THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BANGALORE|ISSUE 1
THE INQUISITOR Revival
IN THIS ISSUE SMALL STEPS, BIG DIFFERENCE PG 2
I have always been curious about high school journalism. Just the idea that there are so many unheard stories, perspectives and strong opinions on certain issues buzzing around school, got me really excited about the prospect of becoming an editor for the ‘Inquisitor’. For instance, the tuck shop is now shut during lunch. Recently, a new buffet style lunch has been implemented. Multiple
Over the past couple of months, we’ve tried to come up with a broad range of articles in order to cater to most people’s interests including activities started by change-makers from our very own school, highlights from major events like Vivum and Sports Day, opinions from our
LET'S GET ARTSY PG 7
students on current issues, poetry and prose, beautiful photography and much more.
inter-school events have taken place. But what do students think of all this? What has TISB got to say? What does our voice as a community represent? It seemed to me that as a student body we should be able to voice our thoughts and opinions on certain issues that affect us. And what better place to do it than in the school newspaper?
This might leave you wondering that if our board was able to collect these articles, then why have you as a reader not engaged with them yet? The one-word explanation I would provide to you is- funds. We started out with our existing sponsor backing out, which led us to carefully search for new potential donors, which unfortunately turned
It all started in September when, along with Miss Deepa and Miss Helen, a couple of us 11th graders decided that it was time to revive ‘the Inquisitor’.
SPORTS DAY 2018 PG 11
out to be unsuccessful. We then came up with numerous financial proposals, which were either impractical or not in alignment with the school’s vision. It was then our job to bring ‘The Inquisitor’ to the forefront of the school’s
Being an avid magazine and newspaper reader, I’ve been passionate about work created by bold, creative people for as long as I can remember. I believe that whether you read a newspaper online
attention. The assistance provided by Mr. Santanu, Ms.Nyree and Mr. Ashok was a catalyst in getting ‘The Inquisitor’ funded and we are truly grateful to them.
or once it’s freshly delivered to your doorstep, it is still a beautiful package of ideas, thoughts and perspectives that’s been specially curated by an editorial board to present to a judicious audience.
On behalf of the editorial board, I do hope that you will enthusiastically engage with the versatile articles in this issue. Do stay with us and expect more to come in the following issues.
Once we started designing and collecting articles for the paper, I realized that a newspaper also
-Kripa Bansal
involves an interaction between the editors and its readers. As editors, our primary vision is to constantly strive to keep our readers engaged. It is up to us to figure out the best possible means to do that.
The International School Bangalore
GET TO KNOW YOUR DEPUTY PRINCIPALS PG 5, 6
MARCH 20, 2019
2
SMALL STEPS, BIG DIFFERENCE HAIR DONATION DRIVE BY AARIA ANAND Recently I did something which I thought was quite cool, I had a hair donation drive!
My name is Aaria Anand. I am in 11th grade and for ages, I was known for having really really long hair. As every year passed by, I would think of cutting my hair, but I never could. Perhaps it was the people surrounding me who always used to say “don’t cut your hair!” or perhaps it was just because I felt like, in a strange way, it was a part of who I was.
However, things began to change when I came across The Little Princess Trust, a trust that provides natural hair wigs free of charge to children who have lost their hair to cancer. All that these kids wanted was a wig to give them a little bit more confidence, and who was I to
LIBERATE: MY OCD FIGHTER BY KAAJAL GUPTA
deny them? My hair would grow back eventually anyway. So I decided to organize a hair donation drive, as I thought that there are bound to be more people who wanted to donate their hair, and there were. I managed to collect 10 bunches of hair and was absolutely taken back by how kind, giving and supportive everyone was.
Anyway, I would just like to say, if you are planning to cut your hair Since the beginning of May 2018, I have been working on an app to help people
please consider donating it. It is only 7 inches of hair and trust me it
suffering from OCD or obsessive-compulsive disorder. I started off slightly
will make a huge difference to the lives of some children. The Little
unsure of the right path to take, as there are so many different avenues when it
Princess Trust will also send you a certificate to acknowledge what
comes to self-help for OCD. In the end, I settled on a simple compulsion tracker
you have done!
combined with cognitive-behavioral exercises. If you would like to donate your hair, feel free to email me at As the months passed and I made more and more progress with the app, I took on
aaaria@tisb.ac.in
7 artists from around the world, from the ages of 14 to 20, to help me create the graphics and make the app experience more interesting. I also enlisted the help of a professor from NIMHANS Bengaluru to create the content of the app and was mentored throughout this process by another professor from IIIT-Bangalore.
