need to achieve, the short-term goals first. To establish yourself as an authority figure in your niche, set the foundations for your long-term career path; and begin working towards them. Keep in mind that, as the first decision of your career path, it is crucial to have the right information at your fingertips. Listening to other people’s stories never help. After all, they can never fully comprehend what you might bring to a new career with your own skills and learning.

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J u n i o r

D I Y

DIY Cactus Coaster

HOW many times in a day do we get scolded for keeping our glasses directly on the table and leaving a round mark! Only if there was a cool way to avoid it. Worry not folks, we have a fun, cool and easy DIY for you. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get these glasses some coasters.

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J u n i o r

You will require:

• • • • •

Cork Sheet Acrylic Colors Pot Paint Brush Markers

• • • •

Pencil Cutter Pebbles Bowl Glue Gun

Now follow these steps:

• Take a piece of the cork sheet, and place the bowl on it • With the help of a pencil, mark a clean outline on it • Using a cutter, cut the circle out cleanly • To make the set stronger, layer together two of such round cork sheets using a hot glue gun • To make the set more interesting, we are not going to stack them • We are going to make a small slit so that we can join two pieces together • Place one coaster vertically on top of the other because we want that thickness • Use a pencil, mark a small outline and cut it • Now we can paint the coaster, first using acrylic colors paint the base green • Once it dries, we will add more details to make it look realistic • Using yellow, black, and white

• • • • • • • •

D I Y

acrylic colors, make cacti like details on the coaster Let dry Take a marker, and draw some thorns on it Using the same technique, make a few more as part of a set Take a pot, and put some pebbles in it Take a small circular cork sheet cut out and using glue stick it above the level of pebbles Take a semi circular cork sheet, painted green and stick it in the middle of the pot Now simply assemble the coaster pieces on it! To add more cool detailing, watch the full video!

Keep in Mind

Be careful when using a cutter. Don’t hurt yourself Feel free to make any design of your liking! To watch video, look for “DIY Cactus Coaster Set II Mad Stuff with Rob” on YouTube

Follow Rob and share your DIYs with him @: Facebook.com/MadStuffWithRob Twitter.com/MadStuffWithRob Instagram.com//MadStuffWithRob

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Volume 03 | Issue 05 | December 2017 | 55

J u n i o r

S t o r y t e l l i n g

nce upon a time there was a nuclear family. Nalia-the elder daughter, Anamika-the younger daughter, Nisha-the mother and Sumit-the father. They had shifted recently in a house. Each member of the family had a different room to sleep. When Nalia entered her room she saw a cupboard on the extreme left side of the room. She tried to open the cupboard but she couldn’t. When she asked her parents about the cupboard they replied, “The cupboard doesn’t belong to us. It belongs to the people who used to stay here.” “Oh! that’s not fair, where should I keep my clothes?” Nalia asked looking exasperated Her mother replied confronting her, “Oh dont worry, you can share my cupboard.” “Okay fine.” Nalia agreed At midnight Nalia heard a ghostly voice “I am coming.” Nalia got scared. When Nalia heard the voice on the second day as well she realized that it was coming from the cupboard. She told this to her parents but unfortunately they didn’t believe Nalia and thought that it was one of her nasty pranks. The third day when Nalia heard the voice, she shouted, “What do you want from me, I haven’t done anything!” The voice from the cupboard replied, “It is time to tell you my story. Once upon a time I slept on the same bed where you are sleeping right now and the same voice came everyday to haunt me and after a month a lady came out of the cupboard and ate my mother. So everyday I used to wait for some family to come here so that I can take a mother from the family.” Nalia got scared and told all this to her mother. Her mother unbelievingly replied, “Nalia are you daydreaming. There is nothing like ghost or something.” The next day at night Nalia waited outside her mother’s room but nothing happened. Nalia looked at the cupboard and tried to open it. It opened easily. This was

