Aastha

Hi kids,
We had a serious topic this week and it received a good response. It is clear that you all are sensitive to the issue of children being deprived of their basic rights to education, play and childhood. Be it the United Nations or the Indian Constitution, the interests and rights of children have been held uppermost. The mark of civilised existence is the condition of children in a society. Any place or country, where children do not get enough to eat, lack shelter, health and educational facilities, as well as the opportunity to play, can be said not to have a future.
It is important, therefore, for young people, in particular, to be concerned about the less fortunate among them. Your own future is going to be diminished, if others are growing up without the education and abilities to be contributing adults.
Next week, write in about your favourite person. Send their photographs or portraits made by you.
See ya, next week.

Did you Know?

The first general laws against child labour, the Factory Acts, were passed in Britain in the first half of the 19th century. Children younger than nine were not allowed to work and the work day of youth under the age of 18 was limited to twelve hours.

By ankish arora, Selaqui World School

By Nikita Joshi, (VI)

We are studying in a good school, but there are millions of children who only dream of schools. They work harder then adults to earn only Rs.10-20/- per day. This is not enough to fill their stomachs and they sleep on the roads. They are busy working and not many people think about them or understand their problems. A child is meant to play, study, laugh and not earn. Many villagers do not send their children to school as they cannot pay their fees, while other villages still have no schools! When a child goes to school he teaches new things to not only his parents but also to the entire family. A person who opens a school closes a prison of the mind. So, open more and more schools and help everyone get an education.

By Beenu & Vaishali

child Labour is a word we commonly hear, but it is difficult to actually feel what it means. It is one of the major problems our country is facing. Children are made to work at a tender age when they should be attending school. It is estimated that there are 116 million child workers in India. They have no access to any kind of education. As they lack education, they do not know their rights. They believe they have to keep on working as labour for the rest of their lives, even though what they earn is not enough to feed them with.
We all owe a debt to our country – it is the duty of every citizen to work for the upliftment of India. We have to work hard, but not as child labourers. We must get educated and become inspiring models for others to follow.

Child Labour

By the Students of Himjyoti School

By Sonu & Nikita, (VII)

It is a common sight in cities to see small kids pushing long wooden hand-drawn carts overloaded with sacks of coal, vegetables or gas cylinders. I would never have believed such a thing had I not seen it with my own eyes at Kashipur. In Kashipur I also saw small boys serving tea at restaurants. Passing through Haridwar I saw many children begging on the streets. Those who did not mange to get any alms, started to search for food in the public garbage bins and fight with each other for the scraps of bread they found. Yet other kids work in garages covered with grease, wash the big utensils at road eateries – all to earn money for their families. These children come from rural backgrounds to cities, in the hope of feeding their parents. They often work as ‘bonded labour’ for years.
They have never stepped inside a classroom or a playground; they have never known what it is to be happy and carefree.

By Yash Jain, (IV) Olympus High School

Begging for better tomorrow

By Bimla Karki, Army School, Birpur

We often come across people begging on the name of god, holy days, children and many more. So by offering us their blessings they themselves are moving towards a hopeless future. But what we say alms is making them handicapped. Are we really getting the benefit of their so called a seat in heaven by giving them money. I was in Paltan Bazaar last week where I saw shopkeepers have kept lot of coins in the plate. Soon after a group of so called saints comes and picks the coins one by one. Thereafter they move to next shop. What kind of trend is this that we are generating. By distributing money like this in name of religion is just craziness. These beggars are not the mediator between man and god, who will pray the good luck for us. This should be noted that most of them are young and healthy too. So why encourage them when they are able to work. On the other hand when we hire a labor we expect them to work without rest even when temperature is above 45 degree Celsius.
We argue for a hour to bargain the product which the vendor brings to us while selling it door to door on a hot day. But when it comes to offering we just got out of rnind.There is a need to bring change in attitude of ours. In spite of encouraging begging we must discourage them for begging without feeling pity on them. Whereas we must donate but for the right person for the right place where it is actually required. Many NGOs are working in our city where we can contribute our assistance. Who knows this might help someone enter in a lightened future.

Sale! Sale! News at 50%OFF (Till Stocks Last)

