School live november 2015

L O O H C S

E V LI RNI NO DELENG/2015/63089

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Volume 2| Issue 2 noVember 2015

Youth Icon Tennis sensation Sania Mirza

rooting For Shri Ram School

Amazing Grace Grace Pinto of Ryan International

contributors

S C H O O L

L I V E EDITOR in chief

Richa Aniruddha richa@school-live.com

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

EDITOR Teena Baruah teenabaruah@gmail.com Business & Content Development Prerna Jaiswal prernajaiswal@hotmail.com CIRCULATION Kritika Negi DESIGNER Ashish Kumar Mimansa Grafix

For AdvertiSING richa@school-live.com

Rakhee Gupta

Image consultant and etiquette trainer

Smita Jain

Former journalist and Assistant Editor at Amity University, Noida

For subscription editor@school-live.com

C o n ta c t 9810560472

School LIVE : Printed and Published by Richa Aniruddha 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

Richa Singh Corporate slave by day and an award-winning blogger by night

S C H O O L

LIVE RNI NO DELENG/2015/63089

50

Volume 2| Issue 2 noVember 2015

Youth Icon Tennis sensation Sania Mirza

rooting For Shri Ram School

Amazing Grace Grace Pinto of Ryan International

SCHOOL LIVE

Volume 2 | Issue 2 | November 2015 | 3

COCONUT RICE

Recipe BY Swopnarani Mohanty Ingredients: 2 cups 1/2 4 2-3 1 inch 1 1 pinch 1 tsp 3-4 1 tsp 2 tsp 1 tbsp 2-3 tbsp

Cooked rice coconut (grated) Tomatoes (chopped) Green chillies Ginger Dried red chilli Asafoetida Mustard seeds Curry leaves Goldiee Turmeric powder Goldiee Red Chilli powder Lemon juice Oil Coriander for garnish Salt to taste

Procedure: Grind the coconut, tomatoes, green chillies and ginger to a fine paste. Add oil in a pan. Put asafoetida, dried red chilli and mustard seeds when the oil has become hot. Add the coconut paste along with turmeric and red chilli powder. Cook it till the oil separates. Add the curry leaves and cooked rice.

Add salt and lemon juice. Mix well. Garnish it with coriander leaves. Serve hot.

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

The best entry will win a Goldiee gift hamper.

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ed-note

S C H O O L

L I V E

Hi all!

So it’s festival time!

Hope you all are having a good time. I love this time of the year in North India. One festival after another and the weather is so wonderful. And so many fairs and exhibitions all around.

By the way, how many of you went to see the burning of Ravana effigy on Dussehra? This is one ritual most children don’t want to miss. I was crazy about it too as a child.

But in the recent times, the symbolism of a lot of our rituals (irrespective of religion or communities) and their irrelevance for the coming generations is worrying me a lot.

Be it the killing cattle on Eid or burning Ravana on Dussehra, are we even telling our children what these rituals actually symbolise? Haven’t we lost the actual meaning and doing things just because they are done for generations? Why even continue with traditions which have lost their meaning?

We burn huge effigies of Ravana, who symbolises a man that abducted a married woman and a man who was arrogant. But looking at all the crimes against women around us, all the bloated egos of Power, Money, Fame, doesn’t Ravana seem to be a ‘gentleman’?

Let’s be festive. Let’s celebrate Life everyday. Let’s have festivals too. But we need to keep re-inventing the rituals of every festival.

How about giving up an addiction on Eid, or giving a month’s pocket money to someone less fortunate? That will be a true sacrifice.

How about creating a small effigy of Ravana which represents a bad habit of YOURS and destroy that Ravana?

Next Eid and Dussehra, remember to make a sacrifice that truly matters. Remember that there might be a small Ravana within you. He is within all of us and it’s you who has to destroy that Ravana. First identify what that is.... Arrogance, Insensitivity, Laziness......

If we all can kill the RAVANA within us there will be no need to burn effigies and pollute the environment....

Happy diwali to each one of you....

MY ‘IT’ LIST

Lovingly yours

Had fun at, Gurgaon Cyber

Hub

Theatre

,a Chakravyuh ng play starri radwaj Nitish Bha

Movie

Talvar. Must watch!

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

SCHOOL LIVE

Volume 2 | Issue 2 | November 2015 | 5

Helping Winged Friends Children design shelters and feeders to help birds survive monsoon

Anando, Kolkata

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hen children at Anando, Kolkata sat down together to discuss problems in their surroundings that bothered them, their thoughts travelled to those friends who can’t speak: the birds and animals in their neighbourhood. They were concerned to see how the birds struggled for food and shelter in the monsoon, many of their young ones falling off nests and dying of the injuries. The main street in their locality, with its fairly busy traffic, often caused little puppies to come under wheels and die. They decided to do something about all this.

The children began by meeting Madhuri di, an animal rights activist, who applauded their intent, answered many questions and offered some exciting ideas. She promised to help the children sterilize and vaccinate the street dogs that they identify.

But they soon realized how helping the dogs will be tough because of the challenges posed by monsoon, and chose to shift their focus to the birds.

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Design For Change (DFC) is a global movement that helps children in 30+ countries drive change in their communities. Powered by Parle-G, world’s largest selling biscuit brand, 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.

The children had great fun climbing up the trees all around the neighbourhood to install the tree houses and bird feeders, and their joy knew no bounds when they saw several birds, even a few squirrels, start using them in a matter of hours. They decided to improve the designs further. They learnt that the tree houses should ideally be waterproof and, when somebody took one of the The children decided to build tree prettiest feeders away, they realised houses and feeders for the birds, that those should be hung further and hang them on the trees in their up, away from the reach of the passneighbourhood. They made two bird ersby. houses using recycled material, like The children were glad to see that cardboard boxes, painted them in the birds now had shelter and enough bright colours, and added a feeding food to eat even when it rained. They tray and a swing for the birds to en- were thrilled to see how, working as tertain themselves. Next they came a team, they had helped their winged up with two different models for the friends in their hour of need. bird feeders made from old plastic bottles. While one was brightly Join the Design For Change movepainted and capped with leaves, ment by participating in the DFC I with a nice, big hole for the birds to CAN! School Challenge 2015! Visit enter through, the other had several www.designforchangeindia.com to perches sticking out of it. download the toolkits!

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S C H O O L

contents

L I V E 5

Editor’s Note

8

School in Spotlight

Cover

12 Exclusive: Interview with Sania Mirza 18 Mentor’s Note 21 Career Chat 22 Teen Travel 24 Ask Nivedita 26 Mind Your Manners

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Quick Edit

hile most of us were swimming neck deep in festival brouhaha last month, a friend of mine decided to dust his two cycles and take his kid out on a spin into a city forest in South Delhi. It was a brilliant idea! But how many parents would make that effort? Never to be outdone, our publisher Richa Aniruddha too got adventurous and toured around Lutyen’s Delhi on a Segway with her daughter Ayesha and came away refreshed (Test Drive). Student writers Shivam Gopal Periwal and Ragini Zutshi Anand went on a monument photography spree (Positively Positive), while Siddhidatri Mishra embarked on a no frills trip of volunteering in Amroh, Himachal Pradesh (Teen Travel). I can’t think of better ways to instill crucial life skills in youth.

And finally, I hope our cover girl tennis star Sania Mirza inspires you to leave your study table and explore the world beyond the four walls and glitter gadgets.

Happy reading!

