School LIVE August 2015

L O O H C S

E V LI RNI NO DELENG/2015/63089

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Volume 1 | Issue 11 AuGusT 2015

Twin Powers Nungshi & Tashi Malik

World’s first twins to conquer tallest peaks in 7 continents

View From The Top CBSE Class XII Toppers

Principal of Prudence Director of The British School Vanita Uppal

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contributors

S C H O O L

L I V E EDITOR in chief

JITIN CHAWLA

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

NIVEDITA SINGH

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

Richa Aniruddha richa@schoollive.in richa@school-live.com EDITOR Teena Baruah teenabaruah@gmail.com Business & Content Development Prerna Jaiswal prernajaiswal@hotmail.com EDITORIAL TEAM Garima Srivastava & Kritika Negi DESIGNER Ashish Kumar Mimansa Grafix For AdvertiSING richa@school-live.com

Kavita Devgan

Nutritionist, weight management specialist and health writer

Prerna Bindra

For subscription editor@school-live.com

C o n ta c t

Wildlife conservationist and award winning journalist

9810560472

S C H O O L

LIVE

Ratna Singh

RNI NO DELENG/2015/63089

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Volume 1 | Issue 11 AuGusT 2015

India’s first female fulltime naturalist guide and an animal lover

Twin Powers Nungshi & Tashi Malik

World’s first twins to conquer tallest peaks in 7 continents

View From The Top CBSE Class XII Toppers

Principal of Prudence Director of The British School Vanita Uppal

School LIVE : Printed and Published by Richa Aniruddha from House No. 52, Pocket 52, Chittaranjan Park, New Delhi-110019 Printed at Eminent Offset A 61, DDA SHED, OKHLA IND AREA PH II, NEW DELHI Owned by FUTURE READY EDUCATION SERVICES PVT LTD. EDITED BY RICHA ANIRUDDHA

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Chicken Salt &

Pepper

Recipe BY Meena Jaiswal

Ingredients: Chicken 500 gm onion (paste) 1 medium garlic (paste) 3-4 cloves Salt to taste Ghee 2 tsp ground black pepper 2 tsp white vinegar 1 tbs Red chilli powder a pinch

Please send us your recipe at editor@school-live.com.

The best entry will win a Goldiee gift hamper.

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Procedure: Boil the chicken in 150ml water. Remove the chicken pieces and keep the stock aside. Marinate the boiled chicken with vinegar, salt and red chilli powder for half an hour. Reduce the stock to half quantity and keep aside. In a deep pan heat the ghee and sautĂŠ onion garlic paste till light golden in colour. Add black pepper powder and chicken and reduced stock.

Simmer for 5 minutes. Serve with Indian breads.

ed-note

S C H O O L

L I V E

Hi All!

This month we’ve taken up an issue which is very close to my heart: Environment.

You know, as a mother it freaks me out when I hear that Delhi’s air pollution is so bad that thousands of children in the city are growing up with irreparable lung damage. It scares me to think that the lungs of a child growing up in Delhi will almost be as bad as a smoker’s lungs when the child reaches his/her 30s.

But what can we do? The answer is TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. Instead of putting all the blame on the government, politicians, bureaucrats, agencies, we need to understand that our health, our lives, our surroundings, our country, our mother earth are our responsibility too.

From a simple act of saying “No to plastic”, to constructing a rainwater harvester in our home, there are numerous ways in which we can make a difference.

How about some simple ways to start with?

Don’t only plant a tree, ADOPT one. You want to see what magic it does? Go and hug a tree.

Going to a friend’s birthday party? How about gifting a plant? Your friendship will grow with the plant!

Remember to switch off all lights when you leave a room.

Sometimes it’s OKAY to stay without an AC. In fact it’s good for your health.

Carry a cloth/jute bag when you go shopping. Make some innovative ones from your old T-shirts, torn jeans.

But these steps need to be taken before it’s too late. Actually it already is! ACT NOW.

Wishing you all cleaner air to breathe,

MY ‘IT’ LIST

te Unpos Ra hatria

by Ma

On my ipod

ome, Take me H oads R y tr un Co enver

by John D

Lovingly yours

shelf in my BodoLketter

On My Plate

Richa Aniruddha Like us on Facebook/School-LIVE tweet to me @richaanirudh

Mangoes

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Volume 1| Issue 11| August 2015 | 5

The Eco Wall

When children built a wall for their school compound using discarded plastic bottles

Panchayat Union Middle School, Achimangalam, Karur District, Tamil Nadu

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tudents of the Panchayat Union Middle School in Achimangalam, a village in Tamil Nadu, were not happy with a long, broad drain that lay immediately beyond their school compound and was perpetually clogged with discarded plastic bottles. Apart from being filthy, it also presented a safety hazard for the children who often played close by.

One day, their teacher told them about Design For Change (DFC), a global movement, led by children like them, who believe that they are not helpless, change is possible and that they can drive it. A movement that helps children become changemakers in their communities.

It asked them to look around for a problem that really bothered them and imagine a solution to fix it. Then to get down to implementing their solution and, then, tell others about their story of change. Feel, Imagine,

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Do and Share, as their teacher put it.

They immediately knew it’s the clogged drain they want to do something about. They decided to build a brick-and-mortar wall that shields the school compound from the drain, but discovered that it will cost something to the tune of Rs 7 lacs!

So, they put their heads together, again, and came up with the idea of using ‘Ecobricks’ to build an ‘Eco Wall’. What they had on mind was to pack the discarded plastic bottles tight with sand and stack them together using cement. This way, they would have a raw material that was cheap, readily available and pretty much a waste.

They managed to procure close to 1,800 plastic bottles from all over the village. These were categorized, according to their shape and size, and converted into eco bricks. Making a human chain, children trans-

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Design For Change (DFC) is a global movement that helps children in 30+ countries drive change in their communities. It asks children to look for a problem that really bothers them, imagine a solution, implement it and tell others about their story of change.

This is the simple framework of Feel, Imagine, Do and Share, or FIDS For KIDS. ferred them to the site of construction. They were joined by a few of the parents, who also contributed a few bags of cement. After the base was levelled, children started stacking the ecobricks, and soon enough, they had built a sturdy wall. It was cured, and, then, plastered with mud, followed by cement.

Interestingly, the Eco Wall was built in just under Rs 4,000! More importantly, this experience helped the children gain the “I Can!” confidence, and the belief that no problem is too big for them to solve!

These students are now headed to Mexico to represent India in the Annual Be The Change Conference organized by DFC! Join the Design For Change movement by participating in the DFC I CAN! School Challenge 2015! Visit www.designforchangeindia.com to download the toolkits!

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contents

L I V E 5

Editor’s Note

8

School in Spotlight: Presentation Convent School

12

View From The Top: Interview with CBSE Class XII toppers

Cover

14 Exclusive: Interview with mountaineer twins Nungshi and Tashi Malik 18

Mentor’s Note: Director of The British School Vanita Uppal

22 Fit For Life: Nutritionist Kavita Devgan on how to stop childhood obesity

A

Quick Edit

few years ago I was chatting with a hipsterish young man at a party about the tricky balance of being a hands-on mommy and a full-time journalist in a leading newspaper in India.

He heard me patiently and then with amazing sincerity said to me, “Connect with nature. You need to stay outdoor more. Nothing is more important.” His words stayed with me and now when I potter around in my cozy little terrace garden, watching birds, squirrels approach me fearlessly, I understand how right he was. Richa, Prerna and I curated this environment issue with the hope to connect you with nature. Don’t miss the exceptional story of Nungshi and Tashi Malik, the twins who scaled peaks in 7 continents and lived to tell the tale. And they are just 23!

Happy reading!