These artists helped me design my logo: a ghost.The idea behind the ghost was that OCD is not as one-dimensional as most people think- it has layers upon layers, or sheets upon sheets of hidden meaning, thoughts and fears that come with them. It may appear to be small, helpful even in the beginning, making people think their actions are necessary for keeping clean or keeping safe. But, it grows, acquiring more layers and filling the person’s head with more and more horrifying images until they’re too afraid to say no to it.
The app has a wide variety of features- including but not limited to- a compulsion tracker, tracking your progress, entering your mood, a panic button, exposure-response prevention aids, resources for learning more about OCD, a safety plan, thought exercises and compulsion exercises, all with a fun and graphic design. The app is currently available on the Play Store! Email me for more details- help@myocdfighter.com
The International School Bangalore
MARCH 20, 2019
3
CREATIVE CORNER Book Review:
Grey - Kripa Bansal The piano sits in the empty house Dust settling on her sheen of black The stool stood beneath her Waiting for warmth Warmth that would relive the music.
Keys sound from within The hammer waits for the string Two lovers waiting to re-unite.
The blacks and whites continue their separation
- Maanasi Nair
A continuity of apartheid
My fingers release the distance 'The secrets are demanding to be free, heard by the word. Yet, I am not ready. I
Slim and long Waltzing on the keys.
fear I never will be.
Apartheid is broken.
Because if they are free, then where does that leave me?’
Every word written with heart-wrenching emotion and every dialogue etched
Hammer and string give birth to music
with complex shades of genuine voice, Trail of Broken Wings by Sejal Badani, narrates the painful, sorrowful and dark tangles of the past, present and future of an Indian-American family. The façade of a perfect family falls apart as three
Music which fills the empty house Like air capturing space.
sisters and their mother reunite in a hospital room where Brent, the father, has fallen into a coma. As the narrative delves deeper into the murky depths of untold secrets, the pretence of a normal life that each woman has toiled to build,
Every note echoes and spins Drifts into oblivion
crumbles apart. This brutal and candid story reveals the toxicity of domestic cruelty and aggression and how one can never really leave behind the memories
Taking music along…
one is running away from. Told through multiple perspectives and shifts in time, the reader is left grappling with pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that slowly click together as the story progresses. As each woman learns to break from the cage of silence she has put on herself, their voices intertwine together to form this gripping, unforgettable tale.
‘Though he lies unconscious in a coma, miles away, his memory stills mothers the air she breathes.’
The captivating nature of the book is such that the rawness of the emotions
Beginnings for Kashmir -Armaan Bamzai The streets are flooded, and
portrayed in the story reverberate deeply in the reader’s heart. This book will leave you with tears rolling down your cheeks and then ten minutes later, you may find yourself chucking the book across the floor in utter disbelief. The plot will leave you on the edge of the seat, always wanting more. Unexpected twists
you stand, the orphan, the flamed beauty: inside you, the cells are swollen, the bones are blueprints,
and turns will surprise you on every other page, at moments deceiving you about its conclusion. This power-packed novel is a heavy read, and it takes some
the eyes are marbles And you never asked for this body,
emotional prepping to get through it.
for this poetry smelling of white paint and citrus. For this While some may find the book stretched out towards the end and may not enjoy the occasional use of ornate language, the depth present in this book will engage you to empathise with the characters. Trail of Broken Wings by Sejal Badani is a definite must-read that truly reserves a place for itself in your heart.
Jerusalem that stings with claygoldsalt and a thousand people praying for the wars to end. And here I pretend my words are sewn with wisdom, and each quiet vowel is a proverb, and every name, every line, is a metaphor that someone’s stubble, someone’s longing for a cigarette and a peach, overflowing, is supposed to be you, or that in the Dead Sea, under an umbrella, unsinking, or neglected in damp magnolia soil, Somewhere there exists the perfect thing to say
The International School Bangalore
-Veda
MARCH 20, 2019
5
MEET OUR DEPUTIES INTERVIEW WITH MS. NYREE Interviewer: How long have you been a teacher for?
Interviewer: Not Reeta Skeeter! And you
INTERVIEW WITH MR. SANTANU Interviewer: What’s your favourite aspect
Interviewer: What inspires you to keep
of being a teacher?
teaching?
favourite movie? Mr. Santanu: You get to finally utilise
Mr. Santanu: Every day brings with it a set
Miss Nyree: Well, a third of my degree was
your education. You can apply what you
of challenges and interesting interactions
media studies, so I ended up watching quite
have been taught and teach it further
because you are interacting with human
Interviewer: What would you do if you
a variety of movies. Although, I won’t be
therefore continuing your own education.
beings which is very different from
were not a teacher?
controversial with my answers. Well, one of
You have to challenge yourself
interacting with a computer or a set of files.
