SpringTide by SpringTide

FEBRUARY 2012

“GROW WITH US…” ADDRESSING THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC OF OUR COUNTRY –

“HOMOSEXUALITY!” INTRODUCING INTRODUCING: “WANDERLUST”

“THE MURDER OF OUR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION!” “The On-Campus Campus life in one of the India’s Best Law Schools!”

*Cover Photo by Pallav Bhargava. Bhargava Featured in “Being Different” this month! CONTENTS

#SpringTide Contests

From the Editor – All’s Well that Starts Well…?

Up Against – The curbing of Freedom of Expression in world’s largest democracy: Recycle ‘Ban’

WanderLust – A Wanderer’s Trip to Hauz Khas, New Delhi

Campus Kahaani – National University of Juridical Sciences: Life in a Law School!

Being Different! – Photography as a Lifestyle: Featuring a young photographer and some of his clicks

The (Un) Political Statement – Our Outspoken Anonymous Column addresses India’s most tabooed topic of HOMOSEXUALITY…

Randomzzz… - The Magic and Charm of Jaipur Literature Festival captured by SpringTide’s Chief Editor

TechAddict – For all the Gaming Enthusiasts – Nintendo DS Lite v/s PlayStation

TopTenz… - The Top 10 problems faced by the Youth of our Country!

11.

Reality Check – Once again the youngsters of our country vent out their anger and frustration on things around us!

12.

Leading-Edge - The Youth Poem: Featuring the poem of the famous poet Samuel Ullman with a SpringTide message at the end!

This is the Third Issue of SPRINGTIDE MAGAZINE – India’s First Online youth Magazine. This is a special issue in terms that we are all set to launch the @SpringTide Contests and introduce our new travel column ‘WanderLust’… Read on to find out more… We look forward to a long journey and association with our readers – the youth across India…

Feel free to contact us regarding anything by mailing us at editorial.springtide@gmail.com

And Do Visit www.springtide.in, for all updates and latest buzz…! Now you can connect to us through Facebook – www.facebook.com/springtidemag And follow us on Twitter – www.twitter.com/springtidemag

(We would love to hear from you…)

Hello everyone! All the readers, fans and contributors of SpringTide, we present before you the much awaited and superbly exciting #SpringTide Contests! We have launched our Third Issue now and enjoy a readership of over 300 people. Keeping this in mind, we have finally crafted out The SpringTide Contests with the main purpose of spreading awareness among the youngsters of India and bringing them together. Also, we wish to ignite this fire inside them by writing and voicing their thoughts which is maybe the most ‘peaceful’ way of showing disagreement! So coming to the point, this is our first episode of #SpringTide Contests. The funda is, that in this February 2012 issue, you will find an article on Homosexuality, under the column of ‘The (Un)Political Statement’. Now, we want to know YOUR opinion, because at the end that is what that matters. We want you to write whether you are in support of or against the legalizing of Homosexuality and same-sex marriage in India. Along with your answer, you must send a brief explanation and arguments in support of your stand. Answers not more than 50 words will be entertained more! The 3 best answers, will not only be featured in the upcoming issues of SpringTide but you also have a chance of winning awesome surprise gifts right at your doorsteps. So just start penning down (or typing down!), who knows you might be the NEXT winner! ☺ You have to send in your entries at editorial.springtide@gmail.com Also, you can visit www.springtide.in to send us your answers.

Allâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well that Starts Wellâ&#x20AC;Ś Heya Readers! So one month down the New Year and we have all entered the shortest month of 2012. Nothing to celebrate as such, but hey! Since when do we need reasons to celebrate? Life is a celebration for every one of us because we believe in living life king size. Yes! We are the youth population of worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest democracy. Well, to start with this issue is supposedly the best and the most exciting one so far. Personally, for me, I felt that it was really interesting creating this issue for a few reasons. First, of course, we decided to go a level higher and become bolder and more outspoken. Reason being, that the state of things in the country at the moment are not very encouraging. With our lives literally surrounded with corruption and scams, along with all the measures being taken by the government and the bureaucracy in an attempt to snatch away our birthright to speak and say and our freedom of expression, definitely things are not in a good state. Keeping this in mind, I decided to include all the frank nk and thought

provoking articles with an aim to ignite that sense of unity among the youngsters and the feeling, that yes, we need to bring change! Second exciting reason was the launch of two new things. One, the launch of the most awaited travel column,, WanderLust. And second, the #SpringTide Contests. I was really looking forward to the launch of these contests so that we can have more open and easier participation by youngsters to the magazine. With the amazing response received in the last month, combined com with the enthusiasm of people to connect with us and appreciation of our idea, I finally decided this was the best time to do it. Also, with two issues released, we have finally started reaching out to people wider. We have tracked our readership to various parts of the country and received awesome feedback from places like Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Surat, Chandigarh and Hyderabad most often. We would like to spread more and want more youth to be connected to us. We are making