28 Positively Positive

Teena Baruah

32 Test Drive 34 DIY 36 Rap up 40 Page 99 42 Timeline

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26 SCHOOL LIVE

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Staying

Rooted H

ow did it all start?

RBR: Our Mother-in-law, Mrs. Manju Bharat Ram started the school 27 years ago. It started as day boarding school. Children went home at 3.30pm, after doing their homework. But now we end the day at 2.30pm.

The founder thought of ideas that were unheard of then, but are buzz words today, like partnership between the parents, teachers and students and being a child friendly, par-

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ent friendly progressive school. She wanted a school where homework was not a burden on the children.

That’s what differentiated us.

Q: The Shri Ram School (TSRS) Vasant Vihar/Gurgaon was ranked No. 1 Co-ed Day School in the country last year, does that reaffirms your faith in your unique education philosophy?

VBR: We are not benchmarking with the best in India. We are bench-

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We are benchmarking with the best in the world: Leaders of The Shri Ram School, Radhika and Vasvi Bharat Ram tell School LIVE. Teena Baruah reports

marking with the best in the world.

Also, we really don’t know how these things work. We have been doing the same thing for the last 27 years with same diligence and vision. But in some years we are No. 1, and in some we are at 2, or 3.

Q: How crucial is cultural education here?

RBR: In our school you have to have pride in one›s own culture and be rooted. The family that we come

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from has always been very proud of its Indian heritage. It’s imbibed in all of us. And it’s this value of art and culture that comes into the school.

VBR: Our Mother in law Manju Bharat Ram did not believe in aping the West. Even when we introduced our IB programme 10 years ago, we consciously decided against calling ourselves The Shri Ram World School, unlike most schools. We are a very ‘Indian’ School with a Global

Perspective!

Q: What are the manifestations of this Indianness?

RBR: In everything. We greet with a namaste or a namaskar here. We routinely host Spic Macay performances here to expose our students to various forms of Indian dance and music.

VBR: Our Mad About Heritage workshop series allows us to invite

i n

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artisans into the school. Our teachers are also very rooted and when we recruit them we look for that ‘Indianness’ in them.

RBR: In the Graduation Ceremony, all our children wear a red kurta with a Shri logo. The Class XII child hands over a diya, knowledge is light, to a Class XI kid. It symbolically conveys that they are leaving the school in the hands of the successor and passing the knowledge to them.

The school gives anga vastra to the students, as gurus in gurukul did centuries ago. Every little tradition here is very well thought through.

Q: A Wall Street Journal report mentions that getting through to TSRS is tougher than Harvard. How would you respond to that?

It’s getting harder because very few new schools are opening up in Delhi - land is frightfully expensive in Delhi. Also, seats have been reduced following the implementation of the Right To Education policy. At our Vasant Vihar school, we have 120 seats at the entry level. And every year we get around 3,000 admission forms. Out of which 25 per cent seats are reserved for the economically weaker section (EWS).

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Q: What is the teacher-student ratio here?

RBR: The Ratio is 1:10. We have 28 to 30 students in class. And that includes teacher’s ward, EWS and general students.

Q: Is it an inclusive school?

VBR: We were the first school to cater to children with Special Needs.

Special kids are a part of our mainstream classes and part of everything we do in school. The special educator is present in the class, along with the regular teacher, to help them in class. And if there is some subject the child is really struggling with, the special educator takes one-onone class.

RBR: And to make sure that special children are not alone in class, we group them together. We only take children with mild to moderate disability, basically kids we can help through mainstream education.

Q: Have you been able to mainstream the EWS children too?

RBR: We implemented RTE seven years ago. The first batch is now in Class VI. VBR: Before RTE became mandatory, we had a tie up with a school for the underprivileged called Vidya.

At 2.30pm, our children used to leave and the Vidya children would come and use all our facilities. So we were running two shifts. It was working very well as a whole lot of children used to benefit. And they were amongst their own peer group.

We still have a tie up with a Balwadi.

Those children come in after school and our Class IX and XI students teach them.

Q: What do you mean by being a Child centric school?

RBR: Till Class V we do not grade children. A child’s progress is evaluated by how much he has picked up since the class started. Also, when we were trained to take over The

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Shri Ram School, we were told to always ask ourselves, is this good for the child? That’s how we arrive at every decision. The child is in the centre of everything we do.

VBR: And if that doesn’t work, we ask ourselves, what would have Mummy done in this circumstance?

(Laughs.)

Q: Any child-centric decisions have you taken lately?

RBR: It has prompted us to set up a Career Counselling Cell and invest heavily in IT. Our career counselling cell enables our children to get into the best colleges. From Class IX, it evaluates the true passion of every child and guides them through en-

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So many kids stop pursuing their talent by the time they reach Class VIII. But colleges want to see that extra thing in you.

So the career counselling cell is there to track their graph trance exams and SATs. So for instance, if you score good marks in Science you don’t have to study Science. It encourages children to take on co curricular activities so that they have a wholesome CV when they apply to colleges.

VBR: So many kids stop pursuing their talent by the time they reach Class VIII. But colleges want to see that extra thing in you. So the career

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counselling cell is there to track their graph.

RBR: Similarly, we have invested in IT as kids are wired differently these days. We can sit here discuss the benefit of chalk and talk, but kids learn better if you teach them the way they want to be taught. We don’t have smart classrooms. We have projectors. By next year all our teachers will be given laptops. We make learning materials ourselves.

VBR: We are creating a repository of learning materials for IT aided classrooms. The IB and IGCSE programme requires extensive research work online.

RBR: We also practice the Flip model. The teacher will put all the work online. So the child has to go online, study and then go into the class to discuss the topic. Instead of first discussing the topic in the class and then reading about it. Class is always used for discussion, so your mind is always engaged and you are not feeling lost in class. We are putting the onus back on to the child who has to come prepared to the class.

Q: What else sets TSRS apart?

VBR: Our students and teachers are encouraged to voice their opinion.

Elsewhere, kids are not encouraged to challenge the teachers. It is considered rude... Our new teachers often find it unnerving to deal with their barrage of questions.

Q: So what does the classroom look like with so many conflicting voices?

VBR: It’s buzzing, interactive, and if you look from outside it may look a wee bit chaotic.

RBR: Maybe that’s why if you look at our students’ career graph, they have always done things out of the box. They have been given the confidence to believe that it is ok to be different. That is an important philosophy of this school. All the children don’t need to be an engineer or a doctor.

VBR: Initially people said that this

school is not a Science school. It’s more of a Liberal Arts School. That’s not true. Our children follow whatever they think is right for them and we encourage them to do so. We provide equal opportunity for children to study sciences or liberal arts.

We handhold parents through that.

It’s an education for parents too.

Q: How do you expect your teachers to interact with your children?

VBR: We do not accept any physical punishment in class. We do not like teachers raising their voice in class.

RBR: Teachers have to learn to be creative. If you are going to be dull in the class, not be creative or come unprepared, you will not hold our children’s attention. You need to

think out of the box and be life long learners.

How do you define TSRS’ parent friendliness?

VBR: In our times parents went to school only if kids got into trouble.

But in our school, parents are encouraged to come in, give feedback and help in school functions. Only because we encourage them to come in and talk to us do they give back the way they do.

RBR: We even do Growing Up workshops for children and parents where we talk about substance abuse, alcoholism, cyber safety, etc.

Parents also attend these, so that, the school and the parents speak the same language at home.