my favourites is ‘The Long Hot Summer’. I
intellectually. You can’t stagnate with
Every class is challenging because you don’t
Miss Nyree: Well, I’ve been a shop
love action movies quite a bit as well. I
keeping up with research and how best to
know what ideas are going to be thrown at
assistant, a groom, a bank clerk, an
thoroughly enjoyed the latest Mission
transfer knowledge to a student. You have
you. Because I teach English and TOK there
administrative assistant, a barmaid, a
Impossible! I absolutely adore Marvel
to constantly evolve which excites me.
is more flexibility of the discussion that can
waitress, and a policewoman. So, I’ve
movies. The first Avenger’s movie was
explored quite a bit of myself.
definitely the best (Quotes – “you puny
Interviewer: What do you like best about
god!” Waving her hands frantically in the
being a part of the TISB family?
Miss Nyree: I’ve been teaching for over 18 years now.
happen, and I think that keeps me energised.
Young people always surprise you and if you like creativity then you really enjoy teaching
Interviewer: Wow, you’re quite a versatile
air). I’ve also been a big fan of Star Wars
person! What is one aspect of teaching that
and Star Trek. I think I’m a bit of a geek
Mr. Santanu: Ours is a unique school
because it’s a constant process of discovery.
brings you here every day?
really. I’ve got two sons, so I’m not
because we have a co-ed boarding
I think there is too much emphasis on marks,
surprised. I’ve watched Deadpool and
community within a city. There’s a good
which is correct in its own way. When I
Miss Nyree: I’m really loving TOK! It’s
guardians of the galaxy about 4 times, both
balance because we come from different
teach English I always tell people “don’t tell
having a lesson where you're talking and
of them. They were great!
cultural, educational, and ethnic
me the story, tell me how it has been written.
backgrounds. Everybody tries to
Would you write it this way or differently? If
thinking about things. I’m learning as much as the class is learning. It’s group learning
Interviewer: What do you think is the most
understand everyone else. That creates a
this didn’t happen in the book how would it
because when you start to question things, it
important aspect of being a school student?
sensitivity towards the outside world. If
affect he story?” These are questions you can
you’re from a homogeneous background,
only ask in a classroom.
really brings you together, it’s stretching your knowledge.
Interviewer: Favourite subject as a kid?
Miss Nyree: I know what I want to say, and
it’s difficult to understand how the real
what I should say. In all honesty, I want to
world works. There is a communal spirit
Interviewer: What’s your favourite book?
see aspiration and enthusiasm amongst all
because you empathise with others.
Can you pick one? Is there something you read recently that you really liked?
my students; I think that’s quite crucial. Interviewer: What is one thing that
Miss Nyree: I quite liked Biology. Interviewer: Thank you so much for your
students here would be surprised to find out
Mr. Santanu: 'The Things They Carried' by
Interviewer: Least favourite subject?
time miss.
about you? Something unexpected?
Tim O’Brien. It talks about the Vietnam war
Miss Nyree: I absolutely disliked PE. My
Miss Nyree: Absolutely. It was a pleasure
Mr. Santanu: I wear my heart on my
never thought over. It’s so well written and
parents wrote in for me to do one of the
talking to you!
sleeve. When I’m angry or happy its very
well-crafted in the form of short stories. It
boys’ subjects, I was from a different era
evident. I may come across as aloof at
allows you to think. Another book is Sylvia
you see, where we had different boy’s and
times, but I am genuinely interested in
Plath’s autobiography which is exceptional. I
girl’s subjects. It was called engineering and
people. People expect a person of the arts
like science fiction, but my favourite authors
drawing – I loved it and that’s why I became
to be uninterested in the sciences, but I also
are those who relate to real life as well like,
a Design & Technology teacher as well.
have a background in science and
Isaac Asimov.
which is something that Americans have
mathematics, so I am equally interested in Interviewer: What do you enjoy doing in
them. I’m very passionate about
Interviewer: Do you have a favourite
your free time?
photography. Now I don’t do it much
movie?
because I realised that I was looking more Miss Nyree: I used to love horse riding! I
through the lens than appreciating
Mr. Santanu: 'Bicycle Thieves' by De Sica.
used to go horse riding in the UK, with my
everything around me. I like travelling. I
It appears to be intellectual and
horse. His name is Ken. ( A gorgeous cream-
think travel really broadens your horizons.
pretentious like De Sica but he is a pioneer of film making. I also like Memento and
white horse, we can say, we’ve seen pictures!) I’ve got three dogs as well. I’m a
Interviewer: Where is the best place you
12 Angry Men. I like movies that leave you
bit of an animal lover. I also play badminton
have travelled to so far?
with something to think about. I like crime and thrillers
once a week. Mr. Santanu: I think it would be LehInterviewer: Favourites – Book?