our best efforts towards spreading far and wide. Another encouraging news from the SpringTide arena is that our team is growing and getting better. With some of very talented and zealous youngsters now connected to us, we definitely look forward to grow faster. Finally, I would give you a quick overview of what’s inside this month – The recent series of events related to the ban of Salman Rushdie’s book and debate over his presence at the JLF 2012 left all of us astonished and thinking. With talks of ‘regulating’ the content of 21 social websites, are we really heading towards China-like restrictions? We raise a voice against this in UP AGAINST this month to regain our freedom. After all, pen is mightier than sword. Also, we bring to you the magic and essence of Hauz Khas Fort in our newly introduced WANDERLUST column. Also, we cover the life on the campus of India’s top law school of Kolkata in CAMPUS KAHAANI. Ever thought of converting your passion of photography into a profession? Read our BEING DIFFERENT column if you look forward to choosing it as your lifestyle.

We spark a debate over the dreaded topic of our country and maybe one of the most tabooed one – HOMOSEXUALITY by our anonymous author in THE (UN)POLITICAL STATEMENT. We bring to you the awesomeness of the recently held DSC JLF 2012 and also the TOP 10 problems being faced by the youngsters of our country. At the end we present to you one of the finest poems on Youth by a famous poet of 19th century, through which we describe what our ideology of ‘youth’, is. All this and much more into the world of SpringTide... Welcome to the journey! (And hey, we are now on Twitter too… Follow us on www.twitter.com/springtidemag) Adios!

-Pawas Jain (Chief (Chief Editor @ SpringTide)

Recycle â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Banâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; - A Voice Against the Curbing of Freedom of Expression in India

By: Puneeet Arora This question must arise in the minds of all the 'analyzers' and 'computers'. Alas, computers have zero IQ. Thinking of bootlegging, we must reboot our computer personalities, before we find out that the blasphemy of the servers has gone too far. No doubt we all are turning into computers. But has the time come when we have lost all the ability to decide who plugs our power out, when and where? Recently has there been much debate on whether the author of 'The Satanic Verses' should be allowed in India or not. 'Allowed'? We have been applauded all the time as the largest democracy. We scorn China for this reason. But ask! Who has been masquerading in front of all! The great

liberal golden bird, impregnated forcefully by the crows that perch upon every branch of this forest, and bite upon every passerby, has certainly lost the original voice. Crows of kalayuga have become broody, because they are being called impotent, that too openly. Okay. Formally addressing the notion of censorship, it is, according to me, a failed idea, just like the ideas of secessionists. Should a painter have been forced to live in exile, only because his school of thinking did not impress those, who don't want to get impressed? There is a person, who is writing his novel, on the basis of the thought process, which he believes in, and there they get ready, even without any knowledge of what has he

produced, to protest, and tear it all apart. Even a word cannot be tolerated. Even a bit of paper having something written over it must not reach to those who want to appreciate it. Who want to admire the beauty of how he plays with those simple looking words. Who wish to learn the trick of whipping the wand in the air and letting the cover unleash itself, to let the mind, an open mind, breath some fresh and free air. Should the copying of files from a computer to a CD not be allowed, even if the CD was re-writable? Mr.Rushdie was to visit India, to talk about literature. To discuss things, which are getting eaten up by those vultures, which feed on alive pen, and gulp all the ink that a writer can ever afford. He was not here, to disturb the communal harmony of the country, which has already ceased to exist. The fact to consider and laugh upon with a stupid sense of enlightenment is that his visit had nothing to do with his novel, like his other five visits that he had had before, to India. In a similar context, world's most venerated painter, Picasso of India, had had threats of killing, and numerous judicial cases being imposed upon, as a result of parochial approach of certain classes and societies. The man who had a gift of creating another world on a canvas had to live in exile despite strong desire to come back, because he had created pieces of art, which were alleged obscene in depicting Hindu Goddesses. Salil Tripathi wrote a column for 'The Wall Street Journal', asserting that it was hypocritical to curb Hussain's artistic freedom, as many of the Hindu artists had been portraying Hindu Goddesses in the nude. The Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shree

awardee died away from India and was buried in London. Okay. Indian Government think-tank is planning on 'filtering' the content of a total of 21 websites that include the big guns like Google, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. The lasso is being prepared slowly and steadily, and if those companies refuse to accept the 'Terms and conditions' might well end up losing a base, which has the potential of providing more than a billion subscribers. This is how they develop the skill of torture. Either acknowledge whatever has been said or get kicked out. 'Sino-Indian' brotherhood went this far? The companies face this scenario because some of the accounts were posting content which was supposedly hurtful to a bunch of people. I beg to differ. A simple analogy would make one understand way clearly. Does the owner of a wall get punished if there was an offensive graffiti made on it? What if a wall of a government office finds itself decorated with a piece of sh*t right on its face? Should the administration itself be pointed at? Rubbish, isn't it? The reason behind all this present day condition in India is the gradual extinction of the logically thinking and liberal personalities. A meager, readily countable group of people there on the corner of a street start shouting over anything, and here we are, allowing them to screech so hard, that even the other two Gandhian monkeys also have to put their hands onto their ears. Sadly, this country has gone from being emotional, to touchy, to hypersensitive, and finally have evolved into a non-cooperating, non-liberal, intolerant entity, where every time a person deriving his freedom to express from the constitution opens his mouth to speak, gets sealed on the mouth.

