Me & the Mirror

By Mrigashree Pant

BA (Hons) in Miranda House, Delhi)....

It’s the most unbiased I think; when I stand five feet some inches tall in front of my mirror. A bushy black mane, a few inches of forehead, two chequered holes on either side of a flat-compressed nose, lips somewhat in shape and a protruded chin - I scan myself. It is this sheet of truth that introduces me to myself. How would I know myself, identify what I looked like had I not met myself through this silver screen. Observing myself in the age old mirror in my room, I fall back to the days of yore. Those dust coated lipstick marks on the wooden frame of the mirror take me back to the age of three when I had inscribed my first ABCs with mom’s lipstick on the mirror and its frame. It still wears the ripped stickers of my then cartoon friends, all yellowed with time. It still captures my anger in the form of scribble marks after I had the first quarrel with my parents as a teenager, it knows about those fits of self admiration when I would pose as a model...Mom’s high heels complimenting my feet...they would raise me up to a woman’s stature. It holds fast to the panic of the first pimple on my forehead and it also nets the moment of that juvenile maturity when I saw myself draped in a sari for the first time on the day of my farewell, the day I adored myself as a woman for the first time. I kept moving on with the wheel of time, but my mirror stood still all through the years, telling me the truth each time I approached it. Personalities change, people come, perform their respective roles in the play of life and fade away...but the mirror remains unchanged, unbiased...telling them all the true tales of their lives. My mirror is that unidentified friend in front of whom I stand still, gazing at it for hours when in distress, and it understands my entire tale without me letting out a word to it. It captures every moment of mine when I have questions about my identity. Ask my mirror...it knows much more about me than my memory holds. My tongue might slip a truth...but my mirror will always say what I really am.At times, I sit and wonder if humans have ever tried to adopt the attributes of a mirror.....then either the world would have become Utopia or a gruesome murdering ground where the 'play of truth' decides the fate of life. (The writer is a student of BA (Hons) in Miranda House, Delhi)mrigashree@gmail.com

I want to get back…

By Ashita Aggarwal,

(XI), Commerce,

The Asian School

I want to get back,

To my home where

Spring comes in full bloom

Where the country roads

Open their arms and welcome me

Where there is innocence

No personal grudges

But love, only love

Love for humanity

Love for life

Love for everything

That is needed to live life

Please God, listen to me

For only this once

I want to get back

To my home where

I am carefree and

Like being me….

Mistake

By Tanya Dobriyal,

(VII-A)Rajiv Gandhi Navodaya Vidyalaya
If mistake is made by-A Barber- It’s a new style A Driver- It’s an accident A Doctor- It’s an operationAn Engineer- It’s a new ventureA Politician- It’s a new lawA Scientist- It’s a new inventionA Tailor- It’s a new fashionA Teacher- it’s new theoryBut if a student makes a mistake--------It’s a mistake!

Trees Contributed

By Manisha Kothari,

(XI-B)Rajiv Gandhi Navodaya Vidhyalaya

I think that I shall never see A lovely poem as a tree.A tree that looks at God all dayAnd lifts her leafy arms to pray;A tree that may in summer wearA nest of robins in her hair;Upon whose bosom snow has lain Who intimately lives with rain.Poems are made by fools like meBut only God can make a tree.

