The Oliphant / Edition 389 / 2020 / Issue 6 / December / Founder’s / Online Editor-in-Chief Sanshray Ghorawat

Senior Editors Prakhar Dixit Sanniddhya Aggarwal Editorial Shreyansh Jindal

Editors Viraj Lohia

Aarav Upadhaya We got here sooner than we expected, didn’t we? It’s funny year away from school, that whatever you have experienced, how we all try and delay the inevitable in the hope that it will and all that you still have to experience becomes even more Samanyu Malik eventually become easier. But here we are, and let me just say, extraordinary when you have people who share it with you - or writing this wasn’t easy. Then again, what even is easy when even have something else to say about it. Mrinank Chandar you’re at Welham Boys’ School? I may be biased by personal experience, but there truly is Creative Editors CONTENTS In my very first editorial I wrote about how everyone wants nothing more satisfying than having poured your heart out on to do something to be remembered, to live through something pages and pages of words; nothing more fulfilling than having Samyak Jain and to form legacies. In hindsight, I should have been careful written something with true emotion and seeing others feel the of what I wished for. People are going to remember this year same way. All the hard work becomes worth it once you realise Ayaan Suhail Editorial 01 for foiled plans and ambitions, for the distance, and everything that your words managed to touch a soul - even if it’s only a Welham Now 02 in between. I, however, am going to remember this year for friend who was forced to read it. And often, in the pursuit of everything this board managed to achieve through the confines articles and looming deadlines, we overlook the joy of writing. Correspondents Reviews 03 of Zoom calls and Whatsapp texts. I’ve just realised that I’ve I’d be a hypocrite if I said I haven’t done it too, but that happens never managed to thank the board that I’ve been gifted with. only because we seem to over intellectualise the pages of this Arnav Goel Wacky Woodseats 10 From my senior editors who’ve been with me every step of publication. These pages weren’t made for you to just discuss Viraj Mahajan Verses- Hauled Suddenly From Solitude 13 the way, to the interns who will have to wait some more to be and debate abstractions; these pages were made to connect part of the annals of this magazine - each one of you has made every Welhamite through their shared experiences - even if it Aditya Gupta Rising Intelligentsia 16 the experience ever so enriching and enticing, and I’m truly is something as ‘trivial’ as a restriction on the tuckshop. grateful you exist. Verses- The Dungeon of The Mind 26 As I near the end of my last ever editorial as Editor-In-Chief, Staff Editor Literary Affairs 27 As I pen down, ostensibly, my last ever piece for the Oliphant, all I’d really like to do is implore you, the reader, to write the only thing I feel like recalling is my joy for writing. It was freely. Write, not because an intern came to you with a topic or Mr. Raunaq Datta To 2021 30 in the summer of 2017 that I was asked to pen down my first because you scored well in an English exam, but because you ever article for the Oliphant. A full page article titled “Why did/experienced something, and believe it or not, it’s worth Lasagna 32 IT Team tuckshops?”, that was intended to reverse the embargo of dry sharing. Write because out there, are fourteen year olds just Twelfthies Unleashed 34 tuck in the middle school tuckshop. Naturally, I tried my best, like me, who had an epiphany and want to tell the school about Mr. Rahul Sridhar and naturally, it wasn’t half as sarcastic as it was supposed to how they felt about something. These moments deserve to be. Surprisingly though, the article resonated with my peers become stories - not just your story, but all of ours. Mr. Prashant Arora and it became a topic of discussion on lunch tables for a few days. I still can’t explain why, but it made me feel valued and With tears in my eyes, Mr. Puneet Pandit involved. One last time

Every issue, we seem to reiterate the fact that the Oliphant is Sanshray Ghorawat Write to Us at the ‘voice of the students’, but it is only at the end of my tenure Editor-In-Chief [email protected] that I’ve realised that it’s more than just that. The Oliphant exists for each one of you to express yourself, without fear of judgement or censorship. And yet, this fear seems to have crept in that makes us think that our experiences or thoughts are not worth sharing. Take it from a twelfthie who just spent his last

1 BAND REWIEW WELHAM NOW THE LOCAL TRAIN

I’ve recently realized that all good music ‘Kaise Jiyun’ tell a tale of heartbreak and Indie takes the cake. can be divided into two categories. One the after-effects of losing someone close The music team secured the 1st Runners Up Satwik Agarwal won the speed coding event at the is the kind that you’re proud to discover. to you. And conclusively, ‘Yeh Zindagi What differentiates bands from individual Position in ‘Taal Tarang’, an online cultural fiesta hosted HACKATHON-CODE HACK organised by Strawberry You are so wonderfully swept by its hai’ and ‘Dil mere’ serve as an epiphany musicians is that numerous (four, in by D.P.S Jaipur. The team comprised: Fields High School beauty that you’ll suggest it to every that experiencing these emotions is an this case) people share their ideas and 1) Diya Bahuguna friend as if declaring your love. The other indispensable part of life, that one must go add their element to the final product is the kind you want to conceal from the through it all to complete the journey. The which is the song. The Local Train has 2) Savi Singh The school hosted ‘SUSTAINNOVATION’- an Online world and listen to while laying alone on second album ‘ Vaaqif’ was an equally been inspired by bands like U2, Nirvana, 3) Luv Juyal Young Social Entrepreneurship Conclave with more than the bed or during a walk on the marine enlightening storybook if not better. If Aerosmith and Alt-J. This is displayed 4) Sara Moudgil 200 students from 32 participating schools. drive. It makes you think not about ‘Aalas ka Pedh’ was about emotions and in their colourful lyrics, a blend of Urdu yourself or the world but something the heart, ‘Vaaqif’ talks about the mind. and Hindi and how the youth resonates •The School participated in the Platinum Jubilee English The school participated in the Rajkumar college virtual abstract, an ineffable feeling. Perhaps, it Everything ranging from the need for with them. As a band, the local train has Debate held by the Scindia School, Gwalior. The team Model United Nation and the following students won the so accurately resembles your life that you political freedom to narcissism, to the shared its collective journey through emerged as Quarter-Finalists. awards: fear others wouldn’t ever understand it to significance of self-exploration forms the its music and in the process, prompted SPECIAL MENTION the same extent. The local train does that central theme of the album. While Mere many of its followers to understand their Welham Boys’ School hosted the WELMUN’20 which Aarav Upadhyaya- Mallikarjun kharge, INCPEM to me; for me! Each of its songs incites a Yaar’ and ‘ Aakhri Salaam’ refer to the journey. And they are just one in the consisted of 350 national and international delegates. The Arnav Goel- Finland, UNHRC different thought in my mind and like any importance of loyalty in friendship, ‘ diverse, innumerable groups that exist best delegation was won by Mayo College, Ajmer. Abhyuday Tulsyan- India, UNGA good music, brings back many memories Aaftaab’ instils a feeling of serenity and out there. With that being said, it’s high which are what makes it hard to share. tranquillity in those who listen. time, we bring back Indian Rock! Hritvik Moody- Secretary, DONER Ministry, Stakeholders Nevertheless, for those who have decided Aarav Upadhyaya was adjudged Meet to go through this article, I’m going to When it comes to India, Indie Rock has Arnav Goel the Best Delegate at All India Political Parties Meet make an exception. been forgotten. There is barely an audience X (AIPPM) at the MGDMUN’20. Viraj Lohia secured the 1st position and Rohan Agarwal left in the independent music scene. and Samyak Jain the 2nd position in their respective events Initially, the members of the band - But those who are aware of artists like The school organised the 30th edition of the Oliphant at Constantia hosted by La Martiniere College, Lucknow. Raman Negi (vocals), Paras Thakur Prateek Kuhad or When Chai Met Toast Memorial Inter-School English Debates which was held The school also won the runners up trophy. (acoustic guitar), Ramit Mehra (bass know how soulful and insightful some on 11th and 12th September 2020. St. George’s School guitar ) and Sahil Sarin ( drums) were songs can be. Which makes me wonder bagged the trophy. Prakhar Dixit and Raghav Kathuria secured the 1st position individual performers in different parts of why people outside this comparatively in the Music Bytes section of Tech VVIZ hosted by Vasant the country. Intending to create original compact circle are drawn towards The School participated in the eSAIMUN (SAI Valley School, Delhi. They also released an original song music, Raman met and collaborated with commercial or mainstream artists. The the others on a song which he had written apparent reason is better advertising and International Model United Nations Conference) The titled ‘Udae Udae’ with over 3,000 views on YouTube. a long time ago. The group decided to outreach but also because independent awards won are as follows: call itself the local train and in 2011, the artists are scattered and make all different home demo of ‘Choo Lo’ was released on kinds of music. I find that advantageous SPECIAL MENTION- Shubhankar Dhulia and Arnav YouTube. As its popularity increased, the simply because it allows experimenting Goel - United Nations Security Council local train decided to record an album. with a myriad of genres and increases my Abhyuday Tulsyan- United Nations International ‘Aalas ka Pedh’ streamed in 2015 and options. Others would find that to be a Children’s Emergency Fund was featured in the apple music charts, paradox of choice. Nevertheless, I would BEST DELEGATE as one of the most viewed albums of urge people to give Indie artists a try, Trayambak Pathak - Special Political and Decolonisation the year. It starts with ‘Manzil’ and ‘ especially bands like ‘The Local Train.’ Committee Aaoge tum Kabhi’ - one is a song about After all, art is a form of expression. It is losing yourself while striving towards an amalgamation of the experiences and a goal which isn’t even visible. The emotions of various people. Listening to Arnav Goel and Shubhankar Dhulia participated in the other being about the power of hope those experiences in the form of music St John’s Interschool Debate hosted by St. John’s High and expectations and how the goal will serves the dual advantage of entertaining School, Chandigarh and lifted the Runners Up trophy. someday become clear. ‘Choo Lo’ and a cote de learning. And in this regard,

2 3 T.V. SERIES REWIEW MOVIE REVIEW THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT MARRIAGE STORY

The seven-episode Netflix series is Creators : Scott Frank, story at the centre. Beth is as messy There are times when you feel like Director: Noah Baumbach speechless. This was my first time an adaptation of Walter Tevis’ 1983 and mean and ultimately brilliant as giving up on things, be it a project seeing Adam Driver on screen and I novel, with Scott Frank having Alan Scott the likes of John Wash (A Beautiful where you’ve worked hard or a Screenplay: Noah relished every bit of his astounding written the screenplay. It features mind) or Will Hunting (Good Will an emerging star ‘Anya Taylor-Joy’ Cast : Anya Taylor-Joy, Hunting). That being said, the ending relationship where you have given Baumbach portrayal of Charlie. All the other as an orphaned chess prodigy (Beth Thomas Sangster is a rousing success. Viewers, both your everything. Director Noah IMDB rating: 8/10 actors/actresses also displayed Harmon) who battles addiction young and old will appreciate ‘The Baumbach came up with a movie brilliant performances. The lack of while rising to Grandmaster status. Genre : Drama Queen’s Gambit’, and it should be on depicting a similar situation titled any gender-bashing was actually The series tells her story from the everybody’s watch list. ‘Marriage Story’. Starring Adam really nice because for the first time, age of 8 to 22 as she evolves from an abandoned misfit into one of the -Aaditya Chandra Gupta Driver, Scarlett Johansson & Azhy I saw characters as human beings and greatest champions the world of XI Robertson in the lead with other not as an antagonist or protagonist. chess has ever seen. acclaimed actors such as Laura If I could change one thing about the Dern, Alan Alda and Ray Liotta in film that would be the screenplay at The Queen’s Gambit is compelling supporting roles, the movie is set some moments. These scenes were to watch. Chess, after all, is rarely described as a young person’s game. between the coastal capitals of the quite drawn out which bored me a The story starts in 1967 Paris, as a US, i.e. New York and Los Angeles. little. Overall, this movie is a lovely young woman (Taylor-Joy) wakes watch, and I recommend it to all my up, takes a couple of pills and The primary plot of the movie is fellow Welhamites. rushes downstairs for her chess about a felicitous marriage between match. When she sits down across from her opponent, memories begin Charlie (Adam Driver), who is a -Pranay Dhaka to race through her head and the stage director and Nicole (Scarlett IX story backtracks 10 years ago. Beth Johansson) an actress and the events Harmon is orphaned by a car crash which turn their lives into an ugly and sent to live at the Methuen Home drama. As mentioned before, they for girls. At the Girl’s Home, Beth encounters Mr. Shaibel (Bill Camp), had a pretty happy life but due to the orphanage custodian who teaches the occurrence of a few strange her how to play chess via secret events, everything turned topsy- Another thing which makes me training sessions in the basement. Mr. turvy leading up to Nicole filing applaud this movie is that despite Shaibel is a reserved and private man; for a divorce. The dispute over the it being a story of parting, it it’s only through Beth’s stubborn adjournments and endgames. But at curiosity that he even relents to custody of their son Henry (Azhy doesn’t shy away from showing us no point is the show inaccessible. It Robertson) and their property was overwhelming and tender moments. teaching her the rules. Soon after, moves elegantly and enthrallingly, Beth is whisked away by her adoptive without alienating its audience. We a pretty appealing plot in itself. It’s saddening to see mother Mrs. Alma Wheatly (Marie know Beth will become a chess While watching this movie there something which rose with laughter Heller). Heller plays a housewife star. We know she’ll do so while were a couple of observations and love, crumble away like just made to be complacent by her flighty struggling from addiction. ‘The & demeaning husband. Plenty of I made regarding the way the like that. This issue established by Queen’s Gambit’ isn’t a mystery, nor movie depicted the story. I highly this film is something which many housewives in the ’50s suffered the is it framed like a traditional sports way Alma does, yet her individuality story. We know she’s going to win- if appreciated the way this film deals others neglect. blossoms as she and Beth embark on not all, then most of the matches she with complications that arise during adventures--- touring the country to plays. So the suspense isn’t derived separation and these concerns My favourite character in this compete in chess tournaments. Over from the games themselves; it comes manifest pretty elegantly through the heart-warming drama was Nicole’s the next few years- as Beth goes from how she wins and why. from winning local tournaments to course of the movie. The way this mother, Sandra (Julie Hagerty). being America’s foremost challenger There have been many films and TV movie exhibits both perspectives Regardless of the genre of this against the Soviets- a proxy war shows about geniuses and the burden during the divorce without prejudice film, she was able to bring laughter unfolds in real life at the height of they carry along with the cost of a is profound. A quality lost in most to her audiences’ faces. Speaking the Cold War. We learn about Sicilian great mind, but few with a woman’s defences and doubled pawns, about movies. about performances, I am absolutely