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E x c l u s i v e

SIMPLY Sania

Winner of India’s highest sporting honour, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, Tennis Star Sania Mirza speaks to Smita Jain in an exclusive interview

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E x c l u s i v e

My parents had to divide their time in such a way that they could attend to my baby sister and also accompany me for practice sessions and tours. The whole family had to make a lot of sacrifices.

I studied at Nasr School and was quite a geek who preferred studies over sports. I owe my success to my headmistress who reposed a lot of faith in me and convinced me to go out and play. She believed that I was a gifted child and if trained well could do wonders for the country. But when my focus shifted from studies to tennis my grades started falling and I was billed as an average student. I had to skip school a lot to participate in State/ National/ International tournaments, but despite long absence from school I passed higher secondary and senior secondary examination with first division.

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assion, perseverance, hard work and dollops of luck are ingredients which champions are made of and Sania Mirza is no different. Her career has been marked by ecstatic wins and heartbreaking injuries, but this champion refuses to give up. She is someone who knows how to rise from ashes and claim the top spot. School LIVE caught up with Sania as she revels after being crowned World number one in doubles. Here is an excerpt from the interview.

I’ve had a normal childhood. I was six-years-old when my father Imran Mirza, who was a sports journalist, introduced me to tennis. I used to enjoy swimming, playing tennis and a host of other activities as a child, but destiny had different plans for me.

I became the first girl in the family to opt for tennis as a career, which boasts of producing a lot of cricketers. I was a disciplined child who excelled in academics and the thought of missing school to participate in tournaments used to upset me.

Tell us something about your childhood?

Which school did you go to and how were you as a student?

At what age did your passion for tennis start? Were your parents supportive of your decision to take up tennis as a career?

I fell in love with this game when I was just six. My parents who were sports enthusiasts started taking interest in the game. Success would not have kissed my feet if my parents would not have stood by me in trying times. They were always there for me. But as they say success does not come easy. We had to face our share of problems. My parents had to divide their time in such a way that they could attend to my baby sister and also accompany me for practice sessions and tours. The whole family had to make a lot of sacrifices. I still vividly remember that we travelled from Mumbai to Trivandrum by car because at that point of time it was

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the cheapest form of transport avail- was just 8 when I participated in an able for the whole family, though it under 16 tournament. My opponent took us 30 hours to reach there. was baffled to find a tiny girl pitted against her, so she asked me to come Is it true that your first coach re- and play in a service box. I was taken fused to take you under his wing? aback by her response, but did not (Laughs) Yes, he thought I was too say anything. The 100-plus spectasmall to play tennis. tors were startled to see me not only play beautifully but also win the Were you a tomboy or loved to hang game. around with your gang of girls?

The overwhelming reception that I was never a tomboy, but had my I received in my school when I came close circle of friends. I am still in back after winning the Wimbledon touch with most of them.

Girls Doubles title in 2003 was really touching. I had tears in my eyes Tell us about your favourite child- when I left the school. hood memory? Any incident from your life which moves you to tears? Any childhood crushes that you Winning the first ever tournament are yet to recover from? at the age of 8 is something that I As a schoolgirl I had a huge crush on will cherish throughout my life. I cinestar Akshay Kumar and Russian

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politician and retired tennis player Marat Safin.

Who has been your inspiration?

I look up to Steffi Graf and Sachin Tendulkar for inspiration. I was just 15 years old when I won the Wimbledon Junior title in 2008 and saw a car signed by Sachin Tendulkar roll in at my residence. At that time I did not know who Sachin was. It was during an exhibition match played at Kolkata that I discovered that master blaster was not only a legendary cricketer but an excellent tennis player too.

What is a usual day in the life of Sania Mirza like? How many hours do you devote to training?

Expecting the unusual is what prob-

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‘

My training schedule

depends on whether I’m preparing for a tournament or not.

During off season I religiously work out for 8 hours a day. You can spot me either on a tennis court or in a gym.

‘

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E x c l u s i v e me to get back into competitive tennis on the world stage when I was seriously injured and in a lot of pain.

Do you think the future of men’s tennis looks bright, while the prospect of women’s tennis looks dim?

I think our women players need proper guidance to pursue the sport at a global level. I am hoping to help them and the next generation of tennis players through the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy (SMTA), which is a world class facility that I have started in Hyderabad.

What role do you see yourself in: commentator or coach after you quit tennis?

I would like to spend more time in SMTA and help in producing ably classifies as a usual day in the It comes with a lot of responsibil- the next generation of Grand Slam life of Sania Mirza. My training ity. I look at it as a privilege that has Champions. schedule depends on whether I’m been bestowed on me based on my preparing for a tournament or not. past performances, and it has al- Any young Indian junior player During off season I religiously work ways inspired me to deliver my best. that you feel has a lot of potenout for 8 hours a day. You can spot tial? me either on a tennis court or in a Why has it taken so long for In- There are a few promising younggym. dian women to break into the sters but the support team needs to world of tennis? do the right things at the right time.

How does it feel to be crowned Tennis is a truly global sport with world’s top ranked doubles’ many countries competing at a very Whom do you like tennis player? How have your high level as the stakes in terms of to pair up with fans and family reacted to the prize money and honour are ex- during doubles news? tremely high. Tennis is not a sport or mixed douIt is an amazing feeling. My family played in a few countries of the bles? and I have worked relentlessly for world and so the next champion can I have been doing 22 years and defied all odds to see emerge from any of these countries. well with Martina me climb to the number one position. That makes it extremely competitive. Hingis, but I won I feel overwhelmed and satisfied at the mixed doubles the same time. My fans are obviously Whom do you give credit for the US Open title thrilled and ecstatic. success that you have achieved? with Bruno To my family that has stood by me Soares. So, I What is more difficult - the jour- like the proverbial ‘Rock of Gibraltar’. will definiteney to the top or staying at top? ly continue I think they are both difficult but Combating serious injuries with them. when you are at the top, all the op- can be quite frustrating for a ponents are gunning for you as you player; you have suffered quite are a prized scalp! a few over the years. How did you cope up with that?

How does it feel to be a youth My parents helped me get back from icon? Does the burden of expec- serious injuries. After my marriage, tations bog you down? it was my husband who encouraged

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CO H LOLOI LVLEI V E Volume | Issue 2 | November Volume 1| Issue211 | August 2015 | 21 2015 | 17 S C HS O

M e n t o r ’ s

N o t e

Amazing Grace An incisive and insightful look into the world of Grace Pinto, Managing Director of Ryan International Schools 18 | | Volume 2 | Issue 2 | November 2015

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M e n t o r ’ s empowered citizens. The motto and philosophy is “Excellence in Education and All-Round Development.”

Today, the group has schools with CBSE, ICSE/ISC, SSC, HSC, IB (International Baccalaureate) and IGCSE (Cambridge) curriculums that have won widespread public support and affirmation for bringing quality education in not only metros but also in rural India.

Q. Ryan has tried to touch the lives of rural areas, instead of simply concentrating on starting schools in the metros. What’s the idea behind it?

The vision is clear to us and we aspire that our efforts be aligned with the vision in encouraging “holistic development.” We have opened outstanding schools in places like Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh, Shahjahanpur, UP and Jalna, Maharashtra to take quality education to every corner of our country.

We have spearheaded various humanitarian projects of giving access to education and healthcare to the less privileged. Our schools under-

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the less privileged students. In Delhi, students have undertaken projects like “Transformation Village Mahipalpur 2010-2015” with an aim to sensitise people towards the needs of the society, to enhance community and social responsibility and to transform the village by making it a better place to live in. Tree plantation, remedial classes, vocational guidance and health camps are conducted on regular basis by students in Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Sohna Road, Gurgaon and Rohini in New Delhi. In Raebareli, Ryan’s Mobile Literacy Mission provides computer education. Also women are being taught to speak English.

