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ABOUT US Vertex Magazine is an online-digital magazine. We are a group of people who are passionate about learning new things and we believe that there are many people like us around the world. So, we came up with a plan to connect with people and make an online community who feels passionate and driven by the same things as us. We will curate articles on topics ranging from real-life stories of artists and businesses to health and lifestyle.
EDITORS’ NOTE For me, Vertex is like a meeting point of different ideas. So, we have put together a lineup of a range of articles and hope that everyone can find something worth reading!
Ananya Shah, Aspiring Environmental Health Professional In light of the current circumstances, each of us has the opportunity to slow down, reassess, and get clear about what we value in life. We created Vertex magazine which helps us find our own way to the present moment. This is my journey.
Rutva Gandhi, Aspiring Interior Designer We created Vertex with the aim of creating a platform where different talented minds can interact. I hope that this issue becomes an exciting element for the readers, during these difficult times. Karishma Desai, Psychotherapistin-training
CONTENTS The festive season is here! (05) Diwali Decor-Taking help of traditional roots: Go Vocal for Local (12) Travelling during a Pandemic (15) Pinky’s Boutique Store:Where creativity meets Comfort (18) Social Media:Where do we draw the line for ourself? (21) Our Biodiverse Surroundings and the Psyche (23) Movie Review:SE7EN (26) Strategies for designing of centers for Children’s creativity and development (28) Book Review:The Little Prince (33) When life gives you lemons, paint ‘em! (35) Celebrating the future of our country: Children’s Day (36) 4
FESTIVE SEASON IS HERE! Myriad is synonymous to India when it comes to culture. Diversity is so finely woven into the fabric of our cultural ethos that without it India would stand almost indistinguishable and unidentifiable. With the festive season almost at our doorstep, it only felt suitable to describe the multicultural cuisines within India and how they make the festivals actually feel like festivals! Diwali is a festival that spans over a few days. It starts with Dhanteras, which is when people perform Laxmi Puja as a form of worship to Goddess Laxmi- the Goddess of Wealth and pray for prosperity. A day later is Diwali or Deepavali where we celebrate the light in our lives and celebrate new beginnings. Then comes the Bhai Duj which celebrates the bond that brothers and sisters share. Different days have varying significance across different cultures and communities. With the world limited to doing only certain things due to the pandemic, festivals don’t exactly feel like celebration. The only constant that remains and makes it feel like a celebration is food. So, we thought of taking you on a gastronomic journey throughout India where we take you to different regions throughout India to explore handpicked dishes!
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EAST & NORTH-EAST- Assam, Bengal & Orissa In the states of Assam, West Bengal and Orissa, there is prime significance of Kali Puja on Naraka Chaturdashi- day before Diwali. That is the day when Goddess Kali is believed to have conquered Narakasura- a demon. Traditionally, Bengalis prepare “Chothyo Saag,’ a dish prepared from 14 varieties of green leafy vegetables. This ‘Saag,’ is eaten with rice. A day before Chaturdashi, is Dhanteras, that is when Laxmi Puja is performed. It is a custom for Bengalis to eat Khichdi and Chaler Payesh- a Chothyo Saag rice pudding flavoured with black cardamom, Source: foodcooking-inspiration.in raisin and bay leaf- A Bengali version of Rice Kheer. Payesh is first offered as bhog and is then enjoyed with friends and family. In the north-eastern states there is more significance of other cultural and harvest festivals and Diwali is usually a 4-day long festival celebrated among the Hindus.
Chaler Payesh
Source: kitchenofdebjani.com
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WEST- Gujarat While all five days of Diwali festivities are celebrated in Gujarat, ‘Bestu Varash,’ is the most characteristic of a Gujarati Diwali! The day after Diwali (which is always a new moon), is the first day of the month in Hindu Calendar and according to the Gujarati Calendar, it is the first day of the year. Gujarati New Year is celebrated with ‘FafdaJalebi’ as morning breakfast. Fafda is a fried snack made of gram flour and is eaten with a Papaya Kachumbar and a Chutney, also made of gram flour. Everyone invites their near and dear ones to their homes. Lots of different snacks are offered to the guests. Some traditional snacks include Mathiya- a fried delicacy made of Moth bean and Urad Dal; Cholafali- another fried snack made of mixed pulses’ flour. While it differs across households, there is a belief, no one should make ‘Roti’ on the day of the New Year. Lapsi or Kansar- a sweet made of wheat flour and ghee is customary on the first day of the month and year! Some people also believe in eating ‘Choli nu shak,’ which is a vegetable dish similar to french beans on this day.
