VIII-B
Sunbeam Hostel Lahartara
Life is lovely and enjoyable; now it's in our hands whether we want to make it even more peaceful or let life burden us. It doesn't matter whether you are poor or rich; life will look perfectly fine if you are grateful for whatever you have.
The journey of life doesn’t go as how one thinks
It goes what it's destined for
Or Power?
It is what fate really holds for you,
And your fate is to steer it in the direction you want it to go in
Travels just like a wave
Sometimes still as a statue and sometimes
as ferocious as a lion!
It is not what you think that’s coming in future
But what you were least expecting to see
Let me clear it out to you
There isn't any fixed path or a map that tells you
where to go or how to go
It is upon you,
It is you who grabs opportunities passing by and you who
losses it because you didn't pay attention
Nevertheless, in this unexpected journey
there are always ebbs and flows, peaks and valleys
But we need to remember
with every dusk there is a dawn ready to rise again!
-Saikiran Sahu, IX
Gyanshree School
Illustrated by istock
In the journey of our lives, we come across many situations that result in the destruction of our peace of mind. Sometimes, we mistakenly hurt someone. It really feels bad when others don't accept your apology and when you are not forgiven for the mistake you made.
It is something we all try to look for in everything. Everything temporary. We look for happiness in a cup of ice cream, but when that ice cream finishes, so does our happiness. Why isn't our happiness long-lasting and in our control? If we look for happiness in a pen, once the pen is broken, our happiness will be broken, too. We are the authors of our books. We are the hand that controls the pen. But in this case, isn't the pen controlling the hand? Aren't our feelings going in control of someone else?
When someone does something not to our satisfaction, we lose our happiness. In that way, can't that external person take control of when we are happy and when we are sad?
Another instance is when we see one of our family members or friends sad, we often tell them, "If you are sad, I will also be sad," but that is not the way. Again, someone else is controlling our feelings. Why not cheer them up instead?
The journey of looking for happiness is quite an interesting one. At every moment, we realise that we are giving control to someone else or something else. Even though I always hear this, I have not fully found happiness in myself. I have not found happiness being alone with nothing, but we all learn at every step of life, and so am I.
There are a few lines I remember from a book I read, they were:
"Never search for your happiness in others; it will make you feel alone. Search it yourself, and you will feel happy even if you are left alone."
Rishona Chopra
Grade VII
Gyanshree School
1: "Exploitation".
Even today, many farmers, labourers and workers are exploited by landlords and contractors.
2: "Difficulties faced by village people".
About 60% of India comprises villages that are the grassroots of our country, meaning that "ordinary people reside in villages ". As I was also born and raised in a village, I agree that there are many problems which village people face, like water supply, electricity, poor health and education facilities and unemployment.
3: "Illiteracy of masses in the Village".
Even after setting up government schools in villages, parents don't send their children to school as the parents need to be educated. They only seek short-term benefits by sending their children to work, and that's why they don't prefer sending their children to school; they think that money is more important than education.
4: "Indian culture and tradition".
Most Indians still follow traditional practices and culture, and they preserve it. Our country is famous for traditional activities like dances, food, dress, games etc. and for culture like arts and customs followed by generation.
5: "Difference between developed and developing countries".
Our country is still developing, due to which we face many problems. Still, in developed countries, there are fewer chances of facing issues, and I think this is the reason for the settlement of Indians in foreign countries like the U.S.A and CANADA. Developed countries have better employment opportunities, low death rates, better health facilities, better education, less poverty and a happy, settled and peaceful life.
The Conclusion of the movie
We should never forget the place from where we began our journey, as our roots alone hold us through thick and thin.
Image courtesy https://www.pinterest.com/
used by Oshi Singh for representation only
'Be grateful for everyone you have, not everything you have.'
There's nothing more unpredictable than life itself. All situations we face in life are like dice. It's about our perspective towards it. The same applies to life too. We can spend this unreliable journey with a big smile on our faces or with a heavy heart. Many choose happiness over sadness. But you may find many who stop trying and sit back after facing an unavoidable path in life. But hey! This is a long journey. Instead of being all sad and hopeless, fasten your seatbelts to the journey of the 'unknown'. All you have to do is simply focus on the positive side of the world. A world where everything is better, and you finally get your 'happily ever afters'. You shall achieve all this just by waking up every morning and enjoying every single moment, and living it to the fullest instead of wishing for it to the fullest.
Living in this materialistic world, many try to find happiness in worldly things like money, not realizing that it's temporary and all that will matter in the end is their happiness and whether they had a meaningful life. So find your meaning in life, find your source of happiness, and together, celebrate the value of happiness and live the rest of your lives with a big smile stuck on your faces?
Dear Leaders and Members of My Good School,
My school’s motto was: “Youth Shall Rebuild the World.” Our entire education process and curriculum was centered around the thought that learning is a life-long activity and schools must prepare students to be life-long learners. Understandably, the teachers too would teach with a method that nudged curiosity in us and inspired action. Often, the learning was done outside the classroom with well curated,long or short excursions. We had our own student parliament, elected by the students, every year. We fought elections with much fervor and the elected student government was given significant empowerment to decide on school rules, holidays, academics and student festivals and activities.