Radiant Schools in Faridabad, Noida, cater to the slum dwellers infusing radiance in their life. Several of our schools throughout the country have minimal fees to ensure that even students from economically weaker section avail quality education. We firmly believe that education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

Q. You have mentioned in an interview, ‘We prepare our children not for examination, but for life.’ Please explain it.

There are emerging concerns that a large number of graduates and engineering graduates passing out of colleges are not employable. The obvious reason behind this entire scenario is the mere exams and results oriented education. Studies indicate that 21st century employers expect employees to possess critical and creative thinking, collaborattake various projects based on the ing, communicating, media literacy, six parameters - compassion, en- technology literacy, social skills, vironment, education, healthcare, leadership, teamwork, responsibileconomic empowerment and local ity and practical application skills. leadership - to transform the society. We, at Ryan Group of Schools, focus Our schoolchildren are encour- on inculcating various skills right aged to support orphanages, homes from the school level which will help for the elderly and blind in different our students during their higher edparts of the country. Joy of giving ucation, employment and life in genis celebrated by providing clothing, eral. We have pioneered some statefood, toys, books and stationery to of-the-art national and international

Radiant Schools in Faridabad, Noida, cater to the slum dwellers infusing radiance in their life. We firmly believe that education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world

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hat is the educational philosophy of Ryan International School?

Besides being spiritual and valuebased, our commitment to ensure an effective teaching learning process is largely based on holistic development and child-centered pedagogy.

Our objective is to nurture children not only to excel academically, but also beyond academics to become

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M e n t o r ’ s

N o t e there is a lot of scope in this segment, everyone who enters this field needs to understand the true essence of education of giving access of the right of education to every child is the core value of being in education, otherwise the entire purpose of education is defeated.

events that help students learn with hands on projects and develop leadership and teamwork.

Studies indicate that 21st century employers expect employees to possess critical and creative thinking, collaborating, communicating, media literacy, technology literacy, social skills, leadership, teamwork, responsibility and practical application skills. We, at Ryan Group of Schools, focus on inculcating these skills right from the school level

Q. What advice do you want to give to our student readers for facing the challenges of life?

My dear young friends, we urge you to be willing learners not just of various disciplines but also of life itself. Although the road ahead may not be easy, don’t lose sight of the goal! Saying “I don’t know” requires humility and also being respectful and open to learning with the guidance of your teachers and parents will enable you to be considerate, sensitive and responsible leaders. Anchor yourself firmly to the values, which will make you Q. What are your thoughts about capable of responding to the chal- commercialisation of education? lenges of times.

Today, the ground realities do indicate the need for more educational Q. You have accomplished many institutions to meet the demands of remarkable things in your life. Is the growing population. In view of there any one achievement that you this, India does need a breed of proconsider the most rewarding experi- gressive leaders in education who ence? could be the trailblazers of quality Among the many memorable mo- education in the country. Education ments I have been blessed with, be- industry is one of the fastest develing one of the five speakers alongside oping sectors worldwide and proHillary Clinton, at the Presidential vides ample opportunities. Today, National Prayer Breakfast at Wash- the private professional institutes ington D.C. was one of the most are at the forefront, making a sigmemorable moments in my life. nificant mark in the industry. While

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Q. What is Food Bucket Challenge organised by RIS? In yet another unique initiative, we launched the Ryan Schools FOOD BUCKET CHALLENGE with an aim to mobilise over One Million Kilograms of food accessories and distribute it to various orphanages and NGOs across the country. This is a nationwide programme where students, parents, staff and others, the general public joined together to support the poor and needy. In our country where people are dying of hunger, it is imperative to encourage our students to become agents of change and make a difference to the society.

Since its launch, we have received overwhelming response. We have collected over 550,000 kg and have distributed it to over 200 NGOs across the country. Over 15,000 street children have been served nutritious meals in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Surat, Bangalore and Delhi.

Q. Do you feel Indian education system needs to reinvent itself to better suit its cultural reality and living standard?

Every educator has to focus on inculcating skills required for employment with leadership qualities among their students. Practical learning against rote learning will help our youngsters make an easy transition to real life situations and it will give them confidence to face the challenges of our times. We need to transform the educational pedagogy and methodology by building a dynamic cross-silo community of experts and enhance the positive effects of technology in learning.

C a r e e r

Show Time

C h a t

Career Counsellor Jitin Chawla provides an overview of a career in event management

E

vents and occasions are an integral part of human life. We simply cannot bypass them as they touch almost all aspects of our social existence. Birthday celebrations, social gatherings, engagements and weddings are events we celebrate at the personal level. During academic years there are school events such as annual day functions, inter and intra school contests, sports day celebrations, followed by college and university level festivals. In the sphere of work, there are annual general meetings, exhibitions, marketing campaigns, conferences, product launches and brand development activities. Other events such as fashion shows, cultural programs, talent hunt shows, promotional campaigns, religious gatherings and so on, also play an important role in our life. What does this mean to the event industry? It means jobs. It means a shortage of people with the skills required to execute an event of this enormity.

Event management means planning, creatively organising and finally, executing an event. This new way of packaging entertainment has its roots firmly embedded in advertising and public relations.

There is a lot of logistics involved in the management of any event. It boils down to the management and coordination of services and supplies.

During event planning, one needs to consider all the technical details like projection of lights, sound effects and other special effects to make the event a spectacle. The design value is a major planning consideration as well, and this includes a logo creation for the event, customising the dĂŠcor, furniture

and the entire surroundings in such a way that it blends with the basic theme of the event.

After planning, comes the actual execution part, which needs to be orchestrated in a perfect manner. The venue needs to be managed efficiently in all domains which include managing the banquet area, placing security personnel at the right places, hospitality and all the other small things which provide to all the participants a perfect feeling. One also needs to be prepared to handle any glitches that may just occur at the last minute despite perfect coordination and arrangements.

Some universities, colleges and media institutions also offer specialisation in Event Management. Mudra Institute of Communication-Ahmedabad, Indian Institute of Mass Communication-New Delhi, Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism-

Bhopal, are some institutes which offer a Masters programme in Public Relations and Advertising with a specialisation in Event Management.

Apart from that, the industry has been taking BBAs, MBAs, simple graduates or people from almost any background. Degree or Post Graduate Diplomas are available at some institutes like EMDI Institute of Media & Communication-Mumbai/ Delhi, National Institute of Event Management-Mumbai, Amity University- Delhi, National Academy of Event Management & DevelopmentDelhi, Jaipur, Mumbai. Do volunteer work with small event management companies and then pitch for jobs with big companies or even start off as an entrepreneur.

For personal consultation with Jitin Chawla call 9810264027.

SCHOOL LIVE

Volume 2 | Issue 2 | November 2015 | 21

T e e n

T r a v e l

Siddhidatri Mishra embarks on a no frills trip to Amroh, Himachal Pradesh

B

efore September 19, I would have mocked at the thought of sleeping on the floor in a derelict little school in some corner of the world. But these were the very components that made my trip to Amroh, Himachal Pradesh, special.

In my school, Sanskriti, it is mandatory for 11th graders to go on one of the four rural sensitisation trips organised by the School and PRAVAH. PRAVAH is an NGO that seeks to completely erase the line between the urban and the rural worlds through such sensitisation trips, activities, etc.