Fafda-Jalebi Source: spiceupthecurry.com
Mathiya Source: farsankart.com
Kansar
Source: recipe.timesofindia.com
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SOUTH INDIA- Deepavali/ Naraka Chaturdashi aka Kali Choudas as a harvest festival Diwali is a festival that is celebrated in North, East, Central and West India. In South Indian states such as Goa, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, Diwali is known as Deepavali and is celebrated primarily as a harvest festival. While Naraka Chaturdashi is what North Indians know as Chhoti Diwali, South Indians celebrate that very day as Deepavali. Since it is a harvest festival, the new yield of rice is used to make sweet delicacies. These involve rice puddings and even sweets made of half-cooked rice that is Poha. Goad Poha, a sweet made of jaggery, coconut and Poha is very popular. They are first offered to the deities in the Puja and then enjoyed. In Kerala, another rice sweet known as Payasam is very popular and is eaten on several occasions including Deepavali.
Goad Poha
Source: mysecretplate.com
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NORTH- Delhi and Uttar Pradesh In the Northern part of India, Diwali is celebrated with great zeal as it is the perfect time for friends and families to get together and have a great time. The traditions here are similar to the other parts of the country but it is celebrated with a modern touch in the capital of the country. As Delhi is the economic hub, Diwali is considered as a lucky festival for businessmen. Shops remain open till afternoon on the auspicious day of Diwali which is said to bring luck. Gifts for family and friends and even corporate gifts are sent to people as a token on this auspicious day. In the evening, rituals and pooja are held where Goddess Laxmi is worshipped. Diwali parties and Card parties are held where people celebrate with loved ones and eat good food. One of the most popular foods during Diwali in Delhi is Kheel Batasha, which is a sweet made from puffed rice and sugar syrup and appears as a crystal of white sugar. Another food popularly eaten in Northern India during Diwali is Pinni, which looks like Laddoos and is made from wheat, dry fruits and sugar roasted in homemade ghee. Diwali also marks the starting of Winters in Delhi thus rich sweet dishes and energy giving foods are eaten during this time.
Kheel Batasha
Source: thebetterindia.com
Atte ki Pinni
Source: www.ruchiskitchen.com
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In Uttar Pradesh, Diwali has a great significance as it is celebrated for the time when Lord Ram came back to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana and bringing back Goddess Sita. The ghat on river Ganga is lit up with thousands of Diyas which are gently left in river Ganga. It is a sight to behold and a magical aura is created across the city of Benaras. The staple foods of Uttar Pradesh include Litti Chokha, puri bhaji and many other street foods eaten across India. One of the famous sweet dishes is Makhan Malaiyye, which is a rich, frothy milk filled with cream or malai. It is flavoured with Kesar that is, Saffron and garnished with dry fruits. It is usually served in earthen cups made of clay.
CENTRAL- Madhya Pradesh Diwali is celebrated across Madhya Pradesh with great zeal and enthusiasm. It marks the starting of the New Year according to the Hindu calendar and on the day of Dhanteras, all the shops remain open for the entire night in the beautifully lit up markets. Makhan Malaiyyo Source: food.ndtv.com
Chiraunji ki barfi Source: sagar.nic.in
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Many sweet and savoury foods are eaten during Diwali in this state whose people are known for their love for food. One of the most unique dishes eaten here, which originated in MP itself, is Chiraunji ki Barfi which is a sweet made from the dry fruit seeds of Chiraunji or Charoli. Apart from a delicious taste, these seeds have many health benefits as well. Another dish which is a traditional offering on Diwali in this region is Imarti, which is a famous street food in the city of Indore.
Imarti
Source:www.indiatimes.com
It is difficult these days to even go out to have a meal, let alone a food tour of India! So, we hope that you enjoyed this virtual food tour!