Ladakh and Lakshadweep. I am a mountain
Interviewer: Any favourite artists,
person because I grew up in the mountains
musicians or songs?
Miss Nyree: Harry Potter and To Kill A
where I studied in Darjeeling. I never
Mockingbird. I think you two remind me of
thought I would like the sea but when I
Mr. Santanu: Amrita Sher Gil. Picasso,
a certain journalist from the books
went to Lakshadweep, I fell in love with it.
because he managed to bend the rules and
actually...She’s got green spectacles...
It’s so beautiful in its own way. There is
form a new school. I like any form of
beauty in its flatness and lack of change
Hindustani classical music especially the
and the peace and tranquillity it brings. I
sitar. I like Rabindranath Tagore’s songs a
like historical monuments, so I love Belur
lot because they’re in my native tongue,
and Halebid. They are so underrated, so
Bengali, and I have a sense of connect with
they really appealed to me.
them.
The International School Bangalore
6
MARCH 20, 2019
INTERVIEW WITH MR. GILES
INTERVIEW WITH MS. JUDITH
INTERVIEW WITH MS. SANGEETHA
Interviewer: How are you finding the community at TISB?
Interviewer: How has your experience in TISB been so
Interviewer: You’ve been with the TISB family for so
You are new here, right?
far?
long, how has the experience been?
Mr. Giles: Yes. I’m finding it incredibly rich, very diverse,
Miss Judith: Great! I've been very impressed by and
Miss Sangeetha: It’s been a wonderful journey. I’ve
really friendly and everybody has made me feel very
really enjoyed working with, the students and the staff
loved every minute of it!
welcome.
at TISB; not to mention the very beautiful campus environment. Very tranquil!
Interviewer: What inspired you to join the field of teaching and become a principal?
Interviewer: You’ve seen TISB grow and develop, what is the one thing that inspires you or motivates you to be a
Interviewer: How long have you been a college
part of TISB?
counsellor for? Mr. Giles: I was quite late coming to the profession and
Miss Sangeetha: I just think we’re lucky in TISB in
before that I really did not know what I wanted to do. I had
Miss Judith: I have been a college counsellor for about
having a really sound management. I think it's very
got my degree in politics and I didn’t know what to do with
5 years, in different contexts
important for any school to be run by educationalists and
it. Somebody just suggested to go and volunteer at a school
that is exactly what TISB is all about. The second thing
and as soon as I walked in within the first hour I knew this
Interviewer: If you weren’t a counsellor, what is one
is the people that make it so. So for me, it's the children!
was what I wanted to do. I think it’s the interaction with the
profession that you would have liked to explore?
We’re again extremely lucky in having such positive
children and the chance you’ve got to change their lives.
families and children who make it lovely and I think Miss Judith: Law
Interviewer: What’s the best aspect of working with younger kids in the primary years?
we’re particularly lucky because we work with a group of children who are you know not yet sort of spoilt by
Interviewer: What were your least and most favourite
the world.
subjects in school? Mr. Giles: Their energy. You feed off that and when you get to my age you need all the energy you can get!
Interviewer: If you could take your students on a field Miss Judith: My favourite was History and least
trip anywhere in the world, where would it be? And
favourite was Physics
why?
Interviewer: If you were to offer one important piece
Miss Sangeetha: (Laughs) I think it would be the
of advice to all high- school students preparing for
Himalayas... yes (laughs), I’ve been to many wonderful
college, what would it be?
field trips But I think the mountains sort of do it for me.
Miss Judith: Be open-minded, accepting of others and
Interviewer: Is there a quote or a saying that you live
adventurous. Enjoy the journey!
your life by? Could you please share it with us?
Interviewer: 3 most important qualities a student doing
Miss Sangeetha: I’ve always lived, you know with one
the IB diploma must possess?
thing that sort of stuck with me, and it issomething that
Interviewer: What is something that captures India according to you?
Mr. Giles: I think it’s the colour. I’m going back to the UK tomorrow just for a week, and I think it’s going to seem very grey and beige and monochrome
Interviewer: What are some things that you enjoy doing outside of work?
Mr. Giles: I’m an avid reader. I’m a bit of a nerd. I quite
the German philosopher Goethe said - “It’s not always
like military history especially in the middle east. Other than
Miss Judith: Intellectual curiosity, a reflective
doing the thing we like to do, but liking the thing we
that, I support a really rubbish football team.
approach and stamina.
have to do
Interviewer: Which one?
Interviewer: Favourite movie?
Interviewer: What do you like to do in your free time?