4 5 BOOK REVIEW THE KITE RUNNER The Hathras Case ‘The Kite Runner’ by Khaled Author- Khaled Hossieni to become. A man like his father or Husseini chronicles a heartbreaking a man who knows what is right in A 19-year-old woman was savagely gang-raped and Every time cases such as this one surface we demand and unforgettable story of the Publisher: Riverhead their ever-changing world. When the tortured by a group of 4 men in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh justice in the form of severe punishment to those friendship between a wealthy boy Books plot comes to an important juncture on September 14. She succumbed to her injuries after accused. But will hanging the accused help in stopping and the son of his father’s servant. Goodreads Rating - 4.3/5 in both their lives, Amir’s mistake a 2-week long battle for her life at a hospital in Delhi. them from running amok? What we need is to eradicate The novel is set in Afghanistan and in further makes his inner conflict This is not the first time we hear of a case as brutal as the problem at the root level. Do not just call them a time where the country is heading magnify itself. Amir never corrects this one, so why the sudden outrage? ‘India’s daughters’. Instead, teach the idea of consent towards chaos and destruction. The his wrongs for the rest of Hassan’s to children and include sex education in their school book, following the historical events life, worsening their relations. These Safety for women in India is not a new concern and has curricula. Stop telling them to adapt to the circumstance of Afghanistan, mainly focuses intersections and mixed feelings been relevant for a long time. However, this case has by putting restrictions on what they can do, instead, help on the social conditions faced by show the extent of complexity in allowed our pent up emotions of anger and frustration them voice their concerns and bring more significant the citizens during those times. It one’s personal life making ‘The Kite to surface finally. These emotions keep adding up changes. is about the power of knowledge Runner’ an unusual and impactful every time a female is asked to change her outfit, not and the price which comes through novel that has become a beloved, to provoke others or to bear the sickening male gaze at We must use this opportunity to take a long hard look betrayal and redemption. It shows one-of-a-million and an all-time any place and time of the day. However, the opposite at ourselves for we all have internalised misogyny, how the world of two boys change favourite classic. does not hold. Women have to carry pepper spray and casteism or racism and it is thus our responsibility as due to the intersection of personal learn self-defence just because men cannot practise self- informed citizens to question these social norms. life and political events. A sweeping -Trayambak Pathak control. The list goes on and on. story of friendship, family and love, IX -Vihan Shukla portrayed against catastrophic war- This is much too prevalent in our society. Any woman X torn Afghanistan spanning over irrespective of her caste, age, colour, profession or the thirty years. clothes she wears has at some point in her lifetime faced some form of sexual harassment. It is rightly said that A major theme of this book is about “When a shadow lurks at night, men fear it is a ghost, the power of fathers over their sons. women fear it’s men”. Women are suffocating under The display of the father-son bond perspectives were very intriguing the restrictions being laid upon them, which, sadly, shows the difference between their as Amir views Baba profoundly as seem necessary to survive in a society such as generations. The drastic change just, strong and confident and finds ours. However, we all deserve better. where one believes in social himself lacking in comparison. hierarchy and society’s boundaries, Baba shares this perception of his I understand that I speak from a place of whereas one has no such thoughts son but Amir ultimately learns that privilege. I am an upper-caste male belonging and leaps beyond these boundaries. what he was trying to do his whole to a reasonably well-off family with the highest Although this relation also displays life was futile as he learns Baba too level of education handed over to me on a platter their love, their sacrifices for each has betrayed a close comrade. Much and the choice to make my own life decisions other. The book was named The ‘Kite of what Amir perceived as Baba’s in my hands. Some have it much worse- the ones Runner’ because flying kites was the strength was only there because he belonging to the suppressed section of society, for only thing that he and his father had was trying to atone for his failures. whom primary education is a privilege and their very in common. Kites displayed Amir’s The story mainly revolves around right to live is not in their control. It is, thus, necessary happiness, as well as his guilt. It the inner turmoil Amir experiences for us to acknowledge the privilege we all hold and perfectly portrays how far a son can after betraying his friend, Hassan, use it to better our society in whatever way we can, go to receive his father’s approval. who was ready to do anything for beginning at questioning all that has been taught to us, This theme fits perfectly in any him, driving the entire plot of ‘The by learning and unlearning. scenario, making this masterpiece Kite Runner’. Amir’s struggle is to very relatable. However, their choose what kind of a man he wants

6 7 Subash My Experience Teaching Yoga To The Young It is with a deep sense of gratification that I write was self-directed to offer help and engage beyond “Yoga is a light, which once lit will never dim. entire day; the Aasanas and breathing techniques we about Mr. Subash Thapa, who has been associated defined roles which is truly praiseworthy indeed. It The better your practise, the brighter the practised were- Tadasana, Vrikhasana, Bhujanasana. with the school for close to three decades. He is a is quite normal to expect the work delegated to him flame.” Naukasana, Kpalbhati, Anulom Vilom and Soham living legend, possessing striking qualities of loyalty to be not only completed but done in a satisfactory inhalation and exhalation techniques. The students and undoubted commitment towards his assigned manner. During the lockdown, I was missing the sport all promised to be inculcating this as a daily habit and I felt a small purpose was met. It was a sense of roles and responsibilities. exercises which our boarding P.T teacher made us do fulfilment. Legacy institutions are known by the people who as a regime. Seeing my parents, I started doing yoga at home. I found it quite rejuvenating and it energized For generations of students he was Subash Bhaiyya walk the talk and leave an impression on the minds me for the entire day. Gradually, I started enjoying it. Unlike many boarding schools, where the students live who would faithfully escort students to the airport of the generations who pass out from the gates of the My yoga practice reminded me to cultivate equanimity in an upper-class bubble completely isolated from the party and take charge of the situation. He would school. Batch after batch remembers the bond which both on and off my mat. majority of the country in which they live, at’ Welham offer help beyond his call of duty. His effort in the support staff forges with the children through Boys’ School the students develop an understanding getting their gas connection in order besides running their roles. My school outreach team has taken an initiative to cater of India and their place in it. The opportunity for them other errands was hugely appreciated by new staff to the needs of abandoned, special needs children of to do this comes through the outreach programmes so members. He would offer his services to make them Shabaash Subash!. Keep going and keep the Welham Aasra home-shelter by engaging in education through many of them participate in as they offer service and feel comfortable and welcome. spirit alive! service. We started by feeding starving families and the proof of its success is the depth of understanding now we are concentrating on perfecting an activity they demonstrate while debating a whole range of He was attached to Mr. Kandhari’s Office and during -Dr. R.M.Bhandari delivery model for the shelter home children. Yoga issues back in school. This is not simply a privileged minority talking; it is a group of talented people with a that time digital communication was in its infancy. was one activity for which I expressed my desire to clear vision of their country’s direction and how they I still remember that he used to pass on stapled or our outreach teacher that I would organise the session and teach the children the importance of a few special can find a role in this journey. enveloped messages to staff members without any exercises which would be helpful for immunity expression on his face. The good thing about him building. I was encouraged and motivated by my Let me end by saying a big thank you to all.We could was that he knew how to read and write. During teachers. not have done it without you! those days, the support staff was also allowed to go for the midterm depending upon the need. He was Teaching teens yoga and that too on a virtual model ‘The best and beautiful things in the world can fond of fishing and enjoyed it during the midterm was an eye-opening and empowering experience I not be touched –They must be felt with the excursions, besides, on weekend outings with staff could ever have. The students of AASRA all came heart.’ members and students. He has varied interests from with an open mind, excited for the session. The Helen Keller painting to craft and most importantly the skill of practised the asanas transparently and attentively. managing things. At first, I was apprehensive if they were following Naman Sarawgi me properly or not but after playing the video, they X If you gave him the task of making up a board, he performed the asanas accurately. They responded to my questions enthusiastically which motivated me to would happily do the job because he used to enjoy explain to them the benefits of each asana and how doing it. Computer literate, he willingly uses his it would help them grow their immunity, confidence wisdom to not only suggest but also correct you and will cultivate willpower to achieve the goals they if you are not doing some routine work correctly. set. My compliments encouraged them to perform the From ringing bells to running daily from offices to asanas in a proper posture. I was thrilled to see the classrooms to keeping things moving in the usual students listening to me. I felt like an elder brother to manner--- he does it all with a smile on his face. them mentoring and teaching them. During CBSE evaluation work, you will notice him assisting teachers with adeptly and efficiency. We started the session with a prayer to start the day I have never seen him complaining and cribbing. He on a good spiritual note and give us strength for the

8 9 Wacky Woodseats The Horizon of Linguistics The Binge-Watch Era Languages are a crucial part of human communication and we all try to involves solving puzzles, whether it is trying to decipher the grammar of You sit yourself down in front of the TV after a long day and choose to start learn more by going beyond our reach to learn new languages. Let us a new language or understanding the patterns of sounds. These puzzles jump into the vast horizon of linguistics. Linguistics is the scientific study require linguists to search for patterns and regulations which builds out watching that new show your friends are talking about. Fast forward to of language. It involves the analysis of language form, language meaning logical reasoning skills. We can recognise these advantages as Third midnight and you’ve completed half a season and end up tempted to stay and language in context., as well as the social, cultural, historical, and Language and that is how schools manage to get their students perfect up for one more episode, even if you know you will be paying for it the political factors that influence language. Being linguistic not only teaches 3 languages. Apart from these languages you should enrol yourselves next morning. This way of going into an entirely different world is called you different languages but also improves you in your communication in learning as many languages as you can. Remember to complete a binge-watching. In a survey conducted by Netflix, 73% of people define and thinking skills. Linguistics research involves talking with native language thoroughly once you start it and just stretch yourself. Language binge-watching as watching between 2-6 episodes of the same TV-show in speakers of different languages and collaborating with a team to develop is a vital part of human connection. Although all species have their ways experiments. Apart from simply understanding the intricacies of world of communicating, humans are the only ones that have mastered cognitive one sitting. Binge-watching creates a sense of community around a show. languages, this knowledge can be applied to improving communication language communication. Language allows us to share our ideas, thoughts According to psychiatrists, binge-watching releases dopamine within the between people, contributing to translation activities, assisting in literacy and feelings with others. It has the power to build societies, but also tear brain which creates a sense of enjoyment and might facilitate folks to relax efforts and treating speech disorders. Linguistics is engaged inthe them down. So now I hope every one of you will be interested in learning and relieve stress but the question arises- is it something that can harm you? scientific research process from finding data, analyzing them and then new languages and follow the tips to perfect them. We know that it may stress your eyes but the imagination boost given by forming conclusions regarding patterns or regulations. Linguistic research series can enhance a person’s personality to a great extent. If we talk about requires writing papers, giving presentations and creating projects. So, -Eklavya Anand linguistics teaches the skills necessary to communicate efficiently using VII money and prices, the average ticket price for cinemas across India was evidence and arguments because linguists read through large amounts around 207₹ and if you include some food and beverages it will be a lot of data, including texts, audios and videos; they are trained to search for costlier. A premium Netflix subscription costs 799₹ per month. Although the essential information among piles of data. Through this process, linguists old-time cinema vibe certainly cannot be beaten, cinemas cannot provide gain intuition as to where and how to approach information. Linguistics the comfort level that streaming services can. However, we should also re- member a few things related to binging. If you binge, it’s very important to stand, stretch and take breaks, for while binge-watching can be fun and feel fulfilled, there’s always the danger of being addicted and obsessed.

