School live july 2017

TOTal pages: 60

Volume 02 | Issue 12 july 2017

Our Roads,

Our Responsibility Curb Reckless Underage Driving A Girl on a Mission

Reading 197 Countries

Is your child being Bullied?

with Prerna Kohli

US v/s Canada

where to study with CollegeCore

contributors

S C H O O L

L I V E Board Of Directors Richa Aniruddha Sanjay Dua Hariharan Balagopal

Amit Dubey Crime Investigator and expert on ethical hacking.

Suman Sharma

EDITOR Mansi Tikoo mansitikoo@gmail.com

Aerospace and defence journalist, CMSB Journalist of the year award 2013

Associate Editor Tanima Kedar DESIGNER Ashish Kumar For AdvertiSING M.G Ramachandran Mo. 9953593081 advertising@school-live.com

Harun Robert, a.k.a, Rob

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

Prerna Kohli

Clinical Psychologist, a Public Speaker, a Workshop Facilitator and a Holistic Practitioner; 100 women Achievers Award Winner (2016).

For subscription

Urvashi Malik

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

editor@school-live.com

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Kavita Devgan

Nutritionist, weight management specialist and health writer

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

TOTal pages: 60

Volume 02 | Issue 12 july 2017

Our Roads,

Our Responsibility Curb Reckless Underage Driving A Girl on a Mission

Reading 197 Countries

SCHOOLLIVE

Is your child being Bullied?

with Prerna Kohli

US v/s Canada

where to study with CollegeCore

Volume 02 | Issue 12 | July 2017 | 3

H e a d

Which Indian-American student has won the 90th Scripps National Spelling Bee competition?

• Sreeniketh Vogoti • Ananya Vinay • Rohan Sachdev • Shourav Dasari Which football club has won the 2017 UEFA Champions League trophy?

• Juventus • Milan • Barcelona • Real Madrid ISRO has successfully launched GSAT19 communication satellite through which launch vehicle?

• GSLV Mark III • GSLV Mark IV • GSLV Mark II • GSLV Mark V Which Indian personality has joined UNICEF’s ‘Super Dads’ campaign?

• Amitabh Bachchan • Sachin Tendulkar • Shah Rukh Khan • Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore 7.5% GSLV Mark III United States Sachin Tendulkar Kerala

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6.

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Which state government has launched digital wallet “T-Wallet” for people with and without mobile phones?

• Karnataka • Odisha • Telangana • Manipur The Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary is located in which state?

• Sikkim • Tripura • Bihar • Uttar Pradesh What is India’s GDP growth rate in 2018, as per latest World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report?

• 7.5% • 7.7% • 7.2% • 7.6% The first-ever United Nations Oceans Conference has started in which country?

• France • United States • Germany • United Kingdom Which state government has implemented ‘Green Protocol’ for weddings?

• Tamil Nadu • West Bengal • Tripura • Kerala

Answers

The World Milk Day (WMD) is observed on which date?

• June 3 • June 1 • June 4 • June 5

June 1 Telangana Ananya Vinay (12), the 6th-grader from California.

Tripura Real Madrid

1 3 5 7 9

Know for Sure Quiz

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2.

3.

4.

5.

P a g e

ed-note

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L I V E

Hi all!

I hope you had a great vacation. Hope you learnt a new skill, travelled to a new place, made a new friend, enjoyed a new dish....

Here we bring another new issue of School LIVE for you. But the issue we have touched upon is an old one: Juvenile Driving.

Hope you all know what a menace this is becoming. If not, our cover story will tell you.

You might feel OK to drive your dad’s car even when you are not 18, even when you don’t have a licence BUT what you really need to know is that it’s NOT OK, it’s NOT COOL to drive when you are legally not fit for it.

We have been reading new cases of deaths due to rash, drunken driving by juveniles almost everyday.

Today read the cover story carefully and just ask yourself, what do you want-- A few minutes of fun behind the wheels or a lifetime behind the bars.

I sincerely request to you - DO NOT DRIVE till you are 18 and till you have a licence to drive. Even after that, DO NOT DRINK and DRIVE, DO NOT cross the speed limits, DO NOT show off your luxury sedan or SUV on the roads....We are not impressed :) Wishing you all a RESPONSIBLE life....

Lovingly yours

Richa Aniruddha tweet to me @richaanirudh

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ACROSS: 6. Collect into a volume A. Feeding Habits (7) 10-year-old Veenu borrowed her Uncle Romu’s OSS: DOWN: 7. Cause to fire (5) pet cockroach for show-and-tell at school. After the session, she took the cockroach’s transparCollect into a volume 1.

Fails to obtain (5) ent case back to her8. uncle. Romu tapped the case, Waterfowl with but the cockroach did not move. Romu took one 7) Ruin look at the shiny back of his roach and turned2. to pouch (7) (5) his niece accusingly, “You killed my cockroach!

Cause to fire (5) 3. Feelings of joy (9) How could you?”

9.and Makes 'th' of 's' (5) Veenu looked alarmed said, “No, Uncle. I Waterfowldidn’t with 4. Screams (7) do anything. The cockroach was fine a while ago. It must have11. died on theStupid way home.” person (9) pouch (7) Romu narrowed his eyes and said with certainty, 5. Forces (7) “You’re lying.” What made Romu think that?

14.

Board (9) with Makes 'th' of 's' (5) 10.game Does away more (5) tupid person (9)17. Once (9) B. The Body Machine (7) (7) oard game (9)18. Properties 12. Luggage suffering Once more (5) 19. Extreme 13. Prominent (7)(5) (7) (5) roperties (7) 20. Vending 15. Buckets Only one of the following statements is false. Which one?

1. Lips get thinner in middle-age and later 2. Nobody can lick his or her elbow

3. Most people breathe through only one nostril at a time.

16. Money resources (5)

5. Eyebrow hairs fall off periodically and new ones take their place.

08/ © Amrita Bharati, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 2017

elbows.

Ramesh went for an interview to an ice cream factory.

The interviewer asked him a single question: “Ice is made by freezing water. But, there is a dry form of ice too. What is it made from?”

What would you reply if you were in Ramesh’s place?

carbon dioxide.

C. A Dry Question

4. A person’s eyebrows help people recognise him or her.

C. Dry ice is the solid form of

xtreme suffering (5) Vending (7)

5

ACROSS: 10 6. Collect into a volume (7) 7. Cause to fire (5) 8. Waterfowl with pouch15(7) 16 18 Makes 'th' of 's' (5) 9.

11. Stupid person (9) 14.

20 Board game (9) 17. Once more (5) 18. Properties (7) 19. Extreme suffering (5) 20. Vending (7)

© Amrita Bharati, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 2017 / 8 A. When cockroaches die, they turn over on their backs. But the cockroach in the case still had its back facing up. That means Veenu had righted it after it had died.

Answers:

ANSWERS:

ANSWERS:

ACROSS: 6. Compile 7. Shoot 8. Pelican 9. Lisps 11. Numbskull 14. Bagatelle 17. Again 18. Estates 19. Agony 20. Selling

B. 2. A few people can lick their

© Amrita Bharati, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 2017 / 8

ACROSS: 6. Compile 7. Shoot 8. Pelican 9. Lisps 11. Numbskull CROSS: Bagatelle Again 18. Estates 19. Agony Compile 7. Shoot 14.

8. Pelican 9. Lisps17.

11. Numbskull . Bagatelle 17.02 Again 18.

Selling 6 | | Volume | Issue20.

12 | July 2017Estates S C H O19.

O L Agony LIVE ANSWERS:

© Amrita Bharati, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 2017 / 8

. Selling

DOW 1. F 2. R 3. F 4. S 5. F 10. D ( 12. L 13. P 15. B 16. M (

DOWN: 1. Fails to obtain (5) 2. Ruin (5) 3. Feelings of joy (9) © Amrita Bharati, Bharatiya Vid 4. Screams (7) 5. Forces (7) ANSWERS 10. Does away with (9) ACROSS: 12. Luggage (7) 6. Compile 7. Shoot 8. Pelican 9 13. Prominent (7) 14. Bagatelle 17. Again 18. Esta 15. Buckets (5) 20. Selling 16. Money resources (5) DOWN: 1. Loses 2. Spoil 3. Pleasures 4. S 10. Abolishes 12. Baggage 13. S Answers 16. Means

DOWN: 1. Loses 2. Spoil 3. Pleasures 4. Shrieks 5. Compels 10. Abolishes 12. Baggage 13. Salient 15. Pails 16. Means

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L I V E 5 6 8

Editor’s Note Encyclopædia Britannica School in Spotlight

COVER 14 20 21 22 24 25 26 28 30 32 34 37 38 40 42 43 44 46 50 51

Exclusive: Our Roads, Our Responsibility Obituary Slam Poetry Teen Travels School Essentials: How did it Bag?!

Idea(n)ation Fit for Life Cyber Safe: WannaCry In Counsel: Bullying in School DIY: Fidget Spinner Positively Positive Fun Side: Adventures of Maya Storytelling Expert Expression Blog Art Attack Study Guide Rap Up Worthy Opponent Watch this Space

Juniors 54 56 57 58

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Quick Edit

ne sure shot way of becoming friends with toddlers is to take them for a drive. Of course, given that you are not a psychopath. The joy on their faces is quite something. But what happens when the same toddler grows up, and demands to replace you in the driver’s seat? Among other life issues, do we speak to our children about road safety? Would it have made a difference in the life of Atul Arora had somebody forcefully put a helmet on him while he rode to drop his friend? Could his life have been saved? When Lalantika Arvind spins a tale of teenage drinking and driving, she highlights the peer pressure we all have faced at one point or another. But speaking about important issues must never stop. As Maria Javed does in her poem about women’s safety, and Ayesha Thatte writes in her blog on menstruation. We must never stop raising our voices for what is important for a better way of life.

“Happy Reading!”

Mansi Tikoo

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DIY: Fake Pen Plants Blog Slam Poetry Rap Up

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Swaying the North S c h o o l

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As one of the foremost schools in the North zone in Delhi, we had a unique opportunity of interacting with the Principal of Bal Bharati School, Pitampura, Mrs Meenu Goswamy.

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ell us about the starting of BBPS Pitampura.

The genesis of this mammoth institution as it stands today dates back to 1984 when it started in a rented house in Harsh Vihar as the brainchild of the Child Education Society. The school continued to evolve rapidly, expanding its frontiers in strength, infrastructure, staff, students, quality systems and achievements. And today, of course, it is one of the premier institutes in school education and amongst the best in the city and the country.

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How did your journey begin in the education sector?

My journey as an educator began as a college lecturer at Jesus and Mary College, having done my Masters in Economics from Delhi School of Economics. It was a matter of chance that I got the opportunity of teaching some students at St. Columbus for a week. It totally changed my orientation. The connect I experienced with the school children, the bond that took less than a week to forge, the respect I saw in their eyes, made an infinite impact. After almost two years of college teaching, I quit to

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pursue a full time B.Ed at the Delhi University. St. Thomas School was my launchpad. Each day was a day of discovery, of tremendous learning. There was no responsibility that I was not asked to take on, there was no learning area that I did not look after. Twelve years spent there groomed me, both professionally and personally. Then, I moved to Apeejay Saket as the Vice Principal.

Within a few months, I was promoted as the Principal of the School and I was part of the school for the next three years. The charge of Apeejay, Sheikh Sarai, came my way and I

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the societal and professional needs which are dynamic and ever-changing, the school continually works towards adopting latest pedagogical practices, technologies and systems How has the teaching methodology changed over the years?

Just as the world has changed dramatically over the last few decades, so have teaching methodologies.

One of these big changes is the rapid development of technology. The role of a teacher has changed. Teachers are now assisted by so many technological learning tools. A teacher is now more of a facilitator and not just a knowledge provider. The teaching-

One of the most beautiful things in BBPS is that there is a lot of space to experiment and grow.

There is an Academic Council where principals from all units of Bal Bharati have a common platform for sharing, learning and growing.

worked there for six years.

I was offered the opportunity to set up a new school, a challenge I took on as different learning experience. So I set up the first flagship KR Mangalam School at G.K. II. Thus, began a fruitful journey of learning and satisfaction, creating a whole system and then seeing it work!

My association with Bal Bharati Public School, Pitampura began in 2009. I was appointed the Principal of this well-established, very large professional institution. Since then, there has been no looking back.

How have you seen the school system change in your time here?

One of the most beautiful things in BBPS is that there is a lot of space to experiment and grow. There is an Academic Council where principals from all units of Bal Bharati have a common platform for sharing, learning and growing. The management gives you a lot of freedom and empowerment. Education trains children for life beyond school and helps them create professional and personal competencies. To meet

learning process and student’s understanding of how learning occurs has been greatly enhanced by the use of technology. The technology platform does help the teacher to customize lessons to suit student’s individual learning needs but at the same time, can be very challenging.

Keeping pace with the times, at our school, we constantly upgrade the physical learning environment and make available the latest technology and resources to our staff and students. Teachers go through regular and intensive training sessions at our own Teacher Training

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Centre which equips them with the latest pedagogical practices. Our focus has always been to make the teaching- learning process studentcentered. The methodology is interdisciplinary and real world linked.