Mr. Giles: Westham United. They’re in the premiere league
Miss Judith: Gattaca. It is a provocative, dystopian
Miss Sangeetha: I love reading! I used to love cooking
in England but they are not very good. They are certainly
movie which is written and directed by a New Zelander,
but not so much anymore.(laughs). I also really love
not like Chelsea or Manchester United.
Andrew Niccol.
spending time with my family!
Interviewer: What’s your favourite book?
Interviewer: Favourite book?
Interviewer: Favorite book:
Mr. Giles: ‘The Day of the Jackal’ by Frederick Forsyth
Miss Judith: "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro -
Miss Sangeetha: To Kill A Mockingbird.
another dystopic and rather dark piece, and "The Interviewer: What’s your favourite movie?
Robber Bride" by Margaret Atwood - not her best
Interviewer: Favorite movie?
known novel but a great read. Mr. Giles: A film called ‘Meet Joe Black’. It’s got Brad Pitt in it. It’s the story of how he falls in love. It’s a really lovely
Miss Sangeetha: *Pauses and thinks for a bit*. I think it Interviewer: Favourite song, singer, or band?
film.
has to be the ‘Sound Of Music. I think I’m a bit of a romantic. I’ve seen it 7 times!
Miss Judith: "Imagine" (John Lennon)/ Janis Joplin/ Interviewer: What’s your favourite song/artist?
Led Zeppelin - reflecting my era here!
Mr. Giles: Have you heard of an English band called The
Interviewer: Thank you so much for your time!
Miss Sangeetha: Thank you.
Cure? They’ve got a song called -Friday I’m In love.
The International School Bangalore
MARCH 20, 2019
7
LET'S GET ARTSY Some art work by TISB students!
Van Gogh and Potatoes? - Sanah Salim Imani After careful study, the perception of famous artist Vincent Van Gogh has shown numerous faces. Some believe that he is a versatile, talented artist, who has contributed to the fields of expressionism, abstraction, and impressionism. Others view him with much disdain and think of him as an unskilled and unsuccessful painter. Regardless, it is important to consider a much broader view to understand and appreciate the history of an artist’s style: in this case, Van Gogh’s earlier paintings. In fact, his first painting, The Potato Eaters, has several hints with regards to the style and philosophies of Van Gogh, which often seems in contrast with the artistic attitude at the time.
This painting is known for being one of Van Gogh’s first main oil paintings, which he painted back in 1885 when he was in Nuenen, Amsterdam. He invested time in preparing lithographs (images produced by a method of printing based on the immiscibility of oil and water) and studies, but his brother Theo constantly disapproved of his efforts. While Theo’s prediction of the painting’s unsuccessful future was true, the painting can tell us much about the attitude towards art during that time and the painting style of Van Gogh.
-Young Ju
The painting is set in a peasant household. Van Gogh repeatedly claimed that he wanted to depict the peasants as realistically as possible. The use of dark colours and the way the bodies are painted gives the painting expression and texture. The texture is quite coarse and bony, which suggests the tired and burdened nature of these peasants. While their faces are not perfectly proportioned nor attractive, the earthy colours show that they are in harmony with nature. For Van Gogh, nature has taken the form of god. One source reveals that, in this way, Van Gogh wanted to show that they ‘have tilled the earth themselves with these hands they are putting in the dish ... that they have thus honestly earned their food’. Since he blurs the lines between nature and humanity, he automatically implies the idea that nature and humanity are one.
The identities of the figures haven’t been confirmed. However, the man could be Van Gogh as he is shown to have a strong connection with them. His painting drew considerable criticism because its colours were so dark
Ananya Singh-
and the figures full of mistakes. Instead, the painting Peasant Family at the Table by Jozef Israels- one that inspired Van Gogh’s own painting- was well received by the audience of those times. The palette was known to be specifically appealing to the audience of the Parisian avant-garde. Today, the Potato Eaters is one of Van Gogh’s most famous works. This change in perception can be attributed to the appreciation of the emotion poured in and the naturalness of the painting.
-Veda Bansal
The feeling of creating art and.... doing math? - Veda Bansal The magnetic struggle of getting wrapped up in the intricacies of a problem…. or a pattern. Extracting the beauty, the logic from a seemingly intangible jumble of numbers and lines, the euphoria that erupts- that feeling of success seems to be similar in both mathematics and art. The uniqueness of art is in its creation, not in its result. Similarly, although mathematical results are definitive, it is the process of reaching those results that seems to be so incredibly alike to the process of creating art. In fact, many renowned mathematicians were driven by a creative instinct, rather an aesthetic instinct to derive their proofs. In the same vein, many artists such as M.C. Escher have seamlessly demonstrated this connection through their incredible artwork. 'Science and art sometimes can touch one another, like two pieces of the jigsaw puzzle, which is our human life, and that contact may be made across the borderline between the two respective domains.' - M.C. Escher
The International School Bangalore
JUNE 16, 2018
8
FUN WITH PY "Maths day 2018 was a celebration of all things shape themed. We investigated, worked inteams, had a special assembly and a parade."