Before going on the trip, all the students had an orientation in which the coordinators from PRAVAH informed us on what to expect from the trip. We were handed over a list of things we could not get. It was longer than the list of what we could! We were told not to take any baths while we were there. It was also pointed out that we may have to do with very rudimentary facilities including for bathrooms.

Naturally, everyone left the orientation grumbling and expecting the worst.

On the afternoon of September 19, as instructed, all of us assembled at the New Delhi Railway station in our Indian outfits. For many of us it was the first train journey in a non AC compartment.

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Photo: Ragini Anand, Sanskriti school

Barefoot

Journey

The train arrived at our destination at midnight. We went to a school, where the principal had generously allowed us to stay for the night. The girls were assigned one room and the boys another, on the opposite side.

We set up our beds and went off to sleep almost immediately. We were woken up at 5am in a truly Indian way: by the banging of a plate! All of us woke up grumpily and gathered in the courtyard. There they made

S L II V VE E SC CH HO OO OL LL

us play a set of games to freshen us up and to get our blood running. It worked. In just an hour, all of us were feeling active and ready to face anything. We were then divided into three separate groups and assigned villages. Our group got ‘Amroh’.

We were given time to eat breakfast, change into clean clothes, tidy up, etc. We also had to collect our mattresses in one place so that they could be sent to the villages before

T e e n

we reached. After that, we had to stay with our groups and the coordinators assigned. The coordinators explained a lot of what to expect from villagers in the form of activities. They told us how not to judge the village people because they may be perceiving things in a different manner and not do anything remotely scandalous. After lunch, we left for Amroh. We reached there in half an hour and stopped outside the public school where we were to stay.

Lo and behold the grounds inside the school were host to a ‘wrestling match’. It was the first time anyone of us had ever seen a wrestling match so intense. It was an out and out ‘muddy affair’ as the competitors were slathered in only mud and wore skimpy underwear. It was quite an unusual sight for us. We were

prepared for anything now.

We were allowed to rest for a while before venturing out into the village. We went to an old resident’s house. He told us many stories of the Indo-Pak separation, factories being set up on the hillside, etc. At nightfall we sat on the roof in a circle under a sky full of stars. The stars burned so bright and we had never before realised that so many actually existed! The night sky seemed like we were under a celestial dome.

The next day, we were assigned different topics. We had to go talk to the people of the village regarding our assigned topics and come up with a conclusion. We were assigned the topic on ‘life of women in the village’. It was great fun exploring the

T r a v e l

mountain side and talking to different people. It was also interesting to hear their points of view on different things such as the fact that women in this particular village were thought to be equals of men and were also educated and sent to the city to work. We also saw that the people were exceptionally kind and did not really care about their financial status.

They just wanted to lead a happy and peaceful life.

The school we were staying in was a primary school, so whenever we were free, we would play with the children and teach them new games as well. Without knowing, the last day loomed upon us. We did a presentation for the children which they enjoyed a lot. We also planted trees in the school’s garden as a thank you gesture. After lunch, we left for the base camp. All the three groups were now united. We traded stories back and forth.

I came back with many more friends and appreciation for all the things that had been provided to me.

Life goes on for me, but I yearn to return to the starry dome once more.

Because, in the end, not having proper bathroom facilities do not matter one bit.

By Siddhidatri Mishra Class XI, Sanskriti School

SCHOOL LIVE

Volume 2 | Issue 2 | November 2015 | 23

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

Am I Depressed?

Q. I am a 14-year-old girl. These days I feel a loss of appetite. I feel completely lost sometimes, unable to focus on anything. There are times when I go blank, can neither laugh nor cry. Is this Depression?

Your blanking out could well be a case of cognitive lethargy commonly seen in teenagers. As far as appetite goes, it’s a function of the amount of physical activity you engage in everyday. Most teenagers lead a very sedentary life so it would help to monitor your activity level. Too much of it can also kill appetite.

Your query is of immense relevance and concerns a topic, which is much neglected and often overlooked. Studies reveal that depression strikes teenagers far more often than most people think it does. It’s also a well-documented fact that it’s sometimes difficult to distinguish normal teenage mood swings and rebellion from symptoms of depression.

The good news is that depression is treatable. The bad news is that only one in five depressed teens receive help. The reason for this is a lack of education among parents and teachers on how to differentiate teenage depression from adult depression, and also because of a tendency to attribute all aberrant adolescent behaviors as stemming from a bad attitude or hormonal influx.

As far as symptoms of depression in teens are concerned, firstly, irritability, rather than sadness,

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is often the predominant mood in depressed teens. Secondly, depressed teens frequently complain about physical ailments such as headaches or stomachaches. If a thorough physical exam does not reveal a medical cause, these aches and pains may indicate depression. Thirdly, if one is plagued by feelings of worthlessness, making them extremely vulnerable to criticism, rejection, and failure, then one needs to check back with an expert. This is a particular problem for “over-achievers.” Lastly, while adults tend to isolate themselves when depressed, teenagers usually keep up at least some friendships.

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It’s important to insert a word of caution here. Listing symptoms is fraught with the dangers of most people jumping to a diagnosis of being depressed or labeling others as being so. The symptoms listed above are broad and commonplace (can be experienced by children without depression). It’s of concern only if experienced for a specific duration of time and rendering the person incapable of functioning on a daily basis.

It’s imperative to corroborate the symptoms with a physical appointment with an expert.

Write to Nivedita Singh at niveditasingh2005@gmail.com

Thank you for participating in

DIY Challenge Here comes our winners’ selfies.

The top 5 entries have star on their selfies and rest are the consolation prize winners.

Many congratulations to all the little designers, you will soon receive your certificates and gift hampers from “KICS - Kids In Cool Stuff ” by Wiesner Worldwide Kreations.

CH O O L L I V E Volume 2 | Issue 2 | November 2015 | 25 for any queries, please writeS to ravleen@wpiny.com

M i n d

Y o u r

M a n n e r s

Be My Guest Etiquette consultant Rakhee Gupta shares simple tips on how to play the perfect host

H

aving friends over for a meal, a sleepover or simply to spend time together is a lot of fun.

But it comes with its set of responsibilities as well. If you are inviting anyone, you are the host. Do not leave it to your parents or help. Follow these simple instructions and your friends will look forward to spending time at your place, always.

� Before you invite anyone over, always

check with your parents to ensure your plans are not overlapping with any other plans the family has. � Check with your parents about the number of guests you may invite. � If you are having a small get together, it is better to invite friends who know each other or have something in common. � Please, do not ever invite someone, in front of someone who is not invited. � Keep count of the number of people coming and food needed. Accord-

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ingly have it arranged or cooked in gently break them by calling everyadvance. one to a common activity. � Keep in mind the food and religious � Do not monopolise any of your guests preferences of your guests. If you and don’t let them monopolise you are unsure, it is a good idea to check either. It is your duty to make all with them. your guests feel welcome. � If you need any entertainment in � Do not single out anyone and make the form of movies, music or board him the butt of jokes. The others may games. Make sure to source it or enjoy it, but he will definitely not borrow it from friends. enjoy your party. � It helps if you have activities that � Ensure that everyone has had enough get people talking to each other. to eat and drink. Offer second help� Try to answer the door yourself, when ings to your guests, but respect if expecting guests. they refuse. Do not pester them to � Always, introduce your friends/ eat, just because you do not want to guests to your parents. end up with leftovers. � If your friend has brought a gift, ac- � When guests start leaving, walk to cept it and thank him/her graciously. the door with each one of them. � If your guest is not familiar with the � Thank your guests for coming, and other guests, introduce him/her to making your get together a success. other friends around. You may then � Bid them goodbye with a pleasant ask a close friend to take charge and smile, no matter how tired you are. initiate them into conversation, while you attend to others.