-ANANYA SHAH -KARISHMA DESAI 11
Diwali DĂŠcor- Go Vocal for Local The festive season is just around the corner. What could be a better way to give back to our home which has been there for us through this uncertain time, than to light it up with some beautiful decorations this festive season. If we have learnt one thing this year is that we need to revive our economy. One thing that we can surely do to promote our economy is by promoting the use of local crafts and minimizing the use of other foreign products. This way, we will not only contribute to the economy but also make a difference in the lives of the artisans who have been taking care of our cultural and artistic heritage since ages. So here were have created a guide for everyone who is enthusiastic to decorate their homes but by going the Vocal for Local way.
Traditional Indian pottery The rich history of pottery in India dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The articles at that time were limited to Matkas but with advancement, more varied and colourful decorative articles were made from clay. Today, these pottery articles are essentially made up of clay and terracotta and Orissa is the brand ambassador of Terracota. When we talk about dĂŠcor items, it is not just small diyas anymore, but many beautiful and colourful items made by potters. These items range from beautifully made clay trays in which we can put flowers, candles etc., to clay stands in which we can light up diyas. 12
Indian Lippan work Lippan work is a native craft of India which came from the Kutch region in Gujarat. It is a mud mirror work which is done by mixing clay with camel or cow dung and decorated by pieces of mirror. This art started as a way for Kutchi women to decorate the interior walls of their home and also keep it cool from the inside. But slowly, artisans adopted this art and now various decorative items are made which incorporate lippan work in various designs and forms. When used at home, the lippan lanterns make up for an excellent decorative piece as they provide a unique touch to the dĂŠcor theme. These are available in various shapes and sizes and are a perfect alternative to the imported lights that we often use in our homes. We assure you that the lippan kaam lanterns with its mirror work reflecting at night, look even more beautiful than these fairy lights. You can also buy paintings made from lippan work and hang them at your entry way in your home, which will be a great welcome vibe for all the guests coming to your home.
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Ceramic articles The ceramic pottery can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization. Slowly, with the Mughal influence, Indian artisans started making glazed pottery with Persian influences in fusion with Indian art in it. These can now be typically seen in the pots and other ceramic items which are made mainly in Northern India. Blue Pottery is famous to Jaipur, where glazed pottery is made in blue dye and has its origins in the Islamic and Chinese pottery. These are available in the form of various articles like colourful pots of various sizes, lanterns, vases and also tea-light candle holders. These articles look beautiful and rich when used as décor in homes. We can choose from a variety of colours and shapes to match the overall colour scheme of our homes. These ceramic items also have started incorporating modern touches to it with modern colours and figurines.
Brass items
There is nothing more elegant and festive-like than brass, which makes up the perfect décor article during festivals. Brass has been used since the Lothal civilization in India. We all have some or the other brass vessels at home which had been a priced possession of our grand-mother. We can use these brass vessels like trays and water containers as elegant decoration for our home during the festive season. When colourful flowers are added to these brass trays filled with water, it just takes up the festive mood to another level.
“When you buy from a small business, an actual person does a small happy dance” so be Vocal for Local and Support Small Businesses. -KARISHMA DESAI 14
Travelling during a Pandemic The world was on the verge of shutting down and no one knew when and how everything would be back to normal. Even then, my family and I took the leap of faith and decided to continue with our journey to Manali, Shimla and Amritsar. It was a risk but in the month of March - who knew what all of us were dealing with. At that time, the virus had just started spreading in India and everyone thought that it is temporary and here we are, 8 months later, living with the virus, adjusting to our “New Normal”. Back then in March, only masks were made mandatory and no other precautions were required. I remember my mom telling me and my brother, ‘Don’t you dare take that mask off, and keep sanitising your hands.’ Previously, boarding an airplane had always been easy, you just took your tickets, went through a security check and then waited at the designated gates. Now, you have to wear masks, which are very uncomfortable, sanitise everything and even think twice before sitting anywhere, even on-board. The first destination for us was Shimla. At a resort, we are usually first greeted by ‘Welcome Drinks’ but, this time it was temperature guns and sanitisers. During the 3 day stay, we did a little bit of local sightseeing, relaxed for a day and left for Manali. The route to Manali wasn’t that long as we reached there in a matter of a few hours. When we arrived at our resort, we were initially told that the resort might cancel our stay, pertaining to the guidelines issued by the State Government of Himachal Pradesh. There was a lot of chaos for the first hour, adding to the tension of not getting rooms to stay. Thankfully, after an hour of talking, we were able to get our reservations approved by the resort manager and it had come to the point where we had the whole resort to ourselves, along with the staff.