Vampire-Friendly

By Shweta Kakkar

The book Twilight- the story of which has been described briefly here - has raised several questions in my mind, the least of which is my unexplained obsession with it. It is, by all standards a very average book. The story is the kind that would appeal to a 16- year old silly girl who would read, starry-eyed, about the beautiful vampire and his deep and passionate feelings for what is essentially his meal- a girl. It would appeal to the teenage hormones because it would be the perfect imaginary prince that every girl dreams about- for whom she would be the focus of all life and the universe. Which is why I am disturbed by the fact that the book has found its way into my mind as well- 23 years old; not an encouraging sign for someone trying very hard to grow up and be sensible. This book made me realize that growing up is a lost cause and so I could happily indulge in guilt-free bakwas.Now that the maturing issue has been dealt with, I have thought of a few ups and downs that would accompany my knowing a vampire. The good news first.1. I would be able to actually hit somebody hard with my baseball bat, since vampires are supposed to be very strong. It would enable some use to my beautifully dangerous piece of wood that has been lying around useless since the time I bought it. What fun that would be! “Mr. Vampire, I am feeling disgruntled about nothing in particular. Would you please come over so I can vent my anger by smashing my baseball bat against you?” For an almost zen-like calm!2. It would be so much easier to travel the world- piggy ride all the way! I had recently had to struggle for a couple of months to arrange for finances that I needed to show in order to travel to a foreign land. When I couldn’t I had to deal with the disappointment of not being able to go. Imagine being above all the visa and foreign law hassles. “I feel like visiting Germany for the Oktoberfest this year. Mr. Vampire, would you please give me a piggy-back ride to Munich?” Pack your bag, and be there in record time!3. No need to share your food with a vampire. If, of course he can resist killing you and that could be a concern for you. But overlooking the minor detail, I know who I would take with me when I wanted a no-sharing gluttony experience. At the movies, where friends invariably and much to my irritation must always want a fistful of popcorn from my bucket, a long swig from my pepsi; no, no make that my DIET PEPSI and must always want to taste my precious nachos. With a vampire, all you need to do is rob a blood bank for a few units of blood, put it in a plastic glass with a straw and hand it to the vampire. No desire on either side to taste what the other is having. What a perfect life!4. A vampire friend would give me interesting insight into the life of people all through the ages that an average, 200-year old vampire would have seen. And if by any luck he is even older, he could be able to tell you how Cleopatra was not very pretty or the inside gossip about Napolean’s well-publicized fear of cats. Imagine a world where history is not dull!But there would be the cons as well.1. On the flip-side, there is the obvious and persistent death-threat. A vampire would be lured to your scent at all times and in the given scenario, it would be inadvisable to take a bath so as to not make the scent stronger and therefore your life, shorter. The arrangement suits me fine during the cold, winter months but summers would be a definite problem.2. The danger to my life would be heightened by the fact that I check my blood sugar at least 4 times a day. Prick; blood out; oops! Sorry Mr. Vampire, would you mind putting on the scent-obstructer around your nose and mouth that I have kept for the purpose?Not checking my blood sugar would also mean death, though it would be a slower and a more unpleasant form of it.Evaluating each side, the pros do seem to overshadow the cons. Any vampire out there, reading this post, kindly add me on FB. I will be the one, whose "looking for" detail on the FB info bit would say "vampire friends".

Memorable Incident

By Vinta Pandey,

Him Jyoti School

Life is a journey. We cannot remember each day, but can recall some of the most striking incidents. Such an incident occurred in my life too and proved to be my most memorable one.It was just a normal day in my life. There was nothing to look forward too, nothing to wait for and nothing to be amused by. I felt I was living in a hostile world where no one was a friend. My parents were suffering too and I could do nothing to help. Suddenly I heard people talking about an exam their daughters were going to give. It was to study in a school in Dehradun. My parents and I decided I too should give this exam. Some time passed and I heard I had been selected to study at Him Jyoti, the school opened by the Governor of Uttarakhand. We were overjoyed and full of enthusiasm. I was ready to face any difficulties as I had something to look forward to. I now study in Class IX and am able to do most of my work myself. I really thank Governor Sir for giving me this chance and pray for his long life.

Memorable Incident

By Varsha Mishra & Bharti Mandal,

Him Jyoti School

It was the 16th of July when we met each other and it was one of the luckiest days of our life. We had come to Him Jyoti School for our interview. Both of us got selected. When we joined the school we were so young but all our teachers and wardens gave us so much love and affection that we settled in happily. We became good friends and shared our joys and sorrows. Now we both have grown up and need to concentrate more on our studies.‘A friend is like a ‘pitaara’,In which we store our ‘vichardhara’,When life becomes a ‘khatara’Then only a friend becomes our ‘sahara’.

Memorable Incident

By Sapna, (IX),

Him Jyoti School

I was 11 years old and in school the day this incident took place. A friend came into my class and asked me to rush home as something had happened to my father. I was scared and could not think or move. My teacher gently said to me that I should go home and see what had happened. When I reached home, there was a huge crowd gathered. I pushed aside the people and walked into the house. And there was my father lying very still on the bed and family members around him were crying. I had no words to say to my mother. The only thing I kept asking was, “What happened?” Nobody answered me as all were too grief stricken to talk. I felt my life too had finished and would never be the same again.

Memorable Incident

By Komal Arya, (IX), Him Jyoti School

The memorable incident in my life was when my maternal uncle stepped into it to lend us a helping hand and changed our lives forever. Painstakingly he would help my mother whenever she needed help. He supported her in every moment. He gave me knowledge and loved me like his own daughter. He fulfilled all my desires and gave me a lot of joy. He inspired me to have an aim in life and made me promise that I would work hard and put in all my best efforts towards achieving my goal. I can only repay him by being sincere towards my work and making him proud of me one day.

Memorable Incident

By Sonali Negi,

Diksha Mishra,

Ankita Bartwal & Shilpa Bartwal,

(IX), Him Jyoti School

The most memorable incident of our life was when we were selected for the Him Jyoti School. Our joy knew no bounds when we discovered our dream of joining an English medium school had come true. This changed our life dramatically. When we had first heard about the school we were happy as only a great man like our Governor Sir could think of educating girls, that too from a rural background. He was giving the girls a golden opportunity to fulfill their dreams and ambitions.The school atmosphere is very different from our previous school. The teachers here are very talented. They help us to overcome our difficulties. They have made us more confident. Our school gives us so many facilities and in return we should make the school proud of us by working hard and achieving. If other citizens of our country start thinking like Governor Sir, very soon nobody will be left uneducated.