Kindly talk us through some of the other activities that the school engages in.

We are a school that has a very strong activity connect and a whole year calendar of planned programmes. Being at school is not just about acquiring knowledge, it’s about acquiring the skills to go into the society. Extracurricular activities and clubs enrich the curriculum.

Mrs Meenu Goswamy, Principal, Bal Bharati Public School, Pitampura

Student Speak

While we interacted with the Principal of BBPS, we also chanced upon some students and asked them some questions about the school.

1. Since which grade have you been a part of BBPS Pitampura?

Montessori up till twelfth grade, fourteen years.

2. Best part about the school?

There are some genuine gems among my teachers that can provide life-changing experiences to their students, if we are fortunate enough to have them teach us for even a year. Some of our teachers are bona fide godsends, and can alter our very perceptions of learning with their fascinating teaching.

For instance, from sixth grade up till twelfth, I have been blessed with a series of extraordinary English teachers. They have boosted my language abilities incessantly, and pushed me to devote myself to the nuances of literature and linguistics.

3. Fondest Memory My fondest memory of the school is indubitably my time at the Annual Fete or Christmas Carnival at the end of 2015.

The day started out with a tragedy - I lost a whopping amount of money in the

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between a Bal Bhartian and other students is the faith we have in ourselves and our work.

3. Fondest Memory My fondest memory of the school is evening practices during the Annual Day. I was an Art Volunteer in 7th grade and painted properties for the function. Due to the need for more efficient work and an atmosphere of celebration, students are given more freedom to work as they please.

4. One word to describe your time here

busy carnival - but the loss was quickly glossed over by my concerned friends, who went out of their way to lend a help- Baffled ing hand. Simultaneously, they were tasked with calming me down and soothing my anxiety-struck hysteria, and in the end I was more grateful for their moral and monetary Bhavika Goel support than I was daunted by the loss of Class XII something of such great value.

4. One word to describe your time here Holistic 1. Since which grade have you been a part of BBPS Pitampura?

Since Pre-primary-I (Formerly Mont-I) 2. Best part about the school?

It’s a haven for creativity. Open hallways, Ria Setiya open grounds, broad-ranging books-filled Class XII libraries, labs for english, computer and science experiments, well equipped music 1. Since which grade have you been a part and dance departments, a plethora of exof BBPS Pitampura? tra curriculars skilfully blended with a hub Since Montessori 1, commonly called LKG. of stages for open participation provide us with the perfect mix to mould ourselves 2. Best part about the school?

The school not only excels in academic per- into empathetic students. formance but imbibes immense confidence 3. Fondest memory in students. I believe, the distinctive factor My fondest memory of the school is the

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connections and built strong connects with many schools across the world.

The school lays a lot of stress on sports. This could perhaps be one of the very few schools, where we have twenty full time coaches for games and infrastructure for 20 games. We have swimming, golf, table tennis, tennis, athletics, yoga, taekwondo, chess, basketball, volleyball, etc.

It is very easy to build a school, it is not very difficult to build a good school, but it requires a lot of passion, effort and thought to build a great school. We don’t say we are a great school today, but our constant effort is to keep moving in that di-

At Bal Bharati, we offer a range of these activities and encourage every pupil to participate in them. Regular house events and activities are organized. Students are also encouraged to enter external inter-school competitions at all levels.

Our student clubs- Environment Club, Heritage Club, Quiz Club, Theatre Club, to mention a few, provide students the opportunities to explore their personal interests while developing leadership and management skills.

We have a very strong community outreach programme. The student members of the Interact Club plan, sensitize and connect all students,

right from the Montessori, with those less privileged, thus, instilling in them social responsibility.

Our Road Safety Club conducts awareness, drives and marches, at times, going from house to house, spreading the message of exercising caution on the road. The idea is to empower children with the right attitude and the right kind of skills.

Trip and exchanges are an important part of the curriculum. Valuing our heritage and culture, building bridges across borders and cultivating respect for other cultures is what drives these forward. Trips, within and outside the country, are a regular feature. We have made global

photography competition held in the winter of 2015.

I was a novice at holding a camera in my hands and this was the first competition I would participate in, to discover and showcase this new talent of mine.

Since it was a foggy morning, we were supposed to wait for about an hour past nine before we started shooting. Wandering the grounds that day was an exhilarating experience altogether. For the first time in a long time, I had explored the school as a whole and had felt its elements I would usually just see. I found frames that meant such diverse emotions to my school mates and had meant to all those who had passed the corridors before us.

4. One word to describe your time here

Once, when I was in 8th grade, a few mem- It was the festive season in the school. The bers of the prefectorial board (including much awaited annual fete was about 3 days me) were asked to teach/oversee the stu- away. The speakers were blasting, and roardents of the Montessori Department for ing with invigorating party music. The food 2 days, as their teachers were busy with a fiesta “Khao Gali” was in full swing, bustling school event. At first we were apprehensive, with enthusiastic and excited students. The because we weren’t sure how we would do students of my batch were in the auditoit, but we soon engaged with the children rium, attending their jam session. I slipped and told them stories, played with them, out of the auditorium and found a partner taught them a little, bonded with them - it in crime. We roamed the school’s deserted was a magical experience and has become corridors (as most of the students were busy in the “Fairyland” or in their jam sesmy fondest memory of the school. sions/Khao Gali food fiesta), savouring the 4. One word to describe your time here Indelible! beautiful ambience of the school. It’s only this time during the year that those buildings don’t wreak of exams and stress. I didn’t think that the day could get any better. But it did. That day also happened to be the day of winter solstice of that year. And my Saadhya Mohan said ‘partner in crime’ happened to be a Class XII member of the astronomy club. So we went to the general science lab and did an activ1. Since which grade have you been a part ity where we measured the diameter of the sun using its shadow. I don’t quite rememof BBPS Pitampura?

Since the very beginning- Montessori-I or ber how we did that or what was the result but that day was amazing.

Preprimary-I, as it’s now called.

4. One word to describe your time here!

2. Best part about the school?

Personally, the best part about the school Resplendent. was always the announcement of the prefectorial board members. The competitiveness combined with the adrenaline rush combine to perfectly give the most amazAnvita Ahuja ing experiences ever.

Class XII 3. Fondest memory.

Erudite

Shruti Raj

Class XII

1. Since which grade you have been a part of BBPS Pitampura?

Since the very beginning, from Mont-1.

2. Best Part about the School?

Our Annual Day - the days of fun filled practices and the coveted Khao Gali, we look forward to every year.

3. Fondest memory

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rection to be great. Our parents are very involved in the process, with whom we have a very nice relationship of trust.

Does that encompass the education philosophy that the school has?

We are committed to providing comprehensive, holistic education keeping in view the country’s rich heritage and cultural background.

We try to instill in children a sense of pride, a sense of belongingness to the land that is their own. We try to ingrain in them strong value systems –Environmental, Social and Ethical. Besides academic excellence, the school helps each child discover and develop his/her innate talents and abilities.

We are trying to provide pathways for these children to develop into pro-active, well-grounded citizens who will shape the future world and build a better tomorrow.

We have discussed technology as an aid for teaching, but does

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We have a very strong community outreach programme. The student members of the Interact Club plan, sensitize and connect all students, right from the Montessori, with those less privileged, thus, instilling in them social responsibility.

away from technology. So, in school, it is so important for us to teach the child to use technology responsibly.

We teach them self-regulation and we teach them to value health and relationships above technology.

What are some of the future plans for the school?

One, we are looking at making every child in the school very strong at communication skills. Using the right language to express thoughts, articulating opinions is what we would want our students to achieve.

So, we are working towards building a very sound foundation of oral and it also become a hindrance presentation skills.

Secondly, we want every child to with students.

Technology has impacted, rather pick up one major hobby in life. One fractured, family systems. Family often hears of children facing detime has been usurped by technol- pression, and how they sometimes ogy, be it Televisions, Mobiles or fail to cope with it. Having a hobby Computers. Further, the depen- gives them a good way of coping and dence on technology has also limited of knowing that there are always the challenges to students’ creativity ways to bounce back. and imagination. But, we have to Thirdly, another priority is emaccept the fact that technology is powering our children with special here to stay. You can’t keep the child needs. We have a fair amount of in-

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that we have about 300 cameras is quite preventive. We have also created a self behaviour regulation process.

Every child from class VI upwards follows a Behavior Management Plan.

We have Introspection Rooms, where a child reflects, introspects and then goes through the process of self realiHow do you deal with bullying, sation with the help of the counsellor. and a large form of indiscipline We also conduct regular cyber safety workshops for students so as to sensiin the school.

Right from Montessori, we hold a tize them to issues like cyber- bullying, lot of sessions for students. They are etc. regularly addressed on issues like All these measures have helped bullying and indiscipline. There is a control bullying and indiscipline lot of vigilance all the time, presence while fostering a culture of positivity of teachers and coaches, and the fact and respect in the school. clusivity in our school, we have three special educators, a full time counsellor but there is so much more we can do for these children to empower them with self-confidence, and skills that will enable them to lead a life of independence.

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Kindly do talk us through some of the achievements of the school.

The Times School Survey 2016 was conducted in the 11 zones of Delhi, NCR. In the North Zone our school bagged the First rank out of ten schools under the category ‘North Delhi Leaders’ for the 4th time.

We also featured in the Best Schools 2016 and were awarded ‘AAAA+’ grade by ‘The Education Hub-Careers 360’ for infrastructure, faculty quality and student attainment in the board exam .

Our school was ranked Number 1 among India’s Top CBSE schools in the ‘Value for Money’ category by Education Today.

The school received the prestigious International School Award by the British Council for the fourth consecutive time. The school was applauded for its many international partnerships and innovative exchanges.

The school has for the last four years, if not more, won the Best Sports School of the zone from the Department of Education. This year our children won the CBSE Science Exhibition. Our children have been winning a lot of awards in music, dance and debating, at the Department of Education level as well. Our children have discovered original asteroids, been recognised

by NASA. In sports, our student has been the CBSE national winner, and he has broken records. Our swimming team is a force to reckon with and has been doing a sweep at every swimming competition. Our children have been winning sports scholarships from the Directorate of Education.

Building a strong foundation, instilling good values in our students , fostering a culture of respect and trust among all stakeholders is, of course, our greatest achievement.

Our strength is our passion and commitment for the cause of education.

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EP xa gc el u Hs ei va ed

Rampage on the

Roads

It is often said, children learn from actions, not from advice of their elders. Take a moment to consider the devastating accident numbers that we are leaving for our progeny to emulate. Last year, in one of the most horrific accidents to be caught on camera in the country-- a man, 32 year old Siddharth Sharma was run over by a Mercedes, being driven by a teen. Siddharth was simply returning home from work, while the juvenile was just probably out having fun with friends. But what transpired in that one reckless decision altered so many lives forever. We present to you the horrific statistics of reckless driving in India and the heartbreaking narrative of Shilpa Mittal, Siddharth’s sister.

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ne would like to put the blame of the ever increasing fatalities on someone’s head. It is easier to blame, difficult to hold oneself accountable. We can question the police and the civil authorities as much for the bad state of things, but whose

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“bad state of things” is it when a 16 year old gets an easy access to a four wheeler? Or when a 15 year old gets gifted a bike for his birthday? And what would make for a more horrific news for you: the teenager killing or injuring his or her own self or if he/

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she kills other people?

While our team was working on the Road Safety issue, while one was writing his piece: this was the news that was flashed in front of us.

Delhi teen killed after stunt goes wrong on KTM bike that

E x c l u s i v e

DO YOU KNOW?

• In Delhi about 1,500 people die in road accidents, every year.

• About 2,000 people die of Cancer, 2,400 people die due to Heart Attack and 600 people die due to AIDS, every year.

• The vehicular population in Delhi is around 60 lacs.

• 10,000 vehicles are added every month.

• In India about 80,000 people die on roads, i.e. 1 person dies every 6 minutes. India contributes 6.5% of total fatal accident.

• Rs.55,000 Crores are lost due to road accidents in India every year.

• Every year about 12 Lacs people die in road accidents all over world.

• About 50 million people get seriously injured resulting in permanent disability.

• Road traffic injuries are among 5 leading causes of deaths in the age group of 5-45 • Majority of those killed, injured and disabled are men in their productive years of life.

• Every year thousands of children become orphaned or lose a parent. It affects not only the person involved in the accident but also the whole family.

• Most of the accidents are preventable and precious lives can be saved as 95% of the accidents are as a result of careless behaviour on the roads.

• In most cases death occurs due to non-availability of immediate medical aid/care ent who has inflicted the fate on the teenager, or the teenager themselves?

Do people for a minute stop and think why there is a minimum legal age for certain things? One only needs to read the reports and statistics to know that underage driving is a big problem for us today, as a society. The analysis of Tell us who does one hold respon- road accident data from the year 2015 sible: the adult in the case, the par- reveals that about 1,374 accidents

family gave as gift Mohammad Umar Sheikh, 15, had been gifted the racing bike by his family only a fortnight ago. He was performing stunts on the bike when he lost control and fell.

and 400 deaths take place every day on Indian roads. The statistics also reveal that about 54.1 per cent of all persons killed in road accidents are in the age group of 15 - 34 years. 20 children under the age of 14 die everyday due to road crashes in the country. Drunk Driving resulted in 16,298 road accidents and 6,755 fatalities in 2015. Does one sense the alarm in the numbers?