By Alban Williams Jerome, via Bangalore

Sensationalism of news.... is the new age mantra of the media companies... they aim not only to inform but rather they overwhelm the viewers with the same piece of news played over and over again in a seamless cycle of debauchery.... The viewers are subjected to this affliction of information, overkill by these 24X7 news channels which under the cover of providing uninterrupted news (anytime news)... cause the viewers to over react, by overloading them with information to the point of becoming nauseous.
Another common tactic is the skewed presentation of news, so that one side of the story is shown until the viewers are saturated in it... then viola... new information suddenly seems to surface then the cycle is repeated all over again, albeit now it is the other side of the story. This incident of course, is news or rather, this particular news has a shelf till the ‘Next big thing’. Then its old news – a passable mention – an interesting update. Today’s media companies have many wonderful sweet sounding slogans that are designed to show their distinction from their competitors and their commitment to the 4th estate. However, what I feel is that these corporate battle cries are nothing more than camouflages to the simplest business truth – more sales… more money. And sale they do... the same news is sold shamelessly with the only difference being the packaging. Each media house has its own style of wrapper.However, in the end it’s the same stuff, different package
What does all this sensationalism in the news mean? Sex, money, violence…scandals of any sort…. especially when related to celebrities rakes in money, plenty of it, for the network that breaks the news. Never mind that in 30-60 minutes, the rest of the networks would have started streaming the same thing. The trick is to get hold of the news first, get it faster to the viewer, and milk the exclusivity to the max. And milk they do - more than a starving calf in drought/lean year.
News stories are often perceived (rightfully or mistakenly) as partisan or biased due to the sensational nature in which they are reported. A media piece may report on a political figure in a biased way or present one side of an issue while deriding another, or neutrally, it may simply include sensational aspects. Complex subjects and affairs are often subject to sensationalism to the point where the very essence of the issues becomes tainted with confusion. Exciting and emotionally charged aspects can be drawn out without providing elements such as relevant background, investigative, or contextual information needed for the viewer to form his or her opinion on the subject, which is gross infringement of the viewer’s right to NEWS.
And does all this matter to us? For you, me, anyone for that matter who depend on the media for information about the real world, the answer is bound to be, yes. Learning the truth about what’s going on in the world is hard enough, now, we must deal with these ‘news manufacturers’ whose idea of a good story is a reflection of prime-time soap-operas, plus or minus a few facts.
But if one were to wonder why this staggering amount of sensationalism floods the news, the answer, I’m afraid - however nasty and caustic - that the bulk of the blame for this, does not lay with the business minded corporation, no matter how greedy, who’s flawless understanding of the consumer but (our) unsatisfying thirsty nature for news, which they conveniently fill.

Child Labour

By Aishwarya Sharma, (VI-D)
Summer Valley School
In the world for millions of children there is no time to be a child. Children work to help their families to pay for school and survive. Child Labour is one of the biggest issue around the world because it puts children in danger .in some cities children start working at the age of 8to11years. This is issued by police that under 15 year children can’t do labour. Child labour has become a topic of debate . however in this class it is unfavorable. Child labour is a problem throughout the global economy.

I am an old shoe

By Rushil Jain, (V-Kaveri), Sun Valley

I am an old shoe. I was born in a big brand called liberty. My master is a 10 years old boy in 5th grade in Sun Valley school in Dehra Dun.
I adore my master because he takes very good care of me. I feel like new when I see my master’s friends wearing my brother’s shoes. My master polishes me every day and doesn’t allow me to get torn, damaged
Or dirty. When I do get torn or damaged then he immediately takes me to the cobbler. In the rainy seasons my master bought me a raincoat like shoe cover so that I don’t get damaged by the water or get dirty by the mud. My master keeps me in a rack in a shoe box. I wish that every shoe owner takes good care of their shoes and respect them like my master does. I too respect my master because he takes good care of me.

Child Labour

By Meghna & Sheetal, (VII)
Himjyoti School
What is the life of a child labourer?
Working all day,
Having no time to play.
Happily work for others
But for them no one bothers.
Feel with me : a child labourer
Thinks of going abroad to study
But he has no money;
Wants to wear fine clothes
But in mind circumstances always floats.
Have no friends, no joy
To mend his broken toy.
Wishes always to be like you
But have become dear for few.

Restrictions are always there for me
Which I feel the hardship key.
There is no sheet of fog before me
Which is unclear and unseen.
Schools are totally shut
Open is only the way to work
This fills me with grief
And gives me no relief.
Give me respectability,
Give me open heartedness,
Give me thy humility,
Give me the ability
And the willingness
To identify me
Among the many masses.