Lets Ponder Children Learn What They Live

By Kajal Himalion, (VII-A)

Rajiv Gandhi Navodaya Vidhyalaya

If a child lives with CRITICISM

He learns to CONDEMNIf a child lives with HOStILITY

He learns to FIGHTIf a child lives with RIDICULE

He learns to be SHYIf a child lives with SHAME

He learns to feel GUILTYIf a child lives with TOLERANCE

He learns to be PATIENTIf a child lives with ENCOURAGEMENT

He learns to be CONFIDENTIf a child lives with PRAISE

He learns to APPRECIATEIf a child lives with FAIRNESS

He learns JUSTICEIf a child lives with APPROVAL

He learns to like HIMSELFIf a child lives with ACCEPTANCE & FRIENDSHIP

He learns to find LOVE in the world

The most memorable incident in my life

By Saniya Malhotra, (VI),

St. Joseph's Academy

Just two three months ago I had filled a form for ‘Horlicks wiz kids’ and later got a call from them and they asked me some aptitude questions. From all over Uttarakhand only two kids had to be selected and I was one of them! I had qualified the state level and now was going for the zonal finals to Chandigarh. There were about 2500 students participating in different events and then a few of them were selected for the final round. In this round two of us from Uttarakhand were also present. After a few rounds the winners were announced and I was pleasantly surprised to here my name as one of them. Now I am to represent the entire north zone along with another girl from Chandigarh in the ‘South Asian finals to be held in Bangalore from the 10th to 15th November. The organizers in this competition told us that if we are good then we must give something to our society to make our nation a better place. Thus to share joy and happiness with the under privileged children we had to do a project on child rights. I am working on the right to recreation and expression and have named my project RANGEEN KHWAB. Actually I am finding doing this project more like fun than work. For this project I have been visiting many places where the children who are not so privileged study or live. I made them colour, dance, and showed them magic tricks to entertain them. Even doing this made me feel that I am a very lucky girl and have the best things ever. I live in a clean environment, have clean food. I have learned to be happy with all the things I have and will remember this experience all my life. Warm Regards,Saniya Malhotra.

Victories as memories: Do they really matter???

By Aishwarya Sharma, (XII),

Convent of Jesus & Mary Memorable experiences come with a number of assorted nuances. For some, it might be standing first in class, for some, winning a race, for others, winning scholarships or medals, getting a new vehicle, winning a competition. It’s nice and easy to achieve success, even easier to remember it, but doubly difficult to maintain it. We have chronicles of achievements piled up at our residences, for some, these are the storehouses of their ego and conceit, while for some; they’re the evidences of their happy times. We have so many sportspersons in our nation winning medals every now and then in some or the other event or competition. It’s nice, I appreciate it. I totally do, but there’s another reality existing today. The same medal claimers are the ones who live in utter poverty, misery and ignominy today. A national level athlete who won medals in the Asian Games some time back was pushed into flesh trade as she had to fend for her children and she had lost her husband too and there was no one to help her out. We very well know of what happened with our star Olympian athlete PT Usha. Despite having a big snap right there at her spot of accommodation and having a status as she has, she was denied a separate accommodation. There are millions of examples today of people who’ve won gold silver and bronze medals at various national, and international level events, who have sold off these very medals to afford a square meal a day. This is the state that our people are in despite achieving momentary success. Who cares? The memory still lives on…For some, winning prizes fuels their ego; they remember all this for the rest of their lives. Without forgetting to showcase their self proclaimed status of being prize winners, some of them resort to putting others down, while some get into the habit of becoming too overconfident and losing out on their future achievements and endeavours. This piece of writing is not meant to degrade people who win prizes, what I mean to say here is that these are not the only things in life, and lets not get carried away by receiving a mere artefact of metal in front of a crowd by some so called eminent person. Prizes are believed to be sources of honour and pride for people, the fact is that today many corrupt people too receive awards and mementos by famous personalities, while many of those who are diligent and genuine, get nothing out of it afterwards. They anyways have to struggle hard. Even if they win all those prizes and credit themselves to fleeting glory and fame, it all has to vanish someday and they have to work their butts out with things in life. And the unfortunate reality is that others don’t really remember what prize or award you received during some phase of your life. They don’t really care. And I can prove it to you...Name the last five winners of the Nobel Prize, any category you like or remember; Name the recipients of the last five Filmfare Awards for Best Actor; Name any five winners of the Best Actor Oscar; Can you answer all these questions?? Finding hard?? I know why...Now try answering these questions...Name five people who have helped you in times of distress; Name five friends who have encouraged you; Name five people who have given you effective advice; Easier, isn’t it? Memories are made not by materialistic achievements but by selfless poignant efforts. People might not remember what award you won, but they will surely never forget that you helped them once when they were in need. Applause dies out, trophies gather dust; what remains behind is the fact that we helped someone when they needed a helping hand. When I help someone climb a hill, I get nearer to the top myself. So, in which list are you???????