The most worrying piece of news is that the Juvenile laws are not stringent enough to deter a teenager from committing such a crime again. But would a teenager want to be behind the bars for even a day? While they have a lifetime to create ahead of them, the journey is altered because of one foolish act?

While we may question the sense of responsibility in a young adult, recent amendments in the thirty year old Motor Vehicles Act holds the guardian as much accountable in cases of juvenile delinquency.

The amendment Bill under Section 199A invokes adult accountability by proposing penalties for the guardian/owner of the vehicle for offences committed by Juveniles. The guardian or owner of the vehicle shall be guilty with a fine of Rs. 25000/- and/or imprisonment of up to 3 years, while the Juvenile will be tried under JJ Act. Additionally, the registration of said motor vehicle will be cancelled. The burden of proof shall lie on the guardian/ owner.

We need to stop treating motor vehicles as a small toys that we let our children play with. Remember how we lock up our precious items in a safe, we don’t provide children unhinged access to those, do we? Then how do we even assume that a car key is something that child can have easy access to? Let us be more responsible for our children, for their safety, and for the safety of our roads. Set a better example for the future generation to emulate.

Source: Delhi Traffic Police

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Volume 02 | Issue 12 | July 2017 | 15

E x c l u s i v e

Can you slow down the

Pain?

Shilpa Mittal narrates for us her life with and after Siddharth Sharma, her brother who was killed in the mercedes hit and run case by a teenager.

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y brother and I grew up like any brother and sister. When our dad or mom scolded him or me, we were there to take each other’s side. Come what may I knew there always was someone who would be there for me. We sneaked things past our parents. Sidhu somehow helped me in not getting a beating from our mother. He liked milk and I liked chocolates. I hated drinking milk, so drank my share of the milk. And he got me chocolates in return. The two of us were friends.

Friends who were so close that he shared all his stories about his school and his gangs, and I would share stories about my barbie dolls. I liked dolls but my parents would not buy me that many dolls. As young kids, I would dress him up in my frocks and he would act as my doll. I can tell you for a fact that he looked better than me dressed up as a doll, with his ever smiling face. Then we started growing up and he had his share of girlfriends. He knew about the boys who walked into my life. So we kind of started protecting each other. I always knew that he was there for me and he knew that I was there for him.

We were carefree, never really needing a friend desperately as we knew we had each other.

We grew up and our lives started going in different directions. I went to London. I was working and people were very formal in London. While I was dealing with being proper, he

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would be the one who would call up and say “kyun billi” and it would instantly light me up. His birthday would come and inevitably he would

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want something. I would be working but he would constantly be messaging me, sending me emails, and phone calls! And I would end up buy-

E x c l u s i v e

Today I am working again. But I don’t have anyone to look forward to when I go back. I don’t think I will ever be able to feel like a child. That presence of Sidhu which would take me instantly to my childhood is gone.

I am married and I am a working professional, so I am forever stuck being this grown up woman. I long for my brother but he is gone.

ing things for him, always more than what he had asked for. There was a sense of belonging with him. I knew that I would go back home and my childhood would be waiting, I would be back to those days when we would dress up in each others clothes.

Me and my brother, we did a lot of masti. We played and pulled pranks on people. When someone fell on a banana leaf, we laughed and laughed our guts out. But we did everything responsibly. Life doesn’t mean that you can only have fun by being irre-

sponsible. Such was an incident that killed my brother.

An irresponsible kid and a Toy, a fast and ferocious Mercedes car. The boy was driving at a massive speed and my brother who was walking the road to get back home saw the car and saw that come what may he would not be able to cross the road as the speed of the car was too much. He ran. He was a good sports person at school. But the best of his legs couldn’t get him to cross the 5 feet distance. Such was the speed of

the car. The car was being driven by a kid like you and me. But this kid was arrogant and he did not even feel the need to press the brakes. My brother was hit by this car speeding at over 100 km/h and was thrown into the air and smashed onto the ground.

He never got up after that. He had picked up too many people from the road and helped them in their time of need, but this boy would not get up now. He couldn’t reach me and I couldn’t reach him. When I did, he was already gone. No smile, no hugs, no jokes. Just him, cold on a hospital stretcher. Dead.

My childhood was killed. My best friend was gone.

I urge you people to be responsible.

A car is not a toy. It’s a weapon made of steel with a massive power. Imagine hitting your knee on the corner of a chair. It pains badly, right. A car when it hits someone, imagine how painful it would be for the person being hit. So please change this perception. Car is not a toy. It is a weapon.

Drive only when you are responsible.

Only when you are 18.

Please be responsible and don’t kill any more brothers and friends.

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Regards Shilpa Mittal

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E x c l u s i v e

Do Your Bit D

elhi Traffic Police came up with the idea of organizing road safety awareness summer camps from the year 2015, for the benefit of school students from class VI to XII. Spread across the five zones in the capital, the objective behind organizing such summer camps is to help children utilize their summer vacation in a meaningful way and enable them to learn some life skill techniques, which will have a bearing on their personality in the years to come. The course contents of the summer camp were designed in such a manner so as to inculcate good road safety habits in the students which in turn will help them grow up into sensible, sensitive and responsible road users. The summer camp is held purely free of cost.

Major Activities: • Manual drill training • Lecture on traffic rules, road

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safety norms, road signs, signal and markings • First-Aid • Self Defense • Disaster Management • Fire safety • Nukkad natak on road safety • Computer games based on road safety • Visit to intersections A total of 2440 students participated in the one-month long summer camp – 2017. This year Delhi Traffic Police added a new feature to the summer camp with a view to sensitize the students about the nuances of traffic management. Senior class students studying in Class IX - XII were taken to select intersections where they assisted Traffic Police in traffic regulation using hand signals. Students had an opportunity to test their proficiency in traffic drill by regulating traffic at select intersections. The road users were also sensitized about

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In their bid to raise awareness and to curb the heinousness of such situations, Delhi Traffic Police runs a Road Safety Awareness camp every summer. They also seek to educate the young adults of the country in the do’s and dont’s of road safety. Here are a few takeaways from their latest camp and some precautionary measures to follow. traffic rules and road safety norms by students holding placards with road safety messages and distribution of road safety literature.

One would only hope that more and more such initiatives are organized for the young adults in the country, so that they grow up to be responsible citizens. Next time, you hear of such a camp near you, make sure to take yourself and all the teenagers around you for it!

P a g e

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H e a d

Volume 02 | Issue 12 | July 2017 | 19

O b i t u a r y

Tragedy has a different face when one has to look at it from close counters.

Atul Arora, a class XII student of Bal Bharti School Pitampura passed away when somebody’s recklessness took away his life in a road accident.

His friends had a few words to say for him.

Atul Arora

and offensive thing was their nonchalant attitude towards the whole thing. But whether they are punished or not , Atul will never come back.

Time has healed the piercing pain. The tears have dried up. But his memories are still with us. His kind face remains forever in our image. May God grant peace to his soul and give strength to his family to bear the loss.In this tough time of their life, may our sympathy and heartfelt condolences bring them comfort.

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tul Arora was a magnificent human being. He was comJhanvi Dua | Class XII Lakshay Sabharwal | Class XII passionate and helpful towards everybody, and t was the most unforgettable day. We reached school, a great friend. We would excited and happy. Excited as it was the first day in often spend time together class XII and happy as we had cleared class-XI. during recess, and his good Ours is the commerce section, without maths. We are sense of humor always left academically average but famous for our carefree and us in splits! He was a sinhappy-go-lucky attitude. The news of Atul Arora’s un- cere student, and a favortimely death came as a ‘thunderclap’. Shocked to the core, ite of every teacher. His we just could not understand what had happened. There kindness and generosity of Mrigank Atri | Class XII was only one sentence that echoed everywhere `How spirit was the reason he was could this happen?’. Finally the grim realization set in that loved by everybody. His easy going and jovial nature made him we had lost a close friend in an accident. The worse was friendly. We liked to be around him, as he was excellent compayet to come. When we reached Atul’s home, the sight of ny, and we could speak our minds freely. There is a saying that his bereaved parents and sisters left us all grief stricken. goes “God takes the best people for himself”, and I’d be lying if Death had struck a deadly blow and taken away a young, I said I didn’t curse God for taking him away from this world. jovial, helpful and wonderful human being. It was not the I was privileged to have a friend like Atul, for however short a act of nature but two callous humans. Drunk and driving period of time. His passing away has left an emptiness in all of recklessly, their speeding car hit Atul’s scootie, crushing it our hearts, which might never be filled. All we can do is hold and dragging him for some distance. The most upsetting on to our fond memories with him, and move forward.

I

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S l a m

P o e t r y

Impulsive Motivation And still they gawk, And still they stalk, And still you’re forced to look down.

And still they grope, And still they rape, Yet again, they tell you the fault’s your own.

So still you trudge; hopeless, bound – And still don’t dare to make a sound.

So still they judge, be seen not heard, Cuz ‘feminism’ has now become a derogatory word!

So still you think of complying – Conforming, obeying, satisfying.

But your dreams are unbridled, boundless as the sea, And your heart desires not what is, but what could be.

So you, my love, you must break free For your soul defines INFINITY.

By Maria Javed Class IX Modern School, Barakhamba Road

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Volume 02 | Issue 12 | July 2017 | 21

Teri 2k17 T e e n

W

T r a v e l s

ho would have thought we would survive this, and how! Almanya Singh

slowly the night sky started spreading above us. The cool zephyr started to blow while we sipped tea and writes biscuits and slowly we began to en“This is next to impossible!!!” That joy ourselves. After an appetizing was our first reaction during the dinner under a wooden set up, we orientation, taking away the basic took our torches out and roamed needs of us teenagers and expecting the TERI compound. Day 1 ended us to accommodate happily gave us with our curfew at 11. We stayed in nightmares. We had no choice be- our respective dorms, laying out the cause the trip was compulsory and mattresses on the floor and making there was no exemption. our beds. The enjoyment continued A group of 70 students with our in the ghost stories and gossip. Till teachers, reached the New Delhi we snored to the tranquillity on the Railway station at 5 in the morning, hills of Mukteshwar. half-heartedly giving our attendance Early morning at 5 we were woand trying to project a happy face, ken up by the teacher’s stickling we boarded our train. voice, after which we had no option The clock struck 11 and Kathgo- but to slip out of the blankets, take dam, our station had arrived. With the toothbrush and stand in a nonour backpacks and trolleys in hand, ending queue. After which an unexwe made a line while the teachers pected yoga session began to which did a quick head count and left the our lazy bodies denied acceptance, station. The feel of the mountains and with a yawn here and a was already sweeping us up with the sun shining bright between the Himalayan ranges. The three hour bus journey through the twists and turns of the mountains was filled with the chitter chatter and antakshari. We passed the valleys of Uttarakhand and the dried up rivers.

Life out here was much more peaceful than back in the mechanical city.

We finally reached TERI guest house where we were going to spend four days. The exceptional hilly view with small cottages was something to which we couldn’t turn a blind eye;

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NO PHONES NO TOILETRIES SLEEP ON THE FLOOR DARE NOT EAT JUNK DON’T TAKE A BATH GET UP AT 5AM ALL THIS FOR FOUR DAYS fall there on the yoga mats, this exercise came to an end.

We were divided into groups of four we: some of us went to the village and local government schools, while the others to the TERI working centres. We trekked down the hill and up to the village. We went to the rural homes, spent a good amount of time, cooked food on the chulha in a mud house and realised the difficulties faced by our fellow villagers, but they had no complaints. They made us feel at home and greeted us with happy faces. They had a considerably sedate and cordial lifestyle compared to our habitual life where success and money are the driving forces.

As the trip was

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coming to an end, we wanted to enjoy every bit of it and live each moment because we knew we will be back to our routines soon. We all relished it and didn’t want to leave all this so soon. A lot of activities based on teamwork were organised which were pretty out of the box.

The third day ended with orientations and folk performances and a warm bonfire, after

We went to the rural homes, spent a good amount of time, cooked food on the chulha in a mud house and realised the difficulties faced by our fellow villagers, but they had no complaints.

They made us feel at home and greeted us with happy faces.

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which we went to our dorms to pack our luggage to leave behind this walk of life, which gave us a greater insight than the textbooks.

Even after a month of returning from the trip, I can still feel every moment of it and I truly feel nostalgic about those four days of an exceptional learning, rejuvenating hilly days which started with complaints and sad faces but ended with compromise, responsibility and inner happiness.

By Almanya Singh Class XI Sanskriti School, New Delhi

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S c h o o l

E s s e n t i a l s

The School BAG!

Ever wonder how did all the different things you take to school evolve? Look at how computer changed right in front of our eyes! An iPhone changes every year!

We decided to do a series of how every essential item that we carry to school have come to take their current form. So hop on, and see how your beloved school bag journeyed.