He bogs in, but then bogs down. A Marathi Manusa can speak in front of thousands, potential of causing regional hatred. He is free to publish thousands of copies of his publication which is not considered a matter of concern. But the matter of concern is a novel which many of the protesters haven't funnily read yet: The novel that has not even been banned in Islamic countries like Turkey and Egypt. I am an emancipated man. I believe in free expression of thoughts, and don't believe in keeping in a shell. Those who keep themselves in a self imposed shell eventually feel suffocated in their own arena, and can't get out despite the entire scuttle to breathe. I believe Shell-men, rushdie (Sic).

(The Author is a 2nd Year Student of SKIT Jaipur, Rajasthan)

WANDERLUST WANDERLUST A Wanderer’s Trip to Hauz Khas Fort, Delhi By: Shreya Deora

Coming from a place which is famous for its forts, I thought I had had enough of them. But then I wandered over the serene beauty of Hauz Khas. Me and my friend decided to spend the Sunday afternoon with a book. Just outside our rooms and in the beautiful calm of the Hauz Khas fort. Armed with novels, food and laptops, we made our way through the Hauz Khas village, starry-eyed at the beautiful shops down to the fort. And boy was it beautiful. The fort stretches out in a rough L shape banked with the most amazing lake ever. It’s not the usual serenity and calm of the water, and not even the pretty swans and ducks, but it’s the tree trunks emerging out of the water like flooded habitation, or forgotten claws that make it beautiful. After spending a

good part of our day hunting for the way down to the water, only to realize that the entrance is through the deer park (wish I could tell you if there are real deer there, we decided to go there sometime else), we hunted for a good spot to sit. And that’s where I am right now - A tiny balcony jutting out to the lake and the grass below. The perfect spot! And sitting here, do we realize we weren’t the only ones hunting for a way down. After a good number of people trying to jump down and a few stories of twisted

ankles, you bet we were glad we decided against jumping. The best thing to do here is sit and observe - The beauty of it all, the nature beckoning you to spend entire days here and to the people who wandered here too. Apart from the usual flock of foreigners, the place is filled with friends, families, couples (need I say how romantic the place is?) and today, a personal project is under way too. Some photography portfolio I think. Nobody is missing out a chance to snap the shutters here. But what is really surprising is the fact, that this place is right smack in the middle of the usual Delhi craziness. Suddenly the buildings give way to the village and that, to the fort. And the deeper you delve in; you wonder how it all ended here. Or actually, why anybody built buildings around it and not let it be as charming from the outskirts as it is from inside. I don’t think the article’s head could have suited this place any better- Wanderlust! This is exactly the place for a wanderer - Of both the wanderer of places, and that of the mind. The cool winter breeze, with the

pleasant sun, the cold stone that you end up sitting on, the trees, the birds and the rustling leaves! All of it will make you wonder and think. Of nothing in particular in my case, but by the end of the day, am sure you’ll be happy inside. After spending a great afternoon there, both of us headed to the village to explore. And trust me; I have no idea why they call it the village. Because first, it’s nothing like one and second, all the shops there will burn a whole in your pocket. But there is no denying the charm of it all. The crooked streets, with shops build in those old buildings itself give you a sense of adventure. We went to a few art galleries there, which were beyond the usual artist and painter. Sort of makes you wish you could paint too. Cafés and eating joints at the corners and at floors which aren’t even visible in the narrow streets, and shops that are filled with really witty and creative things, may it be from hand painted shoes (I had my heart set on them) to book shops selling stuff like the dialogues of Raj Kapoor’s Awaara or clothes that you just end up buying because you could possibly never let them go, this tiny hub of

shops on a small stretch of road, is going to make you fall in love with it all. But even after spending a good six hours there, both of us still wanted to see more of it. It is a whole together different place to be in. For all those who live in Delhi, or are planning to visit it, take my word and go visit this place. And don’t just rush to the fort and the lake and come back in an hour, because the awesomeness will only be felt completely if you hunt and explore these shops. It’s like a traveler’s world there. You don’t need to know or be skeptical about

those streets cause they are dingy looking, because all the surprises they hold are totally worth it. All in all, a Sunday beautifully spent.