The Innocent at Work

Scary statistics were displayed over and over again when I made an attempt to know more about ‘child labour’.
"Fifty percent of the children of the world are working under trying and torturous circumstances."
( www.childlabour.in)
And India has the second largest contribution to that 55%. Scary again. Way back in 1986, The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act was enacted. What good did it do? The Act is hardly implemented despite efforts from international organizations such as the UNICEF.
The quoted Act of 1986 only ‘regulates’ the prevalence of child labour and does not prohibit it. What’s more, the said Act defines a child as ‘a person who has not completed his fourteenth year of age’. So what about the human beings aged fifteen, sixteen and seventeen? Aren’t they entitled to ‘quality education’? Loopholes. Loopholes. Loopholes. Ironically enough, that is what makes these children active contributors to the national income even when they should really feature in the list of ‘unproductive consumers’!!!
Our country has a history of enacting Bills which hardly complement the existing laws, rather, they contradict them. The Right To Education Bill was welcomed and criticized alike. But what is the use of declaring such rights when people are hardly aware of the methods of claiming their share in these? We have, in our country, a great shortage of educating people about their rights.
You’ll always find a ‘chhottu’ at the Dhabas and sweets shops. In the metros, the scenario is equally worse. The traffic light goes red and there they are. Beggars and ‘sellers’ tap at the window of your car shouting in pathetic tones. Twenty percent of India’s child labourers are from Uttar Pradesh. Girls travel on foot for over 1.5 kilometers each day. Is this a matter of pride?
Recently ‘camel jockeys’ were in news. Small children from India and adjacent countries are trafficked and kept underfed so that they are ‘light-weight’ to participate in long camel races!!!!!
Child labour does not include household chores or school-related work. It refers to the employment of children ‘at sustained and regular labour’ below a certain age. The minimum age differs from country to country. While it is 14 years in our country, it is 16 in the U.S.A. Child labour, to quote from Wikipedia, includes employment of children in the following:
factory work, mining, prostitution, quarrying, agriculture, helping in the parents' business, having one's own small business (for example selling food), or doing odd jobs. Some children work as guides for tourists, sometimes combined with bringing in business for shops and restaurants (where they may also work as waiters). Other children are forced to do tedious and repetitive jobs such as: assembling boxes, polishing shoes, stocking a store's products, or cleaning. However, rather than in factories and sweatshops, most child labour occurs in the informal sector, "selling many things on the streets, at work in agriculture or hidden away in houses—far from the reach of official labour inspectors and from media scrutiny." And all the work that they did was done in all types of weather; and was also done for minimal pay. As long as there is family poverty there will be child labor. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Child_Labour)
The exploitation of children can be stopped if the nations and societies gear up to removing poverty from the face of the world. That is a large goal. But it certainly can be reduced if the common man begins to participate in community-based programmes or in direct action against child labour. It is time we begin reporting cases of child labour around our community.
Let us hope we do it.

Believe me

By Mohini Paswan, Himjyoti
I’m a child
Like a stench
Lying on the road
Aware of a chance,
Have to be away
From the carefree reeds
Have to meet
My immediate needs.
I’m not aware of anything,
Please believe me.
Why don’t you see my heart?
What it says
I’ve really become disheartened when
It’s time to face
Problems all around me,
Please believe me!
I have lost my courage,
Filled with tears,
I’m depressed
With lots of fears.
No one can know my feelings,
Oh! God, I’m appealing
Give me courage to face and score
Or, let me say, ‘I’m no more.
Believe me.

By Dikshita Karki, (I-A) Army School Birpur

Books

By Pankhuri Prasad, (V)
Selaqui World School
Books start and end,
But still are our best friends,
It can be mystery, fiction or funny,
It can be about a monkey, lion or bunny.
A book’s pages,
Can be praised for ages.
You love a book; they call you a book worm,
Actually you have stuck to it very firm.
There are pictures,
Full of black, white and colorful features.
I love reading books,
As they keep me hooked.

Mahatma Gandhi-Today’s Youth Icon

By Nupur Bansal, (XII),CJM

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, an ordinary name became extraordinary just because of his great love for his country. Today, Mahatma Gandhi, as he is popularly known, has made a mark in every person’s heart. His continuous efforts and unflinching faith in God made him realize his dream of an ‘Independent India’.
Today, we live in a free society based on the principles of secularism. Mahatma Gandhi taught us to love people of all castes and religions. He stopped the Muslims in India from going to Pakistan during partition. He thus taught us the lessons of love and equality.
He taught us that each person of any religion living in India has a right to live here until his death and also has a right to use all resources of the nation.Mahatma Gandhi’s strict fasts to prevent harm to Indians endeared him to the heart of one and all. His determination and will power are great teachings of life. After suffering injustice in South Africa, he returned to India to free the nation of the English and make it an independent society. His ‘non- violence’ methods were the ultimate that lead the English to leave our country.
On 2nd October every year, we remember Gandhi as an inspiration. He is today’s youth icon and many people endorse him. Gandhi will always remain alive in our hearts. His image will always be that of vibrant energy spreading faith in anyone we come into contact with.

My friend

By Preeti Bhutani
My friend, you are like a treasure Your love I can't measure.
You have helped me in times of need, You are admired for your kind deeds.
You were there when I was ill,
You took care when I was taking pills.
You have the knack of making difficult things easy, You used to wait for hours when I was busy.
You instill joy in my life,
rare are the moments when we have strife.
You always amend my mistakes Our friendship is real and not fake.
You are my friend, philosopher and guide, without your support, I would have died.

By Dilip Morya, (II) John Martyn Memorial School

By Binod Thapa, (VI-B), Army School, Birpur

Child Labour

By Pooja Jain, (X), CJM

"Slavery is not dead."There are millions of children in India,working at a very young age. They are forced to work in inhuman conditions.Children ranging in age from 5 to 15 are forced to work under conditions of debt bondage in the carpet industries of India.The working environment to which children in the carpet industry are subjected is detrimental to their physical health and development.Some children and young people are expected to work excessive hours..The tender age in which children ought to study,is spent begging on the roadsides. Children are exploited by rich merchants and greedy traders. Children are kidnapped or otherwise lured away from their families and imprisoned in sweatshops.
In addition, millions of children are either given or sold at a very early age to another family.Even the parents force their child to work in order to earn more money.Children are expected to play a part in family work from an early age. .Children become a commodity in this process. Parents have absolute power over their children, making it possible for children to be pledged chattel-like to pay off debts.
Many children and young people who work either withdraw from school or find that their educational performance declines because of the work they are doing.In general, girls are more vulnerable to the harmful effects(sexual abuse) of child labour than boys.
The concept of compulsory education, where all school aged children are required to attend school, combats the force of poverty that pulls children out of school. Policies relating to compulsory education force children to attend school and give up their "jobs".