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long long time ago, when books and mortals had started living in harmony, the mortals gained knowledge from the books while the books accompanied them to schools and colleges. Books lead a life of freedom and the mortals would carry them around, holding onto them with their bare hands.

new to the craft and thus, the satchels were simple, with just a strap to hang them by the shoulders. However, as time passed by, the mortals grew crafty and began to include new elements to the basic satchel.

They would now make satchels of different shapes and sizes, and add newer elements to enhance the look

Thus, inspired by the backpacks adorned by the trekkers and hikers on their backs, the school bag got an upgrade and the first modern backpack was born. The new backpack was much more savvy, it was easier to carry and had multiple chains and compartments, some even had side pockets to hold water bottles and inner pockets to hold items that the school going mortals wanted to hide from their parents, not to forget, a small external pocket to hold the tiffin boxes. The mortals who designed the new backpacks were smart, not only did they use Nylon instead of canvas or leather, which made the backpacks waterproof and lightweight, but they also captured the essence of school life and made the backpacks as user friendly, as they come.

The backpack was so loved, that since then, the design of the backpack has not changed much. Every once a while, the mortals do try to experiment with the design of the backpack, for instance some backpacks now come with wheels and can be dragged around school, some Although, the books were ecstatic to of the satchel, such as, a buckle, co- are covered in pictures of Barbies, be far away from any bounds and lourful straps, patterns and designer cartoon characters or Superheroes, chains, they were constantly sub- patches. This new invention of the some have the name of the brand; jected to harsh weather, dirt and mortals, soon spread like wildfire, flashing pretty conspicuously, while rain. Grieved by the depleting qual- not only did it keep the books pro- some simply have a witty quote or a ity of the masters that blessed them tected from external damage, it also quirky picture. with the gift of knowledge, the mor- complimented the school uniforms, However, time is still young, and tals devised a satchel made out of and had almost become a fashion the minds of mortals still run like the materials that they had, canvas statement. clockwork. Who knows what new and leather, and thus the first school As time went by, the mortals were design for a school bag will they bag was born. required to carry more and more come up with? We just have to wait At the beginning, the mortals were books to their schools and colleges. and watch.

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I d e a ( n ) a t i o n

Reading the World!

A 13 year old Pakistani girl set out to do something that very few people in the world have even dared to attempt. She set upon her journey to finish at least one book each from all the 197 (official and otherwise) countries in the world. Here is Aisha Eshbani’s story.

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t wasn’t until my brother bought me A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, that I developed a passion for reading. As a child, my mother would buy me books like Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, among others, but unfortunately, the books never really caught my interest. A Series of Unfortunate Events made me realise that there were books of different genres in the world, that there were books of my interest in the bookstores of Karachi.

And soon, reading became a hobby for me. From realist fiction to fantasy, followed by historical and military non-fiction, you name it, and it was all there on my bookshelf. I was quite proud of myself and my habit until I looked upon my shelves of books with a rather different perspective. Most, in fact all of the books I had read, were written by authors from Britain or North America, there was nothing from countries like Tanzania, Swaziland or Peru. And this was a truly heartbreaking and devastating discovery.

And so, I did some research on African and Asian authors, and world literature when I came across a women named Ann Morgan who had read a book from every country in a year. The idea fascinated me and in April, the very next month, I began my journey, a little different from hers, to explore the world, from the comforts of my armchair.

A few months in, I started receiving recommendations and motivational messages from people around the world. Authors from countries including Luxembourg, Latvia, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong sent their books to me. I received an unpublished translation of a French novel by the name, ‘The Kaafir of Karthala’ from Comoros, translated by Allison Charette, who has promised to send me a galley of a book she is translating from Madagascar. Writers, publishers, translators and readers from around the world have been helping me as I move forward with more and more determination to achieve my goal. I have completed 85 countries till now and am very excited to reach 98 soon, which is exactly halfway!

And now about the books: I’m currently reading Shyness and Dignity by Nor-

wegian author Dag Solstad. But my most favourite book yet is probably A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah. It’s about a child soldier from Sierra Leone. I really empathised and sympathised with the soldier; it was truly heartbreaking. And this takes us to the next point of focus.

It has been established with a common interest that books promote empathy. A book allows one to feel for a victim of war, it allows one to feel for someone who had to migrate and leave their home and it allows one to feel for the people of the world, who don’t read.

This project of mine isn’t just about reading, it is about so much more. I want children like me to understand that you have all the right to dream big. If you are dedicated to your purpose, you will achieve your dreams.

Let age not hinder us. This quest is to appreciate the authors from the underrepresented countries and allow them to believe that their work too, is brilliant, even if they aren’t backed by a big, Anglophone publisher!

And here’s a message to all, Read. Because with Reading comes wisdom and knowledge, and with wisdom and knowledge comes success.

By Aisha Eshbani Class IX Karachi Grammar School

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F i t

f o r

L i f e

Just How Tired Are You

(and why?)

Flip the lyrics of Enrique Iglesias song ‘Tired Of Being Sorry’ and you get sorry of being tired... and that truly seems to be the state of most of us perpetually now!

Our expert, Kavita Devgan writes on the constant state of being tired.

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fter all when one is tired, nothing seems good. Life seems half lived!

So a good question to ask just as a new school year begins is, where do you stand on the tiredness scale?

Because unless you feel your 100% you will not be able to excel in school and life in general. And once you figure that out, you find out what actually is going wrong. Is it your food,

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your attitude or some yet unravelled disorder lurking inside you, which is draining energy, ounce by ounce out of you? Here’s help: Go easy on caffeine as it is a diuretic. Don’t glug down a big soup bowl, the size of a big mug of coffee; have a small cup at a time. In fact, research has found that quarter- or half-cup doses can help give you a more consistent level of alert-

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ness, without the energy spikes and plunges. You could also switch (or replace some cups a day) to green tea, which is almost caffeine free.

Similarly, swap energy drinks with water, as they are loaded with caffeine usually. Plus a lot of salts (sodium, potassium and chloride) are lost due to sweating, so rely on the age old Electral-water mix to replenish.

Consume probiotics regularly,

F i t

f o r

L i f e

These help too!

Correct your posture: If you slouch or hunch your shoulders forward, then you are setting yourself up for fatigue. That’s because your wrong posture makes it harder for blood to nourish those muscles - and this makes you tired. I would suggest strength and core training to address poor posture.

Meditate: An overworked adrenal gland (due to stress) leads to over secretion of the fight-or-flight hormone, adrenaline – and this leads to sluggishness. What you need is a counter strategy. And meditation provides just that. Massage or a session at a spa provides similar benefits too.

Take technology breaks: For a few times during the day close your e-mail and power off your phone. Lunch hour is a good opportunity to do this or settle for a 1-hour distraction-free window when you get home. Also keep electronic gadgets out of the bedroom. They keep your brain engaged, and keep it working. So make a rule: no TV watching or net surfing from at least half an hour before going to sleep; these stimulate your mind and interfere with sleep. It is better to read a bit or listen to some soothing music at bedtime.

ideally daily, to help good bacteria thrive in the intestines (essential for better digestion of food and assimilation of nutrients). Another big benefit is that they are loaded with B vitamins (more on these later), which are crucial nutrients for the energy transfer process (from the food to the cells) during the breakdown of the food. That’s precisely why these vitamins are called energy vitamins too.

Go organic as far as possible. Pesticides and pollution may both alter energy production in the body. The free radicals these generate in your body can inhibit and even destroy the energy production machinery in the mitochondria (energy producing seat in your cells), resulting in tired-

GI foods and give too much sugar, a break (leads to steep spikes in blood sugar that leave you feeling sluggish and slow when they plunge a few hours later). Food allergy can be a big drain on your energy too (red meat, eggs, soya products, wheat and dairy products are common allergens). Observe if you feel fatigued right after a meal? Get checked if in doubt.

Want to ensure sure shot energy?

Then put some sprouts on your plate.

Enzymes get greatly activated in the sprouting process and it is proven that absence of enzymes produces a tired, run down feeling. You’d be surprised, but vinegar too helps beat exhaustion. The Amino acids in it help counter the lactic acid build up in the body (due to excessive exercise or severe stress); lactic acid causes aches and a feeling of fatigue.

Vitamin D also has a say. Ever wondered why a splash of sunlight makes you feel more awake? That’s D in action. So sit out in the balcony or by a sunny window when you read the morning paper or sip your ness. Organic food is relatively toxin tea. Sunlight signals your biological free, so can help you score more en- clock to stop the secretion of melatonin, a hormone that makes you ergy.

Choose low GI foods over high sleepy, and boost your energy.

Pesticides and pollution may both alter energy production in the body.

The free radicals these generate in your body can inhibit and even destroy the energy production machinery in the mitochondria resulting in tiredness.

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C y b e r S a f e

Makes you

WannaCry? Last month, you may have heard about a massive cyber attack, which has been infecting machines around the world. This was a ransomware attack, perhaps the largest so far, and was designed to work only against unpatched Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 (or earlier OS) systems, and it was so severe that within 2 days, more than 200,000 machines were infected worldwide. Our expert, Amit Dubey breaks down the attack for you.

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ransomware is a piece of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid.

The attack, called “WannaCry�, locks users out of their own systems and demands a ransom payment to release files. As per the details available on the internet, WannaCry so far has impacted over 120 countries (and counting) and a large number of computers. The virus popped up on Friday and being a bank Holiday for next two days, it was a serious concern that what would be the situation on Monday when the banks will start operating their systems. Thousands of security experts worked day and night for these two days to find out some work around for this virus. A high level advisory were released by most of the governments and IT companies to their employees to stay vigilant while using their computers or while dealing with any emails from

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any unknown email address. It was advised to not click on any link or open any unknown attachments and to upgrade their windows system with the latest patch as soon as possible as the virus was able to infect the networked computers also.

It was noticed that, the virus was sent to various systems through email attachments, when you download such attachment and try to run it, it executes a script which opens internal port (SMB) in your system and then starts encrypting the directories and public folders of your system and once you lock the system and try to unlock it again, it starts showing you a warning notification like this.

As per this notification, the ransom note demanded $300 within 3 days or $600 within 6 days or you lose all your files. There is no guarantee of recovery of files even if you pay the required ransom. Because millions of systems were infected and there is

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no guaranteed support system by the hackers that they will provide decryption key to every person who has paid the money or even if they provide a decrypt key, there is finite probability that it may not work.

WannaCry arrives normally via a phishing email (pdf) and spreads like a worm using covert channels and exploiting the Windows SMB vulnerability (aka EternalBlue), which was fixed by Microsoft in March (MS17-010), but considering the fact that most of the windows systems were not updated with this patch, it did a significant damage worldwide and millions of dollars were paid as ransom.

While understanding this virus in more details we found that, WannaCry Payload is delivered via a exploit running as a service. It performs encryption in the background, with keybuilt in (no contact to C2 necessary).

It uses the browser’s other side to stay anonymous and drops ransom notes in 25+ languages.

It mostly encrypts the shared and local data files of system and effects 176 types of files.

We are all well aware that Hackers always take advantage of your ignorance, so here are some tips to safeguard yourself against such attacks in future.

• Do not open attachments in unsolicited e-mails, even if they come from people in your contact list.

• Do not click on any URLs contained in an unsolicited e-mail.

• Report any suspicious emails or attachments to the IT/IS team.

• Do not download software, videos, MP3s from unauthorized sites and unsecure links.

• Check that your antivirus is updated and running in any machine you are using.

• Backup your critical data periodically.

sions) Eternal Blue exploit (MS17010) , You should also block your SMB port (port 445) immediately and perform a sanity check of your backup and DB integrity.

However, in the long run, even these proactive actions may not work as Hackers may find some other vulnerability of the system to disturb you. So the only way to protect you is through awareness about Phishing emails and suspicious attachments.

Though, few email servers offer a default attachment scanning service against any such virus but WannaCry may pass through them and may not be detected at all.

Interestingly, there were some theories around about the virus that If you believe your computer has it was actually created by Microsoft been infected, immediately discon- guys to force the people to update nect your machine from the network, their windows operating system with by pulling the LAN cable out of the the latest patch. Though, I personally port in your computer and call the don’t agree with these theories but I information security team. Do not try can say with my experience that the to restore any data on your own. realities have always amazed me Patch and update immediately more than any imagination would. I your Windows machines and servers wish you a safe and fast computing (MS released patches for legacy ver- power.

The virus was sent to various systems through email attachments, when you download such attachment and try to run it, it executes a script which opens internal port (SMB) in your system and then starts encrypting the directories and public folders of your system.

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I n

C o u n s e l

Bullying in society is a menace, and as a parent, it is important to monitor and recognize if your child is being bullied in school or any other social setting such as the playground, tuition center, or in any other place. Our expert, Prerna Kohli helps you identify the signals pointing to it.

B

ullying is an unacceptable behavior among children. It is the use of force, coercion, threats, intimidation or aggressive behavior to dominate or subjugate others. The following behavioral changes are signposts that your child may be bullied.

• If your child is generally careful but is still losing his stationery, and other supplies at school such a pens, pencils, crayons, etc • Your child is having troubled sleep • Your child is suffering from extreme mood swings, venting out on younger siblings, pets, servants at home, etc.