24 Ask Nivedita

Teena Baruah

26 Expert Expression: Columns by wildlife enthusiasts Prerna Bindra and Ratna Singh 30 Positively Positive: Go Wild 32 Slam Poetry 33 Green Drive 34

FAD FOOD: Restaurant hopping at Khan Market

35 Career Chat 36 Rap up: Reviews 38 Worthy Opponent: I, Me, My Selfie 40 Page 99: Excerpts from Born Free: The Full Story 42 Potpourri: Timeline of Mahabodhi Tree

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Sustainability

in School Presentation Convent School in Delhi engages students in eco-friendly projects and green issues.

Prerna Jaiswal reports

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estled in the heart of Old Delhi, Presentation Convent School is an educational institution that is bringing up eco warriors. With a large focus on eco conservation and environmental awareness, integrated with the school curriculum, it is no surprise that the school eco club was

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adjudged the ‘Lead Eco-Club’ for Central Delhi by the Department of Environment, NCT of Delhi many times.

The school aims at raising students who are knowledgeable, skilled and dedicated citizens, who are willing to work individually and collectively towards achieving and

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In 2006, the Centre for Science and Environment declared it a Green School and in 2006 and 2007 conferred it the title of Globe School

maintaining a dynamic equilibrium between the quality of life and the quality of environment.

The Eco-Club of the school was established in 1997 and the school received an ISO certificate for EMS 14001: 2004 in 2000.

In 2006, the Centre for Science and Environment declared it a Green School and in 2006 and 2007 conferred it the title of Globe School.

Recently, the school has installed electronic waste disposal bins in the campus to sensitise the students about the harmful impact of toxic

S c h o o l

chemicals present in the waste.

The Eco club of the school investigates environmental issues, evolves alternative solutions and works towards sustainable development. It is keeping this in mind that every year since 2001, the club organises a debate on environmental issues in

which many prominent schools of Delhi participate.

Presentation Convent is an ecofriendly oasis where saplings are distributed to children and teachers on Children’s Day and Teachers’ Day respectively. Since 1998, even guests and dignitaries visiting the

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“We feel we have made a difference when a parent comes and tells us, “My daughter reminded me to switch off the lights and save electricity!”

Sr. Regi Joseph, Principal school are gifted saplings, instead of bouquets. Various workshops and seminars are organised at regular intervals and teachers also attend workshops/seminars organised by various environmental agencies like TERI, DEEKSHA, CSE, Department of Environment (NCT Delhi), IES, etc.

A zero garbage zone, the school installed a paper recycling unit in 2000 and various stationery items like files, folders, envelopes, writing pads, school letterheads, scribbling pads, bags and certificates are made from the recycled paper.

Water is another resource that the school is working extensively to conserve. Rainwater is harvested and waste water from the wash basins that does not contain any pollutants is recycled to water the lawns and to recharge the groundwater. A ‘water brigade’ comprising school students

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Eco-activities in school

checks leakage and wastage - this helps them to understand and realise the value of water conservation.

“The school now plans to adopt a nearby slum locality and create awareness about eco-conservation and preservation among its residents,” says Dr Meena Jethi, founder- coordinator of the school’s EcoClub, who has been felicitated by TERI for her work. “We also plan to stop usage of shiny wrapping paper and use recycled paper or newspapers.”

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Dew Drops, a yearly newsletter published by the school also reports about the new trends in eco conservation. Also, environment related questions are incorporated in the school examination. It is no wonder that a student, Vandana Bhatia, was chosen to represent India as Environment Ambassador to Japan in an exchange programme organised by the Department of Environment and Forest, Government of Delhi.

Presentation Convent School is

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• Anti-cracker campaign • Anti-polybag campaign • Eco tours for outdoor learning • Herbal garden with over 16 herbs • Yamuna cleaning campaigns • Eco-rangoli • Support to Swachha Bharat Abhiyaan • Tying rakhis to trees on ‘Van Mahotsav’ • Visit to landfills and thermal power plants a leading example of how children should be sensitised towards the Mother Earth and is helping raise young eco warriors who will definitely make the future greener.

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i n t e r n s h i p

s p e c i a l

View From Top School LIVE summer interns Ananya Mohanty, Khushi Singh and Siddhidatri Mishra get up close and personal with CBSE Class XII toppers Siddhidatri Mishra Interviews M. Gayatri, New Greenfields School Saket, All India CBSE Topper Why Commerce?

This field is related to our practical life. Also, I aspire to be a Chartered Accountant.

Extracurricular Activities I learnt painting and went to music classes once a week.

Class XI tougher than Class XII? I think it’s true to certain extent. Also, Class XII syllabus is more interesting than Class XI. Fight Distractions I also had mood swings and distractions. At times, studies became mo-

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notonous. So I took 5-10 minutes breaks. That really helped.

Social Media I don’t have accounts in any of the social networking sites. I think it is a waste of time.

Scary Maths I am a bit scared of Maths, so I used to practice it daily for 2 hours. That helped.

Tips to School LIVE Readers Just work hard with sincerity and regularity from Day 1, that’s it.

Khushi Singh Interviews Mythili Mishra, Amity

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School in Noida, CBSE Rank 2

Sweet Success I’m on top of the world (okay, country). But a month after the result, I am realising that the Board result is only one milestone that I have crossed. I have to keep moving forward.

Arts vs Science Though I heard people mention, “Only failures take Humanities” and find Science and Commerce interesting as well, Humanities is my one true love.

Extracurricular Activities I painted, participated in MUNs (Model United Nations), worked as Editor of my school newspaper and

T o p p e r s

T a l k

I don’t have accounts in any of the social networking sites.

I think it is a waste of time M. Gayatri, New Greenfields School Saket, All India CBSE Topper episode of Game of Thrones. So that’s probably one thing.

Science Vs Arts People who have to judge, will judge. I just want to say that do what you want to do and be interested in what you do and everything just opens up on its own.

generally just made sure that I wasn’t putting my life aside for the Boards.

Class XI tougher than Class XII? No. Class XI was a shocker, but a cakewalk nevertheless. Class XII brought with it competition and pressure. I’d say History and Psychology were tougher in Class XII. But it’s more about the kind of pressure you’re working under, rather than the course material.

don’t have the entire syllabus at the end of the term. So it’s not that difficult, especially in Humanities.

Unusual beliefs and superstitions I’m meticulous in what I do, so I used to sit in a particular position always and my books are arranged in a particular manner. I won’t call this superstition but every morning on the day of my exam, I used to watch one

Extracurricular Activities I used to drum. I’m a drummer. Plus, I used to practice Taekwondo. It’s hard to believe but I watched a lot of TV before my Boards. I didn’t really focus completely on my studies because I knew I wasn’t the kind of student who kept studying all day.

Future Plans At first I wanted to do IAS, though later I decided to pursue politics and Political Science. I am heading to the UK to pursue a degree in Political Science and International Relations from Durham University.

Tips to School LIVE Readers Choose subjects that you are passionate about, so that studying doesn’t seem like a chore.

Ananya Mohanty Interviews Saurabh Bhambri, KR Mangalam World School in Greater Kailash 2, CBSE Rank 2 Class XI tougher than Class XII? It depends on what sort of a support system you have. If you have good teachers backing you then there’ll be no difficulty. Plus in Class XI, you

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Twin Powers School LIVE interns Siddhidatri Mishra (Sanskriti School) and Khushi Singh (Sanskriti School) interview Nungshi and Tashi Malik, world’s first twins to climb the tallest peaks in seven continents. Teena Baruah reports

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E x c l u s i v e Khushi: How does it feel to break multiple records?

Tashi: Actually, we have been creating world records. We were the first twins to climb Everest. It’s in the 60th edition of the Guinness Book of World Records, released this year.

Khushi: Tell us about your school life.

Tashi: We have been to 10 schools!

We were also in boarding schools – Lawrence, Lovedale in Ooty, and Don Bosco in Manipur, etc. So we have had to adapt to changes.