(The Author is a 1st Year Student of Kamla Nehru College, Delhi University)

National University of Juridical Sciences: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Life in a Law Schoolâ&#x20AC;?

-Anupama Sharma

Right after entering into 12th standard we face an important phase of our life where we decide our career interests. Being from a family of lawyers was a big decisive element while choosing law as my career. Before entering the law school the impression that I carried of our legal system was not so pleasing. The first conception that hit our mind while talking about Indian courts is delayed justice or rather no justice at all. I feared that I am going to be a part of the same ineffective system. But I was

proved wrong. When I entered my law school and spent few days, I realized that we have come here to reform and improvise the existing legal system of our country. The concept of National Law schools was effectuated with the prime aim to raise the standard of Legal Education in the country and it has been very efficiently materialized. Life in a Law school academically is indeed very profound. Under the guidance of very able Professors who have acquired their education from prestigious institutions globally like, Harvard, Oxford, Standford, etc. not only do we get an opportunity to

pursue our interests either in academics or corporate field or in judiciary but also they stand as a source of inspiration and motivation for us. A law school provides you with all the facilities to prove yourself to the world in the field you excel. The highly resourced library with journals and books from institutions and authors round the globe puts us in a very advantageous position which if made best use of can in no way stop from reaching heights of success. For those who want to live and expertise in the field of a practicing lawyer, Moot courts are the best forum to enhance your skill. With the high standard of competition and immense opportunities together hone you into a very efficient mooter which is in a way preparing the quality future lawyers of our nation. The concept of Tutorials, Projects gives you a taste of Writing, of being a good academician. With the use of the online resources available together with the highly resourced library results into a well researched academic paper which reflects the future of legal academics in our country. Internships under Supreme Court Judges, Famous lawyers of the country and in top law firms give an immense exposure to the practical world. There is a misconception to the outer world that law is all about civil and criminal law. But the reality is there exists a huge field of corporate, business, economic, financial, taxation, banking, Intellectual Property Rights Law and the list continues which gives you a wide range of career options in which you wish to specialize in. A Life in a Law School is a perfect blend of academic and cultural arena. It gives you an

determined approach in a law school will undoubtedly give you a 7 figure paying job which is what most of the youth in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world want. National University of Juridical Sciences is a rank 3rd Law School in the country which has the best faculty in the entire list of Law Schools. Running in a small campus, the law school has outreached its name internationally. The resources available to students here have proved quite fruitful with a healthy number of students getting Global Scholarships, admission into prestigious universities abroad for higher studies, Placement in Top Law firms Domestic as well as International and a strong team of able lawyers ready to venture into the Courts of India. Not only this, the balance in a studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life is well taken care of. With one of the best mess of the country, life at this college becomes lot, lot more easier than otherwise it would have been. In all, Studying at NUJS has channelized my life in the best efficient manner possible! But wait! Law School is not just about serious stuff. We have a range of conferences, after which we have ice breaking parties; the rocking Festival committee of our Institute brings out the real feeling of festivity in each one of us by arranging the celebration with a complete desi touch. The non-academic Fest of our college, the Annual Function, the Farewell, the convocation and the College night are the ultimate source of liveliness and fun in our daily busy routine. They act as a refreshing element to our energy levels. exposure to the outer world. Above everything, it enhances your personality as

an individual, it helps you establish your highly deserved position in our legal system and yes, it teaches you how to meet your

deadlines which in my School life I never did! Proud to be a Noojie!

(The Author of this Article, Anupama Sharma, is pursuing B.A.; LL.B. (Hons.), currently a 3rd year student in National University Juridical Sciences, Kolkata)

Photography as a Lifestyle By: Pallav Bhargava

Do you know what photography is? No, I am not speaking about the principles along which cameras and such likes work.. I mean photography on a larger scale – photography as

a lifestyle. There is hardly a person who hasn’t held a camera in his or her hands at least once in his or her lifetime. Most of us take pictures now and then. But the difference between the man who takes pictures and a photographer is actually larger than between a cheap and simple camera and a handheld monster used by professionals.

The photographer is an extraordinary person, who may look exactly like all the others, yet being completely different on the inside. Both an ordinary person and a photographer may admire a beautiful view; yet, there is a noble insanity inside the photographer’s head, head that will make him roam the wilderness with a camera weighing several kilos in his hands, making dozens and hundreds of pictures of everything that catches his fancy, deaf to the t moans of those who were unwise enough to accompany him. It’s not enough for him/her to see the beauty – he/she wants to frame and improve it – hence hundreds of shots of one and the same thing.