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For the first time in many years, Manali had only 200 tourists in the on-going tourist season. Even our local driver was surprised because usually the time required to complete the sightseeing is 5 days which we completed in a matter of 1.5 days. The next destination was supposedly Amritsar. We had our flight on 21st March in the evening. However, because of the “Janta Curfew” which was on the next day, all the flights were cancelled. My parents were sure that there were only 2 options left now: We go to Amritsar as planned, but with no accommodations We go back to Ahmedabad by road, which takes roughly 30 hours As neither did we want to waste more time nor were we interested in taking any more risks, we decided that it was better to head home now. Thus, on 21st March, we left Manali to go back home. It was going to be a long journey, we knew that for sure but we were all prepared mentally to just reach home, no matter what. To make it easier for everyone, my dad had called another driver from Ahmedabad who was going to bring our car till the Rajasthan-Punjab border. We knew it was a little risky but again, that’s life, right? It was a huge decision which my parents took, within 30 minutes.
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After a lot of phone calls and our driver from Ahmedabad missing a few turns here and there, we met at our designated place at 3:00 am. It felt good, finally seeing someone whom you know, especially in such a situation. It was my dad who drove the car back home from Rajasthan. Between those 15 hours of journey, we hardly saw any cars, none of the shops were open and we felt like we were driving through “Ghost Towns”. Finally after a total of 26 hours of journey, we reached home. This trip has taught me a few things like it is okay to take decisions spontaneously. Secondly, things don’t always go as planned and, in those moments, you have to be calm and take a quick call. The third and last thing is how important it is to live in the moment, good or bad because, that is what gives us the most amazing experiences. It was a once in a lifetime experience where the hypothetical question which goes along the lines of "What would you do if you were the last person alive?" did come true for us! It was thrilling but I did realise looking at the majestic hills of Manali and aloof roads of Rajasthan, how miniscule we're in front of nature. No matter how colossal we think our problems might be, our species is just a tiny part of this Universe and the need for us to understand this.
-VIHA MASHRUWALA 17
Pinky’s Boutique Store: Where Creativity Meets Comfort
When you invest in clothes, you invest in confidence. There is a popular saying by Anne Klein, “Clothes aren’t going to change the world. The women who wear them will.” There have been a lot of small businesses and boutiques that sell clothes, in Ahmedabad. Some start out of a need to earn, some start out of fondness of aesthetics but very few start because of passion. Pradita Shah is one such passionate and creative fashion designer in Ahmedabad. She has been running her boutique for 28 years. Maybe you have heard of her, maybe you haven’t? But here’s her story, to inspire you to not just follow your dreams but also to be selfconfident. Pradita Shah, better known as Pinky to her family as well as her customers, started her own little business: Pinky’s Creation when she was in the second year of her college. She used to pursue art as a hobby and was one of the best students of her teacher! Even though she studied and graduated in commerce, she never let go of the creative side of her. Encouraged by her parents, she started her own business in 1992 with just one staff member: a tailor.
A Newspaper Article about Pradita Shah from November 1997 18
Initially, the customers that came to her had a fixed set of instructions of what they wanted her to make. Soon, her work caught the attention of a local brand- Gurjari. They selected three of her designs and offered her to make 100 identical tops of each style for them. While she accepted the offer and delivered them within six months, her own business suffered a little. She realised that this is not something she wants. Getting bulk orders and selling them is a job for tailors, not for a designer. When she started, Pinky’s only designed, tailored and sold regular daily ethnic wear. As time went by, Pradita Shah also ventured out and started making bridal wear and western as well as fusion wear. For years, the customers that come to Pinky’s only come to Pinky’s to adorn their wardrobes with creative and unique clothes. They think that she has a style like none other and something that they wouldn’t find anywhere else. And that is the USP of Pinky’s. In 2017, Pradita Shah celebrated 25 years in business by a signature exhibition at the Reflections Gallery in Bodakdev, Ahmedabad. For 27 years, Pinky’s was a home boutique operated from within the premises of her home. In February of 2020, Pinky’s changed it’s venue to Sun AvenueOne Building, Manekbaug-Shyamal Road, Ahmedabad. Shortly after the lockdown, Pinky’s opened again and even makes custom masks. All these years, with the view of making what ‘people would like to buy,’ Pradita thought that she didn’t get a chance to experiment and design creatively. The Pandemic gave her the opportunity to do so.