The Dilemma of Two Paths Many people cancel plans to sit back and complete a season of popular sit- From a daily schedule starting from 6 with a studying in front of the teacher. The number twenty minutes, like breakfast, meeting our coms. People surely should take pleasure in solitude, however, they should continuous flow of work to a lifestyle where of distractions we have at our homes are more families and also sitting five minutes before the also not adopt a completely anti-social attitude. Those who are identified as even getting up at 9 seems difficult, there is a than enough to distract us from anything. Let class starts! And even if we cut out any one of binge-watchers show signs of fatigue, most symptoms of insomnia, poorer lot of difference between a day in school and us take the example of a digital notification. A these things, we will still not be able to keep sleep quality and greater alertness before going to sleep. We can say that a day at home with online classes. The main mere notification can make our whole thought up with the time. When we are at home, even binge-watchers had a higher likelihood of having poor sleep quality com- difference between online and offline learning process change, so not being able to study if we make a time table, things will keep on pared with those who did not consider themselves to be a binge-watcher. is location. With offline learning students in online classes is almost inevitable. On an changing and it will still be very hard for us to are required to travel to school. With online average day in school, the things are mostly manage our time.While we are in the school, So after all, binge-watching has its benefits and drawbacks. If we do it on learning, the process of teaching and learning scheduled, but in our own homes, things keep we create a habit of doing things on time and balance, binge-watching can be worth doing from time to time. If you find can be conducted from practically anywhere in changing and it is tough to keep a time table we also memorise the things we do during the that you are never leaving your house, you should consider cancelling your the world. In general, it is very hard to learn or and a track of what we are supposed to do at day.Lastly, even though online classes can be Netflix subscription to remedy that problem because it may become a hin- understand in online classes. In offline classes, what time. comfortable, we shall not forget that learning drance to your social life. it is still a bit practical and easy as we are in requires us to come out of our comfort zones. front of the teachers as we are just in front of As we all know, the school has given us a -Achintya Arya them so the students are able to understand twenty-minute break. It is easy to efficiently -Divyam Duggal VIII better. Although online learning has become the utilise this break in school, but in our homes, VIII preferred method for the majority of learners, this time’s value turns out to be much less as it is important not to dismiss the benefits of there are a lot of things we need to do in those

10 11 Musings of a certain brooder as he was entering the portals of adulthood---- Lost in Anonymity My life has become one abstract painting, VE’R’SES An indecipherable collage of brittle dreams, A haphazard assortment of naïve wishes Hauled Suddenly from Solitude Seeking identity in an alien world, Pleading for a little empathy, not love; The doors of love are ajar for those Two Poems. One Heading. You Be The Judge And Jury Who can dally with its whims; Not for paupers like me who yearn for its acceptance--- Everything seems to come with a price tag quoting ‘conditions apply’ Time keeps ticking My earliest memory of life, In a world where values and idealism are but ingredients of a slapstick comedy, People come and go Was a boat in the middle of nowhere, Today I seem ditched by my own beliefs, thwarted by own dreams Filling in you this passion As empty as my stomach, Duped by my own ideals; Making you contemplate to and fro And sightings of any creature were very rare. When I tried to discover a new self, I was greeted by a new abode of nightmares; Today, I lie stranded between a past that haunts and a future that never was meant to be, Obstructions in your mind The sky was blue, Looking for not a voice saying ‘I care’, or a reassuring touch saying ‘I’m there’ Making the head grind And so was the sea, But a way unto ME These words that are taking over Questioning my existence, Where I’m just happy being myself, where no conditions apply, Making you forget even the divine. Was the fuel of my seed. Where no questions are asked, No judgement passed, Out of all the other I had a book which was blue too, Where only a numb quiescence prevails….. ‘Why?’ is the most admired question Filled with colours never seen, - Mr. Raunaq Datta When the mind is full, but mouth empty Wished them in reality, Marking you in a transparent juxtaposition. Which came true.

What My Pet Thinks Sometimes they rise, sometimes they sit down I saw a hand taking me out, I brought a Husky away from his habitation, Sometime they scare, sometimes they flaunt As I woke up in something resembling hospital, He was forced to come and suffered a separation, Sometimes they cry, sometimes they chuckle Surrounded by people, How could I’ve known he was in depression? Sometimes they have it all together I thought I was freed from my misery. He couldn’t even appeal for objection. Sometimes they’re missing the buckle. But there was more to it than I thought, But what if my pet could raise his voice They just don’t choose to leave! Fifteen years in a coma, And could have the freedom to make his choice? Some are the devil, some are to embrace At last, freed from my solitude, What if he could pen down his feelings And could express all that trouble he had been dealing with? The wind shall take the clouds away someday For everything looks peaceful; only at the surface. But what is the point of this freedom? He couldn’t move out, When the blue book’s the only thing I got. As it was as empty as his inside, - Viraj Mahajan The instability could be seen through naked eyes, - Trayambak Pathak His life was a mere house arrest. XI IX

Our help couldn’t reach him, Our desire to get enter a by a pet was sin, For we understand the pain now, For we have taken one’s life.

-Arjun Prasad XI

12 13 Happiness is Overrated Deep Reading: Book Discussions There always comes a phase in life when you feel drained – We have to stop putting so much emphasis on being happy or Spending time with books, reading them, discussing entirely. Like the characters, we can also revisit mentally, physically and emotionally. Everything seems to go being successful at the time we are supposed to be at college them with others creates mental engagement the plot of the book as we sometimes miss some against you and you feel lonely in this world despite having and discover ourselves. Every person is different and so we that enhances vocabulary, thinking skills and portion or part of the story. Other than the book many people around you. You feel absolutely nothing and have to respect their level of growth over the past few years, your thoughts are always in constant discord with what you irrespective of how slow their progress was. A step in the concentration. These qualities are essential for an and the characters we also get to know our fellow expect out of that particular moment. right direction will always be termed as progress, no matter effective social life. It also helps us to increase our mates and peers, their ideas, thoughts, mindsets how many days, weeks or months it took someone to do that general knowledge. For example, I never knew that and more. Not only the groupmates, but also the We have all probably come across one of those mega- since it is a bold step on their behalf to unlearn the toxic and American dollars notes are all uniform in shape, no general mindset of the public, a general idea of what inspirational videos while we are scrolling through our harmful traits they earlier possessed and work upon them to matter the denomination or the fact that they are made people think and how they react. We can also know Instagram feed at 2 in the morning, with it telling us to wake become a better version of themselves. up early, get on the “grind” and have a “warrior mindset that of 75 per cent of cotton and the rest of the 25 per cent about how people of different communities think, never backs down”. All of this happens when we are sitting Philosophically, every feeling and emotion of an individual is is made up of wood. This is just one instance where the differences between them and the similarities. under the covers and munching on some snack with crumbs beautiful in its way. When one learns to handle their emotions books can help us increase our knowledge base. These types of discussions can also improve our all over our clothes. We experience this sudden desire to get and thoughts, that is when they are one step closer from getting Similarly, books can help in cognitive development, social skills because we are pitching our ideas to our life back on track, which gets completely negated in the away with negative thinking altogether. When you are alone, enriching vocabulary, improving thinking skills and others. This can also improve our confidence and next 5 minutes after we see another video on YouTube. Why you are bound to swim through the flood of every thought concentration. You may ask how and I will tell you. speaking skills. Lastly, book discussions are fun, is it like this? irrespective of being good or bad. Certainly, if you read a novel, it does not have to open, friendly conversations that everyone should We have all been part of that frantic chase of being the best: Ultimately, it is always about achieving what you want in your be a particularly long one, something like 150-200 participate in. Getting good marks, being involved in a healthy amount life—nothing more, nothing less. Furthermore, the happiness pages, wherein you sit in one place and you immerse of extra-curricular activities to prove we are not mentally narrative has fast-tracked that approach into a hyperactive yourself in that novel, you are concentrating on that -Vibhav Panwar challenged and have to play one sport or the other because if “warrior mentality” fuelled chase for being successful book. Vocabulary can be improved by simply going VIII we are doing all of these things already, why not add another by having too much money in the bank and having people one to the fray anyway. respect you based on the amount of money you earned. The through the book once, you find new words, new slow and patient approach has been neglected and disregarded phrases and expressions. This automatically helps We are required to do all of the things that constitute the ‘rat entirely since everyone has to get rich fast to make a place to increase and better your vocabulary. When you race’ at a time in our lives when we literally cannot wake up for themselves, the competition being intensely cut-throat and read a book, say, a thriller, you don’t know what on time for anything. A significant reason for this has been overwhelming. will happen but you constantly churn out your own social media since it has allowed the propagation of all these theories; this helps to develop our critical thinking. “inspirational” videos onto Youtube or Instagram, where you In the end, it is all a matter about telling your story the way see gym harpies and Instagram millionaires preaching and you want it to. No one should come in between your narrative Book discussions are discussions essentially based sermonizing about waking up every day with the “warrior and dictate what is right or wrong. ‘Fast and hectic’ wins the on a particular book a group of people have read. mindset” where they are always ready to “seize the day.” race, and so does the ‘slow and steady’. It does not matter if The said group gets together to discuss the book you are winning by an inch or winning by a mile, winning is and to share their own, personal opinions of the All of this talk of being on the top of your game is utter winning. book. These discussions help us to know what the gibberish because social media’s entire model is based upon gaslighting those who are doing the best for themselves and Life will always have ups and downs and fortunately or other person thinks about the book, their mindset, want other people to know. Social media is a place where you unfortunately depending upon how you perceive it, you need their ideas, their perspectives. Based on the groups will always want to be your best version, regardless of whether to understand the fact that in your life, you should never collected ideas and thoughts, it may change the you woke up today with a headache and zero motivation to do consider yourself an issue to be dealt with. Instead, it would way we think, it may change our opinion about the anything, or with a complete miserable feeling for your life. help if you learned how to face the actual issue and get back book. If nothing else, we can revisit a book. Listen on the track of life. to others and know about the content we missed You will also see all of these people preaching on how “To be happy” is the most significant thing one can do for themselves -Vihan Shukla or just simply forgot. In other words, a discussion and have technically shoved something I like to call the X will help us to refresh our memories of the book. “Happiness Narrative” down our throats. Who does not want The characters of a book are quite interesting and to be happy? The irony is, every day, the emphasis on being deserve some attention, sometimes, or most of the happy keeps on increasing and has grown so much during the time, we form our own opinion of the characters; past that we are all now forced and stressed to be happy. How can someone be stressed for trying to be happy? when we discuss them with others, we gain the other person’s opinion and also formulate our own opinions, sometimes reevaluating the character