To become a photographer,, it isn’t enough to buy a professional camera and learn all the tricks about light, shadow, flares,, because unless you don’t have this passion of capturing what you see and making others see it as well, you are just a man with a camera.. Change your way of thinking, learn to look and see, ffind interesting and original in trite and boring, change reality by catching it within a frame – and you will understand what it is – to be a photographer in one’s soul. Reflectionss of life as a photographer…

HOMOSEXUALITY: INDIA’S MOST TABOO TABOOED ED TOPIC ADDRESSED Okay… So this is a youth magazine and I directly address the youngsters of this vast country. What happened when a few months back our ‘esteemed’ health minister said, “Homosexuality is a disease”? Why has this statement been forgotten so easily? Why hasn’tt it enraged our huge youth population like it did, when Kapil Sibbal said that Facebook, Yahoo, Youtube, Twitter etc. might be banned! Both are the cases and examples of curbed freedom of expression/ freedom to live. We talk a lot about Homosexuality – whether it is natural, whether it is normal, whether it should be legalized. I am not here to support or oppose anything, but c’mon, we are not a collection of disoriented crowd, but a pack of intellectual youngsters. So let us think! First things first, how w do you define the world ‘natural’? Isn’t it anything that is in the hands of nature, and beyond

the control of human intervention? Yes, birth of a baby, growth of trees, rocks, mountains, we accept everything as natural and biological. But then, so is homosexuality. mosexuality. It is not a form or choice of lifestyle adopted by someone for the sake of it! Why don’t we understand that every person has the right to chose their sexual orientation and we are no one to declare that it is unnatural and against the law of nature? Okay, we talk about the law of nature. Agreed that humans are highly intelligent and developed species, but as far as homosexuality is concerned, it has been observed in more than 500 species of animals, insects, and all kinds of creatures (you can get that list on Wikipedia)! Recently a museum opened up in Oslo, Norway, exhibiting homosexuality among animals. There is documentary evidence of homosexual behavior in giraffes, penguins, parrots, beetles, whales

and dozens of other creatures. Rig-Veda, one of the four canonical sacred texts of Hinduism says 'Vikruti Evam Prakriti' (diversity is what nature is all about, or, what seems un-natural is also natural), which some scholars believe recognizes homosexuality as natural, if not an approval of homosexuality. So in any way, we cannot say that it is against the law of nature. Now this was about homosexuality being absolutely ‘natural’ contrary to what some biased people might state. Now, we talk about it being ‘normal’. Homosexuality is found in every culture, every religion, every nation, in both female and male, and at all ages. It has been found since time immemorial and is in fact as old as human itself. It is not something very different from a left-handedness, which is seen in minority population but is still normal. It is not a handicap by which a homosexual is not able to perform certain physical or mental activities which a heterosexual can. Except for sexual orientation, a homosexual is similar to a heterosexual. It is neither a genetic defect nor a biological abnormality. Homosexuals are normal people with a different sexual orientation. We do accept that our sons and daughters may like different brand of clothes, different choice of food, different music, then why can’t we accept that our kids can have a different sexual orientation than us? I have witnessed homosexuals feeling guilty about them, and their lives are turned into living hells just because of the dim

wittedness of a few individuals. Why can’t a homosexual be a good son/daughter?

Now I move on to my next argument, whether homosexuality is legal or not. One has to understand that law is made by man to control man. There were many things that were illegal once, like pre-marital sex, live-in relationship etc, which are now completely legal. While some legal things in past, like slavery, are made illegal now. Homosexuality is legal in very few parts of the world, and in most parts of the world it remains illegal. Coming to whether it is ethical or moral, I don’t want to debate. It is up to individual’s opinion; I leave it to my readers. I do not think it is inhuman either since it does not involve in encroaching on other people’s rights or freedom. It does not bring harm to other people or cause inconvenience to them. There is no reason to treat it as a crime. As a conclusion, I want to say that we may have grown up not knowing about it, but there is a way to teach the young generations about it. As a kid, I didn’t know many things- I didn’t know about sex or pornography. There is a way, one can know about these things. If the teaching is shunned or if it is done in the negative light, we will not be able to understand it and may grow negative or wrong prejudices and start targeting homosexuals. As a matter of fact, to consider homosexuality to be unnatural or abnormal is completely wrong.

As they say, to appreciate technology, you don’t need to be a scientist, and therefore even though I have a straight sexual orientation, I would like people of our country to respect other orientations and way of living. It’s not an ailment that can be cured; it’s not a disease that can be eradicated. It is not a mental condition that can be corrected through therapy. If your kid is homosexual, accept him/her. If you are a believer in God, consider the kid to be a creation of that God. If that God has created homosexuals in animals, so he did in humans.

-The Author wishes to conceal his/her identity. The ideas presented and discussed are solely of the writers. But SpringTide, being India’s first and most outspoken youth magazine, wishes that one day we become a country where everybody has an equal right to live freely.