Paintings by Shubham Dhiman, (IV), John Martyn Memorial School

By Mannhar Singh Bhatia, Selaqui World School

By Ansh Verma, (I), Olympus High School

My Country

By Kusum Pun, (VII-C)
Army School Birpur
A country which has a glorious past
Do you know its software skill is fast?
A country which has good fame
Do you know what its name is?
A country which has simplicity
Do you know it is the land of deity?
A country which has its great culture and heritage.
Do you know it has a golden age?
A country which has equality and fraternity
And it is famous for its natural beauty
It is a country of errtneru pots and diya
You guessed it right, it’s our India

I like the cartoon NARUTO a lot

By Akshat Singh Kaushik, (VII-E)
St Joseph's Academy

I am now going to tell its story (it is famous worldwide and one of the most seen cartoons in the world) :
Naruto Uzumaki is a young boy who has the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox sealed within him. Twelve years before the start of the series, the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox attacked the ninja villageKonohagakure, slaughtering many people. In response, the leader of Konohagakure and its ninja military – the Fourth Hokage – sacrificed his life to seal the demon inside Naruto when he was a newborn. Konohagakure, however, regarded Naruto as if he were the demon fox itself and mistreated him throughout most of his childhood. A decree made by the Third Hokage, who replaced the Fourth Hokage after his death, forbade anyone mention the attack of the demon fox to anyone. Years later, Naruto is tricked by the renegade ninja Mizuki into stealing a forbidden scroll, but is stopped by his teacher, Iruka Umino. When Iruka almost dies while protecting Naruto from Mizuki, Naruto defeats Mizuki using the power from the scroll, which develops the supernatural ability Jutsu Shadow Clone Technique that creates clones from himself. That encounter makes Naruto realize he was the container of the demon fox.
The main story follows Naruto and his friends' personal growth. Naruto befriends two comrades,Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno, who are assigned with him to form a three-person team named Team 7 under an experienced sensei named Kakashi Hatake. Like all the ninja teams from the every village, Team 7 is in charge in completing missions requested by villagers such as being bodyguards. During the course of the missions, Naruto also befriends other characters that he meets throughout the series. They learn new abilities, get to know each other and other villagers better, and experience a coming-of-age journey as Naruto dreams of becoming the Hokage of Konohagakure. After several missions, Kakashi allows Team 7 to participate into a ninja exam in which they can improve their ranks, and thus, be part of harder missions. During the exams,Orochimaru, a criminal at the top of Konohagakure's most wanted list, attacks Konoha killing the Third Hokage as an act of revenge. This causes one of the three legendary ninja, Jiraiya to search for his partner Tsunade, to become the Fifth Hokage. During that search, it is revealed that Orochimaru also desires to acquire Sasuke Uchiha due to his powerful genetic heritage. Believing Orochimaru will be able to give him the strength needed to kill his brother Itachi, who destroyed all his clan, Sasuke goes to him. Tsunade sends a group of ninja including Naruto to make Sasuke return to Konoha, but Naruto is unable to defeat him. Naruto does not give up on Sasuke, leaving Konoha for two-and-a-half years of training under Jiraiya's tuition to prepare himself for the next time he encounters Sasuke.After the training period, a mysterious organization called Akatsuki attempts to capture the nine powerful tailed beasts including the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox sealed inside of Naruto. Several ninjas from Konohagakure, including Team 7, fight against the Akatsuki members and search for their teammate Sasuke. Although they manage to save the host from the One-tailed beast, Gaara, Akatsuki is successful in capturing seven from the creatures. Sasuke, in the meantime betrays Orochimaru and faces Itachi to take revenge. Although Itachi dies in battle, Sasuke is later told by the Akatsuki founder Madara Uchiha that Itachi was ordered by Konohagakure's leadership to destroy his clan. Saddened with the revelation, Sasuke joins forces with Akatsuki to destroy Konohagakure. Meanwhile, as several Akatsuki members are defeated by the Konohagakure ninja, the leader, Pain, invades the village to capture Naruto. However, Naruto defeats all of Pain's bodies and convinces the real one to leave. While the villagers rebuild Konohagakure Tsunade is dismissed from her position as the Hokage as she ended in coma for using all her energy to protect the villagers from Pain. Therefore, the elder Danzo quickly takes the role.