14 15 COVID 19, domestic violence complaints have risen to a this planet. In hindsight, the monotonous lifestyles that 10- year high. The stress and anxiety have led to increased we had before the pandemic make it seem like we were alcohol consumption. When we take into consideration running an endless rat race with an indefinite goal of Rising Intelligentsia limited access to necessities, the unease of possibly finding happiness. getting infected and most importantly, economic loss, all The universe has multiple ways of communicating its of a sudden the unease one feels becomes truly palpable. ideologies to us. Good and bad both exist in societies but Humans are social animals and when we are deprived of it is all about perspectives. In the materialistic world we things, we are more likely to get more agitated. People may be tied but mentally all of us are free. We have been Impact of COVID-19 who live alone have particularly been struggling with tied by the walls we’ve built around ourselves. Nothing Acceptance of change is the key to evolution. Change is the we must realise our incompetence in this sphere. Humans stress, isolation and fears about the future. Loneliness is stops us from thinking the right thoughts. Let us consider only constant but no one was expecting such a drastic one have known to choose the path of least resistance. For a real predicament that is not to be taken lightly. People this lockdown as a change and one that helps us to grow. in our lives. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that we people in the 21st century, this rule is indifferent. Ease of of all ages, old and young currently need a lot of care and Together, with the right mindset, people can achieve can never be too sure of anything. It swept us under our feet getting things done faster has led to the negligence of our support. The fact that they are not socially connected with whatever we want to. Our minds and ego are all that bind and now poses enormous health, economic, environmental surroundings. No matter how superior we may feel we friends and family members makes it tougher. us from achieving greatness. and social challenge to the entire human population. are, it is nature that prevails ultimately. It all starts with a Imagine a young child whose mother lies in the hospital thought and then slowly creeps up to the mindset. We may Although the effects of this pandemic may seem grim, -Mohin Viraj Gandhi bed. Not being able to see her only makes it worse. The have continued to fuel greed and desires, but at what cost. not all is bad. In terms of the physical environment and XI child, knowing Complete species our ecosystem, there have been astounding results. Air that nothing have been wiped pollution in several cities has had a staggering decline. The can be done to off the face of the improvement in air quality is good for the environment treat her, stares earth due to our and therefore has a direct positive impact on human lifelessly lack of care. Each health. There has also been a change in the consumption outside the day we continue to patterns in almost every economic sector. As Mahatma window while lose thousands of Gandhi said – “The world has enough for everyone’s the mother is animals. It is their need but not enough for everyone’s greed.” Gradually, left isolated, planet as much as the mindset of people is changing. We need to think and alone with it is ours, but the take into consideration everyone’s well being rather than her thoughts. way we are headed, being individualistic in our approaches. Consumption The next day it seems like we patterns have changed. The masses now realise that we the child gets won’t have much of must promote local businesses rather than fuelling the to know that a planet to live in. giants of industries who have gained major capital share the mother The pandemic and dominate the sectors. From the perspective of a has passed has resulted in the student, I see a change in the grassroots of society. away. Imagine world coming to a being that child. Such pain should not be brought upon the standstill. But as Paulo Coelho said, Societies have now started to reorganise themselves worst of enemies. Hundreds of thousands, if not more, are “Not all storms come to disrupt your lives, some come differently in a more sustainable manner that promotes currently suffering this fate. If we continue down this path, to clear your path.” The good and bad in situations will growth for everyone rather than individual benefit. We mental illness will soon be a common phenomenon for this always exist; it is up to us what we focus our attention on. have also gained perspective on how others may live their generation. If we focus on the positive aspects, they will continue to lives. Often enough, our worries are trivial compared to grow. the plight others suffer. The forced lockdown has made Now more than ever, we together need to be aware of us spend time with people that are important to us in the ourselves and our shortcomings if we want to survive. It The scenario has changed things for everyone globally. long run. We must learn to enjoy the time we have on seems like the only viable solution left. Consciousness at People have been laid off from work. Those who were the deepest levels stirs many emotions. Quite often, faith is living lavishly with little worries are now concerned about the only thing that keeps people going through their darkest how they’ll afford their next meal. The situation is dire, times. Amazingly, intangible qualities like these affect to say the least. In some cases, people who aren’t able to such real-life scenarios. In the case of our environment, cope with stress, unleash their vexation at home. During

16 17 Is it better to move outside India for education beyond secondary schooling? Welhamite Speaks Teacher Speaks Various qualms come into the picture when one is to decide UK or America is first taught the rules, then how to break After their school leaving exams, students disperse and pushes students to think beyond boundaries of the feasibility of moving outside India for education them and remake them. in different directions according to their merit, India to explore, extend and enrich their learning. beyond secondary schooling, especially from the parent’s Moreover, the resources offered by foreign universities affordability and purpose to achieve their cherished perspective. are miles ahead of Indian colleges. They offer state-of- dreams. In life, education comes in the form of a There are designer schools which add an the-art facilities, ground-breaking research opportunities, package--one having boundaries which leads to ‘international’ tag to increase their number of To better understand a student’s point of view, let’s a strong build of the alumni network and a holistic acquiring a formal certification and the other being intakes by offering international curriculums such examine why would someone even want to study abroad education for better employability. the limitless absorption and adaptation of undefined as International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge whilst the availability of highly competitive universities Some might call this an unnecessary factor but the fact within the country. remains, receiving a degree from a foreign university that learning with no formal structure. The capacity of Assessment International Examinations (CAIE). Do is deemed prestigious by the whole world will increase the learner to stretch and spread out to maximise students passing from these schools have a different I think most students are fascinated by a foreign lifestyle, your chances of employability in any country, even India. opportunities depends upon the learner’s zeal to find world view or set of skills? How many of them can while also because the admission process is more holistic, Moreover, you will interact with different people from a way to live and be contented in life. sustain the pressure of getting into colleges in India? contrary to what they see in India. They are not wrong - across the globe, learn from your peers and collaborate On the contrary, we have students passing out from indeed, studying abroad will help you stay a notch ahead with them for many projects. Typically, a student in class XII oscillates between the the Navodaya Vidyalayas who are making it into of students who chose to stay at home and study from Studying abroad does call for one to step out of their mainstream syllabus and the add-on preparations to JEE Advanced and NEET without making a noise. Indian universities. This assertion is based around two comfort zone, but at the same time, it has surprising secure admission for a regular or a professional course. The aspirational approach between the financially arguments: Versatility and Quality of Education. Let’s benefits that parents rule out while making their decision. The surplus effort required to get into top colleges is privileged and academically proficient students is up take an example. An Indian, who wants to take the road A returning student from a foreign university, academics at the cost of compromising overall learning and at for debate. Does this social disparity influence the less travelled and study literature in India has little or kept aside, is a well-rounded adult who is emotionally times, making choices which are sometimes uncalled future decisions of students? This year’s Advanced no encouragement to do so. Indian courses are broadly mature, independent, outgoing and can manage his for. On one hand, the brighter lot of students in most Joint Entrance exams topper, Chirag Falor decided to categorized into STEM & Finance. On the other hand, finances well. Along with this, you get to be a part of there is a rich variety of courses available abroad. Even if various clubs, societies and organisations, allowing you of the schools choose to align themselves with the take admission in MIT over IIT. Does it imply that you plan on pursuing a STEM course, you aren’t limited to explore your interests and hobbies. flow of coaching, thereby improving their chances our education system is skewed? to it. The education system is rather liberal in these of success rather than creating and contributing universities and one can pursue the career as well as their Therefore, I’d like to conclude by saying that despite the something for acknowledgement and appreciation. I completely agree that education in our country needs passion. I can be an architect who sings, a musician who major financial investments and emotional burdens, it is On the other hand, the privileged lot aspires to take attention and interventions to improve and hook on cooks, an engineer who dances, and everything I want to advantageous to move outside of India for education after advantage of global education and the remaining to the global changes. Yet, the great thing about our be. secondary schooling. lot slogs to outperform each other in order to seek education is that it is robust and rigorous, catering to admission in the country itself. The quest for scoring a diverse segment of the society. There is great hope Moving on to my second argument, even though the - Aaryan Mahipal marks creates a lot of unrest in those who, despite and promise in our education system but there is still standard of courses available in colleges across India is XII- Sci. getting admission to top notch colleges, find it hard to a long way to go to achieve those. A slew of measures developing, it is immensely lacking in opportunities for co-exist with the stark realities of life. Scoring well at with a touch of forward thinking is proposed in the practical applications of skills. the Boards does not necessarily imply learning well. NEP. A student receiving a Bachelor’s degree from a foreign The craze for marks transforms a learner into a smart Yes, there is no second opinion that the benefit of a country will inherently pick up essential skills for a consumer of knowledge and he gets caught in the trap foreign education, acquired with a purpose adds a strong work ethic including communication, independent of memorization rather than building on curiosity to layer to one’s perspective besides increasing domain research, socializing and time management. Along those construct levels of learning. The worrisome part of knowledge. Numerous opportunities, apart from lines, American universities enforce a strong emphasis on this exercise is when the top scorers are given undue state-of-the-art facilities, attract students very much. innovation and technology that is seemingly absent from publicity with bubbled objectives. The sad part of That education teaches how to conduct research, work Indian universities. this is when credit for the success of an individual laterally across disciplines, think critically, analyse is claimed by several claimants. Moreover, schools problems and communicate clearly, succinctly In my opinion, the education approach between the adore the toppers as perfect products for enhancing and cross culturally. The pedagogy encourages the schooling system in India and abroad makes most of the their own market value. The unrealistic cut-offs in unfolding of learning and deepening of understanding. difference. An engineering student in India is taught the our colleges generates mind boggling competition The shift from ‘acquiring to applying’ gets enhanced. rules and then are co-opted into the practice of following them. On the other hand, an Engineering student in the

18 19 agreements because of concerns over its judicial Everything depends on whether the learner is using become truly global citizens. independence and ‘human rights record’. All the acts Not in Delirium the qualification for its face value or intrinsic value. of China in Hong Kong have spread an enormous IX The prosperity of a nation is measured in terms of amount of hatred against the Beijing government and It’s 3:07 am and the hallway is empty, The eerie white walls are staring at me, Has our education system failed to live up to the impact of education on its citizens and their China has already published Chinese origin books the expectations of our youth? The growing response to it. The humane and ethical values My convulsing body is laying helpless, and started regulating them in schools to make the On the hospital bed. disenchantment with higher education is because should not be distant from the learner. History bears future generation ‘qualified for the Chinese system’. of a paucity of good second rung undergraduate testimony to the fact that Gandhi, Nehru, Ambedkar To hide its doings they state that all has been done The collapsing walls are laughing, At my desolation… institutes in the country. Also, the far from and other stalwarts had foreign qualifications and to provoke the feeling of patriotism for their country satisfactory rankings of Indian Universities contributed immensely to the development of the And I just wait, wait for the sun to rise, in the people. Government ignorance can affect its and extinguish the bleakness of this room. at the global level discourages young minds. nation. Real education is when one gives back to people and the world in many ways; hiding a matter in True learning enables decision making which is society in different ways so that social inequality is the name of nationalism is just an act to cover up the I realise, I can’t close my eyes, It’s the seizure again. discreetly acquired through consistent engagement, bridged and thereby promotes peace and prosperity acts of the government. These red herrings can affect curiosity and observation without the conscious for the betterment of our existence on this planet. Panic-stricken, I look at my grotesque self. people in many ways. Just parallel to this situation is effort to acquire a certificate. The hard boundaries today’s India-- the way all the crimes and brutality The taut muscles of my left hand, between different transactional methodologies R.M.Bhandari happening around in the country take shelter in the Fail to grab the bottle of phenytoin. and curriculum are being levelled so that learners It fell, the tablets all over the teal floor, name of nationalism. Whoever tries to throw light The bottle, shattered, like my faith. upon important issues which have to be tackled is automatically considered an anti-national. These red Every drop of tear flows back into my eyes. Red herrings in the name of Nationalism herrings not only start from the government but also Even though they’re rheumy, I can see it approaching, Nationalism is a sense of belief and pride towards basic human rights for everyone whereas China is the media, which is supposed to be the voice of the That apparition, again. one’s nation. This feeling has been fueling the exact opposite. Hong Kong’s government has people but now becomes the voice of the government. many countries’ or as an example, our country’s been trying to push a bill which will extradite those On an individual level when a citizen is misled and They say it’s epilepsy, unaware of the situation, they tend to rather connect And prescribe me bottles of pericyazine. development and future but as we advance this convicted of crimes back to Taiwan and China. Hong But I know, it’s real, very sense of pride towards the nation it has been Kong leader Carrie Lam has stated that the proposed to the government and the level of the movement is And not a mere hallucination. changing over the years as it is being used as a red bill is very crucial so that a community consisting of suppressed. Even in the era of social networking, the herring to hide the matters on which we should pay 7 million people will not become a magnet for amount of citizen connectivity varies from place to The air is frigid, place and it is not limited to posting about a situation Indicating the beginning of the third episode, attention. To understand it more deeply, let us look at fugitives. China has previously Of my encounter, with the Profane. the situation of Hong Kong-China. Hong Kong as we been excluded from just for the sake of it. Let us take the example of the all know is a semi-autonomous nation with its money extradition “Black Lives Matter” movement. Despite continuous I can feel it going inside me, bank,passports, immigration channels and legal efforts by the government to defame the movement Like a gallon of ice, swallowed at once, through red herrings such as “anarchy” and “unlawful It gains control over my body system. But it isn’t quite independent either. Hong And latches on to my soul. Kong was never an independent country. Britain behaviour”, citizen connectivity and the presence of ruled the region as a British colony until 1997 when a the media as the voice of the people exposed such The episode lasts for minutes, 99-year lease expired. China agreed to govern Hong strategies. The Government’s ignorance leads to Its end declared by a fit of nausea. such violations of ethics where it can degenerate the The relieving sensation of muscles loosening up. Kong under the principle of one country, two systems and the deal was left with China when Britain ceded society to an extent where the government rule will I look into the mirror, its control. However, in the last few years Hong silence the voice of the people. As such, as the cases Blood smeared all over my mouth. Kong residents have become fearful of mainland rise the number of countermeasures needs to rise too. No, it’s not uncanny anymore, We, as a global community, have to reach a level I’ve learned to live with it… Chinese control. In 2014, China’s Central People’s Government released a report stating that Hong of connectivity where red herrings cannot affect us, The other half of me, which will ultimately lead to the creation of a society The worse one, will soon conquer me, Kong’s judiciary should be subordinate to and not FOR independent of the government. that betters itself everyday. And I’ll be gone forever. And still, they’ll think, it was psychosis, all along.