Write to Rakhee Gupta at � If you see any cliques/groups forming, guptarakhee@live.com

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P o s i t i v e l y

P o s i t i v e

Past Perfect

7 tricks to master monument

photography. By Shivam Gopal Periwal

M

onument photography is not all about clicking pictures of the monuments from the front angle or taking your selfies. Daily, thousands of photographs of Taj Mahal and Humayun’s Tomb are clicked, but how many of them make a strong impact? At the end of this article you will be able to understand the basics of monument photography.

• Before visiting the place find out about the weather. You would not like to visit the place in extreme sunlight or during heavy rains (which might damage your camera).

• Understand the lighting. The best time to shoot exteriors of any monument is before 11am and after 4pm. This is because there is not much sunlight at this time and as a result, the photos are not washed out.

• Try to include life in your photos. This life can be in the form of flowers, birds, trees, people or a nice sky.

• Make note of the angles. A narrow angle might ruin your image.

• No monument is bad. But make sure the place is safe, easily accessible and photography is allowed there.

• Before you start photography at a location take a round of the area.

The benefits of surveying the place is, you will be able to identify good spots for photography and will save the battery and memory for good spots.

• Always get an entry ticket for your camera too. Don’t try to save pennies because if you get caught, you might end up paying a whole lot more.

telling a story in itself Chattri, Shivpuri.

Every window gives a glimpse oflior.

Something new - Tansen Tomb, Gwa

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I am the King..

Jehangir Palace, Orchha.

P o s i t i v e l y

the eternal god- Data Bandi Chod Gurudwara, Gwalior

P o s i t i v e

the majestic Mansingh Palace, Gwalior

in ruins but still an inspiration Jehangir palace, Orchha

By Shivam Gopal Periwal, Class XII, Gwalior Glory High School, Gwalior

A teacher, a philosopher MLB College, Gwalior

Life is a maze Bhoolbhulaiya, Orchha

Infinity at its end Gujari Mahal, Gwalior SCHOOL LIVE

Volume 2 | Issue 2 | November 2015 | 29

P o s i t i v e l y

P o s i t i v e

a,

Light and Sound show at Purana Qil Delhi

Lens Craft

A

part from the reason that I absolutely love Delhi winters, the season and weather during the months of October to Mid-March are, according to me, the best for monument photography. The lighting is brilliant, with the sun tilted at a beautiful angle. The amazing heritage sites are less crowded, as most people prefer to have some extra sleep in their cosy, heated blankets, and the surrounding trees are colourful, and the ground underneath the tree too is littered with vivid and vibrant shades of red, all because of the Gulmohar trees.

When the sun does shine down hard, the glowing light seeps through the white, fluffy clouds which look like they’ve come out of a movie, and once you have that photograph, you hardly need any touch ups in processing.

And of course, how can I forget? After a long day of photography, you can rely on some warm, roasted and extremely addictive peanuts, available in the vicinity of most heritage sites, for just Rs 10.

By Ragini Zutshi Anand Class XI Sanskriti School, New Delhi

Humayun’s Window, Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi

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P o s i t i v e l y

P o s i t i v e

a,

Light and Sound show at Purana Qil Delhi

Sunset, Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi

Isa Khan Tomb, Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi

Man in the Air, Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi

Our Generation, Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi

Dramatic Dog, Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi

SCHOOL LIVE

Volume 2 | Issue 2 | November 2015 | 31

T e s t

D r i v e

Way

To Go

Ayesha Thatte takes the Segway tour around Lutyen’s Delhi and comes away delighted

I

wanted our weekend to be adventurous, and not a sleep-all-dayand-get-scolded-by-mom types, so mom looked up something amazing for us to do, the Segway tour Delhi.

The tickets were pretty expensive at Rs 1,700 per person, but the fun we had was totally worth it!

Since 6 am was too early a slot for a sleepy sloth like me, we chose the 7.15 am one instead.

The Segway PT is a two-wheeled, self-balancing, battery-powered electric vehicle. I wanted to buy one, after having a great time riding it, but one Segway costs Rs 5 lakh, so I dropped the plan.

The thought of leaning fully against the handle in front was first scary, and

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I was prepared to hit my face on the ground. But it turned out to be pretty easy (not for mom, though).

The roads were almost completely empty at Rajpath, so I drove the Segway as fast as it could go (20 kmph), at regular intervals. and obviously mom was yelling at me In a nutshell, this tour was someto stop, while she rode hers slower thing worth spending all the time and than a snail. money on; my only suggestion is, if We started from the Rashtrapati your mom tells you to ride a Segway Bhavan, taking a lot of turns through slower than 20 kmph on an empty Vijay Chowk, and drove till the India 2 kilometre stretch, tell her to stop Gate. We were the only ones in that worrying and enjoy. slot, so we could annoy the tour guide to click as many pictures of us as we wanted. Mom and I entertained him By throughout the 45-minute tour down Ayesha Thatte and up the same road on Rajpath, Class X, Step by Step School, fighting or panicking or stumbling Noida

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s n o i t a v o Innor everyday f It is just not enough to have over 212 active patents, 65 OEM approvals, 1500 product formulations and processes that have transformed the Indian petroleum industry. Nor is it enough to be recognised as a referral centre for technology excellence in energy. Pioneering Bio-remediation technology to tackle oil spills, advanced catalysts that improve distillate yield… or even building state-of-art supply chain processes that ensure reduced downtime and efficient customer inventories. Also not significant is our cutting edge research in Hydrogen, Biogas, Ethanol blended fuel and advanced Tribology. For what drive us is the difference innovation makes to millions of Indians…everyday.

Chennai Petroleum Corporation • IndianOil Mauritius • Lanka IOC • IOC Middle East • IndianOil CREDA Bio-fuels • IOC Sweden AB • Avi-Oil India CHOO L L I V •EIndian Volume 2 Issue 2 November 2015 • Delhi Aviation Fuel Facility • Green Gas • IndianOil Ruchi Bio-fuels S • IndianOil • Lubrizol Skytanking Synthetic Rubber India • Petronet LNG • NPCIL -IndianOil Nuclear Energy • Petronet India • Petronet VK • Suntera Nigeria • IOT Infrastructure

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D I Y

A

log On

Blogger Richa Singh on how to make an impressive debut in the blogging scene

blog is a form of expression, mum popularity or in other words a like writing, painting, singing, successful blog. dancing, etc. But why should creative people like us use this to express ourselves? Because blog as a medium allows us full freedom when it comes to putting our point across.

For example, if you need to discuss a certain recipe and recreate it in steps and ingredients, then you can along with writing details add a video of you cooking it. As an ‘artist’ you have showcased your work in more than one way and as a reader I have enjoyed it in multi-mediums.

And all this when done correctly and in a well defined manner ensures maximum outreach, maxi-

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How to create a successful blog?

Identifying a Theme

Remember that your blog is nothing but an extension of who you are. And

Remember that your blog is nothing but an extension of who you are. And who are you, is a rather important first question that you must answer. Identify your interests and evolve the theme centered around it

D I Y who are you, is a rather important first question that you must answer.