An opportunity

By Anamta & Riddhima, Himjyoti School

Once there was a lad named Kartika. His father died when he was a mere infant and his mother was an invalid. Now it was his duty to look after his family. He worked as a labourer and earned Rs.25/- per day. He often dreamt of going to school.
One day when he was walking to work, a strange man stopped him and inquired about his family and his life. The stranger wondered if he would like to study. When Kartika answered a ‘yes’, the man told him not to worry and that he would join a school.
True to his word the stranger educated Kartika. The boy studied hard and utilized the golden opportunity given to him. He took part in all extra-curricular activities and matured into a responsible man. He managed to get a good job, a comfortable house and whatever else his family desired. He thanked the stranger who had given him a chance to improve his life and the man was also proud of him.
Heal the world – remove child labour.

Child Labour

By Akash Joshi, (V)
John Martyn Memorial School

As we all know India is becoming a rich country. I, however, think we are still very poor as there are thousands of labourers in our country whose children have never entered a classroom. Whenever I see a child working in a ‘dhaba’ or a shop or as a labourer at a construction site, I wonder what the child thinks when he sees smartly dressed children going to school in their uniforms. Does the child envy those who attend school? Does the child wish his parents had money to send him to a school where he would learn, play and have fun? Does he think that if he was educated, he would one day make his family proud of him?
I really think our country is not democratic enough if every child does not get an education. Children are too young to work as labourers. Our country would progress much more with all children educated.

By Kshitij Karri, (IV-C), Army School, Birpur

To be one’s true self- Despite Mistreatment…

By Sara Salome Philips, (VII), CJM

Remaining cheerful every time is not an easy job. We come across a lot of difficulties and problems and therefore no one can always expect us to have a smile stitched up on our human face. For lets understand we are not ROBOTS. This is a story about a girl named Lyra who lost her parents during a car accident and yet she remained cheerful.
Lyra lost her parents at the age of five. She was sent to her Aunt Susan and Uncle Henry. The couple had a daughter named Lucy. They were very rich where as Lyra was not that much, so they gave her a small dirty and dingy room. Lyra did not crib but accepted the room cheerfully. Her aunt was very proud of herself, she sent her daughter by car and Lyra was sent by the public bus. Although Lyra knew that they didn’t accept her as their daughter, she remained cheerful. After coming home from school Lyra was supposed to mop the floor and wash the dishes. She never objected to this. Consequently, Lyra never got time for her studies during the day, so she used to sit late night and finish her homework and studies.
Lyra and Lucy’s exams were around the corner. Both of them were working very hard. One night Aunt Susan got sick. Her body temperature rose. Lucy kept studying but Lyra never minding the past behaviour of her aunt left her studies and went to her aunt’s room. She found her lying in bed with very high fever. No doctor was available at night so Lyra lay beside her aunt all night although she had an exam the very next day. She was firm about her decision and took great care of her aunt till the following morning. Moreover, to top it all, Uncle Henry had gone abroad for a month. They consulted a doctor and Lyra without preparing properly for her exams went to school. Aunt Susan remained sick all though their exams.
Lucy was sure that she would top the class while Lyra knew she wouldn’t even though she was good at studies because she never got time to study. Though Lyra got bad results, she remained happy and in good spirits. She was happy for her aunt was slowly getting cured. Moreover she was happy that at least she could take care of her aunt who didn’t take care of her. her aunt was really sorry and was very unhappy with her own daughter whom she loved from the bottom of her heart. She was unhappy that lucy never cared to come to her mother Aunt Susan’s side and take care of her. Lyra was very happy that her deed of love in return for hatred bought so much fruit. For at last she got her rightful love. This story inspired me because though there was no one to help Lyra, she remained cheerful and remained her true self.
Since, ‘Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the Earth’.

By Krishna Thapa, (VII-B), Army School, Birpur

On Child abuse

By Aishwarya Sharma, (XII), CJM

Aishwarya Sharma

Children are the manifestations of God. They’re divine beings, full of innocence and vigour. They are subjects of reverence in religious scriptures. In fact, in Christianity, regarding the concepts of angels, the angels of the highest order, the Cherubs resemble little kids. We accord kids with so much of respect. But what is the relevance of this respect and reverence amidst the evil influences of child abuse and child labour??
At an age when kids are supposed to enjoy their life, open their eyes to new discoveries and learning, and approach their rightful temple of learning, the school, they work in dingy places, being subjected to the most lethal and inhuman conditions, trying to discover nothing but the bitter reality that they will be exploited to the highest limits, and rendered miserable with no one coming to their aid.
Is this the reason why God created children? Not just this, children are subjected to the most heinous of all crimes against humanity- Sexual Abuse and Molestation. Children are losing their very virtue of being children. We have created terrible conditions for our children today. As a result, they are being mistreated even in the most sophisticated households. Can we really afford to see such a tragedy happening in front of us??
Studies say that children are getting matured way before they’re supposed to. Exposure to explicit information makes kids susceptible to all this. Why blame the TV? Who appoints an underage maid in the house to do the washing and cleaning? Is she not a kid? The main reason why we can’t get the grip of the situation is due to our own hypocrisy. Exposing kids to explicit information, whether its TV or print media is also a form of child abuse. That’s clearly because we’re hastening the child’s growth patterns by actually inciting his rudimentary sexual characteristics to start operating before time by unconsciously exposing him to soft porn at an early age. This one even applies to all those entertainment corporations who rule the charts by doing all this!
The fact is that we’re playing a part in child abuse and exploitation knowingly or unknowingly. Unless we ourselves take the initiative to perish this phenomenon, we will lose out essentially on one component of our being- the innocence of children. Children will be specially programmed robots meant to blindly carry out tasks for us or either be the media for satiating our whims and fancies.
Children are the future of our world. We’ve heard this line a number of times. Do we actually realize the significance of these lines? Are we taking this line seriously? The youth, which also includes children, constitutes the future of our country. And we’re intelligently and ‘stoically’ plundering it. We’re killing our children; we’re obliterating their identity, their virtue of being kids. We’re snatching away happiness and peace from them. We’re treating them worse than slaves! If this will be the future of our country, then no one and nothing can stop India from turning into a second Ethiopia!