Nungshi: The toughest part was to switch between so many boards – State Education Boards, ICSE and CBSE. Siddhi: Did you guys have any sort of sibling rivalry?

Nungshi: Heaps! We are the best of friends and the worst of enemies.

If it hadn’t been for the mountains, we would have never been together.

Mountaineering is very risky and challenging and it’s reassuring to have someone physically and mentally supporting you and motivating you to keep going. But mom still keeps calling us to say, don’t push each other off the summit.

Nungshi: We are are like friends with benefits. In the mountains, we have to make sure we are okay with each other as there have been instances when people have given up on other climbers and cut their rope.

Teena: When were you most thankful to have each other around?

Nungshi: On Everest, I was at 8,400 meters when my oxygen cylinder started malfunctioning. I didn’t realise till my eyes were shutting down and my pulse stopped. I was like a fish out of water. My Sherpa told me, “Nungshi go down.” I was in tears, because I had already climbed for 5-6 hours and was struggling to get there. Tashi stepped in and told me “Nungshi this is something we dreamt of together so let’s move on.”

We are campaigning for the Indian Girl child. Girls back home have so many invisible mountains that they overcome every day, Tashi

And then she used the last trump card and said, ‘Mom’s gold loan is in the bank’ and I thought maybe for their sake I should do this. Luckily a guide who was going down gave me his regulator.

Teena: How expensive are these ex-

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E x c l u s i v e

peditions?

Tashi: So far, we have spent over Rs 3 crores in gear, travels and everything. We have scaled Everest, Vinson Massif Antarctica, Mount Aconcagua in South America, Argentina’s Mount McKinley, Oceania mountain, Kilimanjaro twice, and skied to the North and South Pole.

Siddhi: How did you two start climbing?

Tashi: In 2009, after our Class XII

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exams, our father (Col. V. S. Malik), enrolled us for a basic course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi. He has been the prime driving force behind our adrenalinefilled lifestyle. Our first brush with adventure happened when we were seven and dad took us paragliding together — tied to a shawl as the harness couldn’t hold us both.

Teena: Tell us about the the hardships on the mountains.

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Nungshi: Mountains do not discriminate based on gender. There are natural disasters like avalanches. About 70% of mountaineers have amputated fingers, nose, ears or even toes. We have lost about 25 climbers in a span of an year and half. The temperatures dip down to -40 to -60 at times, so there is a real risk of hypothermia. Tissues die with frost bite and it has no cure. You get nasty blisters. You need to carry about 45-50 kilos. So it is very demanding.

Teena: How does your body react to such extreme conditions?

Nungshi: Sometimes we get hallucinations. In one of our expeditions, two girls wandered off their path.

When we tracked them on the cliff

with GPS and walkie talkie, they were saying things like, “We can see a bus waiting for us. We are trying to catch that bus.” We have heavy and very irregular chumming on the mountain.

Also, after every climb, our brain goes numb and we feel totally disoriented.

After Everest, we forgot all our passwords. It was that bad.

Fab Five Tech: Thuraya SatSleeve, a social media for climbers App: Google Translate Music: One Republic, Coldplay, Rihanna and Shakira Book: Unlimited Power by Anthony Robbins Education of: Sports and Exercise Physiology in Southern Institute of Technology, New Zealand Teena: How different is your life from an average teenager?

Tashi: We have no time for vanity.

These are the most damaged hair

we have ever had. We do miss our shampoos on the mountains. Nungshi: We have never had boyfriends.

Khushi: Why? Nungshi: Because we are engaged with the mountains. When boys meet us, their first question is. “You guys are celebrities, you have done so much in life. Is there a possibility of me hanging out with you?” If you are genuinely in love with someone, you wouldn’t say things like this. We have had climber mates who were interested.

Teena: What’s more important - fitness or beauty?

Nungshi: A guide on Kilimanjaro once told us, you girls are my heroes.

It was the best compliment we got.

Other climbers take pills to acclimatise faster. My sister and I have never taken a pill in our life, not even headache pills.

Teena: After seven peaks, what’s more to conquer?

Tashi: Ourselves. Climbing is so much about yourself. You realise what you are capable of. You need to motivate yourself to go higher. And you learn to respect nature.

(Inputs from Tishya Mahajan-Bal Bharati Public School)

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Principal M e n t o r ’ s

N o t e

of Prudence

Director of The British School Vanita Uppal, recently honoured with the Order of the British Empire (OBE), tells Teena Baruah why principals need to work like CEOs. Excerpts from the interview

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ho Am I? I studied in Loreto and Carmel Convent schools in Delhi. I have a Bachelor’s degree in History from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and am a University topper both in Master’s degree and in teaching degree from Central Institute of Education, University of Delhi.

As an international educator, I serve on school Boards in Delhi and work closely with schools in India on

curriculum development for IGCSE and IB programmes. I am a member of Visiting Accreditation Teams for CIS (Council of International Schools), to accredit international schools globally, a mentor with the British Council GTA programme, and serve as Honorary Secretary to Friends of Round Square. I am a PTC (Principal’s Training Centre) graduate, a certified International School Leader and a recipient of the ‘Woman Achiever of the Year

Award’. As a trainer in classroom pedagogy and leadership, I have presented at international forums such as the Cambridge International Examinations ‘Leadership Symposium’ as well as at TAISI (The Association of International Schools in India) and Round Square Conferences.

Last year I was awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of my services to British education. It sounds good and feels better. The recognition was really for the school, because as a principal I wasn’t a one woman army leading the charge. It is a great team working in perfect synergy.

Principal as CEO

Principals are academicians and pedagogues. But in order to run a successful organisation you need to ensure that it is financially stable too. You might have this grand vision for your school, but if you don’t have a sense of how much it’s going to cost, it would remain a vision on paper.

I think what principals/directors need to also acquire is financial acumen, as you are often functioning more as a CEO, than purely as an academic head. Networking and powerful communication skills, present-

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M e n t o r ’ s

ing new innovative ideas at forums not to grab headlines, but to create more opportunities for students, will set you apart.

Budget Your Vision

I use a common sense approach to financial management. And the first principle of that is prudence. Resources are finite therefore you need to prioritise. That’s exactly how you do a monthly budget at home. You must know that if you want something, you may have to give up on

I think what principals/ directors need to also acquire is financial acumen, as you are often functioning more as a CEO

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another. For instance, if you want iPads for students in the primary section, you may have to opt out of membership in a student/school conference, or hire one less teaching assistant. You need to do a costbenefit analysis. You need to understand what is going to ultimately benefit the students more. It’s not just about how much paint or chart papers you are buying for school. As a director or a principal, you need to take big picture decisions as well, like deciding HR budget on teacher

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M e n t o r ’ s

N o t e

My mantra is to run a great school, constantly deliver excellent academic results, make every child feel happy, safe and valued 1:6, with a maximum class size of 22 students. We believe individualised learning cannot happen with big numbers. However, small class sizes do not automatically mean individualised learning. It is about pedagogy. Teachers adopt differentiated strategies to ensure that we add value to every students learning and this approach underpins our work across the school.

Role of a Principal

I studied in a convent school. So for me the principal was a symbol of authority. She was a disciplinarian.

To be respected. To be feared. You couldn’t walk up to her to have a chat. But in The British School, my first principal-Mrs Lalaji Prabhuchanged that perception. From her I learnt the value of being a people’s person in order to be a school leader. She was collaborative, accessible and never got ruffled. She made people feel valued.

My Mantra

training, etc.

Education today is about collaboration, especially for an IB school.

So I can either send 45 teachers for training across the world, or I can get an external trainer here and make sure all the teachers get the same lesson at the same time. That is both philosophical and financial

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prudence rolled into one.

Road Ahead

We are currently steering the school to its next phase of expansion. We have 900 students and in three years’ time we will reach ourfull capacity of 1,350 students.