Identify your interests, be it poetry or video gaming or perhaps gardening and evolve the theme centered around it. This will help you two-fold, it shall ensure your readers know what content to expect and hence will be better engaged and secondly in the long run creating content or posts will not be a tedious task for you as you are aware the basic premise you need to follow.

Here, I will bring forth one point that you can note, in case your interests are very varied and zeroing in on one single topic looks difficult then go for complete ‘free expression’. In due course though create posts that resonate with all sides of your personality and give the reader a good taste of who you are. In free expression blogs, the personality of the blogger needs to come out sharper.

Good Content

Avoid grammatical mistakes, put information which is well validated, ensure no copyright or other content stealth issues exist and in the end ask yourself, do I as a reader enjoy what I have created?

a multi form expression. Using videos and images forms a great way to connect with readers and ensures a lasting impact of your creation. Videos can be created through built-in phone cameras and need not be of professional quality. Easy, simple acts work better and connect more in blogs. In addition, while images can Visual Content be self clicked, free Google images Most bloggers choose writing as their come easy and fast. They come very medium of expression and it is al- handy while creating free expression right. But today blogging is becoming posts as generic visuals work in these.

While visual content helps make the first impression, content on the whole should have takeaway. An engaged reader comes back wanting for more only if he has gone back with some value from the blog. Hence spend time and energy on creating content that is rich in information or high on creative quality. Both can also be an option. Avoid grammatical mistakes, put information which is well validated, ensure no copyright or other content stealth issues exist and in the end ask yourself, “do I as a reader enjoy what I have created?”

Choose a Good Title

A good title is like a book cover. They do say don’t judge a book by it’s cover but they also say it makes the first impression. And first impressions are important for blogs. Readers need to click on that post because once that happens only then is your content discovered. Choosing a title needs to follow three cardinal rules: It should be relevant.

It should be catchy.

It should not be very short or very long.

Proof Read

Last but not the least, you have created the content, designed it well with visual elements and packaged it with a title.

Now look for the finishing touches.

Scan for slight typos or incorrect grammar. Correct them before you publish.

These errors are minor, but become eyesores for readers.

Though we have said a lot about the dos and don’ts of writing a successful blog, but what is of prime importance while creating one is to have fun and enjoy what you do. Blogging evolved as a medium for millions of those who had something to say and didn’t have a platform. This is the place where you can be who you always wanted to be and employing these simple tricks you shall be able to put across your best foot to those millions waiting to hear from you.

SCHOOL LIVE

Volume 2 | Issue 2 | November 2015 | 35

R A P

U P

The Martian Director: Ridley Scott

W

hile most futuristic books or movies are dystopian, portraying a crumbling society, it’s such a joy to experience a film which has such a positive outlook about the future. It’s a future where people from all around the world can rally support for a particular cause, rather than ruining each other.

The Martian, directed by Ridley Scott, is based on the eponymous book written by Andy Weir. The flick stars Matt Damon as Mark Watney, a botanist abandoned on Mars by his fellow astronauts, who thought he was dead, while escaping a severe sandstorm. Mark tries to survive on the Red Planet by growing potatoes and creating water while the engi-

A

round the time Lal Bahadur Shastri’s family was trying to persuade Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clear the air on his mysterious death 50 years ago in the erstwhile Soviet Union, I chanced upon this novella. It tells the story of this great man’s life and achievements.

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neers at NASA try to come up with a plan to rescue him, along with the help of China and other nations.

Even though Ridley Scott has contri buted much to the splend id beauty of Mars in the film, it is writer Drew Godda rd who deserv e a massiv e applau se for succes sfully adapti ng this great novel for the screen . Matt Damon is perfect in the lead as he tries to mainta in his composure on Mars, trying to not lose hope. Even the suppo rting cast is great, particu larly Chiwe tel Ejiofo r as a NASA missio n directo r. Unlike Gravit y, which showc ased space as a place of death and disaste r, The Martia n shows space as a place of wonde r and excitem ent. It is bound to inspire future astron auts.

This biography tells us about anecdotes from his childhood, events that moulded him into what he was, and about the vital role he played in shaping India’s future.

Lal Bahadur Shastri was the second Prime Minister of independent India. Though diminutive in physical stature he was a man of great courage, energy and will.

He came from an extremely poor family. However he never gave up his values and principles for profit.

He was greatly drawn by Mahatma

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Lal Bahadur Shastri

By Rashtrabandhu, NBT

R A P

U P

Jazbaa Director: Sanjay Gupta

W

hen you have acquired the rights to remake one of the most critically successful Korean film of the 21st century, you can’t go wrong.

But hey, it’s Bollywood. So it would not come as a surprise that Jazbaa, starring Aishwarya Rai and Irrfan Khan is a hot-headed mess.

And everyone in this film, barring the ever-dependable Irrfan Khan, is a culprit, the biggest one though is the director, Sanjay Gupta, whose yellowish-green tinted atmosphere is nerve-wracking to the audience’s senses. Even the blaring soundtrack by Amar Mohile will keep you not wanting for more of the film. This is an absolute failure from a technical standpoint.

Even the acting is sub-par. Aishwarya Rai gives a

Gandhi’s speeches and ideals, so much so that he left his studies in between to join the freedom struggle. Nehru was extremely fond of him. His inspiring speeches, heart of steel and famous slogans like ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan!’ inspired many Indians, and his remarkable abilities are what made him the Prime Minister of India. He played a vital role in steering India through a period of food shortage, threat from China and war with

serviceable role as a lawyer who has only a few days to free an accused in a murder case in order to bring her daughter back who has been kidnapped for ransom.

The supporting cast, which includes Shabana Azmi and Jackie Shroff were wasted miserably as the film was all about Aishwarya.

While the story is kind of interesting, considering it’s a remake, its execution is horrible. This film is full of plot-holes. The characters are always making irrational choices, making them really hard to believe. I can’t recommend this movie to any rational person.

By Amlaan Kumar Class XII Amity International School Noida

Pakistan in 1965.

The pictures from his life, simple, crisp language and descriptive details make this book a pleasant and informative read. Has the nation forgotten Shastri? Is Shastri, who epitomised honesty and sincerity in public life, relevant today? Shastri represented a certain value system which is more relevant today than before because a majority of us today have no value systems. He was a true nationalist, and will forever

remain immortalised in our hearts.

PS: Most people of my age avoid reading books written in Hindi, and I am no different. But I am glad I made the effort.

SCHOOL LIVE

By Anahita Garg Class X, Step By Step School, Noida

Volume 2 | Issue 2 | November 2015 | 37

R A P

U P

Y

ou will love your life after reading this book. Not because it’s a life-changing, enlightening philosophical schist.

Just that after reading how bad the lives of these heroes were, you’d want to never let go of your current state of things. If you like mutilations, decapitations, cannibalism, horrible deaths, rotten Gods, you need not look any further.

The stories of all the generic heroes like Perseus, Jason, Hercules and some of those unconventional ones like Otrera, the first Amazon, Phaeton, Chrysidia and many others find a place in this audioto-book translational piece, narrated by Percy in his ever-so-loved point of view which we all missed so much in the Blood of Olympus, also written by Rick Riordan. It’s full of Percy’s off-beat humor.

The book is available in India on all major ecommerce websites, and bookshops near you. The Indian edition comes in a paperback, while the US & UK edition that is hard-bound is illustrated by John Rocco. So go grab your copy of this awesomely written piece of text.

If you really ever wanted to be a demigod, this book will make you rethink your decision.