By Riya Dhablania, (III) Olympus High School

Childhood

By Vidur Khanna, (VII)
Brightlands School
Childhood is that time of happiness,
Where the burdens of the world are not there;
A child only has the power of innocence,
At which Adults stare.
Childhood is that period when you can learn more,
You can learn and learn and learn;
Till your brain is actually sore.
A child is always eager to learn,
But only the things he doesn’t mind;
And once he’s wonder-eyed with something,
He will do it despite the grind.
In childhood everybody is carefree,
Unaware of the troubles of the world;
Playful and guileless is he,
Till his problems are unfurled.
But once they reach adulthood,
They crave for the years gone by;
But time never comes back to anyone,
However much you may cry.

Coffee Table-II

By Ashima Bhardwaj

Everyone stopped doing whatever it was they were in the midst of. The gentleman stopped short and smiled, the young boy and the girl came out of their worlds and the kids were all looking at one of their friends.
Strums of the guitar were so welcome. The kid played ‘everything I do, I do it for you’ by Bryan Adams and such was his connection with his guitar, his music and the people in the room, that they could not help sitting in corners anymore.
The chords of the guitar were like honey to the ears. Even the waiters behind the counter stopped for a while. The music spread like joy on everyone’s faces and soon the whole place was different.
The gentleman’s son was arriving from abroad after a long time and he had not found out until his wife had received a call from him seconds ago. He was annoyed for not having been told and his wife only wanted to surprise him. But now, he was singing along with the kids.
The young boy was here to bid goodbye to his girlfriend, who was leaving town to study in another city and could not handle saying adieu. They were both smiling from ear to ear and looked very content in being together for the moment.
The kids, who only minutes ago, were just a bunch of people who did not care for the greater good of the society, were now the people who saved the day.
The spectator, who can only assume things from a distance and draw his conclusions, learnt a lesson. Music binds people like nothing else. It gives vent to emotion. Things are not what they seem. Appearances can be deceptive. The world is a way better place than observed. This is what he wrote in his diary with a smile on this face:
‘Tell me not in mournful numbers
that life is but an empty dream;
for the soul is dead that crumbles,
and things are not what they seem.’

By Deepak Moraya, (IV), John Martyn Memorial School

Innocence lost….!

By Vimal Kapoor

At around 8.00 in the morning, while children were moving towards their respective schools, and morning walkers were busy huffing and puffing, I saw a girl child seven or eight year old mount a tightrope stretched between two uneven bamboo supports and starts walking while a middle aged man, maybe her father or her mentor tries to attract attention by beating a small dhol with sticks.
School children of ironically the age of artiste,who still have time mill around and so do the walkers and pedestrians,the way she was walking clumsily,almost six feet above the road with no protection or precaution set me thinking--what if she loses balance and topples over she could be seriously hurt or crippled for rest of her life, and what if a speeding wayward vehicle loses control and rams into her flimsy act!
Just for a few coins and claps this girl child is being forced to perform risky tricks without adequate safety measures,besides this being illegal it was inhuman too.
Under Indian legislation forced child labor of any kind is an offence,but the statistics reveal that maximum voilation of this act takes place in India, Pakistan and Bangla desh,once during my visit to Patna, Bihar, I went to a factory along with my cousins where embroidery was done on shawls, to my astonishment sitting in neat rows were alomst 30 kids busy weaving, and all were under 10 years of age,the fingers that were meant to hold pencils were busy with needles!What exactly is child labor? One of my friends mali was telling me that his fourteen year old son gets up early in the morning, distributes news paper, and is back home in time to get ready and go to school.
I found this thing very positve and inspiring , here is a young guy who is learning how to work hard for money without sacrificing his studies or other interests, it will not only boost his confidence and stamina (riding cycle early in the morning is a great aerobic work out) but will also teach him value of money.
Then there is child labor of worst kind ,in many parts of the world girls as young as eight years old are forced into prostitution. There are no words that can describe the trauma such a child goes through, her psyche would be scarred for life,manipulation, greed , voilence and crime would be her agenda for life, in real life there is no Richard Gere to help out ‘Pretty women’.
Another kind of self induced child torture comes under the garb of ‘reality shows’ being belted out by electronic media now adays, young soft skins are coated with harsh make up and they are forced to dance and sing and go through an ordeal under the garb of healthy competition,their studies suffer and so does the self esteem of kids who lose out, their sleeping hours go for a six and their health deteriorates.
It is a mistake to push children too hard in first 10 years,this is the time when they are supposed to learn how to be happy, the ability to be happy is one of the most important thing developed during early formative years.
During early years children should be encouraged to focus on their studies as well as play,with this platform they would be ready to work hard later on in life as well as get prepared for hard times in life gracefully,if they are forced to walk the tightrope early on in life as the pic reveals their innocence will be lost forever,and something inside them will die a slow death………..!