"Honestly, I loved it. The parade and all of it. There were good costumes. I am impressed" - Vidyut VB
"Sh ape bou s ha nda ve n r cros ies, the o y ca s any We n reall li y en mits. joye Mat d th hs is - Sh Day" arv VB
"Ma t fas hs Da cin atin y was gd ay quite a pro of t a b he bes ably o nd wa s td ne - A ays in rjun s VB chool "
Yellow and Green By Arjun, Sophia and Lilli VB Primary Years
A woman named Catherine Loveless visited our school and told the students about an amazing adventure that she had. This adventure was called the Rickshaw Run and takes place every year. The charity event started in Jawahar Nihas in Jaisalmer which is situated in Northern India.
Part of the adventure is decorating the rickshaw. Ms Catherine’s team was called the Vindaloonatiks. The colours of their rickshaw were purple and yellow. Yellow and purple on a small rickshaw driving on the roads of India. Yellow and purple on a small rickshaw driving in the rains of India. Yellow and Purple on a small rickshaw with three adventurous people inside.
It wasn’t just a pretty rickshaw. In the end, it had bumps and mud all over it because of the rough trip on the muddy and bumpy roads from the north to the south of India. Some people had a few breakdowns and were not happy at all.
Miss Catherine stated that she and her team treated their rickshaw well and the rickshaw treated them well in return. They were very careful while driving and did not damage the rickshaw’s engine. They finally reached Bangalore with their undamaged yellow and purple rickshaw and were happy that they made it in the top five!
As a whole, the rickshaw run excited many who watched the assembly. Many remarked that it sounded so fun. But a few still questioned whether it was fun or not.
Overall, the rickshaw run is quite a fascinating event. It makes charity happy, it makes you happy. It is probably the strangest way of exploring India. It will continue to entertain people for decades to come.
The International School Bangalore
MARCH 20, 2019
10
WHAT'S THE BUZZ? The Best A Man Can Be? - Isha & Kaajal As a society, we have made great strides towards equality. However, the response to Gillette’s new controversial advertisement, “The best a man can be”, especially after the Times Up and #MeToo movements, was shocking and reminds us that we still have a long way to go.
The ad in question tackled the issue of toxic masculinity. This refers to stereotypes and gender roles that define manhood by violence, aggression, restricted emotions, and harassment that can lead to misogyny and homophobia. The ad called such men out on their behavior and voiced an opinion on how they can do better. They used their slogan- ‘The best a man can be’- and spun it on its head, changing the way they perceive masculinity. The ad addressed bullying, catcalling, inequality in the workplace, sexism in the media, and sexual harassment. It also showed how by normalising these toxic behaviors, the stereotypical view of masculinity is perpetuated in society.
However, this advertisement suffered an immense backlash from its viewers and consumers (who are primarily men). The video on YouTube has garnered 29 million views. The number of dislikes was an astonishing 1.4 million compared to only 780 thousand likes. The comments section was also littered with consumers complaining about how the ad stereotyped an entire gender and was an unfair representation of men. Many threatened to boycott all of Gillette’s and their parent company Procter & Gamble’s, products.
A phrase that crops up multiple times in the comments section is ‘Not all men’. And it is true... Not all men behave this way and it is not right to generalise. But enough men do. Enough men to make women fear walking the streets alone at night; enough men, that until recently, misogyny and sexism in society were normalized to an alarming extent; enough men that many women have experienced some form of harassment. Enough men that it affects enough women. Toxic masculinity raises boys who may feel as if they cannot completely express their emotions without being ridiculed. Boys who then grow into men that are incapable of conveying their feelings through anything other than rage and violence. Not all men are guilty of these actions but it is the responsibility of all men to hold those who are accountable.
Additionally, a common trend seen throughout the comments was that men felt the ad was misandry and ‘anti-men’. They felt like they were being shamed. However, the ad only depict toxic traits in a negative light, not men in general. It criticizes a restricted, flawed, and archaic version of masculinity. It is hopeful and it holds men to a high standard. It encourages all men to step up and play a part in redefining masculinity.