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Even in these difficult times, Pinky’s got something positive out of it. Pinky’s Boutique has now expanded to a place where her finest works are on exhibit and sale and has a workshop with six staff members who work on ensuring that Pradita Shah’s creative designs turn into pieces of comfort, luxury and of the finest craftsmanship. Along with Women’s ethnic wear, western wear, bridal wear, tailor-made and custom-made outfits, now has a Men’s collection by the name Twine. Interestingly, when you visit the store, you can get a look at their exclusive scarves, stoles, some exclusive ethnic footwear and jewellery and even home decor items that they deliver only by order. Ananya Shah
Source: Pinky’s Instagram Want to take a look at her designs: Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pinkyspraditashah/ & Instagram: https://instagram.com/pinkys.studio_?igshid=18pc265qa2pa6
-ANANYA SHAH 20
Social Media: Where do we draw the line for ourself?
We all are living in a time where the world runs on the Internet and one of the biggest things that the internet has brought with it is the Social Media. The social media is an evolutionary milestone in the social history of the world. It is a kind of social and community platform which no generation or even the people living 15 years earlier from now had experienced. In its starting, we all loved how Facebook brought people together and made possible for long lost friends to meet once again. Then came Instagram, Twitter, Reddit and various platforms which kept on increasing the dimensions of “society” for people. In the current day, we see that discussions about everything are possible on Social Media and these discussions are not just limited to friends and families, but they happen among such a large community of people which might not even be traceable anymore. These discussions vary from politics, environment to even celebrity lives. How these discussions are related to our psychological well-being lies in the fact that it is possible for everyone to give their opinions on Social Media and sometimes it might also happen that these opinions do not align with ours. What then happens in most of the cases is that polarized wings are created for discussions where one wing attacks the other. Cases have also happened where individual people who post their opinions have been targeted to online hate and shaming to even death threats. All this hatred affects people on a personal level and it might also lead to intense emotional agitation, frustration or even depression sometimes. The online bullying and victimization is something that has gained more and more momentum in the last few years. This trolling has also given rise to things like the “cancel culture” where people or entities are just cancelled out or subjected to hatred based of the mass momentum of online circulation of hate messages that have been spread against it. At a psychological level, it shows us that people are losing the ability to be empathetic and accepting of ideas different to them.
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They are getting more and more confined to their own ideas of right and wrong and polarizing everything in the world. This might lead to the entire generation losing its ability to have advanced cognitive and perceptual processes. Readers who might have watched “The social dilemma” (highly recommended for those who haven’t), might be familiar with the concept of how these judgements and negative comments on social media at a mass level, have impacted the minutest choices that we make in life. For example, teenagers would think twice before uploading a picture on their feed and even if they do, they would be anxious whether it is going to get positive feedback or not. Thus it is piercing the already fragile self-esteem of a teenager who is just putting themselves out in the world. This might also lead to depression or other neurotic problems like extremely negative self-concept, social anxiety etc. But we also don’t deny the positive side of social media where many campaigns are run to spread awareness regarding social issues, funds are raised for people with genuine problems, stories of heroic people reach to millions. It is very easy to fall into the negative and vicious cycle of social media instead of taking advantage of these positives. We need to keep in mind that it is very normal to feel overwhelmed with social media especially with regards to putting your own self or your opinions out there and being anxious whether Source: medium.com these will be accepted by the society around you or not. Thus it is very important for us to take breaks from time to time and reflect on how much the social media is becoming a part of our self-concept and if we want to let it take over our life or not. We can always go on a social media detox at times like these and even when we are actively using it, we should keep in mind if we want to give more importance to the opinions given by the online society or the people sitting right beside us in that moment.