• He/She does not want to participate and is looking for excuses to skip school or other social activities • Your child is suffering from low self-esteem • You notice physical marks of hurt on their body • The child’s health is deteriorating, such as headaches, stomach aches, frequent fevers, tremors and a constant high level of stress

Is Your Child

being Bullied?

meet with an experienced psycholo- bully or in the extreme case, encourgist to ensure that there are no life- age their child to be a bully. They feel long scars. that a bully will be more successful in life. Unfortunately, the lifelong ramifications of a childhood bully are Ways to find out if your intense, and the child grows up to be an unhappy adult, who has difficulty Child is A Bully in having successful and meaningIn the unfortunate circumstance that ful relationships and there is a high in your opinion your child is a bully, probability that a child who is a bully, either the school or other parents are will have an unsuccessful marriage. It complaining to you about your child is important to remember that both If you observe even a few of these being a bully, you need to take appro- boys and girls can be bullies. symptoms in your child, they are priate action.

Given below are behaviors to recgood indicators that your child is beBullying is an unacceptable behav- ognize if your child is a bully. If you ing bullied in school. It is advisable ior among children. Many parents feel that your child is a bully, it is to talk to the school authorities and tend to either ignore if their child is a strongly suggested to meet a qualified

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psychologist to reverse these characteristics: • Trouble sleeping at night • Age inappropriate behavioral issues • Trouble at school, excessive complaints • Excessive need to be popular • Displaying aggressive tendencies with others • Domestic violence at home, verbal or physical • Relationship issues with either or both parents If you observe any of these traits in your child, it is important not to ignore them, and instead, seek professional guidance. Bully children grow up to be bullies as adults and have extreme difficulty in maintaining healthy relationships with others.

C o u n s e l

• Don’t charge off demanding to see the principal or teacher, the bully or the bully’s parents • Do not dismiss their experience • Don’t allow your anger, hurt, guilt, helplessness or fear to impede your actions • Remember all schools are legally required to have an anti-bullying policy With the proliferation of social media, cyberbullying is gaining prominence, people need to realize online bullying has just as much of an imThe most important responsibil- pact as physical bullying because ity as a parent is to ensure the safety written words are just as cutting and and security of your child; as well as difficult to deal.

Unfortunately for a long time, our to equip your child with the skills to handle bullies. As your child matures, society has ignored bullying by layou may not always be present to pro- beling it as a ‘rite of passage’ and by tect them from bullies; hence it is very asking students to simply ‘get over important to teach your child how to it.’ This attitude has to change. Daily, What to do if your Child is tackle these bullying situations when students are bullied into silence and are afraid to speak up. We need to they arise in the future. being Bullied at School end bullying in our schools.

As a parent, your first instinct upon • Listen without getting angry or upFor further help, you can learn more learning that your child is being bulset lied is going to be paternal where you • Reassure your child it’s not their from Dr. Prerna Kohli at www. drprernakohli.in or by writing to her fault want to fix the bully. Bullying is an unacceptable behavior among chil- • Don’t let the bullying dominate via email at prernakohli5@gmail. com dren. their life

Bullying is an unacceptable behavior among children. Many parents tend to either ignore if their child is a bully or in the extreme case encourage their child to be a bully.

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D I Y

Fidget Spinner

What else can one say about the Fidget Spinner other than that it’s one of the most fascinating re-imagination of a seemingly mundane object, i.e a stress/ anxiety reliever.

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D I Y

A cool new makeover later, a fidget spinner is all a millennial can • think about. So here is a simple DIY to make your very own fidget toy .

•

You will require: • • • • • • • •

Ball bearings Sandpaper • Epoxy adhesive Toothpicks Coloured shoe laces Scissors and cutter Rubber based adhesive Markers

gether, using a sandpaper.

Using Epoxy adhesive and a toothpick, stick the ball bearings together.

Once the adhesive dries, you can start decorating your fidget spinner.

One cool way to do so is by sticking colourful shoelaces, with the help of a rubber based adhesive. Once the glue has dried, take you fidget spinner for a spin!

No w f o l l o w these steps: Keep in mind:

•

•

•

Select ball bearings of the size that fit between your index finger and thumb perfectly. You will need 4 ball bearings for a tri-point fidget spinner.

Arrange three ball bearings, around one central bearing, in the shape as shown in the image above.

Mark the contact point on the bearings with a black marker, so that you can re arrange your fidget spinner easily.

To help the bearings stick to each other, sand the sides that are to be glued to-

•

•

•

You can experiment with the shape and size of your fidget spinner by opting for bigger or smaller ball bearings.

Go crazy with colours, and design your fidget spinner to be one of a kind.

To watch video, look for “Mad Stuff With Rob DIY Fidget Spinner” on YouTube

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

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Paww-sitive!

P o s i t i v e l y

P o s i t i v e

After a random encounter with an abandoned pup, Zabi Khan decided that he will not let another animal suffer like he witnessed with the pup do. Someone who didn’t dare raise his hand in the class, grew up to become someone who raises the roof for animals. Zabi Khan in his own words.

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I

have loved animals for as long as I can remember, but all of it started when I turned 13. I was walking down the street when I saw a german shepherd pup lying on the road, I inquired around and found that someone had just dropped him off a car and never returned. I got him home and named him Casanova. However, 4 days later, Casanova was running very high temperature.

I took him to the vet with my dad, the vet examined him and told me, that my little kiddo would be all fine within a few days. Once back home, Casanova remained a little dull but followed me around all through the day.

I woke up at 4am the next morning, as I was feeling uneasy. I called out to Casanova, he didn’t respond, my little kiddo was no more. I still clearly remember that morning and it still gives me shudders. My dad told me that Casanova was suffering from parvo bacteria and was at the last stage, he was probably abandoned because his previous owners thought he wasn’t worth investing so much in.

As a matter of fact, why would they put in so much money and efforts to treat a dog, at the end of the day, they can always buy another. That night shattered me, but also showed me the meaning of my life. I promised myself that I would never let any animal suffering like my Casanova did. My life had a purpose and a meaning now!

I wanted to speak for those who have always been loyal to us and

P o s i t i v e l y in return, the human race has been hurting them, abusing them, electrocuting them and abandoning them. I started to volunteer for different local animal welfare NGOs/groups we had in the city, when I saw the cruelty and abuse that we humans inflict on animals.

Knowing this, I could no longer live in peace, not when there’s a war raging against animals, I could no longer feel full when they are being starved or feel warm when they are being isolated in cold tiny cages or feel safe while they are being brutalized. I started my NGO in 2014, when I was in class 12, and I named it, “A Place to Bark Society” (registered under Section 3 of Society Act). I rented a land near my house where I provided shelter to all my rescues.

‘A Place To Bark’ holds a strong position in the city for the welfare of animals. We deal with abandoned and abused dogs and cats, who have had a rough start in their lives. We rehabilitate, retrain and rehome them in the best families who deserve them. Our activities range from Animal adoption, rehabilitation, providing medical assistance to the injured animals, rescuing abused animals from pathetic conditions, creating awareness in schools, college and orphanages, sending food to animals affected with Natural calamities. While working for NGOs and other Animal Welfare groups, I realized that Shelters are always full and the infection levels are high.

Most of the shelters in the city don’t take in any abandoned breed dogs.

We wanted to help those who had no one and that led to the formation of ‘A Place to Bark Society’.

P o s i t i v e

As I joined college, I thought, why not open a shelter inside my college campus. With this idea,

I started to volunteer for different local driving forth towards making this animal welfare NGOs/groups we earth a kinder, had in the city, when I saw the cruelty gentler and a and abuse that we humans inflict on more sustainable place to animals. Knowing this, I could no longer live in. I have live in peace, not when there’s a war tried planting a raging against animals, I could no longer seed of change and I take defeel full when they are being starved light in seeing it or feel warm when they are being grow. isolated in cold tiny cages or feel We can all change this world, we safe while they are being can all raise our voice. brutalized.

We all have it in us, no I went to my college authorities and they were kind enough to grant me a place inside the campus and I opened my shelter there. It has been been almost 11 months now that I have been successfully running a shelter inside my college, making my college the first Animal Friendly Educational Campus in the city.

Acting on behalf of these animals that I would never meet but fight for every day, it has taken me from feeling like a powerless individual, to an important proactive part of the wheel,

matter what our calling is.

For me, I promise I would never rest until every cage is empty and every tank is drained.

Past One Year Estimation:

• The estimates of the past year are as follows: • Cat and dog adoptions : 450 • Abandoned rescues : 180 • Rehoming cases : 240 • Abused animals seized : 38 • Pigeon rescues : 27 • Awareness programs conducted in: 12 schools 2 orphanages • Sent relief material to : VSPCA ND PFA

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Volume 02 | Issue 12 | July 2017 | 35

P a g e

H e a d

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NOW I HAVE A CHANCE TO REGAIN MY TRUE FORM!

RELEASE HER AT ONCE!

AND NOW I WANT THE BIRD!

MY NAME IS ARDRA. I AM A GIRL ABOUT YOUR AGE. I WAS ASSISTANT TO THE WITCH BUT WHEN I REFUSED TO HELP HER CAST AN EVIL SPELL ON ONE OF HER ENEMIES, SHE TURNED ME INTO A PARROT. I THINK SHE WAS PLANNING TO STARVE ME TO DEATH. ONE DAY SHE FOUND THAT WHENEVER ONE OF MY FEATHERS FELL OFF IT TURNED INTO GOLD!

WOOF WOOF! HEY!

YOUR TRUE FORM! WHAT IS YOUR REAL FORM?

THEN SHE BEGAN TO LOOK AFTER ME WELL!

YOUR FEATHERS TURN TO GOLD?

ONLY THOSE THAT FALL OFF NATURALLY. ONE FELL AS I WAS LANDING. IF YOU LOOK FOR IT YOU’LL FIND IT HAS TURNED TO GOLD!

WOOF WOOF!

STOP!

AAAAAAHHH!

SHE’S TELLING THE TRUTH!

?!

I FOUND THE FEATHER! OR RATHER THE GOLD IT TURNED INTO!

WOOF!

30

29

WE’RE ANKLE DEEP IN MUD! SO WHAT!

WE’RE IN THE KINGDOM OF MUD, YOU FOOLISH GIRL! WE’RE DOOMED! DOOMED!!

LOOK WHERE WE ARE STANDING! IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT FOR DRIVING ME THIS WAY!

WHAT’S WRONG?

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

THE COURT IS ASSEMBLING! NOW WE’VE HAD IT!

A BIRD THAT PRODUCES GOLD! HOW CAN THAT BE!

WHENEVER ONE OF ITS FEATHERS FALLS OFF NATURALLY IT TURNS TO GOLD! I’LL SHOW YOU ONE OF THE GOLD PIECES!

WHERE’S IT! OH, NO! THERE’S A HOLE IN MY POCKET!

I MUST HAVE DROPPED IT WHILE RUNNING! BUT I SWEAR I HAD THE GOLDEN FEATHER, YOUR MAJESTY!

ASK THIS GIRL! SHE SAW THE GOLDEN FEATHER!

SIR, I THINK IT IS CRUEL TO IMPRISON A BIRD! A BIRD SHOULD BE FREE TO FLY WHERE IT WANTS! IT SHOULD NOT BE CAGED FOR ANY REASON!

SPEAK, GIRL!

KNOW YE NOT THAT WHOEVER ENTERS WITHOUT GOOD REASON CAN NEVER LEAVE? WHO DARES ENTER THE KINGDOM OF MUD!

I-I’M A POOR BIRD CATCHER, YOUR MAJESTY. I-I’VE COME HERE TO PRESENT YOU A BIRD THAT PRODUCES GOLD!

I AGREE WITH HER! THIS MAN IS PROBABLY LYING! SET THE BIRD…

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MATTER! IF THE BIRD REALLY PRODUCES GOLD IT WOULD BE VERY VALUABLE TO US! WE COULD USE THE MONEY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR MUD!

WAIT, SIRE!

SO WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST I DO?

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32

TO be Continued...

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Volume 02 | Issue 12 | July 2017 | 37

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

“B

e home by 11!” My mother shouted as I hurriedly ran out the door, dreading the snarky remark that Arjun would make.

“Oh the princess finally decides to grace us! What a day!” Arjun rolled his eyes as I got into the passenger seat. He turns 18 in a few days but hadn’t even bothered to get a learner’s license.

I just shook my head, annoyed.

“Why are you driving?” I ask skeptically.

“Er because I always drive?” He gave me a weird look as he reversed onto the driveway.

“Yeah but that’s during the day and just around the colony. Not to a proper place.” I pointed out.

“Colony, roads, same thing. If I can manoeuvre through those stray dogs I can manoeuvre through traffic too.”

He smirked confidentiality and drove forward.

We reached the club in one piece, and without any accidents, barring a near hit and run with a stray cow.

“WOOHOO BOARDS OVER!!”

Tara hugged me, more tipsy than buzzed as Arjun and I entered Ray’s.

Ray’s was one of the string of bars in Hauz Khas Area that didn’t card and offered Ladies Night.