Currently our staff student ratio is

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Today, as director of this school, my mantra is to run a great school, constantly deliver excellent academic results, make every child feel happy, safe and valued. You have to lead by example. You have to lead from the front. You can’t say I want these reports on time, but mine will come in late. You need to be a person of integrity. Because if you are credible, have integrity and have transparent processes and systems, even your difficult decisions are accepted. As a principal, apart from academic excellence, you need to have all these qualities.

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Hunger Ga F i t

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L i f e

Don’t bully your child about his weight; instead of helping, this often starts a vicious cycle. Nutritionist Kavita Devgan on how to stop childhood obesity

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here are enough studies today that prove that more the parent obsesses about their child’s weight more the child revolts and eats. Actually we don’t really need research to tell us this - it

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is plain and simple common sense.

Negative commentary, criticism, and even judgmental remarks about a child’s weight from parents and other adults, however well intentioned, can impact their body image

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negatively and may trigger disordered eating, arbitrary use of laxatives and other dangerous weightcontrol practices, and may even lead to very low self esteem and depression in the teens.

mes Secondly, diets don’t work with a child. A restrictive way of eating is difficult for even adults to follow, so how can a child even begin to understand the need and directions.

All it will end up doing is make them deficient in important nutrients that their body needs in these growing up years. It is important to understand that they are in a fast-growing phase and their requirements are higher at this stage, which must be met on a daily basis. So stay away from non concrete steps like remarking on their weight, putting them down before others, punishing them, bribing them, cutting down carbohydrates, etc. from their diet, or putting them on meal replacements or a soup-salad only diet.

What is needed instead is some handholding, subtle restructuring of diet, focus on behavioral changes and habit modifications, and a gentle (okay maybe a little assertive) nudging towards a more active lifestyle. If need be, parents must take counselling from a diet expert and then help their child follow the right path.

What is imperative to understand is that it is not really the child’s fault that he/she is overweight. Their eating habits are formed on the basis of what is practiced at home. If you as a family go out to eat very often, that’s how he gets used to heavy greasy food. And if takeaways or home delivery are encouraged at home only then do they get used to eating junk.

So the change needs to be brought about not just with them, but for the family as a whole. If a parent serves as a role model, they’ll emulate, but

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Things To Do Ask your children to help you as you cook. Take them grocery shopping so that they learn to identify items that are healthy and tasty. Also think of innovative ways to serve “healthy food” to them. Think homemade burgers with whole-wheat patties, salads served with their favourite dip and pizza with lots of colourful vegetables.

Do not stock aerated drinks, iced tea and packaged juices at home (not even for guests – shop when needed). Instead, steer them towards coconut water, nimbu pani, jaljeera, kanji, aam panna and lemonRoohafza.

Always pair one thing they like to eat with one healthy food – it will help them develop a taste for healthy food. For example, it’s okay to serve a few fries along with a kala channa sprout salad. Also a big scoop of ice cream straight after a pizza is avoidable, but a small scoop after a home-cooked meal is fine.

Discover their interests and encourage them to get out. Don’t watch TV when they are around. Instead develop outdoor family activities – identify herbs in your garden, walk the dog and make such activities an everyday ritual.

if you try to force it down on them, it just won’t work. Similarly, if you ask them to go jog, while you sit comatose on the couch surfing channels , it’s anybody’s guess what the result will be. Try every trick in the book to make them active. Change your vacation style (go for treks, adventure vacations), go play football with them over weekends, wash the car together every Saturday, begin everyone’s dinner with a soup every night, teach them portion control

by example, stop stocking chips, cookies at home, and ban aerated drinks from the grocery list. Do it with the child — don’t just criticise and bully!

Finally shift the focus to health instead of just weight in children.

The health parameters, for example his energy levels, immunity status, etc. should be the focus and not appearance. Make sure they eat well, and play enough — the ancient rule which still works!

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a s k

N i v e d i t a

No worries Counsellor Nivedita Singh answers your queries about relationships, family, school and life

Confused Parents

Q. My mother is extremely relaxed and casual about everything and father is a strict disciplinarian. Their parenting style is so contradictory that if I follow one, I am bound to offend the other one.

What should I do?

Contradictory parenting styles can lead to a child feeling confused and angry. This is especially when parents

No Please

Q. I lend or lose or break my stationeries, sweaters, shoes a lot, which annoys my mother on a daily basis. How can I refuse my friends when they come to borrow my things?

Learning to say ‘no’ is an important life skill and is termed as assertiveness as opposed to being called rude.

From what you have written your friends’ losing and breaking your things appears to have assumed a pattern in your life rather than being a onetime experience.

Something in your behavior/demeanor is giving your friends the impression that they can walk all over you and your belongings. Reflect on it and see what makes you want to please them. The disease to please does not win us friends. True friendship is based on mutual respect, love and trust. If your friends don’t respect your belongings somewhere their respect for you is compromised too.

If you have not taken a stand against your friends earlier, it might feel uncomfortable or threatening to begin with but someday you have to start and there is no better time than now. Start with those who are less aggressive or those who you do not fear losing and begin by stating the reason for saying ‘no’. If they have misplaced or broken your things earlier, remind them of it. Be honest, be kind, yet firm. Also, remember to make eye contact while standing up for yourself and what is yours.

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manipulate the child with feeling unloved and betrayed if the child adopts the ways of one parent and not the other. If and when the going gets too tough, remember to sit and talk it out with them, individually if that makes it more comfortable, explaining how their contradictory ways bother you. You can also write them a note each, highlighting what you find exasperating. Communication is a great savior and helps resolve most things.

Also, cornerstone values are non-negotiable and there are some basic expectations all parents have from their children. These values are, respect, love, discipline, hard work, honesty, integrity, etc. As long as you do not slip on these all parents, irrespective of their style of parenting, are going to be fine.

S p o n s o r e d

F e a t u r e

Have you ever wondered, why your favorite cartoons or characters are printed on all most every kiddy stuff, like biscuit pack, stationary, t-shirts, or even Shoes.

Can any body just print them characters or does it require any permission?

Welcome to the world of Licensing!

Licensing basically mean getting the usage rights of cartoon/character from its owner company for specific period, against the license fees. So in short your favorite cartoon is just not an entertainment piece that you loved to watch, it is also earning huge revenues for it’s makers.

One such most successful venture has been started

by Bhavna Jha, in year 2011, named Wiesner Worldwide Kreations. Her love for kids and their fantasy world inspired her to dive into licensing business, ness where she can place cartoons on not just branding but to actually place them on merchandise. She always wanted to experiment with the category which is “not-yet-been-beautifully-explored” and that she found in kids footwear. Yes you read right!

Shoes, Shoes sandals and ballerinas with beautiful cartoons or characters designed on it, is what Bhavna’s own baby business— WWK does. WWK has got their own registered brand named “KICS- Kids In Cool Stuff ” and under which there are eight popular licenses, which includes Doraemon, Disney Princess like Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel, Rapunzel, etc., Ben10, Garfield, Disney Fairies- Tinker Bell, Disney’s Sofia The First, Keymon Ache, and one Sports brand- Airwalk. Putting characters and pattern on tiny footwear area is always a challenging job but in just three years’ time with its dynamic products and designs WWK has been able to touch every large retail chain store, online shopping sites, and local traders.

This itself is their true credential which proves the journey of success so far.

WWK works on complete footwear category like Sneakers, Sport Shoes, Sandals, Flip-flops, Dressy Shoes, Ballerinas, Aqua, High ankles, Loafers, Slip-ons, Boots, etc.

For our young learners- If you have any question or curiosities to ask about our business or even on shoes, please mail us at info@wwkindia.com. We’ll be happy to connect you with our experts.