One of the main existing problems is that Honk -Manvi Makkar Kong is a pro-democracy state and has a set of -Trayambak Pathak X

20 21 The International Community Should Seek to word Limit International Interference war

When I say that I seek a world where certain nations did not toppled. All of this was supposedly part of a larger fight be- The world that we live in today would be much too dif- manity at large. The prospect of benefit from intervention interfere in the social, political and economic affairs of cer- tween capitalism and communism. And so, while the fight ferent without nations intervening to stop blatant abuses only serves as a potent incentive for countries to interfere tain other nations, I say that from the perspective of a benev- may have been ideological, the lives lost were much too lit- on the freedom, dignity and liberty of people around the where it is needed. It cannot be assumed to be something Against olent bystander and not as direct stakeholders in the poten- eral. Even today, the people of Cuba suffer from heavy sanc- world. While international intervention has been used for inherently bad, rather a catalyst for positive tial profit or loss of any of the nations involved. In that sense, tions just because they chose to follow a path different from pursuing domestic national interests, the net end result has change. States have a responsibility to protect when monetary, military or political gain is removed from that which is followed by the rest of the world. always been largely positive, regardless of the motivations their inhabitants’ human rights and their sover- the equation of international intervention, all that remains behind nations interfering in the first place. Even though eignty is dependable upon the same obligation is historical precedent and moral justification. By both these But, says the globalist, international intervention is justified certain parties have profited from interfering in another na- so that when they fail to do so, their sovereign standards, historical and moral, international intervention not by historical precedent, which can only serve to supple- tion’s affairs, the results of said interference have been ben- rights are forfeited. The ‘responsibility to pro- stands to be largely unjustified and counter-intuitive. Let us ment an argument, but by morals and ethics, which make eficial for those suffering under the yoke of tyranny. One tect’ doctrine introduced a new definition of dissect both these dimensions, one by one. up the meat of any logical argument. The fact of the matter, need not be skeptical to acknowledge that a country would a state’s sovereignty which now included the however, is that the individuals and entities that stand to gain be shirking its moral responsibilities to its own people if state’s responsibility to protect its own citizens It has almost become cliched to say that it was internation- from international intervention are not constituents of affect- it intervenes without consideration of its national interests. from any atrocities and when they are unwill- al intervention that countered the Nazi ideology and ended ed countries, but war profiteers, arms manufacturers and oil A universal approach to international affairs does not reject ing or unable to do so the global community tyranny in Germany, setting examples for decades to come. giants. If international intervention was, in fact, justified by the validity of the pursuit of legitimate national interests, has a responsibility to put an end to any crimes Using World War 2 as historical precedent for international morals, then the outcomes of many instances of interven- the respect for a state’s sovereignty and the need for inter- inflicted upon the human race. The right to life benevolence is inappropriate for two very important reasons. tions ought to have been largely positive. They were not. national peace when they are human-centric and accom- and other human rights are universalizable and First, intervention against the Germans was not meant to Who they were positive towards, however, were the Wash- modate global interests. To respect a state’s sovereignty it serve as the bedrock for humanitarian interven- benefit the world order from the very beginning. The Ameri- ington oil lobbyists and Congressional warmongers. Today, must have a legitimate government whose legitimacy is tion making it legally justifiable. cans joining World War 2 was never a question of ideological at a time when more fairness creams are produced than Ma- difficult to judge, therefore, when sovereignty becomes an disagreement or disgust, it was always a question of territo- laria vaccines, the decision to undertake any action, whether obstruction to protecting human rights and maintaining in- But what does a future where nations are left rial sovereignty and of counter-aggression to the Japanese to intervene or not in another country’s affairs, is determined ternational order due to a failed government, a legitimate to their own means and foreign intervention is attack on Pearl Harbor. The same is true for the British and by cost-benefit analyses. If instead morals and ethics were entity will have to fill the void. limited look like? For one, the constant cycle of geopolitical the Soviets. For many years, the UK and its government fol- the driving force behind geopolitical decisions, genocides isolationism demagoguery by right-wing populists would lowed a policy of ‘appeasement’ towards Nazi Germany and would not have been met with blind eyes, suffering populac- It is imperative that we reinterpret sovereignty as an instru- become much too real. Opportunistic tyrants would make the USSR even signed a non-aggression pact with it. It was es would not have been sanctioned and tyrants would have mental norm and not an absolute one so that when govern- use of this very isolationism to further their own interests only when the Axis posed a tangible threat to the Allies did been promptly ousted. As is sufficiently evident, this has not ments fail to fulfil their obligation to protect human rights and ideology which would again warrant prompt interna- they attack and thus there was never a humanitarian aspect been the case for much of modern history. another state may intervene. When we talk about limiting tional intervention. To put an end to this vicious cycle, na- to World War 2. The second reason is that the new world international intervention, we are essentially talking about tions should continue with sustained oversight and interfer- order generated and galvanized post-World War 2 was and is At risk of being misinterpreted, I must clarify a few things. leaving sovereign nations to their own means and creating a ence and participate in mutual dialogue and discourse. All highly selfish, for the lack of a better word. Under the name International aid and humanitarian projects are not forms breeding ground for potential tyranny and oppression. Time of this requires nations to be active in their outlooks toward of multilateralism, forces and counter-forces have come to of international intervention. When a nation intervenes, it and again, whenever prominent and powerful nations have the rest of the international community and subsequently dominate much of international politics; yesterday it was the does so at the cost of the other nation’s integrity, sovereignty isolated themselves from the international arena, the result- requires a certain degree of international interference. USSR, today it is China. For a large chunk of the interna- and autonomy. And thus, limiting international intervention ing vacuum in international oversight has bred tyrants and tional community, the effects of international benevolence would serve to minimize instances of counter-intuitive in- created environments conducive towards right-wing, ultra- -Hrittvik Moody and aid are only expected to ‘trickle down’. A historically terventions that stand to destabilize a nation’s political and nationalist mobilisation. And when that happens nations are XI materialist analysis would reveal that this world economic structure. What I have done throughout the course again forced to intervene, albeit to a much greater degree. order was only possible because of World War 2 of this article is to show the reader how international inter- Sustained international oversight by multilateral organisa- and the power vacuum formed after it. vention is motivated not by morality or benevolent ideology, tions has always served in the best interest of humanity. but by prospects of tangible gains and threats of tangible But we would be remiss to think that there are losses. And thus limiting something that exists primarily for But these international organizations exist because of a no counter-examples to this narrative of inter- profit would be in the greater interest of humanity. legitimized understanding in the international fraternity. national and ideological benevolence. The fruits Each nation agrees to divert a certain amount of resourc- borne even by ‘ideological’ international inter- -Samanyu Malik es to these organizations along with agreeing to potentially FOR ference, unlike WW2, have also been rotten. XI interfere in a nation’s affairs if it starts to oppress its own From the Korean peninsula to Vietnam to Chile, people or overstep its boundaries with other sovereign the effects (read consequences) of ideological internation- nations. And that is why we cannot assume that all inter- al interference have been dire. Bombs have been dropped, national intervention does not further the interests of hu- farms and forests destroyed and legitimate governments Importance of Consistency OTT PLATFORMS DECISION People who achieve their goals in their life and are early on. They learn and practise the correct action On the 11th of November, the Government of and are much better than certain Bollywood successful are simply said to be intelligent or may be and motion, but it is difficult to produce results. It just India brought OTT Platforms (such as Netflix and movies which are just based on toxic masculinity, ambitious. However, there is just one element which seems like the basket is too small and too far away. Prime Video) and social platforms under the ambit patriarchy, homophobia, etc. Good movies never turns an average successful person into a masterpiece However, for several weeks, months and years, the of the information and broadcasting ministry, pass the censor board. For instance, a film called that is, ‘consistency’. It is the strongest brick for child continues to practise their shooting technique. which simply means that these platforms will face ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ which portrays some making a tower and is the most crucial ingredient for And they are beginning to score more baskets by stricter censorship laws, similar to censorship lesser-known aspects about women such as their achieving success. Consistency is a commitment to repetition. And this is known as the consistency of laws are applied on television. Particularly, there sexual urges had to pass through miles of red tape ourselves for being regular and putting in concerted practising which is responsible for the existence would be censorships on cuss words, nudity, drugs just to be released. Apparently, it was censored efforts from time to time continuously. All the of legends like Michael Jordan, Lebron James and and everything else which the government deems because of vulgarity. This is what our censor responsibility lies in our own hands. It is therefore many more. unsuitable. For example, even if the government board looks like and if the same standards would important to hold ourselves responsible for choices. officials found this article offensive, they’ll censor start applying on these platforms, we would never In our experience, we have seen many intelligent, or remove this. In my opinion, this is a direct attack be able to see actual good movies. This decision is The chief reason why people struggle is if they don`t skilled individuals failing due to lack of discipline. on freedom of speech and expression because not beneficial for any of us or even the forthcoming get immediate results from their actions, they don’t If we truly think introspectively, we will see for many creators will not get as much liberty as they generations. I am happy that many people do not see the point in continuing those actions over a long ourselves that we ourselves are responsible for used to get to express themselves on matters of support this decision but many people also didn’t period and that is wrong. Consistency doesn’t mean foregoing valuable time. It is easy to blame, to controversy. For instance, comedy is something support CAA/NRC and I don’t think any of them being quick at something, it is rather about being lament, to moan but it superficially excludes us from which is inherently meant to be offensive to achieved what they wanted. steady at work. For example, when a child starts to accountability. But this mentality means that in the someone or something; if any government learn walking, he falls, gets up and this cycle goes long run, we are robbed of even the slightest chances official thinks that any clip is offensive toany -Pranay Dhaka on. Imagine, if he thinks, why should he walk, if we might get to redeem ourselves later in our life. religion, culture or the government itself, he/she IX he is falling again and again. This is a situation in Today is the day we have to consider whether we will remove or censor it. At this moment, where which he would never learn to walk. But the child wish to lead a life of mediocrity and like ordinaries liberalisation in all spheres should be the norm is consistent with the practice of walking and that’s or lead a life of satisfaction and pleasure while being and people should be exposed to more quality what makes the child achieve the goal. All we consistent. content in general, our government is creating the have to do is work like this baby which is by being exact opposite circumstances. The Prime Minister consistent with our efforts in trying to achieve our - Rakshit Khurana of India refers to India as ‘the largest democracy goal. IX ‘.This is not nearly how a democracy is supposed to function wherein someone can’t even say In this way, we develop discipline and self-control. anything publicly when they want to. Self-control is needed to be reliable, which means we don’t allow ourselves to get off track. This will There was a reason why everybody shifted from help us develop the necessary discipline to keep television to OTT and other social platforms going. It is this discipline which can monitor your because there was an increasing amount of progress or growth quickly. Consistency can lead censorship on television and subsequently a to progression, which will accelerate the process of decrease in quality content. Everybody wanted achieving what we want so badly. This will boost a platform where everything could be free our self-confidence, which will allow us to set goals from censorship and red tape. It was never only that are bigger and more complicated. For a moment, something which was to be used for purposes of imagine a kid learning how to shoot a basketball. In entertainment. There are movies and TV series the beginning, the kid is shown the correct method which are never going to pass the censor board’s of how to shoot the ball. However, things aren’t easy standards, but are available on OTT platforms

24 25 VE’R’SES Literary Affiars The Dungeon of The Mind

Two Poems. One Heading. You Be The Judge And Jury Jonathan Livingston Seagull – the Metaphor

