Thoughts on Independence Day - Smarika Karki

Picture Courtesy: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/847310117411723826/

Being independent is the state or quality of being free from the control, influence, support, or the like of

others. 

Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru guided India's eventual independence in 1947 by resisting non-violently to British rule. The large-scale communal violence took before and after the subcontinent partition into two separate states - India and Pakistan. India celebrated its 77th independence day on Tuesday, August 15th, 2023. 

We should celebrate Independence Day every year because it glorifies the day when the Indian Independence Act came into effect. The Act established India and Pakistan as separate countries, no longer under British imperialist rule.

Smarika Karki

Pestalozzi Children's Village, India.

My Good School Retreat 2023 - Shristi Khulal

On the first day, when I entered the gate of The Doon Girls School. I was excited and nervous and was experiencing a mixture of feelings inside my head. I thought about what it would be like to meet new people from different parts of the country, for which I was a little nervous, but now I have known them for a long time. I couldn't even believe that the four days we spent were so memorable and not just unique but precious too.

While I sit and think about those days, the flashback of the precious memories always strikes my mind. I cannot explain how beautiful they were. Meeting different people and learning so much about their places and schools from Powerpoint Presentations was an excellent experience. I felt amazed when I learned that the school from which Ram Charan studied was there with us. 

Whenever I sit and reflect on those four days first scene that comes to my eyes is our visit to Khalanga War Memorial. I enjoyed the trip and loved the smell of flowers from the Sal tree and the hill. I was grateful to meet mr Col Vikram Thapa and his team, from whom we learned many things about the war between Gorkhas and the British. As I am Nepali, I felt proud to hear about the bravery of Gorkhas. I enjoyed the walk up the hill, talking to the guiding sir. I felt thrilled to speak to the guiding team in my mother tongue and remain in my place. The view of Dehradun City from the hill was beautiful, in which I was trying to locate my school. I didn't know we could be so connected and share a precious moment in less time. 

I even smile when I think of the funny moments in the Khan Farm where we played fun games. Not only were they fun, but they also taught us many skills like listening, coordination, teamwork and other leadership qualities. Also, the o ji, o ji by sir from Blossom School was a lot of fun.

How can I forget the visit to one of the most prestigious schools in India for which I am really grateful? Before visiting The Doon School, I used to talk to my friend while going to school by bus on seeing the tall wall, and now I feel fortunate and grateful. Whenever I see the wall from the bus, the memories stike in my mind of taking around the school with curious minds. I loved everything about the school, from the beautiful buildings to the activities available there. 

I also miss the German Shepherd of the farmhouse, Max, Lily, and Dizzy, with whom I played. It was a beautiful moment. I was so mesmerized by the performance of The Doon Girls School students in the cultural show. I will never forget the motivational words by Monisha Ma'am. The morning walk on the Khan farm comes to my mind whenever I see the fields filled with crops and trees. On hearing the song Jeena Jeena, the moment came into my mind when the music teacher of Doon Girls School was teaching us guitar.

On the last day, when everyone was leaving one by one, I could see the beautiful memories we cherished together, and for a while, I felt sad. Before going to The Retreat, I never thought these four days would be this memorable. I am really grateful and thankful for getting this opportunity. Thanks to The Doon Girls School for being so good to us.

Shristi Khulal

The Tribal Warriors Of Bharat - Rishona Chopra

'In this, our 75th year of Independence … we needed quality literature around our great tribal freedom fighters. This book is a genuinely commendable start in that direction.

—Arjun Munda, Minister of Tribal Affairs

Our first war of Independence was not in 1857.
In fact, tribal mutinies against the British began at least 75 years before the 1857 revolution. These battles were fought with traditional bows and arrows and spears and predated the reported political movement that came to the fore in the latter part of the nineteenth century.

As we complete 75 years of Independence, it is only fair to acknowledge that a parallel freedom movement existed in our far-flung villages and jungles, away from the mainstream freedom movement recognised in the books of history.

The Tribal Warriors Of Bharat shows how we see only those we are shown, but behind the freedom of India, there are many unseen soldiers or, shall I say, fighters whose stories were never heard. 

I haven't read this book, but after reading the synopsis and the first few pages and meeting the author, I am super excited to read about it!!

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Unity - Rishona Chopra

Unity is working together as a group. We can understand this by looking at a few puzzle pieces. Imagine those pieces are you and your friends who you are working with. Then you join those pieces together to form something beautiful, and in the same way, you are your friends work together as a team and make something marvellous! 

To be able to work in a team, united is unity. To be united, you first need to learn to cooperate and have a good relationship with them, so you don't get in too many fights. I am not so good at teamwork, but I am trying to improve by being more cooperative.

As you might have heard,' unity is power. When the British attacked India, all Indians came together and fought with them, and because of us being a team, we were able to defeat the British.

Rishona Chopra
Grade V
Gyanshree School

Freedom - Aavansh Gupta

 August 15 is Independence Day, also known as Freedom Day. We celebrate it because, on this day, our country was free from the British. But did you know this was half of the freedom? We make poor people our maids and make them do whatever we want. Some people don’t even give them enough salary. We trap birds in cages and do not let them fly independently. We also tie a steel chain around dogs and cats. Can’t every living being live with freedom? So let me share a self-composed poem that will tell you about freedom.

Freedom is the right to do 
Whatever we want.
Like flying in an aeroplane
Or searching about thorn.
 
August 15 1947
When the British left our country
Everyone did whatever they wanted
But that wasn’t the whole freedom
 
We trap birds in cages.
Do not let them fly
They roam all around the cage
Escaping is what they try
 
So, on Republic Day
On January 26
Let us make a promise
That freedom will be our bliss.

Aavansh Gupta
Grade IV-C
Gyanshree School

Freedom - Somnath Sengupta

The word “Freedom” has a different meaning for different people. For some, Freedom means to go anywhere they want; for some others, it means to think freely, and for some, it means to do what they want to do. The work Freedom has a lot of importance for our country India. India was under British rule for more than 300 years, and many people sacrificed their lives for our country's Freedom.

From the time I understood, I always heard a story from my parents regarding our pet parrot. My father had a pet parrot, and she was called “Meethi”. She was there at our house when she was just a few days old. She was very loved and pampered, and unlike other parrots, she used to have breakfast with my father and enjoyed folds like maggie and aloo paratha. Everyone told my parents that birds like parrots cannot be tamed, and they love their Freedom and will not even think to fly away whenever she gets a chance. Days passed by, and Meethi grew up to be a beautiful parrot. When I was a few months old, there was a massive storm and a lot of damage. All the glass windows of our house were broken. The glass window in the balcony where Meethi lived in her treehouse was also broken.

As I heard from my parents, both of them were busy putting things into place, without even realizing that Meethi was not speaking at all. When they went to check Meethi, they were shocked. Meethi was no longer in her treehouse. The glass window was broken, and she flew away. This is the importance of Freedom; she forgot all the comforts, love, and pampering and the moment she got the Freedom to fly in the open sky, she did not even think for a moment.

This is the meaning of Freedom, something which is dear to human beings and every living being.

Somnath Sengupta
Grade VI
Ahlcon Public School