-KARISHMA DESAI 22
Our Biodiverse Surroundings and the Psyche We all know how much information is circulated these days regarding species that are either going extinct, are endangered or threatened. Whether it is on social media, on mainstream media, magazines or informational videos, there’s so much information that along with a Pandemic we’re also suffering from an ‘Infodemic.’ While we do know that it is very crucial to save these species and forests in order to mitigate climate change, there’s a lack of understanding about ‘why’ saving these species is important. Life on earth as we know it, is diverse. We derive food, clothes, wood and even medicines from nature. Biodiversity constitutes a major part of something called the Ecosystem Services. These ecosystem services include everything that mother nature gives us or does for us from decomposing dead matter to pollination to nutrient cycle to the water cycle. Getting rid of the jargons, pollination by bees and birds is what yields food. Trees and other crops provide us with wood and cotton, plants and herbs give us medicines. With the changing climate, even the quality of our lives is changing. Diseases, be it a deficiency disease or a malnutrition condition such as Kwashiorkor, a non-communicable or metabolic one such as Diabetes or an infectious disease such as COVID-19, all of it rose from one common source- food. Food is important for us to sustain, and climate change is changing the nutrient composition of the food that we consume. It is quite important to note that the food that we eat today may not be as nutritious as it used to be. Biodiversity plays an indispensable role in it. The ecological food chain is just as important for our food as it is for the environment. Diversity helps the crops thrive that is also a major reason why environmentalists are advocating Agroforestry. Plants and trees have a very different way of communicating with each other and agroforestry is a way in which that communication remains strong.
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Peter Wohlleben in the ‘Hidden Life of Trees,’ explains in a very wonderful way how communication between trees is vital for their survival and is also the primary reason why in monoculture, plants are unable to communicate and are susceptible to pests. This is something that never happens in forests and hence, agroforestry is a sustainable solution. Moreover, the diversity helps replenish the soil with nutrients and helps the soil remain nourished and keep our food healthy and nutritious. With COVID-19 having taken millions of lives, we know how crucial the need for medicines is. Biodiversity plays a huge role in the drug discovery process. Different plants have different phytochemicals, even insects, fungi and other species have thousands of natural chemicals and potential drug molecules. With loss of biodiversity, we’d be losing thousands of these phytochemicals and molecules that have the potential to be used for the treatment and cure of several diseases. The global food systems and disease burden are just some of the many indirect factors associated with ecosystem services. When the total worth of these Ecosystem Services was estimated by Robert Costanza in 1997, it came out to be a whopping $33 trillion per year which in 2012 amounted to $44 trillion per year and today, it would be even higher. Do we realise how large that amount is? More often than not, ecological conservation is put at odds with economic development. The question lies in the fact that, ‘is this economic development worth more than the ecosystem services that the land that would be cleared for it be able to furnish?’ If the answer is yes, then there’s no problem in moving forward with development. However, if it is no, like it was for the Amazon rainforest being cleared for Palm plantation, Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Goan Mollem forests, then it is our very right to stand against this decision. Earlier this year, EIA- Environmental Impact Analysis Policy, was met with a lot of resistance and protests as it was regressive than its earlier draft from 2006. An EIA looks into something exactly similar to this- does the ecological cost of economic development outweigh its benefits to the society?
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The Gandhian School of Thought rightly tells us that humans are a part of nature. And, “The world has enough for everyone's needs, but not everyone's greed.” It also goes on to explain how, if the means of achieving something justifies the ends, then one should go ahead with it. Also, the fact that economy and ecology should always be in harmony and a peaceful balance. When that balance is disrupted, the whole system is disrupted. In today’s world, that balance has definitely been lost. Our ‘ends’ should be an ecological balance and our ‘means’ should be the economy. Whereas, our existing system is quite the opposite- we are disrupting the ecological balance, as our ‘means,’ to achieve economic benefits as our ‘ends.’ And this thinking should be challenged! Do we need more than a certain amount in our bank account to sustain? The answer lies in asking ourselves, if our goal is to sustain and thrive or to endlessly exploit. Is an intangible number put away in some account more valuable than the tangible, livable life? There’s been a mass appeal on saving endangered species, how they are going extinct and what a huge loss it will be for us. What is often overlooked in such information is the need to actually tell people what it is that we’re going to lose, what is at stake? And why it is necessary for us to be the facilitators of conservation rather than just disseminating information, without knowing ‘why’ we’re doing it! REFERENCES: Holzman D. C. (2012). Accounting for nature's benefits: the dollar value of ecosystem services. Environmental health perspectives, 120(4), A152–A157. https://doi.org/10.1289/ ehp.120-a152 The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
-ANANYA SHAH 25
SE7EN-Movie Review A 1995 year release movie SEVEN is a neo-noir psychological thriller directed by the infamous David Fincher and written by Andrew Walker. The all-star cast has Morgan Freeman (William Somerset) who plays the veteran Detective soon to be retired followed by Brad Pitt (David Mills) appointed as a new Detective to replace the former one, with his beautiful and Young Partner played by Gwyneth Paltrow (Tracy Mills). The movie begins with detective Somerset retiring in the next seven days and the newly joined David Investigating first of a kind murder done by an unknown Serial Killer after known as John Doe. John follows a pattern in which he kills people based on the seven deadly sins mentioned in The Bible. The first is about a man who is forced to eat until he dies which represents GLUTTONY. In the days that follow, Detectives make a smart movie and get a hold of his name and his apartment. But seeing both of them arrive, Doe flees as chased by Mills, after a long cat and mouse chase, he manages to escape. Later, they both find out the gruesome cave which John had made his apartment into revealing his psychopathic nature. The clues they get lead to the murders representing the deadly sins. While dealing with all this, Somerset and Mills make a good connection that turns to friendship. They even meet for a nice friendly dinner at Mills' house which makes Tracy very happy about knowing someone from the new city, which they had just settled in. In the end, Justice takes the form of the grey color and questions our belief.