JAIPUR LITERATURE FESTIVAL - 2012 “The Glimpses into the realms of DSC JLF”

I had not attended any of the previous seasons of Jaipur Literature Festival due to the usual hassles and struggles of daily life. However, given the hype and hullabaloo about the whole thing, I could not have missed this season anyhow. Having that literaryy bug inside me since a long time, it really interested me. From being described as “Asia’s largest literature festival” to the scheme of online registration, I knew that it had reached new heights and achieved great success. With over 250 authors and poetss attending the festival, the city of Jaipur was managed and decorated like a newlywed bride for the occasion. The 5 day Fest was organized in the heritage hotel Diggi Palace – the standard venue since last few seasons. I registered myself just 2 days before fore the kick start of the fest. With special interests, in listening to the likes of Chetan Bhagat, Javed Akhtar, Gulzaar, Prasoon Joshi, Ben Okri, Suhel Seth and many others, I reached the venue on the second day of the Fest. The security

arrangements from rom the very driveway of the Hotel to the management at the ticket counters and metal detectors, I must say, I was impressed. With people like Ila Arun, Bina Kak and Javed Akhtar walking alongside on the same road and crowds from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad along with enthusiasts from all over the world who had come especially to attend the Fest, it felt like a literary heaven. There was a huge swarm of people, all very well behaved, organized and intellectual looking, around me. I took my seat for the session of Chetan Bhagat named “In search of a Story”. As the session started and the nation’s most read author quoted that “India should be on the global front for things like JLF which make us proud, and not like some stupid scam-filled filled Commonwealth lth Games”, the crowd went berserk in applauding him. People cheered and clapped on every punch that the author gave. The energy level in the atmosphere was high and there was a lot of positivity in the environment.

After that, I moved in to the coffee shop where the glitterati, literati and the commoners all were in a relaxed and calm mood. I proceeded to the session of Gulzaar and Prasoon Joshi, where the two great poets (and of course Bollywood’s leading lyricists) recited some of their own works leaving the crowd wanting and demanding for more by the end of it. The sessions were enlightening and knowledgeable for any literature lover like me. Other superbly enchanting and spell binding sessions attended by me included that of Javed Akhtar, Prasoon Joshi and Gulzaar in conversation with Sumit Basu about what a story includes, and how a screenplay and script is developed. Besides this, the session of Javed Akhtar talking about the play of words and different type of poetry was amazing with Javed at his poetic best. He recited some of his old and appreciated poems along with some from his newly published book. The session of Rahul Bose, Prakash Jha and Rauf Ahmed talking about politics and the effect of it on movies, witnessed a huge turnout of people and a great discussion on the current scenario of Indian politics, media and movies. The much awaited and controversial session of Salman Rushdie (which was later cancelled for security reasons) was replaced by an on-the-spot debate on the Freedom of expression and the ban of an author by Javed Akhtar, Rahul Bose, Tarun Tejpal and few others with Shoma. The debate was heated and covered by major media channels of the country. It was followed by

the concluding session of the JLF which was as per the JLF tradition – a debate. It was on the topic “Has man replaced God?” with top hotshots of the literary and media world setting the stage on fire. The likes of Javed Akhtar, Suhel Seth, Richard Dawkins, Swami Agnivesh, Aruna Roy etc. had an intellectual and exciting war of words. Finally, the Fest was an overall win-win for all those who attended it. The organizers and production team of the program and hotel should receive the credit for proper security arrangements and putting up such a huge and successful show. The environment, crowd, topics, debates and discussions along with the amazing arrangement of food and book shops, together created an aura and charisma which can never be explained well in words. By the end of it, I only felt that I was a moron to miss the two days, especially the hugely popular and talked about session of Oprah Winfrey. All in all, it was an experience that I will cherish for a long period of time and a festival that will be one of the most awaited ones now! ☺

-Written by Pawas Jain, the Chief Editor @SpringTide who attended 3 days of the 5-day DSC JLF 2012.

Nintendo DS Lite v/s PSP

When it comes to choosing a hand held gaming console for you, it will be either the Nintendo DS Lite or the Sony PSP. Choosing one between the two can be a hard choice as they both have their pros and cons, so this is a guide which will help you decide which ch system is for you. Technical Specs NDSL Size: (closed) 13.3cm (5.2") wide, 7.4cm (2.9") long, 2.2cm (0.85") tall Weight: 255g Screen Size: 3" top and bottom Battery Life: 5 to 19 hours PSP Size: 17cm (6.7") wide, 7.4cm (2.9") long, 2.3cm (0.9") tall Weight: 237g

Screen Size: 4.3" Battery Life: 2.5 to 8 hours The DS clearly is more compact and has a longer lasting battery life as well as a touch screen, but the PSP weighs less and has a larger screen. Game play DS:: The DS is the first hand held gaming console which uses a touch screen. The bottom touch screen opens a new world of innovative game play. For instance, being able to draw pictures, write notes, chat to players through Wi-Fi Fi and doing many other things with the stylus. There are many DS tailored ored games to play which make good use of the stylus, and we must not forget that the DS is backwards compatible, allowing us to play GBA games as well.