“Are we bar hopping today?” Arjun asked Dev, as we joined the group of 12 odd kids from our school who were doing shots.

“I don’t see why not. It’s free for them anyway.” Dev replied referring to the girls in the group.

“I don’t wanna do just vodka drinks.” I said annoyed. It’s true, most clubs have a Ladies Night where they give free vodka based drinks (cocktails mostly if you are of the female gender) but after a while, that can get boring.

“Haan so if we go bar hopping that increases your chances of getting non vodka drinks na.” Arjun laughed, “This is why you should’ve taken math.”

I just rolled my eyes and smiled

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Charged sarcastically as I joined Tara who was downing the shots like water.

We didn’t drink as much as we normally would have, though. I guess we wanted to cherish and truly experience our freedom. Most of us, except for Tara- who was nearly passed out- were just highly buzzed by the end of the tiring night.

As we were walking toward the cars Arjun started to take out his keys.

“Are you mad?!” I nearly shouted.

“Arre, it’s alright it’s only 10 minutes and at 2 am there is literally no traffic. Besides it’s a Thursday night so the police won’t be checking either.”

“Arjun, you don’t have a license and you’ve been drinking underage.

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This is not silly, it’s just highly irresponsible.” I said already realising that my efforts would be futile.

“God darn it Riya, just be young and free for once. You just got done with school, forever. There is no harm in just a short drive.” Dev rolled his eyes and got into the passenger seat.

Tara got in the back and I realised I didn’t really have much of a choice.

Either get into the car or wait alone at this ungodly hour. I guess it seems cliche to blame alcohol for my bad choices now, but alas be it the drink in my veins or my fear of being left alone, I got into the car.

Arjun reversed recklessly and nearly hit a car that was passing by.

That should’ve been my first sign that

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

After Arjun gained consciousness he was dragged to the police station and charged on multiple counts for violation of Rules of Road Regulation, 1989 as well as the Motor Vehicle Act. The police filed a court case against him for driving under the influence (upto 6 months jail) and hasty/hazardous driving (upto 6 months jail), and his parents faced jail time up to 3 months for allowing an unlicensed driver to drive their car.

I should get out.

The tyres screeched as Arjun stamped the accelerator.

“Arjun, seriously, slow down.” I shouted from the back in order to be overheard over the music. But my attempts only fuelled their childishness.

“Woo look I’m losing control!” Arjun screamed as the car skid and he let go of the wheel.

“Are you mad, you’re gonna get us all killed!”

“Relax Ri, I got this.” Arjun and Dev laughed as Arjun gripped the wheel again.

But the skids became more frequent and the speed went higher.

“Arjun please, slow down.” I begged and he looked back at me and laughed, as everything went dark.

The next thing I remember is a ringing through my ears as a fireman lifted me out of the car. As he set me down in the ambulance and went to get the others out, I realised that the

car was on its side.

“Do you remember your name?”

The nurse asked me as she cleaned a cut on my temple. I responded to the string of questions that tested my mental capacity patiently and once she was satisfied that I was alright, she let the policeman talk to me. He told me that it seemed like we were hit by a truck, but since we weren’t near any traffic lights, it’s impossible to tell.

By this time a weeping Tara, an angry Dev and an unconscious Arjun had also been pulled out of the car.

Tara’s foot was severely damaged as it got stuck under the driver’s seat.

Arjun seemed to have a concussion and Dev was just Dev. “Miss, do you remember what happened?” The policeman asked me.

“No sir, the last thing I remember is my friend driving.”

“Oh thank god, Riya!” My mother rushed to give me a hug, with my dad at her heels. “Are you okay?” She

asked, tears about to stream down her face.

And in that moment I realised my mistake. I could’ve stayed and called an uber. Or heck, even called my parents. I’d have been in a lot of trouble but at least I would’ve been safe.

“She can go after she pays the 300 rupee fine.” The cop told my mother.

“Fine? For what, she wasn’t driving!” My father argued.

“Yes, but she is being charged with abetment of speeding.” He replied.

My father angrily shrugged and paid the fine as I got a criminal record against my name.

After Arjun gained consciousness he was dragged to the police station and charged on multiple counts for violation of Rules of Road Regulation, 1989 as well as the Motor Vehicle Act. The police filed a court case against him for driving under the influence (upto 6 months jail) and hasty/hazardous driving (upto 6 months jail), and his parents faced jail time up to 3 months for allowing an unlicensed driver to drive their car.

Instead, they were able to negotiate the ₹ 11,100 fine that included driving over the speed limit, ignoring the yellow/stop lines and the mandatory signs, signal jumping, not driving on the left side of the road and driving without seat belts. In addition to the fines they paid, his parents signed a hefty donation to the Hauz Khas Police Station.

Arjun can never get a driving license, even if he tries to apply for one.

The drunk driving case will always be a part of his record no matter where he goes. The Abetment of speeding charges will always be a part of my record wherever I go. And all we have as an explanation for this, is that we were finally free until we weren’t.

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By Lalantika Arvind Class XII Sanskriti School, New Delhi

Volume 02 | Issue 12 | July 2017 | 39

E x p e r t

E x p r e s s i o n

Dream Typhoon of a Fighter

We all may have had different dreams we aspire to achieve at different stages of life. Some may be big, some small. But it becomes so much more significant to see them come true. Our expert, Suman Sharma shares her experience of flying in her dream sortie.

N

o civilian from India had been flown in it and out of all those who couldn’t make it to the MMRCA (Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) winning-post, I was always intrigued by the enigmatic air combat fighter, Typhoon. This was my dream sortie.

Clearly I didn’t know what to expect, especially since this sortie came straight after I landed after a long international flight in the cold, wet, damp Madrid, late in the night, and early next morning was my train from Madrid to Sevilla-Santa Justa (where the Moron Air Base is), 600 kilometers away from Madrid. After the two and a half hour train journey,

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That day’s mission planned for me was basically an hour-long BFM (basic fighting maneuvers or Dogfight), atop the Mediterranean, which included air-toair close combat. Two Typhoons (C-16s) would take off from the 111th Squadron and head towards the Alboran Sea, south-bound in the Mediterranean.

was a 45-minute journey by road to the Air Base. The NATO military base, Moron Air Base, which houses the 11th Wing of the Spanish Air Force is one out of the two home bases of the Eurofighter Typhoon.

With my well-hydrated body, I reached on time for my briefing, but clearance. was told that we would have to wait Meanwhile the Moron Air Base before we got weather clearance, Commander Col. Carlos de Ysasiwhich was nowhere in sight as the Ysasmendi Krauel, got chatting with rains simply wouldn’t stop and the me. He told me how Moron was half sky was overcast. I looked at the dark, American, and was 75-years old. The gloomy sky and remembered Lord US Air Force stationed there was for Buddha, as it was Buddha Poornima the US Marines and they were dedithat day, and wondered if Buddha cated for the African countries, a kind would smile at me. He did, as the of a crisis task force. The Moron Air rain stopped after a while and we got Base was home to the Spanish Air

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E x p e r t Force’s 11th Wing, which is one of the Eurofighter Typhoon Wings. The other one being Albacete, which is the 14th Wing, 250 kilometers South-east of Madrid. These were the two units of the Spanish Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighters.

Moron Air Base also has P-3s for maritime reconnaissance, as the Base is closer to the Mediterranean, and the SEADA and UME for disaster management and natural calamities.

The 11th Wing has two Squadrons - 111 is the Operational Squadron and the 113 is the training Squadron. The 11th Wing Typhoons are basically engaged in NATO’s support missions to the Baltic countries. The 111 Squadron Typhoons (C-16), also boasted of their participation in the Red Flag exercise and in the more recent Dissimilar Air Combat Training-2017 exercise in the Canary Islands.

That day’s mission planned for me was an hour-long BFM (basic fighting maneuvers or Dogfight), atop the Mediterranean, which included airto-air close combat. Two Typhoons (C-16s) would take off from the 111th Squadron and head towards the Alboran Sea, south-bound in the Mediterranean.

At 2.20 pm, two Tranche-1 Eurofighters taxied out on the wet tarmac under the yet cloudy sky, with a glint of the sun peeking from under the dark clouds. The two Eurojet EJ200 turbofans roared southwards, (Dollar-1 - the call sign of my aircraft - 11 76 ) and took off , followed by Dollar-2 (representing Red, while Dollar-1 was Blue).

After initial ‘G’ warm-up, we reached Delta-169. 300-kilometers in area, Delta-169 was our airspace for our mission, on the Mediterranean.

My years of deep breathing, yoga and fitness regime helped me. I could see the little ships down below, which looked like little fish swimming. My pilot was Captain D Hugo Astudillo Pascual, and Dollar-2 was being flown by Captain Tomas Ramos. I was told in my briefing, not to touch

As I compared the Typhoon cockpit to the huge, spacious Sukhoi, the agility and maneuverability of the Typhoon took my attention to the F-16, which I had experienced the same year. But I realised that the Eurofighter (EF-2000), manufactured by a fournation consortium, was better in agility and maneuverability. My onesentence comparison of the Typhoon with all the fighters that I’ve sortied in earlier, would simply be driving a Ferrari against a local brand.

anything black and yellow, as this was an operational aircraft.

As I was wondering about a disturbing piece of news about the Indian Air Force, about no female applicants in the fighter stream this year, after the IAF opened its doors to women fighter pilots and three of them making it to the training stage, Dollar-1 dived into a 360 degree. It was time to climb a little more and after cruising at 28,000 feet I thought of clicking a selfie and took my pic-

E x p r e s s i o n

ture. I was told in the intercom to look right, and I realised that Dollar-2 was close. This time the afterburners roared and we nose-dived with wet power. I sensed a little greying and saw my anti-G suit blowing up, but my abdomen breathing helped.

As I compared the Typhoon cockpit to the huge, spacious Sukhoi, the agility and maneuverability of the Typhoon took my attention to the F-16, which I had experienced the same year. But I realised that the Eurofighter (EF-2000), manufactured by a four-nation consortium, was better in agility and maneuverability. My one-sentence comparison of the Typhoon with all the fighters that I’ve sortied in earlier, would simply be driving a Ferrari against a local brand.

It was time to fire the air-to-air short range guided missile IRIS-T, as Dollar-2 was getting too close. We completed the ‘Dogfight’ successfully with a nose-up at .9 mach, and I looked up to see the sun shining bright. After an hour-long mission on the Mediterranean, it was time to head home. I was particularly thrilled to see the canard delta-wings through the glass canopy, which was transparent enough to give a feeling of absolutely nothing around, thereby merging into space.

I landed around 3.25 pm on a wet tarmac and was later told about two accidents that the Base had seen in the past, one that of a Saudi Arabian test pilot. I was called lucky by everyone, as I headed for a debrief.

I was happy and satisfied as a Typhoon flight was something I always dreamt of. The officers at the Base told me that I was the first Indian civilian and the world’s first civilian woman to experience a Eurofighter Typhoon sortie. I earned my badges and my certificate, handed over to me by the Base Commander, before I started for the railway station to board the highspeed rail from Sevilla-Santa Justa to Madrid. All my tiredness had vanished completely.

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B l o g

Menstruation and New Age Taboos

When was the last time you heard a girl say out loud, “I am on my periods.” Umm..

Never? Something that half the world’s population deals with every single month, and we can’t even make our voices audible enough for it? As the world celebrated the World Menstrual Hygiene day on the 28th of May, our reporter Ayesha Thatte had a little something to say about the issue.

A

s a society, we may have grown leaps and bounds in certain areas of life, but when it comes to Periods, it continues to be a taboo.

Forget the ban on entering temples and kitchens. Forget hygiene related issues, and forget people’s cringe on hearing the forbidden word- Period.

We need a change not in the people around us, but in ourselves. Change doesn’t necessarily have to be ‘talking’ about menstruation openly, but also being sensitive towards it and accepting it as a very normal biological process.

To start with, there is a major communication gap regarding menstruation in most homes. Girls are hesitant in telling their fathers and brothers that the cramps and weakness is because of nothing else but periods! My house is a rare exception, where menstruating women participate equally in Poojas or Indian rituals. My mom introduced the concept of periods to me when I was nine. She tries to make period conversations comfortable between me and my dad, so after a few awkward years it is now a very normal thing for us. It is also the reason I can write about it so openly. But unlike my house, there are numerous others where girls aren’t even aware of such a thing as periods, until they get their first. These are the houses where the exchange of pads between females is a secret process and girls have zero

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confidence in wearing white shorts or pants. Speaking of hesitation, we all often use the phrase “I’m down” to tell people subtly that we’re on our period. Sometimes, when we can’t say it publicly, just a glare or signal towards the lower abdomen works. For teenagers like me, worst case scenario is in P.E lessons when the coach asks why we can’t play and we have possibly the dumbest response to it- “Sir… girl problems”. What makes us hesitant in telling a person that we have the monthly cycle of blood flowing out of our bodies? We don’t use weird phrases to ask for lunch, or to go to the washroom. Then why so for periods?

Why is everything portrayed in a pad-ad so metaphorical? Periods do not stop a girl from pursuing her dreams in life; neither do they make her any less confident of herself. The blue liquid representing blood is very convenient, because Red- the AC-

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TUAL colour of blood- is apparently disgusting.