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Into The Wild E x p e r t

E x p r e s s i o n

Born into jungle life, naturalist Ratna Singh has carved a career out of living with and surrounded by wildlife

I

stood in the balcony overlooking the kitchen garden behind my house and watched the tiger deftly leap over the hedge and go on to leisurely inspect a patch of cauliflower. This incident was over two decades ago. My home is at the edge of a thick forest and wild animals were not a novelty. I was a little girl at the time, and as I watched the tiger transfixed, my playmates, a bunch of older kids from the village ran off to raise an alarm. Everyone knew the drill and soon a few farm hands appeared beating tin cans,

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shouting and raising a din in right earnest to shoo the tiger away. The tiger duly complied and we all went back to our respective jobs at hand.

Growing up I had an assortment of animals as pets. Troops of langur were always lounging about our house, while the dark wood shed was home to a honey badger and a barn owl. Having an upbringing deeply connected to wildlife, it was therefore the most natural thing for me to gravitate towards an opportunity to work as a naturalist at the Taj Safaris’ wildlife lodges in Madhya Pradesh.

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In Kanha, I lived in a cottage with a sloping roof of wooden poles and clay tiles. In the winter months numerous wild mice, squirrels and occasionally a civet took shelter in the space between the roof and the false plywood ceiling. I could hear them scurrying overhead on quiet evenings as I read at bedtime. A few mice gnawed through the plywood right over my bed and decided that my bedside lamp was a cosier place to perch for a nap. Since temperatures routinely dropped to sub zero between December and January, I

E x p e r t

E x p r e s s i o n

able to lift the lighter ones and help themselves.

The wilderness lodges and the local villagers live in a close knit society and everyone knows everyone else. We all take the local bus which is surprisingly punctual and it is not unusual to be asked to hold on to a hen or a goat kid on your lap for the 20 minute journey.

Living in the wilderness for years, one picks up traits which may seem strange in the city. I tend to shake

In the local bus it is not unusual to be asked to hold on to a hen or a goat kid on your lap for the 20 minute journey hadn’t the heart to disappoint the little creatures and learnt to sleep with the lamp on. The mice were soon joined by a huge calotes (like a garden lizard) who would lie on my bedside table and to my discomfiture rather close to my pillow.

However, this utopian existence of these little creatures in my bedroom was soon disrupted by the entry of a five foot long, rather formidable looking rat snake. The snake had hit a goldmine by finding the false ceiling. The sound of scurrying mice at night was now replaced by the sound of slithering. I wasn’t overly concerned as rat snakes are not venomous and helped keep the growing mouse population on my roof down. Things came to a head when one night upon lying down, I looked up to see the rat snake dangling from the hole the mice had made. I gasped and jumped, and the snake beat a hasty retreat. I promptly sealed the hole; though continued to see the snake basking in the weak

morning sun. But life comes a full circle and the rat snake fell prey to a cobra a few months later.

The staff of the lodge has to put in extra thought while going about their daily duties. When the laundry is out to dry, someone keeps a keen eye lest the monkeys snatch the clothes fluttering on the clothes line. The jars of honey have to be covered with a heavy iron mesh, after the squirrels were found to be

my shoes out to ensure there is nothing in them. I learned this the hard way having squished a number of beetles, frogs and toads that had taken shelter in my boots. Also, most of us while walking tend to look down intently to pick out tracks of animals that may have passed.

It was to be a continuation of the jungle life that I had been born into: living with and surrounded by wildlife.

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E x p e r t

E x p r e s s i o n

Curiosity Saved

The Cat

I

had a very urban upbringing, and my association with wildlife was largely restricted to an occasional visit to Gir, the last refuge of the Asiatic Lion. Much of my early years were spent living in small towns of India – Jammu, Jamnagar, on the outskirts of Baroda (both in Gujarat) and then in the heart of the booming metro of Ahmedabad.

Our Jamnagar home was a natural paradise. We lived in a rambling

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old bungalow with a well-laid out garden in the front, while in the backyard, the grass grew wild. I was young then, and a fool, with neither much appreciation, nor much patience to see, or understand the marvels of nature. But even in my selfcentered existence, birds and other animals entered my conscience. I particularly remember the partridges, and the peacocks, who in their magnificence, could not be ignored,

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Wildlife conservationist and writer Prerna Bindra gives you a glimpse of how she got curious about nature and were among my first ‘teachers’ of the wild world.

I owe my first real interest in nature to a clutch of eggs that I stumbled upon when I was all of seven.

It was a late spring day and I had sneaked out for an ‘adventure’ in the backyard, almost stepped on a broody peahen who squawked bloody murder at the threat she perceived to her little brood yet encased in eggs, much larger than the ones

E x p e r t

consumed at home and of a tawny hue. I escaped after this little drama. So that was the first nugget of knowledge I gained about the natural world: It is not only humans who care for their young, wild creatures will defend their young with a startling ferocity.

Over the next few days, the eggs became my consuming passion.

I would rush home from school, throw my bag, dash straight to the backyard, and take my position in the ‘hide’, a little cove created by an outthrust branch of the peepul

tree, and settle down to watch the birds. I imagined myself invisible.

Of course I wasn’t. I guess the peafowl got used to my presence, and thought I was a harmless creature best ignored, sometimes even welcomed. I made it a point to carry some bribe – chappati saved from the tiffin, not knowing then that this was not ideal peafowl cuisine, grains smuggled from the pantry, fruits and suchlike. The eggs were perfectly camouflaged amidst the grass, and a bed of fallen leaves and shrubs. The hen rarely left her perch, straying very occasionally, and she always came back in a hurry, making an extraordinary noisy landing, which I learnt later, was to scare away any predators who might have come this way.

Sitting still and quiet required inordinate patience, but I was fueled by the desire to see the chicks, hoping to be present at the opportune moment when the newborns broke through the eggs. Would they be able to walk immediately? Fly? What would they look like? My biggest nightmare was that the new arrivals would emerge from their cocoon when I was imprisoned in Math class, which of course, is precisely what happened. And though indignant at being denied, my delight

E x p r e s s i o n

was no less than any proud mother when four, dusky little chicks added to our peacock population. They judiciously followed mama – picking, pecking, strutting through their forest, and our common home.

My associations with peacocks, happily, continued, in Baroda and Ahmedabad, where our house was yet again the roosting ground of many a broody mother. Langurs were also regular visitors, and though they still arrive occasionally, the groups have thinned, and the primates are largely viewed as a nuisance – helping themselves to mangoes and papads drying in the sun. Some have even learnt the art of opening (but not closing) the refrigerator!

I could not fault them. Our homes are built over theirs and the forests razed and cleared to make way for us. We were, are, the original encroachers.

Bird song filled the air, sparrows, koyal, predominant through the day, with the occasional owl and the lapwing taking over at night. Their calls usually drowned by the insistent howls of the jackals. It was an eerie call, a lonely sound that cut your soul, but undeserving of their evil repute of messengers of death.

In the monsoon, colonies of winged creatures swarmed into the houses, and frogs suddenly sprung up around the little puddles, including the dog bowl.

I loved the butterflies, was fascinated with chameleons, and their magical ability to change colours, routinely rescued squirrel and pigeon fledglings from the resident cat, watched the weaver bird knit its nest, fed bananas to langurs (they peel them just like we do), had a sunbird’s nest on the clothesline and watched the young grow. It was simply wonderful...

Look out for her upcoming children’s book on tigers, When I Grow Up I Want to be a Tiger

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P o s i t i v e l y

P o s i t i v e

Go

Wild N ature needn’t just be a pleasing background to people portraits. A snake-eating snake, an Angry Bird, a skin-shedding chameleon, aspiring photographer Mayank Jain and naturalist Ratna Singh share a few of their arresting pictures of beasts and birds that show the animal world in a new light

By Mayank Jain Class XI, Sanskriti School

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P o s i t i v e l y

P o s i t i v e

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S l a m

P o e t r y

RAPUNZEL’S PLOT “Rapunzel oh Rapunzel, let down your pretty hair, To climb this dreaded tower, Your locks are my fare” “Oh hello Prince Charming, how do you do?