PSP:: The game play of the PSP is very much like the PS2 with degraded graphics. Many of the games on PS PSP are ports or sequels from PS1 and 2, but it is handy to be able to play your favorite games on the move. The controls are familiar as the PSP is like a Playstation controller with a wide screen merged in the middle. Other Features DS: Built into the DS is a little program known as "Pictochat" which is a wireless communication system where players can write draw or type messages and pictures to each other in chat rooms for up to 16 people. Although you need a strong signal to be able to use the DS Wi-Fi system ystem effectively, it is definitely a nice feature. You can challenge players or friends who are overseas or use the multiplayer function which is predominantly a LAN feature. Aside from the gaming features, the DS has the usual alarm, clock and calendar. PSP:: Besides being a gaming console the PSP serves as a multimedia player. It can listen to Mp3s and watch movies. It is pretty much a gaming console, portable DVD player and Mp3 player built into one and for $274 it is not a bad price for a sleek and stylish ish looking machine. The Mod scene Not everyone has the money to buy all the games, so here are the options to play backup games which are downloaded copies.

DS:: To play backups on your DS is a simple process. All you need is a flash cart which is basically ly your DS game cartridge replacement, a 1 gb/2gb MicroSD card which goes in your flash cart and you are all set. PSP:: It can get a bit messy trying to play backups on PSP as you need to downgrade your firmware to 1.50. This process can get technical especially espec with the new PSP that have their firmware upgraded to the latest version. Overview The DS has the advantage in the gaming field with the innovative touch screen and probably is the better gaming system. On the other hand, the PSP is more than just a gaming system as it plays music and videos, although you could argue that the battery life doesn't utilize the portability of the PSP. It all comes down to what you are looking for in a hand held system. If it is endless hours of fun playing games, online or with your friends then go for the DS. If you like the idea of having the options of video and music play then PSP maybe the choice for you.

-SpringTide SpringTide Research (Webliography: www.rosen.hubpages rosen.hubpages.com)

Top 10 Issues Faced by the Youngsters of India… 1. Growing up too fast – There was a time when kids enjoyed being kids. Today, even at the earliest of ages, children are partaking in adult activities with serious consequences. The movies, TV, the internet, essentially everywhere a kid turns he or she is bombarded with sexual suggestions. Kids are having sex as early as 10 and 11, with teen pregnancies increasingly on the rise. The concept of childhood is literally being wiped out. We are scared that this is a field where the youngsters should dread following the West.

2. Teen Violence – A child’s education is the foundation from which he or she will be able to go forth out into the world and build a life. Schools play a major role in this endeavor, and therefore therefo it is reasonable to expect that these places of learning would be safe havens for the children while they are preparing for adulthood. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In many instances, especially in low income, urban settings, schools can be b a war zone. We are not talking about minor bullying, but rather serious violence. This needs an urgent attention at this may lay a totally incorrect and faulty foundation of the personality of a person.

3. Materialism – We live in a society that promotes materialism and so we perpetuate this particular malady by instilling bad habits into our children. We teach our children that the measure of success and happiness in life is how much stuff you have. Kids naturally want things –especially if their friends have something similar. Unfortunately, there seems to be little restraint on accompanying guidance as we go about this. Essentially, we provide our kids with whatever they want that is within our financial ability to do so. The concept of “earning” what you get or the idea that something “you don’t need” seem to have been lost and discarded. Here we should adopt something from the West and promote the concept of earning and hard working among our kids and youngsters. 4. Obesity – Our kids are fat and getting fatter. Recent numbers show that 20% of American children are obese. We do not want to follow this trend with Indian children and youngsters. Video games, TV, the internet and fast food are partly to blame. Kids are spending more time sitting in front of a TV/computer screen than running around

outside. This needs to be corrected ASAP. 5. Education Disparity – Education is important. Few people would dispute this well regarded fact. A good education (in comparison with a bad one) will provide a child with an increased chance of taking advantage of opportunities to be successful in life. Unfortunately, some people have it better than other. This is not an issue of just one school being better than another school. Disparity in educational quality is delineated by race and financial status. If you live in a poor neighborhood or are a minority, there is a good chance that the schools you attend are lacking many necessities. 6. The Economy – The youth cannot graduate or even dropout of school without going through the pains of a low-income job. The jobs offered with no experience pay very little with very little room for pay increases. In fact, the competition to get a promotion can be fierce. In the past, your high school senior could graduate and go work at the local factory for the rest of his or her life and make a good living. They would not necessarily need to have a college

education to survive. In fact, youth today will graduate from college with multiple degrees and still cannot find work that pays enough to sustain a decent lifestyle.