Mother

By Anjali Negi,

Rajiv Gandhi Navodaya Vidyalaya

When I opened my eyes in this world I saw a face.The face who sings to me in night her voice is like the humming of bees. Whose hair are charming her eyes are bright with the unending depth of seas.Who plays with me who cooks me food who told me what is wrong or right who cheers me up when I am not in mood who guides me through darkness to light the face is what we call mother.

Mother

By Anjali Negi,

Rajiv Gandhi Navodaya Vidyalaya

When I opened my eyes in this world I saw a face.The face who sings to me in night her voice is like the humming of bees. Whose hair are charming her eyes are bright with the unending depth of seas.Who plays with me who cooks me food who told me what is wrong or right who cheers me up when I am not in mood who guides me through darkness to light the face is what we call mother.

Child Labour- a blot on civil society

By Shivani Painuli,

Convent Of Jesus & MaryChildren constitute about 36 percent of India’s population and it is national shape that bulks of them still suffer from malnutrition, poverty, diseases, cruel exploitation through forced child labour and beggary. Illiteracy is another curse. It is a shame that out of 30 million street children worldwide, 11 million are Indian children, leading a wretched life, are ill clad and hungry, sleeping on pavement, picking rags, begging or allowing themselves in different trade and occupations.One of the worst forms of exploitation of children is child labour. India has the largest number of child laborers in the world, one third of those under 11 are forced to work, often in dreadful and inhuman condition.Child labour creates a face which is ill equipped in terms of skills to compete in today’s globalised economy.Nearly 87 percent of the child workers are in rural areas working on farm, plantations, fisheries and cottage industries. Though primary education is free and compulsory, a large number of children do not go to school because rural India is caught in vicious circle of poverty. The rural families’ have more children. They don’t feel the pinch of feeding many mouths since more children means more labourers to work.The country’s prevailing scenario of over population, unemployment and poverty, there is no harm if children take to their family vocation. It can be done under their parent’s guidance or adopt non hazardous work. Otherwise they may be exploited by anti social elements for begging and other evil activities.

Nature Nature Around Us

By Piyush Dahiya , (VI), SelaQui World School
Lovely Nature around UsBy Piyush Dahiya , (VI), SelaQui World SchooTrees,

Grass and FlowersGod made especially for us
Grasslands, meadows and forestsRivers, seas and oceans Mountains, Hills and ValleysAll made especially for us
Humans, animals and birdsFishes, toads and crocodilesTiger, lions and elephantsYou, me and everyone
Nature, nature around usLovely nature around usTrees, grass and flowersGod made especially for us.

Memorable Incident

By Nitesh Kotal, (V),

John Martyn Memorial School

The most memorable day in my life was my 10th birthday. In the morning we went to watch a film in a movie hall. The movie was very funny and we all loved it. Then my parents took me to the temple in Rajpur. We said our prayers and got tasty ‘prasad’. We then went to a studio and had our photographs taken. We returned home at 4 p.m. Most of my relatives and friends had already reached home and started singing when they saw me. I played some games with my friends and cut my cake. I got lots of presents. The best present was given by my parents – a video game. We ended the day by dancing.

Memorable Incident

By Shikha Thapa, (IV),

John Martyn Memorial School

It was my birthday. After distributing sweets at school, I reached home eager to eat my favourite lunch. As I opened the door of my house there was loud cheering and clapping by all my relatives who had come over to wish me earlier as a surprise. On one side of the room they had arranged the gifts they had brought for me. I had never been given so many gifts before. There was a pretty pink dress, some lovely ear-rings, a hand knitted sweater and some toys. What I liked best was a crocodile – it was very long and quite big. It had a button on it. When I pressed the button, the crocodile started moving and opening its mouth. This remained my favourite toy for a long time. We had a delicious lunch. I will remember this day for a long time.

Memorable Incident

By Shreya Kunwar (IV)

John Martyn Memorial School

One day I came out into the veranda to say bye to my uncle who was going to the market. When I turned around to enter the house, I saw a green and black snake. I was scared and I ran to call my father. Then I went running to get a big bamboo stick to kill the snake. My grandmother shouted to me to light a fire so that we could put burn the snake after killing it. I hurriedly tried to gather dried wood and paper. Meanwhile, the snake was not moving and my father hit it hard to kill it. To our surprise the snake jumped after being hit as it was made of rubber! Just then my uncle walked back with a big smile on his face. He had put the snake there to play a joke on us.