In the dungeons of my mind, The mind is itself a devil where several thoughts Literature, especially fables, has an uncanny in their quest for the truth and chose not to be Was trapped a hideous girl, come and blow away like the wind, habit of portraying human behaviour through silenced by authority. He embodies tenacity to She told me to do things, Some of them are strange, weird or revolutionary fascinating metaphors. Stories like ‘The tortoise an extent we assume impossible but get inspired Things which I regret. It is impossible for a fabulous mind, and the rabbit’, ‘The monkey and the crocodile’ by. After moving beyond to another plane of to let bad thoughts enter like burning up are common knowledge but fables are not limited existence, he decided to return to those who Even though it was wrong, A garden in a gardener’s mind. to children’s stories. ‘Jonathan Livingston need him. Now, his tenacity not only fuelled his She talked me into it, Seagull’ by Richard Bach, probably one of the growth but supplemented the gulls whose lives Once there was a man with pockets greatest fables of our time, explores an idea he would touch. Soon a small group of inquisitive For she said, but not having a single penny, That it will make you better. that is horizons beyond Aesop’s fables but stays birds took shape, who trained and then aimed to His mind was his key to everything, true to its change the society that shunned them. They were Being a priest, he was honest like the day, genre. This not very different The desire of getting better, humble as a lamb and as kind as the king. Consumed my whole conscience, story of a gull society captures the from a essence of our history where canonical secret And it fueled her sayings, He was a man to whom requests for help principles prevailed; being different meant society during the times For me to implement it. came in without hesitance, being feared and the fight for progress meant of the French Revolution, maybe the Many thought how he helps without any ulterior motive, risking everything. author’s version of Young Italy or Young Told me to steal things, Europe. Which made gave my Well, it was the humility and kindness that did not let poverty get in the way of helping others. The plot follows the story of Jonathan inside demon contentment, Livingston Seagull, a bird who is extremely Even though John managed to inspire change, Even forced to steal my mother’s One day he found a box of lead curious to unravel the secrets of flying. his teachings were soon covered up in ceremony jewellery and I did so. repulsive like a lump of coal Whereas, his society looks at it as means to feed and religion. The true essence of his tenacity and Curiosily he went towards the box, themselves and nothing more. They look down teachings were declared too holy to be taught as My parents caught me red- handed, He found a crown with some diamonds embossed on those who disagree to the extent of vilifying if he was a God. I believe this narrative is very She said the only option was to Still emotions were kept at bay, Johnathan’s preference to quench his thirst for similar to that of religion today. Teachings and put them to sleep who created me, To malice and avarice, say nay knowledge over a humble hunger for fish and religious philosophy have been misinterpreted And I did what I always had, bait. In the end, Johnathan was cast out but innumerable times and true knowledge lay Leaving me alone in my mind Thoughts of him getting rich consumed him and he did that did not stop him from growing and soon hidden behind layers of miscommunication and and the world. what he thought and he wasn’t the same anymore, he found solace with like minded gulls. The heavily obscured by manipulations to exploit Because he was trapped in the dungeon of his mind, author has, in simple words, modelled the era religion for selfish ends. Modern day Jihadists, -Rakshit Khurana and the demon inside had left. of inquisition of the Catholic church, when non- the inquisitions of the past and religious IX believers were labelled heretics and silenced. violence can be attributed to misinterpretation -Keshav Agarwal Johnathan’s character is a reflection of people and manipulation of such beliefs. These people IX like Copernicus who challenged the status quo compromise the very morality that their religions

26 27 preach by re-defining them for personal gain and deep history filled with emotion which inspired power. its search. Along with theory, knowledge passes The Privilege of an Opinion on the determination that was needed for its The various obstacles Johnathan Gull and the invention or discovery, so that it can grow with progress of the human society faced are disregard each successive generation. The world might for new discoveries and misinterpretation. demonstrate that this is not possible but forsaking Anshul’s feet were paining. They had been hurting for not walking till his feet felt numb. Looking at this led me to question that can this hope would mean accepting knowledge is not quite a few days now. Four, to be exact. “Maybe I should have asked the doctor”, he thought. And so Anshul watched. He walked in the great Indian knowledge and tenacity be passed on without meant to grow or to be passed on in its true form. This thought made him smile, a painful smile, to be sure, Savannah, trudging alongside the hundreds of others that corruption? Like Mr. Bach I hope that this is but it was the result of a painful memory. The doctor shared a similar, unfortunate fate. It was the land that had possible because knowledge is much more than -Viraj Lohia was a clutz of a man. He was barely a man. A mere bested empires, from the Mughals to the British. Every theory written on pages of paper. It carries a XI student, about 20 years in age, but instead of spending man who had trudged on its dry, hard earth had cursed time chasing girls and getting introduced to bad hobbies it. No one bested the central Indian Savanah, especially by his friends, this student was at the Jharkhand border, in the summer and Anshul and thousands of others were whisked there alongside his friends by the government. learning this lesson the hard way. His job? To don one of those ghastly white suits and help The Weaver’s Will with the testing of the migrants. Anshul remembered the But there was hope. There were rumours of a kind doctor, 20 years his younger, joking about how despite man who had organised buses for the poor migrants to all the harm it had caused, the disease still wasn’t the return home. And that too at no cost to the labourers worst Chinese products he had ever encountered. themselves. Life in the city had tried its best to make Ages ago there lived a weaver, Scowled and bellowed, the lords and ladies, In his effort to make the poor migrant laugh, the yet to the migrants forget that vestiges of kindness still existed In the town of Amerold, When the trapdoor was closed. be certified doctor had forgotten to check the numbers in a country that called the world it’s family. There She wove the richest of silk and muslin, Now, for works paler than the weaver’s displayed on the white, pistol-like device in his hands. were also some utterings among the Dhaba owners, But wore clothes tattered and old. They paid lofty sums of gold. But the line behind Anshul was long and the doctor was who’s children regularly read the newspaper, about the confident that nothing was out of order. government reopening the trains for free. But these were The applauded street of Fleet, Soon the winter dance came around, mere rumours. Housed the weavers- grand, the nobles dressed to impress, But she lived in the basement but on that fateful eve, Then he patted the digital thermometer with his Of the smallest shop in the land. the retainers outshone even the empress. juvenile hands, awarded the uncouth migrant one of his Generation after generation, the poor of the Indian trademark winks. Anshul was still trying to understand subcontinent had learnt the futility of hope. With so little Her work outdid that of the masters, ’T was a night no teller foretold, what he had said in his polished, upper-class Hindi, but control over their own life, it made little sense to sit and But she never wore what she wove, While the servants danced their fill. the tap on his behind by the escorting policeman’s stick discuss things. The luxury of a relevant opinion was not and worked day and night The gentry cried and shrieked, was motivation enough for him to move along. something these men could afford. Instead, they shut For all of it had to be sold. For, it was the weaver’s will. their mouths, squared their shoulders, uttered a simple With renewed vigour, Anshul continued on his path. prayer and trudged ahead. Each day, her shelves would be empty, -Viraj Lohia He had started from Pune approximately 10 days ago. The nobility would buy her out. XI Taking two but dimed for one, Initially, he had been able to convince a man with a -Mrinank Chandar Still, they would curse and shout. bullock cart to let him travel alongside him, but soon, XI funds had run out. All he had now, were the clothes They called her, dowdy and unkempt on his raw, sunburnt back, scarce funds for food in his and her shop a foul cellar pocket (or hidden in a secret sleeve, to be precise), his but as they cursed, they picked her work tattered slippers, and hope in his heart. and wore it to dances-stellar. Anshul knew the route well. He had used it 2 times every On one fine morn, she closed the shop year for the last 20 years. To open the backdoor, Once for Chatt Puja, and once on any other holiday, the She sold all her fine pieces To servants rushing down the road. sahib let him take. Except Anshul was used to sitting on the back of a bus,

28 29 TO 2021

The victim of one of my most recent I’m-missing-school rants told me that we’ll wander around aimlessly around a path that doesn’t look any- thought that we’d end up here, like this, so in love with something so something rather intriguing; she told me, “At least we got our original thing like its namesake, or that after that very aimless wandering, we’ll strange. None of us expected to find the best feelings in the world, all families for a bit”, and suddenly I was barraged by a number of epiph- all take the most serene naps in a library, of all places? And finally, how rolled up in one big, brown package. And that’s why we’re afraid of anies (not that I have those very often). Three months of staying away do I tell her of the most amazing conversations - intelligent or not - in losing this near perfect thing. We’re afraid that just as these strangers from school tells you a lot of things, so does not being able to enter the balconies, and rooms; conversations where half of us are trying to make walked into our lives and made it heaven, life is going to phase them one room you’ve been yearning for (for various reasons) and so does sense of the world and the other half is trying to figure out why we’d out, forever. A lockdown isn’t helping and so isn’t time. not seeing the people you’ve practically grown up with (and probably even want to do something like this. won’t see for God knows how long). After 5 years of constantly being in denial, I’ll finally concede and say, The first image that barged into my head was that of my mother. I Welham Boys isn’t the best boys boarding school in the land, not by a imagined what it would feel like sending her child away from her, for margin. But what Welham is, is the best ‘home-away-from-home’ that the second time in a decade and then realise that when he comes back someone could possibly have. It is here that you realise that coming to a he’ll practically be an adult, his childhood and naivety long gone. What boarding school was never about “being independent”, and “maturing”; my friend told me suddenly made a lot of sense. However, something because if it was, we’ve failed glamourously. We failed, because in the seemed off this time. The thought of being away from my parents for years that all of us have spent here, we’ve learnt to depend on our broth- another couple of years, possibly in a different country didn’t fry my ers for everything - to pull us through thick and thin - and instead of nerves as much as it would have 5 years ago. However, something else maturing, we’ve learnt how to become even more childish; to be more did… straightforward and honest with the world around us. And that’s what the point behind coming to Welham was and that’s what I’m going to The second image that I saw came in just as fast as the first one, and tell you, and so will my batch mates. it was one that, for some reason, felt closer home. This image was an image of six misfit 12-year-olds on their first day at Welham Boys’, As for why you should believe us? Because we managed to stick to clueless about what was to come. One thing led to another and the next Welham despite being a million miles away. We managed to stick to thing I knew, my terrified sister had to listen to psychotic soliloquies the feeling of saying “5 ka sikka, 10 ka note” at home; that feeling of about WELMUN and the Oliphant,; Lean On and Paradise in the Beth- 20 people sitting in a room that was made for 8 and having the time of any, our escapades during camps in 10th, even the tiniest things like the our lives; the feeling that even when everything seemed to be wrong, whole batch standing up together during assembly (remember that?); it still wasn’t, because we had family and finally, that feeling of being the election that turned out so different and the tears that flowed before together, even if we had plasma screens and a thousand kilometres sep- and after. I could see the surprise in a day schooler’s eyes when she arating us. heard of absolute strangers hugging me as I cried while three 50 year olds decided my future, and of the same ‘brothers’ who hugged me after That’s what the 70 of you mean to me. We might not get all the love and every little triumph. I told her of people who I barely converse with, respect we should for making it through, but take it from me, you’re the but would probably lay down my life for. In the same breath, I also told best of the lot - I wouldn’t trade you for the coolest kids in the world. I her about the people I’ve counselled at 3 in the night and have gotten mean, you’re making me write a thousand word letter telling you how counselling from at the weirdest hours of the day, the people I call my much I love you as I play ‘Lean On’ on repeat, aren’t you? ‘brothers’, people I didn’t even know existed before the 1st of April It’s weird that we should feel strange about separation from family. I 2015. mean we’ve all ‘been there, done that’ right? All of us decided to say To you 2021 goodbye to our childhoods and comfort zones a couple of years ago to Hsp_G What I didn’t tell her was how much more I loved the place. Even for a come here in this seemingly harsh place, only to realise that this place child as gifted with words as I am, it’s impossible to explain how much would turn out to be a comfort zone better than home and a place safer you fall in love with the strangest things about a place. How do I tell her than family. Personally, I think it’s because we’re more afraid of losing that I’ve fallen in love with a building whose sole purpose is to provide this family that we just luckily stumbled upon - a family gifted to us, if food to me, 3 times a day (with the occasional cake)? How do I tell her you will. None of us, by even the wildest of imaginations would have