When at school, India was not some distant idea for us, she was a person, fully present in our lives. We understood our relationship with our country from experiences both academic and otherwise. I think our founder’s vision was to prepare the young to act constructively for society, nation and the world, whenever and however the opportunity presented itself.
What I learnt at school became my talisman in life. I looked at each opportunity professionally or personally to unlearn and learn constantly. Life has now become my school. Therefore in 2014, when I decided to drive across India for 51 days with three friends, there was not much hesitation in my mind and heart. I had done this kind of learning for several years, through travel and meeting people everywhere. What I discovered in those 51 days and also from my travels for over two decades form the beating heart of my first book: “Highway to Swades – Rediscovering India’s Superpowers.”
What Highway to Swades expedition taught me was that our country is full of amazing people and their wonderful stories. Stories of love, harmony, peace, enterprise, nature, creativity, knowledge, commitment, inclusion, heritage, culture, assimilation, individualization, community, wellness, beauty, sacrifice, rituals, food and the arts. I call them India’s superpowers and the book tells stories of Indians from across the country and all walks of life who live and strive for these superpowers.
What writing this book taught me was that we each have our own superpowers and we can call them to action for ourselves, our loved ones and for society at large. One of my superpowers is to listen and the other is to write and therefore I continue to engage with Indians everywhere and of all ages to understand more about who they, what they do, why they do it, what are their aspirations and dreams etc. This gives me immense hope as I think as a people we may be content but at the same time we are ambitious for our future as individuals and as a nation.
It is with this thought, that I want to engage with all of you, to listen more, to have meaningful dialogues and to see if individual or collective action is possible for what we care deeply about.
Looking forward!
Love,
Bhairavi
"Teacher, a person who awakens joy in creative expression and knowledge," said the great scientist Einstein. They might indeed scold us or punish us, but that has always been what is done well for us. Whatever the teacher has always done for me has always been perceived as a valuable learning experience and never as an arduous duty. Teachers have always been the person in my life who've guided me on the right path of my life and have always encouraged me to move forward in my life.
At last, I want to say to teachers that whatever you've taught and have given lessons will always be walking by my side on my life path to which I salute you.
Have I felt the power of love?
(Thoughts and experiences)
Feeling the power of love, love to me is loving someone without any self-seeking interest; it may be full of evergreen thrill, adoration and concern, but it can also be thinking about a friend, being reminded of a glimpse of each other laughing together or having deep conversations and having a good time.
I feel love whenever I hear of someone's trust in me and how they can rely on me after coming a long way together with them in life. I feel love whenever I practice self-love by looking out for myself, no matter what, feeling that I have matured in myself and invested that time for myself.
Love is like a journey; the deeper you go, the more immersed, wise, and experienced you become and the more content and happier you feel with life. You may die, but your love shall stay on to be.
Follow your heart; everything will be alright and meaningful, and helpful. It may be a journey of a relationship with someone else, something that goes down the lane of life with you such that if it's gone, it feels like there is no purpose in life. Love is what drives us all. It keeps us alive, whether it be the love for a hobby, for yourself, someone else or this world.
I feel love when someone listens to me carefully, is understood, has a place in someone's life and is cared for whilst the other person looks out for and considers themselves and wants the same respect in return is what is love to me.
The true mark on human memory is when you leave any impression on someone's soul with your heartfelt actions. That's all it takes to manifest your love for anyone by doing or saying whatever comes straight from the heart, which forms the phrase, 'Follow your heart and all shall be alright', a short but meaningful and helpful one.
Just the way it is famously said that your bad times give you a reality check about your close ones only, the ones who actually love you will come forward to extend a hand of assistance. If the love in you guides you to help someone who looks at you with distaste in their bad times, they will come to help you if they are a good person. Love leads you to goodness.
Love teaches you patience, and the good you do remains good no matter how the person responds. Your karma is only yours. Even if it is not returned from the person you do good for, it does come around.
Go on and love yourself!
Shambhavi Nautiyal
Class 8D
Ahlcon Public School
This poem is an inspiration from the poem, ' When I Set Out For Lyonnesse' by Thomas Hardy. There are two interpretations of his poem.
First, he was out to a new land for his work, and over there, he met a girl and fell in love. Later they got married, and then he wrote this poem as he believed his marriage changed him for the better. Although the second interpretation is that when he went to the new land, which he refers to as Lyonnesse, he went through a drastic spiritual change, and after he came back, everyone could see he returned a better man. So his poem was about his journey from ignorance to enlightenment.
This poem that I have written captures the emotions felt by Thomas Hardy throughout his journey to the far-off land of Lyonesse. It captures how he was unsure before setting out on his journey and how he changed for the better.
When I set out to Lyonnesse,
A hundred miles away.