By Ritwik P. Srivastava, Class XI Delhi Public School, Allahabad

Wired

T

his website is about changes taking place in the fields of science and technology.

The American based magazine/ website took the IT sector by storm when it was launched on January 2, 1993. It was lauded for its vision, creativity and for being fresh. Since its start, WIRED has had distinguished guest columnists like directors Christopher Nolan and JJ Abrams write editorial pieces.

The history of WIRED is illustrious. It was one of the earliest magazines to develop a website to reach out to the masses.

While it did go through some turbulence in its early years, under the leadership of Editor Chris Anderson, the magazine found new direction. It became more ‘mainstream’ and noted articles such as those on hydrogen being the

38 | | Volume 2 | Issue 2 | November 2015

saviour of the American economy and the effects of outsourcing on both American and India were also published during this time. Popular terms such as ‘long tail’ and ‘crowdsourcing’ were also coined

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at this time.

The articles in WIRED are crisp and well written. They are written in a simplistic manner and give reference to the past of the topic being covered. The pieces are interactive and gripping. I like how WIRED has not tried to limit itself to just one sector and tried to be a rounded magazine.

With the announcement of WIRED probably opening a branch in India, the possibilities are endless.

By Siddhidatri Mishra Class XI, Sanskriti School

P a g e

9 9 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.

Boy Meets Girl A simple story about love and longing that strikes a chord

O

n the last day of our exams, my friends had organised a party. Usually, I wasn’t allowed to go. And I would not mind missing such outings. But this time I wanted to enjoy myself. So I went ahead with my plan to not ask my father. I just told my mother. After I returned, he was already waiting.

Somehow he knew. He slapped me and slammed me against the wall. I couldn’t control myself any further so I lashed out at him. When he regained his composure, he came after me. I ran out of the door. I had nowhere to go and I was angry. So I went to the one place I knew, just wanting to spend a few hours alone.

After a few minutes, I heard someone approach. I looked up and saw him... Why? How? I didn’t know. It was a relief so exquisite that I couldn’t understand whether to laugh or cry.

He came closer and sat down beside me. For the first time he was silent.

I kept my head on his shoulders and cried. My tears started soaking through his shirt but he didn’t mind.

He took my hand in his and started counting on my fingers.

40 | | Volume 2 | Issue 2 | November 2015

Usually, I did not like being touched. But that day, I drew comfort from his strength. His shoulders provided me stability. I felt safe. And strangely whole. He was my one refuge from the world of pain that enveloped me.

After calming down a bit, I asked him about it. ‘I am counting the number of tears you are wasting over someone who doesn’t care about you.

If you are crying like this for him, you ought to cry me a river some day.’

SCHOOLLIVE

‘Why?’ I was amused.

‘I may have to leave some day. I can’t always be around you.’ ‘Why?’ ‘Because my father could get transferred. We could go to different colleges. Or any number of things could happen.’ For the first time, I saw him agitated. ‘But that’s not necessary. I’ll take admission in whichever college you go to. So we could be together.’

‘Never destroy a chance at a better future of your own will. Not even for me. Or anybody. You should do whatever you want.’ He sounded angry.

‘Don’t worry. We’ll be together. No matter what. Even if we go to different colleges, we can still meet, right?’

I asked.

‘We will. But that is the future.

Let’s not rush it.’

With that, he stood up. He held out his hand for me and I happily took it. We walked like that the rest of the way. He dropped me at my home. And I bade him goodbye.

Excerpted from Ravinder Singh’s Tell Me A Story (Rs 299/352 pages), with permission from publisher, Penguin Metro Reads.

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T i m e l i n e

As the world celebrated World Post Day on October 9, we present a timeline of postal stamps

Stamp of Approval P

rior to 1840: Ink, hand-stamps usually made from wood or cork 1840: The first adhesive postage were used to confirm the pay- stamp was released in United Kingment of postage. dom on May 1, 1840. It was named as Penny Black and was to be valid from 1874: General Postal Union was cre- 6 May 1840. ated on October 9 as a result of Treaty of Bern. Prior to GPU each country On 8 May 1840, the two pence blue had to prepare a separate postal treaty was released. Both the stamps carried with other nations. a picture of Queen Victoria.

To simplify this process GPU was created. In 1878, GPU was renamed as 1843-1853: During this period, most Universal Postal Union (UPU). It was countries released their own stamps. because of formation of UPU on Oc- Some countries used British stamps. tober 9 that it is celebrated as World Postal Day. 1947: The first stamp of Independent

42 | | Volume 2 | Issue 2 | November 2015

SCHOOLLIVE

India was issued on November 21 depicting the Indian Flag with the slogan Jai Hind.

1854: Henry Archer’s idea of perforation was passed in the British House of Commons. Perforation refers to the special edges that stamps have to ensure they can be separated neatly, without damage.

1962: The old inscription of India Postage was replaced with Bharat India.

1968: The National Philatelic Museum of India was inaugurated on July 6 in New Delhi.

2015: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a series of three stamps commemorating 50 Years of IndoPak War.

By Shivam Gopal Periwal, Class XII, Gwalior Glory High School, Gwalior

STEP TOWARDS A BETTER WORLD

USK Foundation

‘Giving Sight to Sightless’ W

e are registered body under the Societies Registration Act, year 2011, and primarily focused on Empowerment of Women and Child Development. We work relentlessly for the cause of women from all strata of society, across rural and urban areas; so that they can enjoy their Constitutional and Legal entitlements, as well as discover opportunities to grow.

Description about the Project - USK Foundation in association with K. K. Eye Institute (Inlax Budhrani Hospital) and PMC Shikshan Mandal started conducting two year long Eye project for PMC school students.

Eye Project started from 22nd June 2015 onwards covering all 311 PMC schools children till March 2017. Under coverage point, duplication of services will not take place. Under Eye Project, every student studying in PMC school is getting free eye screening, free spectacles whoever needed and further treatment like surgeries whenever required free of cost etc. under one project. In short, Eye Project is giving sight to sightless.

The Eye project execution takes place in three steps.

In the first phase, preliminary vision screening of all students from the school gets completed, out of which children with visual defects are getting identified. In the second step refractive error assessment for the identified students and refraction cards generate. Those who require further assessment will be referred to hospital.

In the third step the referred students will be assessed at hospital. USK Foundation social workers takes all the care to make sure that, the students identified for spectacles are getting spectacles on time, Eye screening should take place in each school and are taking rigorous follow-up of students identified for surgeries.

Under Eye Project, till date, Eye screening of total 8,304 students from 43 PMC schools completed. Spectacles were provided to total 90 needy students. Followup cases for Surgeries are ongoing for total 11 needy students. 1 Squint surgery of Ms. Aarti Ramesh Chavan performed successfully.

Success story of Eye Project - Ms. Aarti Ramesh Chavan - Ms. Aarti Ramesh Chavan is studying in 1st Std. in Sitaram Aabaji Bibve (1 G Eng.) PMC school of Bibvewadi bit. Her Father is working on daily wages.

And, mother is a housewife. Both the parents are illiterate. Their income level is not very high. Aarti had a Squint in her eyes and her parents were afraid and not hopeful about the surgery. USK Foundation’s social workers tried hard and convinced them for the surgery and K. K. Eye Institute doctors done excellent work and now, Aarti’s squint is gone and she has a normal vision. Aarti’s parents are really thankful to USK Foundation and hospital for their endless efforts towards their daughter.

SCHOOL LIVE

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