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While watching the film it was surreal for me because I had never seen such direction and cinematography. The film is shot in the grey shades of the city representing the dark nature of the movie. Scenes shots in broad daylight also throw light on the dark and oxymoron situation. The level of crime is increasing in the city and the loneliness of the main characters tells a lot about dark legacy leading them to an unsatisfied life. It also results in Tracy questioning her early pregnancy and taking the advice of Detective Somerset about why that baby should be brought in a surrounding filled with crime and hatred. This tells a lot about the role of the police officers and detectives who work day and night tirelessly despite the mental roller coaster they go through. The long stares and the powerful dialogue punches are a cherry on top. Talking about the climax, I have never seen this type of closure that gives us chills. Looking at the tragedy that unfolds in the end, the list of the seven deadly sins end but at what cost?!! Not going to spoil it for you all. But this film is a sure shot one glance watch for people who love psychological thrillers. David Fincher makes us fall for it due to the detailed scenes which follow, not to be mentioned, the flawless acting by the actors. Lastly, revealing some interesting facts about this movie, John Doe is played by an all-time favourite actor. I will not reveal who that is just like David who surprised the audience with John’s identity in the end. Not even in the first poster or the launch! It was indeed exciting to see who it was. Secondly, the name John Doe used in this movie is a name used by the US authorities when they cannot reveal someone’s actual name due to security reasons. For a female, they address the person as Jane Doe.
-TIRTH RAVAL
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Strategies for designing of centers for Children’s creativity and development “Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows" John Betjeman Children are the most influenced and most sensitive age group in the society that have physical,mental, social development and personal impact and their life experience must be considered as important as possible. Children have the ability to easily grasp things from their environment which may affect their growth. Hence it is necessary to create environments which are beneficial for their growth. For example in the current scenario people have started moving to Apartments where there is no playground. The children don’t have the facility to play with other children or interact with nature which will not encourage them to think creatively. If the designed environment is so that it fits the mental anticipations of children, a sense of belonging to the environment will be increased as a result and the space will become or change into a favorite "place" in their minds. Considering the mental health of the children the basic necessities of them should be kept in mind,like, physical safety,health needs, Perseverance to environment and the physical to adapt to new environment.
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Have you ever noticed the way children move through a space? Imagine a hallway – at the doctor’s office, the grocery store, or even a typical public school. It’s almost as if a long corridor silently screams to children, “Run”. And, what do they do? Run, of course! Children take cues from the environment and the way space is arranged can have a significant impact on their learning experience. Whether we are designing a classroom or simply creating a corner for them in our home,we’ll want to consider how the layout encourages movement and creates a natural flow among different areas. Children tend to spend more time in their growing period in educational centres. So it is very important to create environments which are healthy for them and help them in their growth. When some parents were interviewed about what kind of space they would prefer for their children, they suggested places which are safe,comfortable, healthy environments and have facilities for indoor and outdoor activities. Understanding all there problems and concerns some of the design strategies that should be considered are:
Attractiveness and Diversity
This elementary school has a play area featuring hexagon cubbies big enough to play in.