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The Horrible

Cupboard

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because the ghost had already told Nalia her story. When she opened the cupboard suddenly she felt like someone pushed her from behind and she went inside the cupboard. There was a whole magical world inside the cupboard. Nalia realised that she was in heaven because everyone was wearing white and there were angels everywhere. After so much of time and difficulty, Nalia finally came out of the cupboard. Then the next day when her mother slept she put as many pictures of god in front of her mother’s room as she could arrange for and she also placed a necklace of Jesus Christ on the door knob. After a month Nalia decided to stay awake and roamed outside her mother’s room the whole night so she could protect her mother from the ghost that lived in the cupboard. Then at midnight all pictures of Jesus Christ started falling down and her mother’s room opened automatically. All doors started banging. Nalia tried to talk to the ghost and make it understand that like the ghost loved her mother, Nalia loves her mother as well. But the ghost refused to understand. At that moment Nalia got an excellent idea to help her mother from the ghost. She went back to the cupboard and there she found a photograph of the ghost’s mother. She showed the photograph to the ghost to make it remind of a mother’s unconditional love. The ghost started weeping and understood the real importance of mother’s love and regretted its decision of even thinking of taking someone else’s mother for its benefit. The ghost went back to heaven and never came back to the cupboard or to the house. By Simran Vohra Class VII Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar

S t o r y t e l l i n g

The Brave

Hearts

t was a breezy and cheerful evening. I along with my friends, Anna and Nida were playing in the neighborhood park. We three were enjoying and busy playing, when suddenly few hooligans entered the park. We got very scared and I could manage to come home safely with Nida. Unfortunately, Anna got little baffled and tried to hide behind a tree, but the hooligan caught hold of her. We both were observing all these and suddenly I and Nida decided to rescue Anna. Both of us went down and started chasing them, when all of a sudden Nida came up with a solution and she threw some dust in the eyes of the hooligans, making them immobile for some time. Taking advantage of the situation we three

came home safely, without letting the hooligans know about it. We tried to comfort and console Anna to come out of the shock and she became normal after some time. That day we learnt that with courage and sheer dedication nothing is impossible to achieve. Hence, we decided to form a group named “The Brave Hearts” The group conveys a message to all the brave people that bravery does not need any training. With conviction and strong will we can fight against any sort of crime, violence and situation.

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By Adrika, Class IV Misha, Class III Tagore International School, East of Kailash

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J u n i o r

S l a m

One More Light My Mistakes Every time I write my exam paper, I try not to repeat the same. Although not the same mistakes, But I do commit Oh! New mistakes come, what a shame! If we talk about maths, It’s quite annoying I confuse signs often, Instead of adding, I subtract. So stupid and silly are these errors I must say Although it is hard to believe But it is a fact. So fussy and confusing are these subjects, But still I try my best to Excel and complete with the rest. Just to make sure that my Efforts never go in vain. Neither you nor I are flawless human beings, Rather we all are bundle of flaws, So let us learn from our mistakes because wise are the Ones who learn from their mistakes And wiser are the ones who learn from other’s mistakes.

By Prisha Kapoor Class V Ahlcon International School, Mayur Vihar

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Staring at the dark sky, staring at a light. The light leads me to the path which is right. In curiosity and hunger to see, That same light which represents me. Just one more light, I want more delight. But there is a common star, the Sun I’d like to draw it, but it’s already done. Feeling sad, I sit down at night. In surprise, I see a kite. I wonder who’d fly kites in such darkness? It’s my friend who wants to confess... Missing the light for a few more days, Only getting the Sun’s rays. The golden light appeared that night, My joy and satisfaction, all in sight. It motivates me, of how the light lives, And all of it, that the Sun rays give. That light alone, being a wonder star, Again, I feel so far. My motivation, saved in my mind. Now I don’t need the savory light. Now I can let go of my worry, of that single light, which was worthy.

By Angad Singh Class VI Tagore International School, East of Kailash

DL. No.- DL(C)-14/1404/2017-2019 | Date of Publication- 01-12-2017 | Date of Posting-07th-10th | Posting Office-Srt Nagar Po. New Delhi-110055