I had doubt in my mind,
But I knew it was high time.
So I set out to Lyonnesse,
A hundred miles away.
Little did I know,
The miracle of life would drive me away.
When I came back from Lyonnesse,
A hundred miles away.
I had magic in my eyes, a glow on my face,
Which, unlike time, shall never fade away.
When I set out to Lyonnesse,
A hundred miles away.
Little did I know,
The miracle of life would drive me away.
Now I return a better man,
And no one shall take it away from me.
When I set out to Lyonnesse,
A hundred miles away.
Many people have gone through this journey, and you know you don't really have to put in any effort. Life unfolds itself with its wonders. Let it.
Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School
Do you wonder where the beliefs gathered along life's journey have come from? Whatever you believe about happiness, love, respect, anger or stress is mainly thrust on you based on your social conditioning. Have you paused to evaluate them, accept what is right and discard any limiting beliefs?
Do you wonder why you were born? Do you wonder why the world is there? Do you know why it is such that as it is? Well, to all these questions, there is only one answer - that it is a miracle to wonder about.
Talking about wonders, I thought of the word "wander". Does it relate? Can we wander in our wonder? Yes, we do; with all these thoughts in our minds and all things happening, we always try to find a logical reason, get lost in our world, and start wandering.
But let me tell you a secret - The fact that I am alive and healthy today is simply an incredible miracle.
Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School
I was excited and nervous, but as time passed, I settled there, or you can say I now have a family here!
With a happy heart.
A few brakes and bumps,
But over those thorns we have to jump,
That’s the start when I am not perfect,
But giving up is not correct.
We are all beginners,
And that’s how we become winners,
Winners and beginners of life,
Now as sharp as a knife.
Mistakes keep happening,
But we should understand their meaning.
Never giving up hope,
And striving for more!
I was never good at writing, reading and this technology, but soon I learned. I was too a beginner, and I am learning and growing!
Thank you to all my teachers and my extraordinary mother and father for helping me strive for more and encouraging me every fall.
Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School
We all had the time of our lives, and when I grow up, I want to take my family there again to revisit the fantastic experience and see them smile.
Now let me share my experience; till that day, I had only heard that Ladakh was a beautiful and mesmerizing place, but now I got to experience it in person.
Ladakh is most famous for breathtaking landscapes, crystal clear skies, the highest mountain passes, the highest motorable pass, and Buddhist monasteries.
We saw local monasteries and apricot fields in Ladakh and took two days to acclimatize to the weather.
Our next destination was Nubra valley, followed by Pangong lake.
This was my favourite experience on our trip to Ladakh.
The drive to Nubra Valley via Khardungla, the highest motorable road in the world, was all about the beautiful landscapes of Ladakh and adventure. With the zig-zag trail continuing till Hundar village... this drive was an unforgettable experience.
The descent from mighty Khardung La towards Hunder leaves us spellbound as the snowy surroundings drastically transform into the desert. Before we sense it, the double-humped camels at Hunder village offered us an exciting ride through the desert.
From Nubra valley, we visited the majestic Pangong lake...which is as big as the sea. We share its boundaries with the neighbouring country. Its crystal clear water is salty and changes its colour seven times a day due to the sun's position throughout the day. It is the world's highest saltwater lake in the world.
Our next destination was Kargil. We visited the war memorial. The sight of Tiger Hill and Tololing hill gave us a sense of pride and patriotism as the air was filled with selflessness and honour of the sacrifices of our Jawans who laid their lives in war.
From Kargil, we set off to Srinagar via Drass and Sonmarg. Drass, which is the second coldest inhabited place in the world.
In Sonmarg, we were mesmerized by the tall pine trees and beautiful 'Sind' river playing hide and seek with us.
The next day we reach the summer capital city of Jammu and Kashmir... Srinagar.
As we reached there, mesmerizing view of Dal lake welcomed us with open arms. A Shikara was ready to give us a ride to our royal houseboat. It was my first experience of staying on a houseboat.
This stay proved that the beauty of an old-world setup is unparallel. The sight of moving shops of basic amenities in Shikaras is a memorable and unforgettable experience. We bought seeds and flower bulbs from there, and I also tried my hand at the Shikara ride.
We saw the Nishat garden there. It was a myriad of flowers, fountains and lush green grass.
The next day we explored Pahalgam...where we saw Aru valley, Betaab valley and Chandanbari. All were so majestic that they couldn't be summarised in words.
From Pahalgam, we came back to our home.
However, it's not my first time to the mountains for a vacation. But, this trip was so different in the way that we came across snow-capped mountains, clear skies full of stars, colourful rocky mountains (red, green and brown), majestic lakes, deserts, sand dunes and what not?! It was only possible as we took a road trip to Ladakh.
We came across 9 passes during our trip, making it a memorable trip.
On completing 3200 km of the magnificent journey by car, I realized the true meaning of Incredible India!!
Yashraj Sharma
Grade: VIII
Gyanshree school