7. Poverty – Poverty impedes learning and contributes to social and behavioral problems. And guess what? There is no income to counteract these problems. Mommy cannot afford a tutor or Daddy cannot afford a counselor. There is a huge opportunity for society to stop being so materialistic and in turn poverty wouldn’t be such an issue because most children will all have the same things –things they need instead of what they want. This would decrease violence in schools because fewer kids would be teased. 8. Erosion of National Pride – The issue at hand is collective though amongst the people affected about how to deal with them. Unfortunately most folks tend to focus on their self and not the whole. We see these problems as affecting “them” and not “me/us” When we hear that India’s children are losing track, this doesn’t sting. When we learn that India’s children lay

educationally behind other industrialized nations, we don’t cringe. There is very little sense of collective identity of people, as Indians. This is a result of our children not being properly educated and guided. There was a time when every child would begin the school day by standing

and reciting the National Anthem. Children were taught the significance of the 15th August. These practices are long gone and so is our sense of common destiny. This is probably one of the most important points here. 9. Drug/Alcohol Abuse – There was a time in cinematic history

where virtually every actor/actress was portrayed on screen with a cigarette in hand. Smoking, it was implied, was cool. As a result everyone was doing it, including kids. Well, as awareness to the danger of smoking increased, “cool” images of smoking disappeared. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about drugs and alcohol. These vices are staples in everyday media. Simply, drinking and using drugs is shown as being cool. Our kids are literally moving around in an intoxicated daze. Immature behavior is then amplified due to being under the influence. Drunk driving, poor grades and attendance, anti-social and violent behavior and such cases are at an all time high.

10. Single Parenthood –The problems begin at home. The number of single parent homes has consistently been increasing

in India to the point of catastrophe. Raising a child is difficult enough in a two parent home, especially in tough economic conditions. The situation is even direr when there is only one parent. Economically, a single parent is likely to bring less income home. This equates to fewer opportunities for such vital necessities as education. Trying to make ends meet also takes time – time that is spent away from children who need a parent’s guiding/influence. Absent a parent’s diligent guidance, children become subject to higher dropout rates, higher risk of dangerous sexual behaviors and pregnancies, higher chances of drug and alcohol abuse –etc. It truly takes a village to raise a child.

-Compiled by the SpringTide Team (Source: Internet)

Where Youngsters Speak!

“People might really be against me for saying this. But please, I am also a 22 year old youngster, and I use CORRECT spellings when I write text messages. I mean short form is one thing, but since when did ‘me’ became ‘meh’, ‘my’ become ‘mah’, ‘sorry’ became ‘sowwwieee’ (which is so not cute), ‘what’s up’ became ‘ssup’ (this phrase has constantly been ravaged in sms history). PLEASE, get a life guys!” -Anita Ahlawat, Hyderabad

“Omg! News channels have been turning from crap to crappier these days. Please stop flashing “Breaking New” for every minute news item. All the not not-so important news pieces are shown in a special show of half an hour with an ‘expert’ panel of 6 old aged people. More often than not, we see the news of celebrity couples les (the names of which are irritatingly shortened like ‘Saifeena’) and where the B-Town Town is partying. Wish I was interested… *Yawn*…” -Tarun Sharma, Mumbai

“I wish I could file a law suit against all the telemarketers. But then, I abuse

myself at the end of it thinking, “WHERE DID MY NUMBER COME FROM”… huh, seriously Wtf! ” -Girish Sahukar, Jaipur

“I feel the Television would really not be an idiot box if we could do away with all the stupid, illogical and irritating advertisements. I am not against ads, but at least make sensible ones! PLEASE!” -Vaibhav Jain, Gandhinagar, Gujarat

The Youth Poem Youth is not a time of life - it is a state of mind, It is a temper of the will, A quality of the imagination, Vigor of the emotions, A predominance of courage over timidity, Of the appetite for adventure over love of ease. Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old only by deserting their ideals. Years wrinkle the skin, But to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, doubt, self-distrust, self Fear and despair - these are the long, Long years that bow the head and Turn the growing spirit back to dust. Whether they are sixteen or seventy, There is in every being's heart The love of wonder, The sweet amazement at the stars And star like things and thoughts, The undaunted challenge of events, The unfailing childlike appetite For what is to come next, And the joy and the game of life.

You are as young as your faith, As old as your doubt; As young as your self-confidence, As old as your fear, As young as your hope, As old as your despair. When the wires are all down And all the innermost core of your heart Is covered with the snows of pessimism And the ice of cynicism, Then you are grown old indeed. But so long as your heart receives messages Of beauty, cheer, courage, grandeur And power from the earth, From man and from the Infinite, So long you are young

(This time we have published a beautiful poem on Youth, by a famous poet Samuel Ullman (April 13, 1840 – March 21, 1924). The message that we want to convey is that SpringTide does not target or cater to the people of a particular age, but every person who is ‘young’ – may that be by age, by heart or by soul!)

Thank You… We will be back soon with lots more… ☺