Just give me a minute, I’ll be right through” Rapunzel through the porthole, threw down her endless hair, Like a rope for the prince, standing below there.

The young prince with his hands, so steady and tough, Grabbed hold of her hair and started climbing up.

Up and up he went, he reached the window sill, But over there he had to say, “Rapunzel keep still” “I’m trying princy dear, Please do not shout, It is very hard to keep, my hair from falling out” The poor prince who was now, barely swinging by a strand, Was somehow keeping alive by holding by one hand.

The scared prince said, “You better keep in check, Or else I shall fall and surely break my neck” After a long while, after struggling a lot, I decide to put, a twist to the plot.

“Uh-oh” said Rapunzel, “something’s come up here, I’m about to tell you something that will give you a horrid scare” He said ” Rapunzel dear, now is not the time, If you just keep quite, I will give you a shiny dime” Then Rapunzel to the prince, who she was soon going to wed, Peering out the window, she let a laugh and said, “Oh quit it Prince Charming, I’ve made you a fool, You think you are hot, but I’m far more cool, So hear me out, when I say and take a dig, Prince Charming, Prince Charming I wear a blonde wig.

I’ve never really liked you, truth be told, You climbing up my hair, thinking you are bold.

I was sick of the length, I was lagging behind trend, So I cut short my hair, so this is your end!

Goodbye Prince Charming, better hold your breath” Said the wicked princess as the price fell to death.

He died on spot, the poor prince guy, Rapunzel had a haircut, so Rapunzel didn’t cry.

Now Rapunzel’s back in trend, now she can wash her hair, She can also style it and live without a care.

Now high up in the tower, with self-obsessed laughter, Narcissistic Rapunzel lives happily ever after.

By Nandika Mogha Class IX, Amity International School Noida

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Hold Those Tears Sometimes I feel life is too short to stay strong I am tired of holding my tears And I want them to sheer Stay relaxed and keep calm Go away from here and sit near a palm Enjoy the beauty of nature See all the insects and creatures I did not see any creature crying they keep courage and keep trying if they can handle every situation of life then why we cry and pick up a knife we humans have all the powers we have created buildings and towers we are smart enough to study and write that does not mean we are always right we can adapt so many things because we are not the kings and I feel you live only once live it to the fullest

By KUHU SHARMA Class VIII, Delhi Public School, Vasundhara, Ghaziabad

Planting

The Wish Tree

La Martiniere Girls’ College, Lucknow

A

s soon as the school reopened after the summer vacation La Martiniere Girls’ College, Lucknow organized a grand Green Drive on July 15. The chief guest for the occasion was the Honorable Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav and the event was attended by dignitaries like Prof. Abhishek Mishra, the Chief Forest Conservator, Upadhyaya, Amrit Abhijat and received support of College staff, guests and alumni.

The event began with the Chief Minister planting the ‘Parijat Tree’ which is also known to be the wish bearing tree in Hindu mythology.

Chandan (Sandalwood), Mogra

and Brahmi were also planted in small, decorative pots made with recycled material, to be transplanted later. The event received the support from principals of other schools who too planted a sapling.

“Over three hundred saplings were planted that evening and now through the schoolchildren, staff, parents can adopt and plant a tree on the campus,” said Aashrita Dass, Vice Principal.

The College expects more than 600 saplings to be planted this year itself.

The school has made this an annual event that aims at encouraging the students to appreciate the importance of the environment.

G r e e n

D r i v e

Green Checklist • Turn off the lights when leaving a room even for a short time.

• Do not open the door of the refrigerator for excessive time.

• Unplug all electrical/electronic devices when not in use.

• Once your electronic devices are charged, unplug the charger.

• Switch off the water heater after you have had your bath.

• Use CFL or LED bulbs to save energy and, of course, money.

• Use room temperature water instead for hot water, whenever possible.

• Print on both sides of paper.

• Reuse items like envelopes, folders, paper clips and oil pins.

• Use recycled paper products.

• Check and fix any water leakages.

• Use reusable containers to store food, instead of aluminium foil or wrap.

• Shop with a canvas bag instead of using paper or plastic bags.

• Buy rechargeable batteries for devices used frequently.

• Grow plants in the park or keep potted ornamental ones in and around your home.

• Do not litter. If no dustbin is immediately available, keep wrappers in your pocket until you find one, or else discard them when you get home.

• Ensure cross ventilation in your home or work station regularly.

• Make sure your vehicles are cleaned with a bucket of water instead of running water.

• Do not allow water to stagnate in and around your home in order to eliminate mosquito breeding.

• Do not allow germs and bacteria to infest your surroundings. Maintain total cleanliness.

• Do not allow anybody to burn dried leaves.

• Do not burst fire crackers.

Use candles or diyas only.

• Play Holi with only herbal colours.

(Compiled by Green Activist Paresh Dogra)

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Taste Drive F A D

F O O D

School LIVE interns Siddhidatri Mishra and Khushi Singh go restaurant hopping at Delhi’s eclectic Khan Market and little cramped. There was a toy train going across the whole restaurant. How cool is that?

We ordered Bohra Keema Pav and Kolmi Fry – the first one was a keema dish with pav and the second one was a prawn dish.

At Rs 350, it wasn’t value for money as they served only two pavs with barely ¼ of the vessel of keema.

The prawns, however, made up for it. Each Kolmi had three prawns in it and were beautifully golden fried with spicy onions garnishing it. We finished it in a heartbeat and even fought over the last piece!

Khushi Singh

Sweet Nothings: Cakery La Vie: An Italian eatery with a French name

T

he restaurant was more or less empty when we entered. The menu is extensive with classic pastas and pizzas and some of their own inventions as well. The section that intrigued us was the dessert pizzas with offerings like apple pie pizza. We ordered a peri peri chicken pizza and while we waited for our order, the waiter placed the most curious item on our table -- A green chili olive oil. The pizza was huge and quite delicious, although the peri peri sauce didn’t shine through. The base had been baked in a wooden oven, which gave it a rustic look and

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crispy texture. We definitely look forward to another visit to La Vie. Siddhidatri Mishra

Soda Bottle Opener Waala: Genie In a Bottle ‘Is it a soda/drink place?’ I wondered the first time I heard about this place.

It turned out to be an Irani-Mumbai cuisine restaurant. A small door at the crowded Khan Market leads to this cool restaurant with hip interiors. The stairs list cautionary messages on every step: No flirting, No asking for discount, and my favorite, No pata hai mai kaun hu. It felt cozy

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Cakery has a retro interior done in turquoise and glass cases storing all kinds of goodies, ranging from red velvet cakes, cinnamon rolls, cheesecakes, to drool-worthy cupcakes and a variety of gelato. The confectionary has a clever trick of not displaying the prices of delicacies offered on the menu. We felt embarrassed to ask the price of each and every item, so we ordered a banana chocolate cupcake and a choco-chip whoopie (chocolate butter cream between two large chocolate cookies).

The portions were generous and the taste was heavenly. So on your next outing with friends, go there. Just remember to stuff your wallet as it doesn’t come cheap.

Siddhidatri Mishra

C a r e e r

C h a t

Green FIELDS Career Counsellor Jitin Chawla provides an overview of environmental studies

G

eography and environmental studies is about the relationships between people, places and the planet. After school, one can opt for a 3-year B.Sc in Environmental Science or a 4 year B.Tech (Environmental Engineering). The minimum qualification required for this is Class XII Science degree. The course duration is three years. You can also pursue Post Graduate courses in Environmental Science such as M.Sc in Environmental Science. The duration of this course is two years and the minimum eligibility criterion is a B.Sc degree in Environmental Science or any other related science subject. Some institutes also offer a 2-year M.Tech program in Environmental Science, for which B.Tech or B.E candidates are eligible. Apart from these, short-term Post Graduate Diploma programs are also there in Environmental Science and Environment Management.