Interestingly, a more reasonable point of view was also frequently mentioned throughout the comments section. People were rejecting the ad by expressing their views on how they thought it was “rich” coming from a company like Gilette. True, Gillette has been a brand that has popularized the notion of masculinity through safari’s, dirt, and roads for men and beaches, sun, and swimming for women Furthermore, the re-framing of the idea ‘the best a man can be’ was rather sudden and not in line with the character of the brand. This led to people scrutinizing the ad further. With the recent uproar caused by the #MeToo movement, it was likely that brands like Gillette were trying to come aboard the ship in order to boost their sales and improve their brand vision in the eyes of the public. However, their move backfired; their target audience hated the new message they were spreading. Surely they could not have anticipated such a reaction; after all they are a private company aiming to increase profits. People may dismiss the message of the advertisement coming from the mouth of Gillette, a corporation that cannot claim moral high ground as it has been accused of pricefixing and unfair labour practices. While this may be true, the message is still important.
Hopefully, it adds to a growing conversation about toxic masculinity and its effect on society.
Matilda On LGBTQ+ Aaria: (To start off with) What do you think about the situation of LGBTQ in India?
Matilda: I think that part of the battle has been won, but only a very very very small portion of it. The abolishment of ‘section 377’ is a huge step for the LGBTQ+ community in India, but I believe India still has a long way to go to achieve social and legal equality in terms of acceptance at home, in the workplace and in more concrete issues such as adoption and marriage.
Aaria: What steps would you like to see, or you think should be carried out in school to raise awareness about this issue?
Matilda: The first step would be to begin a conversation about identities which aren’t cisgender and heterosexual. In the sex education classes which are carried out in school, I think it is important to broach topics which aren’t entirely hetero-normative. Subjects like PSHME which we had in middle school would be a perfect place for discussion.
Aaria: In Bangalore, would you like to see more pride marches or events surrounding this movement?
Matilda: There have been pride marches in Bangalore happening for a number of years, and although they’re reasonably well attended and well supported there is still a stigma around them and there is very little media coverage. They are viewed as unsafe, which isn’t necessarily the fault of the organizers who have done everything they can to ensure safety. In fact, the concerns about safety are probably more due to society rather than the organizers.
Aaria: Among the students of TISB, what is the level of acceptance?
Matilda: In TISB we’re very lucky, for the most part, to have very open-minded, accepting, internationally minded students, who are kind and compassionate and who make efforts to understand the voices and the plight of the LGBTQ+ community. But as I’ve said earlier the conversation needs to be started on a higher level, not just between friends.
Aaria: Do you have any last comments or statements you would like to share?
Matilda: To end with, I’d like to share this quote from Jason Collins who was the first openly gay athlete in U.S. pro sports, ‘Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it’s a good place to start.’ Hopefully, these words can spur the conversation that so desperately needs to start.
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PHOTOGRAPHY @Disha Mundra
@Aishwarya Krishnan
@Maurya and Pranav Pramod
The beauty of photography: “To me, the magic of photography, per se, is that you can capture an instant of a second that couldn’t exist before and couldn’t exist after. It’s almost like a cowboy that draws his gun. You draw a second before or after, you miss and you’re dead – not them. To me, photography’s always like that.” - Mario Testin The International School Bangalore
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SPORTS DAY 2018 We interviewed the house captains and asked them the following questions: 1) As house captains how would you describe your house in three words? 2) What mascot would you choose for your house? Here is what your captains have to say...
PIONEERS (Young Ju and Miten)
The Tale of the Trojans - Ananya Ganesh and Jean Devaux Why are we named after the side that lost one of the most famous wars in history?
1) Cheerful, United and Spirited. I naturally assumed that this was the true origin of that name (and other gems like “Greenwood United”) regardless of what Mr. Tarun said. But when I approached him for confirmation, he assured me that the name had been coined long before the league and that he could truly not remember the year or the students of that fateful basketball match. That’s when I realised something that should have been
2) A dolphin. Their playful nature is a reminder that everyone needs to approach life with humour and joy. People who identify with the dolphin totem are usually peaceful and gentle, but with a deep inner strength. Dolphins in the wild are strong and fearless. When sharks or orcas threaten them, they don’t hesitate to fight instead of trying to flee. They represent strong moral convictions and self-confidence, reminding us to speak our minds and stand our ground rather than hide our true selves.
fairly obvious from the beginning –the “Trojans” isn’t an The moment when we cheer as Trojans during sports day has always baffled me. Before the inter-school events, we’re always at each
official name. It’s one we decided on our own, and one the entire student body adopted without any need for a type of officiation.
DISCOVERERS ( Ananya Swamy)
other’s throats, rooting for our houses.Then suddenly, a group of people walk on to the track, ready to participate
The conclusion:
in the inter school relay, and we all suddenly snap to attention and start cheering for the “Trojans”. It is not just this astonishing show of unity that routinely surprises me. It is also the fact that someone chose to name our stunningly talented sports teams after the side, as someone once pointed out to me, that lost one of the most famous wars in history.