30 31 Wavelength (if it comes out this time) that he did was pick a worthy successor (which is An occurrence rarer than the blue moon would be also subject to the test of time). But despite all that, Wavelength coming out on an occasion other than the editorial board is proud of its creation and will Founders’ and Baisakhi. But we are not complaining scorn and spite at other magazines (so much so, we about that by any means, we are rather thankful to decided to put it in the Lampoon) and never look in the board for clearly demarcating the times when the messes of their own magazine, specifically the lasagna they publish the magazine, giving us ample time ‘humour section’ and ‘Lampoon’. A mess which is to delve into the inner workings of the magazine. also added to by Yours Truly (which is also why I While most years, the Wavelength functions can be so direct). aimlessly, this year they overcompensated by having two Editor In Chiefs - both with their own -The Lampooner Lampoon plans for the magazine. Innoventure Online Magazines This year, under a rather motivated Edi, Innoventure set out with the goal to rival the Oliphant in the number of issues published and Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the well. So in my book, a pat on the back is deserved. re-imagine the role of the ‘business magazine’ school and all its activities are being conducted The only problem that was large enough for their in school by setting (often outdated) themes. online. This obviously caused disruptions, but excellent troubleshooting skills was contributors However, the early enthusiasm soon watered down there was an institution that not only emerged not being able to type in Hindi. But they overcame and threatening regular calls were reduced to the unscathed from this but also seemed to have this problem through some quick thinking and gentle touch of Whatsapp messages. So much so, taken this opportunity to serve. We are talking some quick help from kind, unmindful strangers that the July issue was ‘redone’ and published in of course about school magazines. What would and their already published pieces on the internet. November (why waste the effort). Shreyansh has we be without our (plagiarized and typo-filled) Wow, Sankalp does have an ability to bring out the absolute faith in his editorial board of novices, and mouthpieces. Magazines haven’t suffered much best in people. his confidence is only bolstered by the ‘deputy’s’ because work could be done and compiled online ability to handle everything on his behalf. (except for Sankalp they ended up having a hard Politicia time as always). The magazines although did end People were saying earlier this year that the Politicia The Oliphant up diligently serving the environmental cause. had finally fulfilled the reason for its creation and Let’s end with the hosts. To be fair, we don’t As they went without printing hundreds of glossy we can now look at its possible retirement. But all need a reason to laugh at The Oliphant. We just papers that would have otherwise carried their (un) of that is not true. Politicia has a dedicated writing need to social-distance from their wack ‘humour ingenuous half-plagiarized bi-annual columns (The and editing staff of 5 full people, so all that is just section’. This year’s cycle actually began in early exception being the Oliphant of course). As we unwarranted criticism. The school clearly has a February for the Oliphant; that is also where the draw the curtain on what was an eventful year to knack for and loves the excellent ‘political’ content cycle ended. After publishing that edition we were say the least, here is a look at how the year treated that Politicia creates. I mean, who doesn’t love forced to come back home due to the pandemic, all the online magazines: pieces that are paraphrased from already published and from there on, it has been a bumpy ride. While articles in mainstream media outlets. It’s not as the first few editions that we took out online were Sankalp if people rely on actual media houses for their borderline bearable, they soon became reflective The board members of Sankalp didn’t actually news anyways. A courageous paragon of political of the board’s own diminishing hope - the short notice anything different about their process this journalism, what sets Politicia apart is the courage lived collective enthusiasm vaporised and board year, to be fair. The chaos, the lack of response that the writers and editors have to ‘differ’ with members started going AWOL. It is a testament to from readers, the shortage of willing contributors, what’s popular and write something ‘out of the box’ how excited everyone is to work for the Oliphant. no editions coming out; everything that your usual in each issue (a process that, no doubt, begins at the The Editor In Chief was absconding from this duty, Sankalp board encounters through the year was all very top). and for a long period was seen lamenting his loss of there. Therefore, I don’t think we can go and criticize the High Table one. However, the one good thing Sankalp here, it would be unfair. They have done

32 33 Twelfthies Unleashed ARYA SHAHI JATIN DAHIYA SAKSHAM AHLAWAT SUPHAL SHARMA Advit Ahuja ARJUN DHILLON Alias: Kaddu Alias: Dhilaaaun Alias: Shahi Alias: Jateen Alias: Phodu, Teetu Alias: Jaat, Saxam Style: Taka Tak Style: Dhillon Clan Style: Techie, Hacker Style: National Crush, CLAT Style: Identity crisis, Umakant sir Style: Haryana, PUBG Stigma: PayTM Stigma: Elder Brother Stigma: Low FPS, Lag Stigma: Girls Schools Stigma: Srikanth Sir Stigma: Academics Famous Moment: Skating Rink Famous Moment: Abhay was school Famous Moment: Hacking Webcam Famous Moment: School House Captain Famous Moment: Rejoining school Mantra - Easy subjects are the prerequisites Advit seems to have bipolar disorder, for there is captain A techie in the truest sense of the word, Shahi’s The self proclaimed National Crush, Jatin has Suphal personifies the words bubbly and confused. to scoring anything no other explanation for the amount of times he’s Never in his entire life will the word ‘pressure’ have only aim in life is to create a life ‘Dedsec’. Low FPS long given up on his pursuit at being a jack of all Someone who’s lived with a consistent identity crisis A true Haryanvi at heart, Saksham has long gone back and forth in the same relationship. While meant something to Dhillon more than it does now. and lag are the bane of his existence, and while trades. He’s a topic of conversation in a number in school, he seems to believe that he’s been reborn abandoned his academic pursuits. Instead, he some may attribute it to not being over his first love Joining school right after his brother’s rather glorious his gaming skills are unparalleled, he’s taken his of girls’ schools...as well as boys, but for all the after having lasered the ‘parasite’ off his nose. Like focuses on being the condescending voice of every (TakaTak), Kaddu has someone else to turn to in tenure as school captain, Dhillaaaun had lots to live interest in hacking to another level altogether. Ask wrong reasons. A favourite in Political Science most serious sciencees, Phodu decided to leave team he plays for, be it basketball or football (his case things don’t turn out to be as he’d hoped. An up to, and little to offer. And while a brother’s name him a question about Windows or macOS, and his and Legal Studies classes, Jateen is the first one to school after Grade X and try his hand at coaching. dad can ‘afford’ for him to do it too). Unlike most expert at playing football, while his skill may not is usually enough to guarantee one’s ‘protection’ in rather condescending reply will be, “Use Linux bro”. be ‘conjulated’ after every achievement. If only this Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be and Teetu others, his mantra to passing any exam is to have have been enough for the school team, Advit has the house, Arjun’s legacy has unfortunately been Like real life hackers, Shahi believes in maintaining appeasement had happened at the right time, Jatin came back scampering to his beloved Umakant the easiest subject combination possible. This become a constant in every Skating Rink feature. confined to as the ‘resource’ boy for Cauvery 12th. anonymity, and while we’re nobody to fuel the would have been at the post he really wanted. sir. Rumour has it that he is the only living soul on year has been harder than most on Saksham as his rumours, it is said that this anonymity stems from campus who can challenge Srikanth sir’s kick on the budding PUBG career halted even before it took his unsuccessful exploits across the border. bum. off. Dev Gupta KUMAR HARSHVARDHAN DIVYANSH GUPTA UDAY KAJLA AYAAN SUHAIL VARDHAAN KHANNA Alias: Polpu, Baldau Alias: DG, Takla Alias: Takla, Babboo, Cancer Alias: Kajle, Majnu Alias: Khanna, Sexa Alias: Dawood, Jallad Style: Fake JAW SAW Style: Lionel Messi from Bhadohi, Scholar’s Style: Desi Katta, Bihari Style: Majnu bhai, Shirt Size 34 Style: Shivansh Style: Gaming Fan Stigma: Baski A team Tie Stigma: Speaking Stigma: Nominations Stigma: WGS Stigma: Junior School IT Lab Famous Moment: Basky Tournament in SA Stigma: 12th Science Famous Moment: Voracious Reader Award Famous Moment: President of the Famous Moment: Shivansh becoming Mantra - If it speaks, you don’t reply Dev joined the school as a rather innocent, shy Famous Moment: High Table The Invisible Man of the batch, Takla likes to let AWrganisations Ganga House Prefect If there is someone in the world who’s proud of being young boy, but he soon realised that he needed the explosiveness stay in the family. Judging by a sociopath, it’s Ayaan. Unlike his brother, Ayaan is DG’s transformation (not due to Glow and Lovely) Ever since the disappointments of March, Kajla has A funny guy with a passion for cracking jokes on to move up the ladder. While his efforts in his obsession with the bald look (Sardar Khan?) quite ‘explosive’ in nature. The real ‘techie’ of the from a Scholar to a sciencee will leave many overcompensated for his lack of an official leadership himself, Khanna’s talent for exaggerating the costs of basketball only took him as far as South Africa, and depressing books, one could mistake him for batch, if there is a problem that he can’t solve, it surprised. The underrated Messi from Bhadohi can position by becoming president of every possible his perfumes and watches is unparalleled. Being sent continuous disappointments led him to try and a patient. Harsh’s family inspired him to take up probably doesn’t even exist. Jallad is well versed in often be seen lamenting the tragedy that his life has underground awrganisation. However, under the home was a blessing in disguise, because he didn’t join (unofficially and rather unsuccessfully) some shooting, but how well those efforts served him is arts so dark that one could be forgiven for thinking become (the effect on his hairline is evident). A sakth guy facade is a Majnu bhai (as is evident by his have to learn to stay without his beloved Shivansh. higher organisations in school. It is said that Dev has still to be seen. Jiya Ho Bihar Ke Lala! he carries more than just a laptop fan in his bag. broken man, even his ascendance to the high table gait), painting in the wait of his beloved. And while Sexa has accepted that when people laugh, they now resorted to telling people about an imaginary Another member of the BOO gang, it is advisable to wasn’t able to raise his spirits. Oli hopes that he can his hard work on the field might suggest otherwise, laugh at him, not with him. And no matter how bad girlfriend in order to salvage the popularity he has maintain your distance at any point in time. come to terms with his fate of being a sciencee in his shirt size has remained constant ever since he a mood or how grim a setting, there is nothing that left. time. joined. his trademark laugh can’t solve.