Chemists give us sanitary napkins especially in opaque black plastic bags.

The irony being, pads are the only thing they hand over in those bags so everyone clearly knows what’s inside a black bag coming from a chemist’s store. This really just defeats the purpose of the bag, but the point here is WHY be ashamed of showing the world that you bought a sanitary napkin?!

These little aspects enforce taboos, and no matter how much we ‘talk’ about periods, a change is not possible until we willingly accept the beautiful phenomenon that makes us all women.

By Ayesha Thatte Class XII Step by Step School, Noida

A r t

A t t a c k

Mossad-The Intelligence Agency

The Modernization of varanasi

Condition in Iran

Iran Crying For its nuclear Power

Color

Riot!

By Nidish Kukreja Class XI Sri Venkateshwar International School, Dwarka

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Volume 02 | Issue 12 | July 2017 | 43

S t u d y

G u i d e

Canada vs. the United States:

Comparing College Systems Did the recent events in America, befuddle your mind about which country to study in? Our expert, Urvashi Malik helps you analyse the pros and cons of the neighbouring education systems.

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f late, the political and economic climate has sparked a debate in the education world, about alternatives to the U.S. education. While a number of countries come to mind when you debate the educational alternatives, including the new-age college systems in India like Ashoka, the closest comparison often ends up being Canada.

The countries are culturally similar and offer similar options. But there is more to that decision than choosing the most attractive president.

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Quality of Education: The first

question is, are they equally good? A lot of people reference rankings here.

Since rankings are done by university and not by country, there are a lot more US universities that show up in the first several spots. Then again, the US has well over 3000+ universities, Canada has about 98. In sheer numbers it makes sense that the US colleges and universities have a greater proportion.

So we compare and highlight specifics. In terms of a broad based,

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liberal arts education, the United States has been successful for a very long time. However, Canada has been keeping up. The differences arise in size for one. While in the United States, the private colleges like Harvard College and Stanford are often top of the list, in Canada, its Universities. And like most universities as opposed to colleges, class sizes are often larger.

Certain universities like the Rotman School of Business and Waterloo’s Computer Science Co-op

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are well known amongst Indian students who understand the value of their education. But students shouldn’t disregard McGill and UToronto which are both fantastic in a variety of subjects including the liberal arts.

Factors for admission: American

and Canadian universities generally differ in their approach to the admissions process. In Canada, the admissions process is transparent and straightforward. Students are primarily assessed based on upperlevel grades in high school, and a supplementary application essay.

Though, sometimes, for more competitive programs, SAT scores are required.

This seems far easier than the holistic system that the American universities use which requires a lot more data. Besides grades, SAT scores, there are numerous essays, letters of recommendation, not to mention an emphasis on a varied extracurricular experience (including internships and community service).

There is one complication though.

Canada does not have a Common Application which means students must submit separate applications to each university.

You may assume it is “easier” to get in. While in the past there have been fewer applications to the popular Canadian universities than to the popular American ones, it is getting competitive year by year so it is important to be realistic rather than Quality of Life (Weather): Unipinning hopes on just one or two versity of British Columbia is on the West Coast of Canada, close to universities.

Seattle and extremely popular with Finances: This may make your par- students from India because of simients happy! Canadian universities larities in weather, but it is safe to are cheaper than American ones say that Canada doesn’t often prowhen it comes to tuition, often vide the same diversity in weather less than ¾ the price of American that America does. Universities are schools. However, they aren’t as largely in places where winters get generous with scholarships since very cold and there are not too many they are public universities, some- alternatives with the weather, it is a thing that is true of public universi- huge factor in your decision making ties in America as well. process.

Canadian universities are cheaper than American ones when it comes to tuition, often less than ¾ the price of American schools. However, they aren’t as generous with scholarships since they are public universities, something that is true of public universities in America as well.

After Graduation: This may be

one of the greatest factors now that America seems to be tightening the opportunities to work there with the H1B restrictions and the travel bans.

Even the student visa for America allows for 1 year of internships following graduation, removing some of the privileges the STEM majors had. Canada makes it relatively easier to work and stay in the country, encouraging talented students to work there. This factor resulted in a number of hilarious t-shirts following the recent presidential elections in America where disappointed voters expressed interest in moving to Canada. For this reason specifically, we see more and more students seeking opportunities in Canada.

So, you see there is more than the battle between the presidents of these countries. This comparison is important to consider when you plan your future, and if you ever have more specific questions, we at CollegeCore Education have over 17 years of experience helping students every year with their applications to these countries.

For more information, log on to http://www.collegecore.in/

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Volume 02 | Issue 12 | July 2017 | 45

R A P

U P

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Director: James Gunn Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista When the sequel to the much awaited ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ was announced, fans were ecstatic yet wary. In the past, sequels have disappointed many and we all hoped this would not be the case with Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2. Well, I am happy to report that our prayers have been answered.

Not only is the sequel as good as

the original, it succeeds in balancing a multitude of storylines, and delivering a story which will have an impact on Marvel fans for long after they have left the theatre.

‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2’ returns with the original cast and some new, delightful additions. It follows from where we left off: Star Lord (Chris Pratt) and his crew

Wonder Woman

Director: Patty Jenkins Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright Our favorite Amazonian princess has hit the theatres, and we are anything but calm.

Gal Gadot plays the titular character of ‘Wonder Woman’, in a movie adaptation of one of the most famous DC comic characters.

The origin story revolves around Princess Diana, crafted out of clay and the only child on Themyscira, the obscure island. Over the years, she grows up to be a fine young woman, raised on the fables and legends of when the amazons were a force to be reckoned

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heading off to the great unknown for more adventures. As the trailers have already revealed, the group comes across a man (Kurt Russell) claiming to be Peter Quill’s father.

The rest of the movie follows the journey of the Guardians into discovering whether Russell is telling the truth, and the repercussions it will have on everyone. The dialogue, witty and sardonic, will leave the whole audience in splits and the CGI effects are so good that people will have to remind themselves continuously that the various new dimensions they see, are simply make believe.

Though the movie drags on for a bit, it quickly picks up the pace and delivers scenes which are not only full of action, but are also heartfelt. It sets up the stage for more movies to follow, while connecting itself with the other movies in the MCU. While all cast members are equally good and deliver three dimensional, fleshed out characters, baby Groot steals the show. Come for baby Groot dancing, stay for the emotions.

By Siddhidatri Mishra Class XII Sanskriti School, New Delhi

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Hindi Medium

Director: Saket Chaudhary Starring: Irrfan Khan, Saba Qamar, Tilottama Shome, Amrita Singh, Deepak Dobriyal The story revolves around a couple with elite class. So they try to get her Mita (Saba Qamar) and Raj Batra into the best English Medium school (Irrfan Khan) of Chandni Chowk. of Delhi. They even go to a consulRaj owns a fashion studio of ‘origi- tant (Tilottama Shome) for getting nal copies’ of famous designers. their daughter into a good school.

They are well off, but money alone But Pia fails to get admiss ion anydoesn’t make you ‘high class’. They where the main reason being the both were educated from a govern- lack of fluency in English language ment school so they could under- of parents. Then Raj and Mita try stand the struggle of not-so-good- getting an admission throug h the in-English Indian. They didn’t want reserved 25% seats for the poor. their daughter Pia to feel nervous or The film portrays the reality of uncomfortable while talking to peo- our country that we tend to respect ple, they wanted her to feel at home the language of our invade rs more

with, and trained to be as powerful as no other. However, the amazons have been dormant for long, and all Diana wants is a chance to test out her true potential. This chance arrives in the form of Steve Trevor- an undercover spy who’s lost his way.

He tells her about the destruction the world war is causing, and Diana finds her true calling- defeating Ares and bringing peace to the world.

‘Wonder Woman’ is wholesome and entertaining, with the right mix of spice, action scenes, storyline and a sprinkle of humor. Diana is starkly

different from all other superheroes, with her witty dialogues and strong belief in the fact that Greek gods like Zeus and Ares could exist in real life as well. She fights the Nazis, questions the misogyny and learns the customs of the British, all while having a soft spot for babies. However, what makes Wonder Woman truly WONDERful is that she is the epitome of power, yet learning new tidbits everyday- thereby giving her a human touch, and enchanting the entire movie hall.

In conclusion, I would like to bor-

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than our own language. In one of the dialogues it says that in India English is not a language, it’s a class.

It explains how we tend to underestimate anyone and everyone who cannot speak English. This film will make you question yourself, “Are we still living under that colonial rule?”

Officially, we might be free from the British, but we are till now the slaves of their language. If a French or a German speaks broken English, it’s fine, but if an Indian stammers while speaking in English, that person is considered worthless, as said

by Raj in the excellent speech he gives at Pia’s school.

The other aspect of the film also portrays the inadequacies and loopholes present in our education system where the seat reserved for a poor child is taken away by general category child. The character of the principal of an English Medium school depicts how the school authorities make a business out of education. The character of Shyam Prakash, a laborer was small but worth remembering, a poor man with a golden heart.

By Ayesha Malhotra Class XII Ahlcon International School, Mayur Vihar

row a famous quote from my friend James Gordon- “Wonder Woman is the hero that we need, but don’t deserve.”

By Sanika Rahul Savdekar Class XI Amity International School, Sector-46, Gurgaon

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called Mal’akh, who The Lost Symbol, a seeks the package work by Brown, folhe possesses, which lowed ‘The Da Vinci supposedly is to lead Code’, the book that him to divine powers. brought him much The book is about name and fame. how Langdon, along The Lost Symbol with Katherine (Solfeatures the same omon’s sister and central character, researcher in Noetic Robert Langdon (the Science) go after the Harvard SymboloLost Symbol in order gist), who is called to save Peter. in abruptly by Peter The book is filled Solomon (Langwith puzzles, clues don’s friend, head and surprises. To of Smithsonian Inany person interstitution and a highranking freemason) The Lost Symbol ested in suspense to deliver a lecture Dan Brown novels, the book is a sweet treat. But, and is asked to bring in a package handed over to him by the book can be a drag at times. The Peter years ago. The story takes a turn plot is interesting yet I found it a bit when after reaching the United States repetitive, which made some twists Capitol, Langdon comes to know that quite obvious to anyone who is familPeter has been kidnapped by a person iar with his style. There is one major

twist in the novel (which I wouldn’t reveal now; read the book for it!) which is all too dramatic.

According to me, one of the interesting characters in this novel is Inoue Sato, the CIA director. She is a powerful character, even though Langdon, Katherine and Mal’akh dominate the story. A tough woman; it is wonderful to see her give Langdon a hard time and boss around.

I would recommend this book also for the sake of the amount of research that would have gone into writing it.

On the whole, if you are a thrillseeker and don’t mind knowing about freemasonry, then go for it! I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

of our life reside.

In this fast paced In this book she world where everycompels us to ponone is striving to be der more deeply the best and always about the digital trying to achieve revolution and the results in a competichange it has bought tive society, Bubbles over on us, it has Sabharwal brings brought us face to our attention to the face with the dismall, yet most siglemma that came as nificant reality of our a part and parcel of human nature: Huthe advent of techman values, through nological progress, her wonderful literand how we have let ary manipulation gadgets rule over us and skills in the book, Dude It’s about the Dude, It’s About The Attitude and let them express Attitude. It is a beautiBubbles Sabharwal our emotions with some set answers ful encapsulation of a teens’ innermost feelings and thoughts and numerically valued information.

She appeals to our inner conand how we can go through everyday life with much more meaning to our ev- science and asks a daunting question, eryday actions by just focusing on the “Are we living our lives to the fullest? little things that make up our whole day, Are we doing the right things in order because it is these little thoughts and ac- to achieve happiness?” tions that let us connect with the world She makes us youngsters ponder better and in which the building blocks upon our actions, reach for solutions

and most importantly look deeper within ourselves and find the real person that we are behind the shallow mask we put on in front of the society.

In the book, she breaks down the most basic of our problems into chapters with many different topics and explains their application and workings to us through instances in her life and also her beliefs , she makes us see them in a new light and makes us understand that they are not something insurmountable and are just a part of our life, and dealing with them in a positive manner can help us improve by leaps and bounds.

All in all it is a thoroughly enlightening book that transforms our way of thinking and view of society.

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By Manasa Narayanan Class XII Delhi Public School, Allahabad

By Rishika Tomar Class XII Ahlcon International School, Mayur Vihar

W o r t h y

O p p o n e n t

13 Reasons To?

This summer witnessed social media attention, and personal discussions wherever we went, mostly centred around one thing: the Netflix original series, “13 Reasons Why.” Based on a book by Jay Asher, the series sparked wide controversies. Our reporters discuss the two sides of the coin.

Finally, Raising Awareness

A Star-studded Letdown.

‘Th1rteen R3asons Why’, as styled on screen, is a Netflix original series, produced by the adept, actor and singer, Selena Gomez. ‘Thirteen Reasons Why’ is one of the best rated Netflix series till date, with very positive reviews by the critics. With its growing popularity amongst teenagers, there is also a growing curiosity of what the 2nd season will be all about.