Apart from these, you need to understand various areas in Environmental Science so that they can choose effectively and not follow herd mentality. Diverse areas like Master in Public Policy & Sustainable Development, MBA in Business Sustainability, MBA in Infrastructure, MSc. Climate Science & Policy, MSc. Environmental Studies and Resource Management, M.Sc. Water Science and Governance, Waste Management, M.Tech (Urban Development & Management, M.Tech in Water Science & Governance are available. All have good prospects.

One can also go in for premier institutes, like Delhi University, Jamia Hamdard University, Mumbai Uni-

versity, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University-Delhi, Delhi Technological University-Delhi, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology-Pantnagar, Uttar Pradesh, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), School of Environmental SciencesNew Delhi, South Asian UniversityDelhi, TERI University-Delhi.

Students may be employed in Government departments like the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), Environmental Laboratories, National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Social Development, Research and Development, Forest and Wildlife Management, NGOs, Pollution Control Boards, Urban Planning, Water Resources and Agriculture, public institutions and private industries and firms, colleges and universities, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Industries,

distilleries, fertilizer plants, mines, refineries, textile mills and various government departments (water resources, soils, agriculture, etc) as well as NGOs and in the sustainability cells of the corporate sector. A professional working in environment boards and labs has a responsibility to generate data for environment.

Students who wish to be Environmental Consultants need a Master’s degree in Environmental Science or Engineering, and should have a deep knowledge of environmental regulations. Services for industries/ companies/agencies would include environmental assessment, site remediation, natural resource management, environmental auditing, waste management, environment policy development.

For personal consultation call 9810264027

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R A P

U P

MINIONS

Bahubali

Director: Kyle Balda, Pierre Coffin

Director: Brad Peyton

M

inions is a spin-off based on the eponymous cuddly little henchmen of the massively popular Despicable Me franchise. In the opening montages, we learn about their evolution, how they grew in numbers, how they fumbled every time they tried to serve their masters, be it vampires or dinosaurs. These little yellow creatures are all lost and aimless and the lack of a master is taking a toll on their lives. Lo and behold, a minion named Kevin rises up to this occasion and takes in 2 other minions, Stuart and Bob as they try to find a suitable master.

Mind you, if you have watched the promotional trailer, you have already been spoiled, as most of the gags are a repeat throughout. And if you haven’t, you might have a good time. The visual jokes are pretty and the 3D animations look pleasant. All complaints concerning the undecipherable language of the minions are compensated by the body movements, which make up for most of them.

Barring the fact that I was spoiled way before the movie ever premiered, Minions is not a bad film at all. It might not reach the standards which were set by its predecessors, but it still remains a happy family treat.

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B

ahubali is not a film, it’s an experience. At a budget of Rs 250 crores, this is the most expensive Indian production and the film wears its budget with pride. From massive waterfalls, to snowy mountains, to massive scenes of chaos and destruction, this movie has it all, and then some.

At the heart of the story is a battle which stretches two generations for the throne to the kingdom of Mahishmati. At one hand is Amarendra Bahubali, and his son Shiva (both played by Prabas) and on the other hand is Bhallala Deva (Rana Daggubati). A movie this big always contemplates on being short on substance, but director SS Rajamouli whips up a simple, yet dependable screenplay. Every single cliché is served up with a visual and a musical delight, which makes us forgive all the shortcomings.

Bahubali is one of the rare delights that makes up for an epic experience very few films are capable of orchestrating. If you are a fan of cinema and By experiences in general, Amlaan Kumar you need to watch this Class XII on the big screen.

Amity International School Noida

R A P

Arkham Knight doesn’t give you any clues. Investigating a crime scene requires you to use logic and pay attention, miss anything and you will definitely not be able to complete the puzzle.

fantastic opening sequence.

The story is well written and presented. Scarecrow or Dr. Jonathan Crane has made a new toxin capable of inducing hallucinations which leads one to believe that their worst fears have come alive, causing them to go insane. The city of Gotham is quickly evacuated, leaving only the police department, criminals and Batman and Co. in it.

There is also a new villain, the Arkham Knight. His motives are unknown and so is his identity. But one thing that we do know is that he wants Batman dead. The big revelation of who the Arkham Knight is rather softened by the fact that you can pretty much guess who it is, from a mile away. Other than that, the story is amazing, especially the level right before the ending.

What’s New

Overall

Batman Arkham Knight

A

rkham Knight is beautiful.

Often I’ve hovered on the roof of the clock tower to admire the beautiful city of Gotham.

The attention to detail in this game is mindblowing. Each landmark stands out and it all comes together beautifully to deliver a rich, immersive experience.

Gameplay

The gameplay is brilliant. Each hit takes its toll and each punch feels truly satisfying. Different types of enemies make the combat interesting as it requires different tactics.

Enemies learn your moves and adapt accordingly. So if you use the grates too much then the enemies will deploy thermite charges to flush

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you out.

No Clues

One major addition to game is the Batmobile. It provide a new dimension to the game, allowing for new kinds of puzzles and set pieces. But it really overstays its welcome, constantly trying to justify its existence.

The story

Right from the start, the game fills you with excitement and adrenaline with a

The Arkham knight is splendid. It is a deserving end to a fantastic series and one of the best games that I have ever played.

By Shreyash Nigam Class X, Step by Step School Noida

TEXTUAL CONFUSION

S

o you know that pre-typed text you can fix below every text message you send right? Well my dad has his as ‘Thanks Rajiv Mehra’. So whenever he sends me a text, no matter what the text is, he always sends a thanks after that: ‘You failed? Thanks Rajiv Mehra’ ‘Your room is so messy. Thanks Rajiv Mehra’ By Shivainn Mehra Class XII, Sanskriti School

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W o r t h y

O p p o n e n t

I, Me, My Selfie

Is smartphone self-portrait or ‘selfie’ a form of self-expression or a dangerous sign of growing narcissism?

A process of self-love I feel that selfies are an instant confidence boost in almost any situation. Headed to work? Selfie. Did your makeup perfectly? Selfie. They say selfies lead to narcissism, but there’s a huge difference between narcissism and self-confidence. Appreciation comes from being

It’s all about showing off Everybody is intent on capturing every moment of their life with a duck-faced selfie. They have that one specific expression set aside, ready to plaster it every time a smartphone is pulled out. Photographs are meant to capture memories of a person or things that amuse them. Selfies are spoiling the very point of photographs.

People might say that it is a fun way to capture a moment with friends or to show what you are doing. But I feel that selfies are more of showing off. It is like telling everybody, “This is what I look like (after a bit of Instagramming) and this is how I spend my time.”

Selfies are also leading to self-obsession. Recently, the American Psychiatric Association actually confirmed that taking selfies is a mental disorder. They say that it leads to narcissism. It is believed that narcissus, a hunter in Greek mythology, drowned in a pool, while admiring the beauty of his own reflection.

Well, I feel that we are all following the same path.

The only difference being that we are drowning in the whirlpool of social networking sites, like Facebook.

We then wait for likes and comments and determine our self-esteem on that basis. This eventually leads to frustration and negativity.

By Adhip Tanwar Class X Step By Step School, Noida

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confident about your looks, while narcissism is a selfish obsession of oneself.

Selfies aren’t always about portraying the best image of yourself. The ‘ugly selfie’ too is a beautiful form of self-expression. The fact is, you can now decide how you are going to look in your selfie, rather than wasting your time begging around, “Hey can you take a picture of us please.” Years later, when you want to recall those memories, what else will help you remember the good times, if not the selfies?