The lost childhood

By the Students of Himjyoti School

Child Labour is one of the major causes of under-development of a country. India is the second most populated country and child labour is deep rooted in India. Poverty makes people indulge in undesirable activities like thieving and encourages poor parents to send their children at a young age for work as labourers. Some children work as domestic servants, others as ‘coolies’ at construction sites and yet others in factories, mills or industries. Those who do not find work beg on the streets of the city and search in garbage bins for food or wait patiently outside hotels and restaurants for some measly morsel to fall their way, as food is one of the basic needs of human beings.
Child labour is now a major concern and to eradicate this evil the Indian Government has passed many laws. These include compulsory and free education for children below 14 years of age; no child below 14 should be employed in mines and industries where they inhale noxious gases and their physical growth is stunted. Even though these children work hard, they barely get enough money to buy two meals a day.
Life is strange and full of difficulties. Residing in a great school like Himjyoti, we should gratefully acknowledge our luck and opportunities offered to us.

By the Students of Himjyoti School

By Pooja & Manish, (VIII)

Child Labour is one of the major causes of under-development of a country. India is the second most populated country and child labour is deep rooted in India. Poverty makes people indulge in undesirable activities like thieving and encourages poor parents to send their children at a young age for work as labourers. Some children work as domestic servants, others as ‘coolies’ at construction sites and yet others in factories, mills or industries. Those who do not find work beg on the streets of the city and search in garbage bins for food or wait patiently outside hotels and restaurants for some measly morsel to fall their way, as food is one of the basic needs of human beings.
Child labour is now a major concern and to eradicate this evil the Indian Government has passed many laws. These include compulsory and free education for children below 14 years of age; no child below 14 should be employed in mines and industries where they inhale noxious gases and their physical growth is stunted. Even though these children work hard, they barely get enough money to buy two meals a day.
Life is strange and full of difficulties. Residing in a great school like Himjyoti, we should gratefully acknowledge our luck and opportunities offered to us.

By Savita & Ruchi, (VIII)

Poverty compels children to work as labourers. In India the children of backward societies are not facilitated and so they prefer to work to fill their empty bellies. Child labour has also increased illiteracy in the country. It is the cause of death of many a child, it is the cause of permanent physical damage of lungs & spines. Parents need to be educated and made to realize that sending a child to school is not a waste of time or money. Basic education is the right of every citizen of India. So avoiding child labour is a stepping stone to making our country a better developed one.

By Gayatri & Meenakshi, (VIII)

Child labour is the basic problem of India. It is more a rural phenomenon than urban. Due to acute poverty, poor families residing in villages, send their children to cities. Children are sent to school for their future development, but the poor just want to fulfill their immediate needs by working at construction sites, in hotels or as servants.
Our constitution has given all a right against exploitation. Along with this the children have a right to basic education. Children from the ages of 6 – 14 years can get free education in schools. Parents should be educated about these laws so that more and more children get educated. Parents should be made to see that with education their child will soar higher and higher and will be capable of touching the sky.

I love….

By Manisha Nayal, (VI-B)
Army School, Birpur

I love my father,
Who works for me
I love my mother,
Who takes care of me
I love my brother,
Who plays with me
I love my friends,
Who help us always
I love my teacher,
Who teaches me
I love the god,
Who gave me everything?

Teacher

By Sahil Kadian, (VI-C)
Army School, Birpur
It’s you who make us read, write and understand
you are our father, mother and a good friend
it’s you who make our future bright,
it’s you who burn like a candle to give us light.
It’s you who in the bright sunshine of life give us shade
You are the best friend of a student that god has ever made.