Designed by Sarit Shani Hay.
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Safety and Security
https://continuingeducation.bnpmedia.com/courses/multi-aia/school-safety-and-security/2/
Flexibility
https://inhabitat.com/big-and-wework-design-a-natureinspired-school-for-kids-in-nyc/wegrow-by-bjarke-ingels-group-3/
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Connectedness to nature
Toddlers Den by AndBlack design studio
DPS school by Khosla Associates
Involvement and participation
https://inhabitat.com/big-and-wework-design-a-natureinspired-school-for-kids-in-nyc/wegrow-by-bjarke-ingelsgroup-3/
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The following purposes can be considered as important in designing proper environments for creativity development of children: 1- Creating the appropriate bed for changing attitudes toward education 2- Institutionalizing the love of learning in children and teenagers by encouraging them to discover, creatively imagine, research and study. 3- Representing scientific and practical education in line with children's creativity development in the least time and with the least difficulty. 4- Creating a sense of safety in children 5- Increasing sociability of children accompanying a better education 6- Strengthening the independence and confidence senses in children 7- Increasing the flexibility of educational environment 8- Help make children's education as satisfactory as possible and fertilize innovative thoughts together with fondness of nature and life. On the concluding note when better infrastructure is offered to children by considering the above mentioned strategies, it will encourage them to think creatively and promote high quality of education.
-RUTVA GANDHI 32
BOOK REVIEW-The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint−Exupery
The novella is definitely worth reading, once as a child, once as an adolescent and finally as an adult to keep reminding ourselves about what's truly important in our lives. It’s a beautiful and innocent story which should be read by everyone so as to keep the child within alive. The story makes one understand the true significance of life and how it’s necessary to explore and more importantly enjoy the journey rather than just waiting for the destination. Generally the book is recommended for the children but it actually needs to be read by the grownups as they are the ones who have been so pragmatic that they have lost the real essence of living life with emotions and relishing it to the fullest. The pilot (author) crash-lands his plane in the Sahara desert. While he tries to repair his engine, a little prince appears out of nowhere and asks him to draw a sheep. On conversing with the prince the author learns that the little prince comes from the far away Asteroid B-612. The little prince’s most prized possession was a rose, but tired due to its dominating attitude, he decided to leave his tiny planet. Surprisingly, the flower was visibly sad to see him go, but urged him on nonetheless. Before reaching the Earth, the prince visited other planets and met with individuals with strange personalities: a king, a conceited man, a tippler, a lamplighter, and a geographer. On the geographer’s suggestion, he visited Earth but dropped down into the Sahara Desert. He found no friends there, but met a snake who told him that if he ever felt homesick, he could take advantage of the snake’s bite. He met a fox that taught him that to know others we must “tame” them; this is what makes things and people unique. By this time, the author starts cherishing the little prince, but the prince starts feeling homesick and wants to reunite with his rose. The prince asks the snake to bite him. The pilot is very upset with the death of his beloved friend. The author returns to his life but always wonders about the prince and hopes he returns.
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Quotes from the book: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye." "People have forgotten this truth," the fox said. "But you mustn’t forget it. You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed." "One only understands the things that one tames,' said the fox. ‘Men have no more time to understand anything. They buy things already made at the shops. But there is no shop anywhere where one can buy friendship, and so men have no friends any more. If you want a friend, tame me." The Little Prince also focuses on what sets a child and adult apart, how a heart of a child is creative, flexible and curious while others fail to see the innovative and imaginative part of life. The book suggests that such inquisitiveness is the key to understanding and to happiness. I personally love this book because it makes one understand that it’s important to have true connections and emotions involved rather than being involved with matters of consequence which has done no good to the adults.
-VAIDEHI VAKIL 34
When life gives you lemons, paint ‘em! I have always adored the most simplest of things in life. We humans have got into lots of fancy things that we forget to stay in the moment and enjoy the simplistic things in our everyday life. This a still life painting of some freshly bought lemons lying on the table alongside a glass and jug of water. The freshness that is captured in this painting is something that I am fond of. The way the light falls on the right parts of the scene to highlight the shine of the glass and the shadow of the cut lemon is an important aspect I had to consider while doing this painting, in order to give it a realistic feel.
-SPANDANA PATCHIGOLLA 35
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