People often say that selfies just want approval. We ALL seek approval. Humans are social animals, driven by the need for connection and appreciation. So why not be noticed and appreciated, in the groups that matter to us?

By Ayesha Thatte Class X Step by Step school

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S C H O O L L I V E Volume 1| Issue 11| August 2015 | 39

P a g e

9 9

Queen Lion

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

The classic story of Elsa the lioness and Joy Adamson, the woman who reared her

B

y now, Elsa’s fame had spread far and wide and a party of American sportsmen paid us a visit specially to film her. She entertained them royally and did everything she could to please them. She climbed a tree, played in the river, hugged me, joined us for tea and behaved in such a docile manner that none of our guests could believe that she was a full-grown lioness, who

She climbed a tree, played in the river, hugged me, joined us for tea and behaved in such a docile manner that none of our guests could believe that she was a fullgrown lioness

shortly before they arrived had been equally at ease in the company of wild lions.

That night, we heard a lion call and Elsa promptly vanished into the darkness and was away for two days. During this time she returned for one brief visit to George’s tent.

She was most affectionate and nearly broke his camp bed by sitting on

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top of him, as he lay asleep. After a short meal, she went off again. In the morning we followed her spoor which led us to a rocky ridge near the camp. After climbing to the top and looking unsuccessfully for her in all her favourite lying-up places, we nearly fell over her in a clump of thick bush. Obviously she had kept quiet in the hope that we should

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not see her. Yet, in spite of her obvious wish to be alone, she gave us her usual affectionate greeting and pretended to be very pleased to see us. We respected her feelings, and tactfully left her alone. Late that evening we heard the roar of a lion and the howling of his retinue of hyena up river. Soon Elsa’s voice sounded close to camp. Perhaps by now she had learned to keep away from her lord and master while he was at his kill and was waiting until he had his fill before making a closer acquaintance with him. Later she returned to George’s tent for a few moments, put her paw affectionately round him and moaned softly, as if to say to him: ‘You know that I love you, but I have a friend outside to whom I simply must go; I hope you will understand,’ then she was off again.

Excerpted from Born Free: The Full Story (432 pages, Rs 450), with permission from Pan Macmillan India.

S u m m e r

I

want to pursue Journalism after college, but I wasn’t sure of this until I participated in this internship. Not only was this summer productive for me, but I also spent it honing my journalistic skills. I got to conduct interviews and write articles.

I am thankful to my editors for being so patient with me.

I hope to maintain a fruitful relationship with School LIVE in the years to come.

SIDDHIDATRI MISHRA, CLASS XI, SANSKRITI SCHOOL This was my first internship, and I thought it would only mean digging into Wikipedia and researching about stuff that I don’t know. But it was way more fun. It made me put my points and ideas forward and fight for the chance to write on a topic. We all learnt how to face rejections, respect deadlines, but, most importantly, never give up on any

INTERNSHIP

4 bright students interned with us this summer. Did they pick up any useful skills, working experience along the way? Here are their feedback

opportunity to do a good story. This internship made me utilise my vacation productively.

AYESHA THATTE, CLASS X, STEP BY STEP SCHOOL This internship was crazy as it kept me on my feet all summer and every second of it was inspiring. To be honest, I got into it as a ‘boredom killer’ for the summer break. However, through the course of this, I realised my strengths, my weaknesses and learnt how to ‘chase’ after ev-

@

S c h o o l

L I V E

erything I want. It was challenging at every level. Teena ma’am, being the trooper she is, never let us slack.

Whether it was the constant scrutiny to get work done or her scary emails when we didn’t do our story on time - it was all for the good. Richa ma’am with her ever smiling face and even warmer personality kept the atmosphere light. I also worked with amazing co-reporters. It was indeed LIVEly! KHUSHI SINGH, CLASS XI, SANSKRITI SCHOOL The thought of interning with School LIVE at first was a little daunting initially as I’m not a fan of organised group activities.

But this internship made me deal with my fear and I realised my actual passions. I figured that I can be great at marketing.

ANANYA MOHANTY, CLASS IX, AMITY SCHOOL NOIDA

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S C H O O L L I V E Volume 1| Issue 11| August 2015 | 41 Website: www.eduitspl.com Follow us on : https://www.facebook.com/edusoftitsolutions/

P o t p o u r r i

Mahabodhi

Tree

Timeline of the oldest historically recorded tree in the world

The Bodhi tree (scientific name Ficus religiosa), also known as Sacred Fig, Bo tree or Peepal tree, is a species of banyan fig native to Nepal, Vietnam and India. This plant is considered the earliest Buddhist symbol and is revered by most religions.

On April 15, 4th Century BC

Siddhartha Gautama famously sat in meditation under a sacred fig tree at the age of 35. For 49 days he went into complete meditation and fought many battles with Maya (illusion), until he finally gained enlightenment and became The Buddha Shakyamuni. The Buddha remained seated in meditation for a week after his enlightenment. And thus the fig tree came to known as the Mahabodhi Tree.

2nd century BC

The Bodhi Tree that exists today is not the one that sheltered the Buddha 2,500 years ago, but it is a

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direct descendent. The original at Bodh Gaya was destroyed by King Puspyamitra during his persecution of Buddhism in the 2nd century BC and the tree planted to replace it, probably an offspring, was destroyed by King Sassanka at the beginning of the 7th century AD. The tree that grows at Bodh Gaya today was planted in 1881 by a British archaeologist after the previous one had died of old age.

288 (3rd century) BC

In the 3rd century BC, Emperor Asoka’s daughter Sanghamitta brought a branch of the Bodhi Tree to Sri Lanka and planted it in Anuradhapura, where it still grows today.

2000

The Mahabodhi Tree was attacked by a milli-bug – an insect which slowly kills trees. An alarm was raised by the Mahabodhi Temple Management Committee when

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the leaves started turning black in 2002. Scientists soon discovered that the carbon monoxide (CO) emitted from the oil lamps lit near the tree had formed a thin layer on its leaves, making photosynthesis difficult. Experts treated the tree for three years. To begin with, the burning of oil lamps near the tree was banned and a lamp house was constructed. The water level in the soil was maintained and pesticides were used.

2005

After several years of sickness, the tree bore new leaves. The bark also regained its original colour, which indicates good health. So the third generation Mahabodhi Tree was successfully rehabilitated through love and right understanding.

By Anahita Garg Class X Step By Step School, Noida

SPONSORED FEATURE

USK Foundation USK Foundation’s Social Transformation Initiatives

An individual should not be deprived of any opportunity in life on the basis of his or her religion, caste, ethnicity, gender, language, region or otherwise. USKF strongly believes in assisting every individual in realizing his or her full potential and ensuring that no bias places a hurdle in the path of truly deserving persons.

A key deliverable in this regard is to conduct activities that liberate and educate women and children, create opportunities for underprivileged youth, provide basic healthcare facilities to the marginalized sections of our society. Under this, rural transformation is an important factor where USKF is working very strongly stated below.

Adopted Village ‘Aahupe’, Ambegaon district –

USK Foundation adopted ‘Ahupe’ village of Ambegaon district. Aahupe village is an 100% adivassi village. It has beautiful scenary backwaters, ayurvedic plants but the village is not developed yet.

USK Foundation started working in the village few months ago and immediately focuses the activity in health area by conducting Eye check-up camp in asso-

ciation with K.K.Eye hospital for the tribal village people. Under this activity, 22 patients cataract surgery was done free of cost and spectacles provided to 61 people.

USK Foundation focuses to solve all water related issues of the village by making sure all the villagers will get clean drinking water. Also, foundation is focusing on employment generation and reducing agriculture related issues. So that, their income levels will improve.

Women’s health is also an important point, so organizing regular gynecological camps is in the highest priority area of USK Foundation.

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