Tina and the ghost

By Janette

(Janette Biddulph (66) studied at Wynberg Allen in Mussoorie and worked as a warden for 20 years in Reputed School (e.g) Mamta Modern Secondary High School (Delhi), Raja Ram Mohan Roy Academy (Dehradun), Pestle Weed Collage (Dehradun), Col Brown School, Cambridge School (Dehradun) She began writing for children in 1977. She has been living in Dehradun since 1958).
"Darling, the glass must have fallen from you hand as you were half asleep, and the splashes must have reached your face." Now come with your Papa for a nice long ride. If you are good and promise to forget your bad dream I shall buy you a big chocolate." Dad kept his word, first he bought me a lovely big chocolate and some chewing gums, then he took me for a very long drive which lasted for hours; I forgot all about my bad dream, just like he had told me.
A week went by peacefully, once again, I woke with a terrible thirst and also wanting to go to the toilet to make water; Mummy gave me water to drink and said, "Darling please go and do susu [piss] in the drain."
I got off the bed and went to the drain and made susu. As I was about to get up; I found that my hands and legs refused to move. I called loudly, "Mummy please come and help me for I am stuck." Mum came and tried very hard to lift me, in fact she tried many times, but just couldn't; so she caught my hand in hers and put the other hand on my head and said The Lord's prayer [The Our Father] and mum lifted me up in her arms and carried me to bed..
I looked back over mum's shoulder, and saw the Bogeyman, he was shaking his fist at me and shouting loudly, yet only I heard." Once again you have escaped me, but next time you shall definitely be mine."Again, held lovingly by my mother I slept till the sun was high in the sky. My father came to wake me saying,
"Come along my Sleeping Beauty for breakfast or the Bogeyman may eat it all up for you."
"Daddy, who told you that the Bogeyman came again and tried to take me away, but my mum again saved me. Now I am not afraid for I know that God will always help mum to save me.? Daddy, really the Bogeyman is very tall and has huge fiery red eyes, he is very fat and has huge teeth, he also has a huge mouth, as big as our drum; I am sure he intends eating me if he can get
me."
After breakfast, my sisters and brother left for school, Daddy left for work while I, who was just five years of age, studied with my Uncle. Today Uncle brought two copper coins with holes in them [old one paisa]. He put them on a black cord and tied it round my neck. "Now
No Bogeyman will disturb my Little Angel. I did all Uncle told me. I recited my poems and learned half the Our Father, which my Uncle insisted I learn. Two hours later, studies over, I went to mum and showed her the cord with the copper coins which Uncle had tied round my neck I also told her what he had said about the Bogeyman." "Yes, my sweetheart, don't be afraid, remember, I told you that God would always give me the strength to look after my child'" Mom said giving me a loving smile. Mum must have realized that as evening drew near; I would fear the oncoming night even though most nights Daddy took all of us for a drive; only sometimes leaving me with Uncle and mom that, is if Uncle was there.
Mum noticed that all the attacks made on me were either on Thursday or Friday; on these nights, mom let Dad take me with my sisters for a long drive. The drive usually lasted till 3 a.m.. I would reach home fast asleep in one of my sister's lap and had to be carried inside the house and put to bedOne morning, Mum spoke seriously to daddy about the Bogeyman, saying, "I could feel a presence near my bed late last night; also very deep breathing. I too am feeling afraid now in this house. You better look for another place, far from here for I don't want anything happening to my children." "O.K. darling, I shall start house-hunting from today as I have always trusted your instincts," Papa said, calling and taking all the others to their respective schools.
I finished repeating the Lord's Prayer and also the Hail Mary. "Today you will learn one verse of Psalm 23, then ABC and 1-2 - 3, also some spellings. We are starting late, so we will work for three hours." "But Uncle, I have already bee studying for one hour with mummy," I sad. "No harm Angel, for next year you will start school with your brother and sisters, and I am sure you will want to stand first in your standard[Class], which will make your mom and Dad very proud of you." Uncle was always very loving and kind to me; I think he could even make a DONKEY do his bidding because of his sweet tongue. Who was I, but only his favorite niece? I simply loved him and would do anything for him.That night, after eating dinner, Mum and Uncle laid beds in the verandah for all of us. I as usual slept with Mum. She and Uncle were talking, at first I listened but soon fell fast asleep. I woke with a start to fee someone pulling my hand, I clung more tightly to mummy, this woke her and she too could feel the pull, so she called, "Bob! Bob! Wake up, HELP us for someone or something is pulling Tina from my arms. It seems to be succeeding. H E L P," This was a loud scream from her, which woke Uncle who jumped out of bed and grabbed my arm, near the elbow. I was being pulled by the Bogeyman, mum who held me tightly against herself with her two arms wrapped around me. Uncle gripped my hand and the Bogeyman stretched forth his long hand and jerked the cord off my neck and threw it in the drain. He looked even bigger than before. When he pulled the cord, it cut my neck and I screamed very loudly. I could see and feel Mum being pulled closer and closer to the Bogeyman. I was trembling through fear, when suddenly a light seemed to burst in my brain; and I started saying the Lord's Prayer loudly. Uncle and Mummy joined in the prayer and our combined faith and with the blessings of Jesus, had the effect of making the Bogeyman very angry and, before he was forced to leave us alone, he gave me a very hard slap, which had the effect of making me scream and scream, and I kept on screaming till Uncle took me in his arms and walked up and down the verandah, repeating the Lord's prayer.
I went to sleep with his voice in my ear, cradled in his strong, loving arms around me. I was still sleeping in his arms when Dad' my sisters and brother came home. They all made a circle round me and Dad looked worried nut asked in a calm voice, "What happened?" Uncle told him the happenings of the night. "Well I have booked another house far from here, where I am sure that Tina and the rest of you will be safe, but we will have to wait till the first, which is eight days away." Dad had really been talking to To be continued...