As intensely and magnificently each episode is shown, there are a lot of cliffhangers at the end of the season which are only leading to assumptions.

While binge-watching the show, I realized that in the end it’s always the small things that take up the biggest place in your heart. The reasons Hannah gave might seem petite and usual, but when someone’s already going through so much, the small things are the ones that save you. The little things aren’t so little that they should go unappreciated. Being an audience, I personally believe that there hasn’t been a better show that emphasized so deeply upon bullying and rape, while season 2 promises much more. It’s imperative, and I repeat, it’s imperative to be kind, as you never know the battles fought by the person on the other end.

The series rated 8.9/10 by IMDb and 9.5/10 by Tv.com is a must-watch, as everyone should be able to understand and realize the fact that suicide can never be a solution in a situation of helplessness. One should always try to be strong and stand for themselves as life will always be a rollercoaster ride, and giving up should neither be an option, nor a choice.

There are a lot of things the new teen frenzy ‘Thirteen Reasons Why’ got right. A talented cast, its music, and its ability to humanize the victims for a start. Unfortunately, even all of this wasn’t enough to save the show from the fatal flaws embedded deep in its roots.

As someone who has read and fallen in love with the story Jay Asher built, I could not help but feel slightly robbed and disappointed after watching the series adaptation.

They implicitly tried to turn the show into a mystery/thriller, which in my opinion shifted the focus of the audience from its actual message, which was its attempt to raise awareness about bullying and suicide. The story in itself was a winner; it did not need the extra dramatization.

The book Tony sure wouldn’t be too happy with the unasked for counseling duty he was awarded in the series adaptation. Hannah asked him to make sure the tapes were passed on, he did not sign up for the babysitter/therapist role. Give the guy a break.

All of this was still okay. What completely ruined it for me was finding out that the series was to be revived for a second season. Did I hear it right? Um, excuse me?

THERE IS ONLY ONE BOOK! At this point, I could not help but feel cheated. It genuinely felt like they were milking the story for all it is worth. I am apprehensive to watch the second season. It could potentially ruin what, despite all its flaws, is a good story with a strong message that a lot of people need to comprehend.

By Amani Chowdhry Class XII Ahlcon International School, Mayur Vihar

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By Vitasta Singh Class XII Scottish International High School, Gurgaon

W a t c h

T h i s

S p a c e

DPS Girls set TWO WORLD RECORDS

Delhi Public School, Sonepat

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wo girl students of Delhi Public School, Sonepat, both sisters, have made two world records in mountaineering, this summer.

Suryassangyini Chaudhary, a class 3 student of DPS Sonepat, who shot to fame last year by being certified as the youngest in the world to reach the 16,300 ft. high Kanchenjunga Base Camp, at Goechala, Sikkim, has bettered her own record.

This time she has bettered her own previous height by 700 feet, to reach the 17,000 feet high Camp 2 of Mount Kala Naag, also called as The Black Peak. Mt.Kala Naag is the highest peak (21000 feet) in the Bandarpoonch range of Himalayas, in Garhwal, Uttarakhand.

Suryassangyini, now 8 years old, trekked for 50 kms, through the Govind National Park, in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, to reach the 17,000 feet high Camp 2 of Mt. Kala

Naag. In doing so, she braved temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius, stayed in snow bound areas for 5 out of 14 days of her trek, and even did technical mountaineering using Ropes, Carabiners and Ice-axes, to cross dangerous slopes of Moraine, Snow and Ice. The little braveheart accomplished this feat on the morning of 6th June, 2017 at 1130 hrs, and topped it by hoisting the Indian National Tricolor at the Camp 2 site and singing the National Anthem, dedicating her achievement to her Mother, her School and her Motherland. After the National Anthem, she hoisted the flag of her school, DPS Sonepat at her destination point.

On return from her 100 kms long trek, she was felicitated by and handed over her world record making certificate by the local administration of Uttarakhand, as well as the Har Ki Doon Protection and Mountaineer-

ing Association.

Mr. Chain Singh Rawat, Secretary, Har Ki Doon Protection and Mountaineering Association, when contacted, said, “Delhi Public School, Sonepat is the first school in the world whose Flag has reached such heights at Mount Kala Naag.”

Accompanying her on this trek was her elder sister, Manassangyini Chaudhary, now 11 years 8 months old. Manassangyini had been certified last year as India’s youngest to scale the 16300 feet high Kanchenjunga Base Camp, where also she had accompanied her younger sister Suryassangyini. For Manassangyini, this year has brought a World Record to her credit, for becoming the world’s youngest to scale the 18,000 feet high Camp 3, the Summit Camp of Mt. Kala Naag. In doing so, she has bettered her previous record height by 1700 feet. It is well known that Manassangyini is shaping up as the youngest Environment Crusader of her times, Last year, she was appointed as the Brand Ambassador for the UP Government’s Hindon River Rejuvenation Plan.

When asked about the role their school plays in their achievements, both the girls said emphatically, “Our school supports us a lot and ProChairperson of the school Ms. Ranjoo Mann encourages us to follow the Vision that we have chosen for our lives.”

They also said, “Mountaineering is an extreme sport, which builds a strong character and excellent leadership qualities. Every school should take it up as an integral part of its education.”

Asked about the preparations they put into such a grueling expedition, the girls said that they had been undergoing NCC training for the last two months to prepare for this. They had also been regularly practicing Yoga and Meditation, so as to strengthen their Mind and Body for such extreme conditions.

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Right Age to Start Prep!

Though many parents detest the idea of joining coaching at a tender age, there are others who support the same. Psychologists, on the other hand, are of the view that robbing children of their precious childhood can have serious implications in later life. Our experts at Aakash Institute help us decipher the mystery behind the right age to start preparing for entrance exams.

S

cores become a decisive factor when one wants to opt for any specific stream or get through an entrance exam. While it is time to indulge in playful activities and games, children as young as 12 years old are running the rat race for a coveted place in one of the elite colleges of the country. True, scores are a screening

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factor in every academic step further.

For this reason, many students enrol themselves for professional coaching that would gear them for the impending exams ahead.

Mayank Chawla, a student of class 7, spends his weekends at a coaching institute for the preparation of competitive exams which would in turn

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prepare him for entrance exams that he might attempt 5 years from now.

Though, many parents detest the idea of joining coaching at such a tender age, there are others who support the same. They believe that the earlier the better. Psychologists, on the other hand, are of the view that robbing children of their precious childhood

can have serious implications in later life. The right age to start preparing for entrance exams, thus, is still a debate.

That said, there is actually never a right age for preparation of exams.

What you need to excel with flying colours is not a right age but right books, regular studies, good study material and best guidance. Your success will not be determined by how early you start but how well you comprehend your lessons. However, these days students don’t want to settle for an average college with a low score. Without a flicker of reflection, they figure out, that the best way to accomplish their goals is by joining the most popular coaching centres. Some join as early as class 6th, 7th and 8th, while there are others who join in class 9th and 10th. On the other hand there are also students who join as soon as they put their foot forward into class 11th and ardently prepare for 2 years. Then, there are also students who join crash courses just before the exams and strenuously prepare themselves for the same, swiftly placing the top rank into their bag. The catch here is in not finding the right age but the most doable and best way for you to prepare for these entrance exams.

True, coaching gives the right direction in terms of career planning and exposes you to efficacious strategies that would help you smoothly cruise through your exams. It is to be noted that subjects taught at school fail to brush student’s analytical skills or hone their capabilities. It is here that courses offered by coaching institutes are extremely beneficial. They not only help build strong fundamentals but also simultaneously prepare you for boards along with entrance exam preparation. Enrolling into such courses makes you ready at an age where everyone is still struggling with basic concepts. Moreover, students are taught time management among other skills at an early age which leads to their holistic develop-

What you need to excel with flying colours is not a right age but right books, regular studies, good study material and best guidance. Your success will not be determined by how early you start but how well you comprehend your lessons.

ment. Joining such courses develops your critical thinking skills, thus helping you acquire an edge over others right from the beginning. Moreover, joining a coaching institute at an early age develops a competitive factor that is essential as you move towards joining the rat race to success. It prepares you for future entrance exams, thereby enriching your knowledge and instilling immense confidence in you to face such exams with zest and vigour. It, thus, prepares you to face challenges at an early age by developing your skills over a period of time and polishing them slowly.

Fundamentally, though, starting early can help in planning strategically for the most coveted entrance exams ahead. Utilising these years

wisely can lead to in depth learning where students can give more time to understanding of lessons and grasping of concepts. At Aakash, we offer all types of courses which help students prepare diligently and with complete determination with right tools at their support. Students can choose from a plethora of courses offered by us that best suit their needs. From foundation and short term courses to two year courses, we ensure best quality coaching to students that would not

only help them pass school/board exams with flying colours but also crack competitive and entrance exams held across the country. With digital becoming the new age mall, Aakash iTutor and Aakash Live have redefined the way students learn offering innovative teaching-learning methods that build solid foundation by engaging students in video lectures and making complex concepts easy and simple to comprehend.

Finally, unravelling the mystery behind the right age to start preparing for entrance exam, we can conclude that the right age and time is now. Irrespective of how much time is left for your entrance exams, you can start preparing today and leverage your opportunities.

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J u n i o r

D I Y

Glow in the Dark Slime It’s hard to imagine that a simple thing could give us so much joy. Enter slime!

Come to think of it, why do we enjoy playing with this gooey goodness? No one knows..but what we know is that Slime is amazing, so let’s look at a simple way of churning out glow in the dark slime.

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J u n i o r

D I Y

You will require: • • • • •

Lens solution Shaving foam ( Make sure to use ready foam and not the gel) Glow in the dark paint Clear glue A glass bowl

Now follow these steps:

• • • •

•

To the bowl, add three small bottles of clear glue.

To the glue, add 3 teaspoons of glow in the dark paint. Mix well.

To the mixture, add shaving foam, as per the quantity of your mixture. Mix well.

Now add 3-4 teaspoons of lens solution to the mixture. As you mix, you will see that the mixture has started to take the form of slime. Once you are happy with the texture, scoop it out and your slime is ready.

Shine some light on the slime to charge the glow in the dark paint, switch of the light and have fun with your glow in the dark slime.

Keep in mind:

• •

You can add, colours, glitter, confetti, and many more thing to your slime to make it more interesting. So don’t stop experimenting!

To watch video, look for “Mad Stuff With Rob DIY Glow in the Dark Slime” on YouTube

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

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J u n i o r

B l o g

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J u n i o r

S l a m

Slip Slip Slide Twist and glide , I am Jake the snake , I can hide in the shade Hiss Shift Sink and wish I am Jake the snake , I can bend my spine into lots of shapes , Gulp an egg or a bunch of grape , Chase an insect by the lake , I can make my home in holes and caves , Scare a brave man while he shaves , Slip Slide Twist and glide I am Jake the snake

By Deepshikha Mahato Class VII Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar

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R a p

U p

Return of the Young Prince This heart-warming book, written by A.G Roemmers, is dedicated to Jesus Christ, the light which guides the author.

Alejandro Guillermo Roemmers writes of a time when the world was ravaged by war, violence and injustice and was rapidly losing the meaning of peace, innocence and forgiveness. It was full of sadness and delusion.

The young prince, on his return, spreads the message of peace and forgiveness in the dire time of need.

Man is like an oyster shell, you will never know when the pearl comes out. Difficulties are like rocks which

will always make your way tough.

This book also contains the valuable and sacred teachings of Lord Buddha.

This book brings across a very strong and motivational message. It reminds us of the values we should never abandon: importance of friendship, family, community and compassion, the pillars of every civilized society. I encourage children of ages between 8-12 to read this book and realize the importance of the message in the background of the ongoing war and turmoil in the world.

By Kartikeya Singh Class VII Sanskriti School, New Delhi

A.G Roemmers

Boyz Rule and Girlz Rock (Series) The two series have been written for young independent readers for ages 4 to 8 years in easy to read dialogue set play script style, with focus on pastimes, naughty antics and sports of boys and girls.

Even though the names suggest a gender bias, but readers of any gender would find themselves taking to the books wholeheartedly. There are no apples and oranges to compare here but only different flavors leading to perspectives, thus further negating the gender bias for the prospective reader. On the other hand, young readers of the opposite gender may take more interest and would thus be benefited from the series of the opposite gender. A Pan Macmillan series, these books have illustrations by a variety of clever people from Gus Gorden to Susy Boyer and Mitch Vane which further add to the fun of reading and help in injecting infectious humour at the right places.

To add to the gaiety and the pull of the series, the books are full of interesting fun chest of jokes, vocabulary and quizzes that will keep the reader hooked and busy making the book extremely difficult to put down till the end. The books are broken into chapters and include a glossary of terms (‘Lingo’), tips, information and a Think Tank where kids are challenged to ponder over the story they’ve just read and answer a quiz. School readers just got really cool.

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Shey and Phil Kettle, and other writers

By Naayaa Mehta Class VII The Shri Ram School, Moulsari

DL. No.- DL(C)-14/1404/2017-2019 | Date of Publication- 01-07-2017 | Date of Posting-04th-07th | Posting Office-Srt Nagar Po. New Delhi-110055