Maybe what we should take from this is not the in-depth history that I was unable to find, but the spirit behind the name. Maybe the name “Trojans” isn’t reflective of our school’s inability to be classically aware, but simply to cooperate. Maybe the legacy we are carrying on is not of a defeated kingdom, but one of a school whose students take initiative and work as a team.. One where we make our own
And this seemed unusual given our school’s impeccable record in naming things. We either seem to go for the intensely descriptive and logical (see: “The International
decisions and choose our own paths. One that preserves the marks our alumni have left us and celebrates the paths our
1) Supportive, Enthusiastic and Talented. 2) The badgers- like Hufflepuff in Harry Potter, I believe Discoverers are a cheerful and supportive team.
students continue to pave.
School Bangalore”) or the creative and meaningful (see: “Vivum”). Yes, the Trojans did some pretty amazing things. Their walls were unbreakable constructs allegedly built by two
At the end of the day, as long our name is one that is chosen by us, it doesn’t matter what it is.
VOYAGERS (Nysha Porwal)
And that I think I can understand.
gods and one talented human. They were a major regional power whose illustrious career is always forgotten in lieu of their defeat. their descendants went on to create the Roman Empire. And yes, some of their warriors were considered valorous, their women beautiful, and their city rich. But even then, they were second to the Greeks – Achilles was the best warrior, Helen was the most beautiful, Odysseus was the cleverest. Even Paris, a Trojan who
1) Dedicated, Hardworking, and Talented.
won the love of the most beautiful woman in the world
2) A lion.
and killed Achilles, was cowardly, ruinous and unskilled, albeit lucky. So, naming a sports team after them?
The investigation:
EXPLORERS (Anoushka Goenka)
The first person I approached with my query was Mr. Tarun. When I asked him, he laughed. After a few moments, he told me this story: A few students were playing a basketball match against the staff. When asked to write a name on the scoreboard, they scribbled down the name -Trojans. The name stuck. But around the same time, I discovered an old article about a “Pro School League”, a tournament that seeked to replicate the feeling of professional football leagues for school kids. We had won that League – and on that
1) Determined, Driven and Diligent
scoreboard, our name was proudly displayed as the
2) If I had to choose a mascot for Explorers, it would be the Honey Badger. They
“TISB Trojans”, with a white “T” on a blue field . Along
are known to be the most fearless animals in the world according to the Guinness
with that I found two interviews: one of a student named
Book of World Records and I think this is something that is reflected by every
Gautham Suresh, and the other of their coach Mr. Tarun
Explorer.
Biswas.
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Fun And Games Newspaper Staff: Editor-In-Chief: Kripa Bansal Managing Editors: Isha Thakar and Kaajal Gupta Head Of Design: Veda Bansal Interview Head: Aaria Anand Team Members: Rhea Menon and Devarya Singhal Teachers: Miss Deepa Katherine and Miss Helen Pamela Across: 1. leaving a mark 2. tasks 3. fresh starts 4. memories and times 5.physical education 6.our school 7. time to get your driving license in India Down: 1. feasting on our first fest 2. in the long run 3. _____ and bounds 4. let's play 5. no, we ain't talking 'bout the people ruled by kings 6. one at a time 7. one of a kind 8. kick _____ 9. old's opposite
Gamers, Gear Up! - Devarya Singhania PUBG vs Fortnite!
These trends have spread like a tracer bullet! Literally every teen knows about these two viral forms of gameplays or what they call ‘battle royale!’ Fortnite when launched,was available on IOS devices, XBOX, PlayStation and Computers, however, PUBG launched itself on Android devices, IOS devices, XBOX, PlayStation and Computer which made it have more players but eventually Fortnite caught up and now is giving PUBG a good competition. Both Fortnite and PUBG have features which make them unique. PUBG was the first fluent and free battle royale available on devices but Fortnite released emotes (a short and easy dance) and the concept of building (where a person stacks up items in order to protect themselves). These features have dominated the internet and will probably continue to do so! The writer does not favour any one game but think that both of these gameplays have extreme potential to dominate the internet for another decent period of time.
Top 10 Games for XBOX One:
10. Red Dead Redemption II
9. Assassin's Creed Odyssey
8. Tomb Raider
7. Fifa 18
6. Overwatch
5. Fifa 19
4. PUBG
2. Fortnite
1. Apex Legends
(All games are available on Flipkart. We are open to suggestions)
The International School, Bangalore
We would love to hear from you! Submit articles, artwork etc. for the next issue to bkripa@tisb.ac.in or tisha@tisb.ac.in Please reach out to us for any queries or suggestions.