34 35 you know, you know) Famous Moment: Main (if Field Reporting Stigma: High Table Style: Wannabe, Prediction Jaini,Alias: Meetha Dance IPSC Famous Moment: Ganga House Dance, Stigma: “Stalk” market Style: streets, the Tik Tok Thakooor Carpet, Alias: ask for. ask doesn’t himon send any more ‘leaves’ that he doesn’t each inter sorely be house will missed. We hope life Gangaite at his heart, ‘predictions’ for first in place got else nobody then, it ifhe didn’t, right?). Atrue relationship, and ‘Akshat the Jain’ (but legacy successfully going inlife: his surprisingly long there’s only two things he’s able been to keep ‘accidents’ his uncontrollable mouth has caused, mishaps at Welham. Truth told, be the with all of listing liberty the taken each one of Akshat’s The list of stigmas would have overflowed if we’d beatboxer afterall. and get serious about his dreams of becoming a one day marketfrom shift hisstalk the focus local of Welham at Dance the IPSC.We hope that he can a dancer came last year he when united sides both (Nachos are secret, some the say) point his high as toneed doanything to reach unspeakable heights in his choice of clothes). Someone doesn’t who embraced that he belongs to streets the (as is evident The ‘kewlest’ guybatch,the in Thakooor has finally DHRUV SINGH AKSHAT JAIN 36 Famous Moment: Inter House Music Stigma: Music Captain Style: Tabla Bugga, MocchiAlias: Famous Moment: Jayesh leaving school Stigma: No HTCity Style: Hindi poetry GangubaiAlias: his memory. Gangubai has resorted to writing Hindi in poems Jayesh,with pal, his best but eversinceschool, he left grade, Divyansh could oftenbe spotted hanging out worth of HT City’s stashed inside. Before 10th has it that an locker extra with he ayear’s possesses Divyansh is up to confines inthe bed. of his Rumour personality,A sneaky you never know what with his inconsequential musical endeavours. knows what he’s up to. The Oliphant sympathises he’s(a legacy inherited from daddy don) nobody kept secret;and apart from honing his English skills elsewhere. The inner workings of his life are a well lonerthe wherever vibe he school and inthe goes, careDebopom takes is person who the of spreading DIVYANSH GOEL DEBOPOM DE Famous Moment: Ganga House Dance Stigma: Pimples Style: Sannidhya, Fulkaariyan Moti,Alias: Patiala Pal High point- Captain Art Stigma: Tanishq Rijhal Style: Too short tosomebody find Hamster,Alias: Dodo, Do-dhai enough for him (inferiority complex). is, Shivam unable has been tosomebody find short there are to perks as being short and nimble as he hard duty of batch’s the being punching While bag. a literal relief to Tanishq, he nowthe has to fulfil by Yashwardhan. While into his walking school was has single handedly 8years ruined of “hard work” dhamaka”,bada inhis two years at Welham, Shivam A mansaying,the personifies who packet,“Chota moment.the Captain School the competing for his affections at beat. Rumour has it, Ganga the House Captain and really shed his ‘silent’ as facade he twerked to the Bhangrathe he didfor Ganga the House, Devansh with himas there are pimples on his face. Known for simpleseemingly man, Moti holds as many secrets enough to not misuse his rather strong influence. A With place, inahigh Moti afriend kind has been SHIVAM DODAI DEVANSH MITTAL Hill Famous Moment: score 3000high on Bikes Stigma: BR Sir, Poverty Style: Jai Kothari, Accounts Gunnu,Alias: Kothawwrriii Famous Moment: Scholars’ Scarf Stigma: Mom Style: Politicia KT,Alias: (mama’s boy) binging show anew on Netflix. scoreshigh inany game possible VOODOO or Joy sir’s Gunnu books, good found can be breaking Baazaar kinds). When not occupied with in being him to shed his identity of a‘Kothawwrii’ being (the As much to as hidehis he bling, tries it’s difficult for his (younger) brother, Jai has already made inschool. Gunnu always remembered will be by legacies the It is unfortunate that despite efforts, his best all disseminating to news his football friends. (Mommy don dangerous), can be he seen can be not slogging it out to score than higher 100marks youwhen have enforcers to doyour job).When he’s In of Chief Politicia the becomes easy (everything Kartik has probably had easiest the jobas Editor really on goes windows the behind on his eyes. young man, really nobody has any about idea what platter would an be overstatement. An industrious To say that on Kartik has received asilver everything KARTIK TRIPATHI GUNIT KOTHARI Science Stigma: When clock 12,Political the strikes Style: Arguing, Debating Sardar,Alias: Bondu Famous Moment: Exchange South Africa Famous Moment: Shooting Welham Newz Stigma: Suyash Style: Balli Suar,Alias: Amar Chaudhary finally have found his ‘godfather’. Welham Newz year, this it as though seems he may effortextra he’s put into shooting footage forthe of his inner circle. However, as is evident from the of Ganga house, he’s to become part struggled still laptop, to using cheap humour - to appease ‘don’ the Despite efforts hisfrom best - buying an expensive attempts to become one at of trying ‘cool’ the ones. The highlight Balli’sof life havefutile his been someone. to makeeagerly conversation trying with a certain and seen in Southhis behind can Africa, heart be in KTMa’am’s class. Rumour has it that Harkirt left mark, only the place where Harkirt is subjugated is window. A man clock is always whose stuck at 12 the into an argument with himand jumps logic out the sardar,peaceful but make mistake the of getting At firstglance, Harkirt may come off asa rather KRISH GOYAL HARKIRT ANAND Famous Moment: Academics Captain Stigma: Expectation Style: Jai Vikram, Focussss Tiklam,Alias: Ille High point -Yoga Display Stigma: MCGS, Prefects Room Style: RSS,Gyan Sir Hawa,Alias: Dandi another politician inside Ganga. are clear, hecampaigning could oftenseen be for “secular” outlook. While his connections to RSS the Benarasi, Kushagra has trouble accepting school’s the get room himthe he wanted. actually Adevout as Yoga captain, it’s unfortunate that didn’t post the seriously. While he is rather dedicated to his duties histakes responsibilities at yoga the room very A man of stature bold and aquirky Kushagra grin, acadi). true sermonisingseen people to study and (like focus a his brother’s inschool, Tiklam can legacy oftenbe few younger ones has who come closest to repeating aboveplaced entrance himinthe exam. One of the howsurprise 3other people (including Akshat Jain) same feats have often kept him up at night. It is a class 7and of expectation 8,the repeating those people maywhile not have forgotten 98%of the he almost lost his coveted position to Ishaan. And has only felt threatened once and that was when Throughoutthe course of his entire life, Harsh KUSHAGRA DIDWANIA Harsh Vikram Singh 37 Country Famous Moment: place at Last Cross Stigma: Project Mahipal, Ishaan Kapoor Style: Poddar, Shaurya Summer School Mohipol,Alias: Hool Famous Moment: Welham Newz Director Stigma: (surprisingly enough) camera the Style: Techy, Binge Watching Nepali LA, Alias: list of ‘clients’. writing college seen can applications be for along juggling with his non-existent existential he crises, possible summer schoolprogramme. When he’s not failures drove him to a rabid spree of attending any to Ishaan usurp of year the trying Kapoor’s his post, reputation as a Aftertedha. beginning thespending atrun last Cross the year hima earned Country and thickfrom wrong the places, his infamous kinds ofall (in work posts more than duty). Thin disaster, talking A walking, Mahipal holds virtually haunt time. himevery is that it’s his own beloved camera that to seems atlook his own photos it is all for takes one to realise is anybody’s cinematographer, guess). Askilled one it faster than himto you (how expected it he does game to finish series to or a binge, and he’ll finish know exist. True to his Nepali nature, give Rohan a toseems have, and access to places that people don’t pridetakes inhaving contacts that else nobody A product of school’s the dental care program, Rohan ROHAN AGRAWAL AARYAN MAHIPAL 38 Sec-Gen Famous Moment: Shreyansh becoming Stigma: English language, RW Ma’am Style: Business, shreyansh GarfieldAlias: you know) High point Feb,2020 -27th (If you know, Stigma: 242,Shashwat Ranjan Style: Behenon kaBhai, Son-shrey, Edi Digit,Alias: Ghodu venturesthe light see finally day.of charm. The Oliphant his all hopes weird business smoothly as he can appease people with his Kanpur Garfield personalitiescan between his 9 shift as (unsuccessfully) reprimanding people inEnglish. embracedwho Welham the lingo, he now resorts to has made himawannabe From socialite. someone 2015, but it’s unfortunate that Shreyansh’s company Mayank joined school as arather normal in kid to his preferred college. to hope that Digit, his unlike predecessor, makes it withboard H-242.The his experiences Oli is obliged schools country, in the Sanshray haunted is still by may of boast having abillion sisters across girls’ all upended biting hard. back very himinthe While he one to Son-shrey time make decided Shrey proud, it doesn’t evenmatter. Usually nature, of adocile the Sanshray hard, so tried got far, so but end inthe it SANSHRAY GHORAWAT Mayank Moolchandani Table Famous Moment: Announcement on High Stigma: House Gandhi Reportings, Style: Johnny bhai, Jallad Baahubali,Alias: Khamba, Hodor tion Famous Moment: Suyash’s(non)nomina Stigma: Red EyesStigma: Red Style: LGBTQ Bholu,Alias: Nashedi through memes and old Musicallys. Judging from is his unique of sense humour, expressed mostly Whatgirlfriend. apart Pulkit sets from others the with as much ‘wisdom’, Khamba hasn’t yet found a a silent, Gandhian boy. It’s that tragic for someone bulky guy, under Pulkit’s likeBaahubali frame lies you, for he is sweetest the person inclass 12.A tall notDo let his towering height and big biceps scare this year.this wasPulkit lucky to not conduct any house meetings his misadventures with announcement the mic, to ballot. the heartbroken his when beloved Dholu didn’t make it his goals personal are limited, Bholu was visibly into he’s thinking of part an AWrganisaton. While radiates innocence, his eyesoften deceivepeople cold night. on Thoughhis avery bed his heart person, he won’t hesitate ifyou asked to borrow by overbeing welcoming at friendly A very times. person, ShivamA usually friendly scares offpeople SHIVAM AGARWAL PULKIT JOSHI - Famous Moment: Nominations Stigma: Shivam Style: MIB, CLAT Aalu,Alias: Dholu Famous Moment: @moving_with_meraki Stigma: Captain Art Style: Day Boarders BappiAlias: don’t know about?). Suyash enrolled CLAT inthe classes (someone we work out incollege, can’t we still find a whyreason industriousvery business to turn to ifthings don’t samedo the for his lackeys though). While he has a managed important all tothe secure room (couldn’t he didn’tAnd while get he post ‘deserved’, the he well, DB sir’s judgement precedes his reputation. (no such thing publicity). as bad While he means name possible is discussion heard at inevery school A rather loud personality, Suyash makes sure his niceties to ‘darker’niceties hidethe hobbies he has. guy at Bappi heart, often overcompensatesthe but eventually had to leave empty handed. A good skating Bappi rink, was ‘almost there’ at places, both Having spent a lot of room art in the time and the footstepsthe of two consecutive Squash captains. enough, ask Yashwardhan how it’s following been in If following footsteps inthe of one brother was hard YASHWARDHAN SUYASH MITTAL examination Famous Moment: There’salways a re- Stigma: Science 12th Style: Shayari, Saudi, Oxford Makhmood Alias: eyes Stigma: out Looking from corner the of his time Style: Loading Zappy Ghoda, Alias: normal pace. Famous Moment: Finishing anything at a true onetrue day. Oxford (don’t ask us, we don’t know either) comes Oli hopes that his dream of studying Engineering at stories of his various exploits and ‘missions’. The Tahir found can be entertaining juniors the with When he’s not occupied inwriting love shayaris, convinced school for the himto continue science. firstthe attempt, and it’s ahowsurprise hasTahir hasn’t asingle exam where been Tahir in has passed bomb waiting to explode. Rumour has it that there behaviour, one forgiven could be for he’s thinking a Judging by surprising the levels of calmness inTahir’s the daythe is amystery. perfectly, what his eyes are staring at at any point in While most of his normal motor function skills repeatedbeen 5 and times tested in even class.been finished comprehendingsomething, it’s gotten over, Chrome, eraofthe Google by has Garvit time the example. perfect the been The Bing browser in If humans would had loading Garvit times, have GARVIT AGARWAL TAHIR MAHMOOD Famous Moment: Housefeast dance Stigma: Words, Words Dirty Style: Silence, Drama OCD Alias: Famous Moment: Yearbook Edi Stigma: Akshat Jain, Light Style: Black Panther Mau,Alias: Sheesh thriller on Netflix.thriller found bingeing through any kindof psychotic teen of racistwith victim the being jokes, Mau can be badge that matters most. the When he’s not occupied correspondents’ badges, Mau canflaunt finally the it was merely amess up of similar names, after 3 to gain what his. While was rightfully some believe Akshat quite literally rose from “ashes” the year this cannot associate with Vedant. aftersaying a word,‘dirty’ there is no thatquirk one itstage. literally Be washing his pillow, or meditating talents, many of are which showcased only on the is aman ofengrossed OCD inhis many books, company for over 10years is beyond us. Always innocent so can and be yet not inwith wrong the fall a rather at uneventful decade school. How someone Known for his silent demeanour, Vedant has spent AKSHAT AGARWAL VEDANT SWARUP 39 Famous Moment: Squash Captain Stigma: Maths Style: Oscar BhanduAlias: Captain Famous Moment: Nomination for School Stigma: Games Time Style: Rockstar, Hibernation Dixit,Alias: Buddha life anymore. to squash, only the thing thatwith him fills hope in father’s inMaths, legacy he’s now his efforts focussed household. Aconstant disappointment to his him or Oscar who’s son the Bhandari inthe actually boardingthe life. There’s confusion still whether it’s A day boarder has who seamlessly transitioned into where old this man can’t found be sleeping. to Games Time,allergy and there is not asingle day he may pretend apolymath, to be Buddha has an with ‘heartbreak’ the made peace of part it. While Jordan from Rockstar, and it as ifhe’s seems finally inlife togoal follow has been footsteps inthe of find him questioningpolicies.school Prakhar’s only conversation with Pandey sir, hours later you may While on one in hand steeped he seen can be sycophant the balanced and rebel the inside him. versatileA truly personality, Dixit has carefully PRAKHAR DIXIT ADITYA BHANDARI 40 you know) Famous Moment: Farewell (ifyou know, Stigma: iPad Pro, Angels people’sStyle: Other girls, Dixit Richie Rich,Alias: Choti Famous Moment: with JBSir call Close Stigma: Heights Style: Finsta, Casual, Hacked PUBG Paspa,Alias: PSG (JB Sir still doesn’t Sir still (JB know). by time, day or risk of the having a teacher in front His pursuit of reaching greater heights is unaffected follow his passion streamer. of becoming aPUBG hogaye….), he recently had to give up studying to friends the, get firachhe friends serious (casual they Someone ingetting believes who out of things before various ‘trips’ on Pranav’s outlook on life is evident. Once anormal lovelorn teenager, effect the of ‘struggles’ and ‘disappointments’ incollege essays. Squash player, he’s now resorted to writing about his responsible for multiple breakups. Once adedicated for angels, Choti’s cute charm and has smile been activity inschool. Infamousillegal for his affinity a mission (and resources) the possible to doevery height or hair, for under that is facade aman with Karan is aheartthrob. Don’t fooled by be his lack of The boyshort yourgirl didn’t warn you about, PRANAV GUPTA KARAN DALMIA Famous Moment: FIX5Champion Stigma: Goalkeeping Style: Moustache, CCU Dheela,Alias: Kullu Famous Moment: Captain Basketball Stigma: Science 12th Style: English Debating, Peaky Blinders Baba Alias: what’s really taught being inBio class. doctor, we hope he can finally start focussing on soo…like) or Thomas the Shelby way. A budding it- be through his excellent debating (yeah skills great lengths to convince people to agree with him strongly believes who inalot of go things, Sai to will by not able being to doanything about it. Someone atBasketball its lowest, Sai must disappointed be For someone inherited seemingly Welham who roll. a may Kullu suggest otherwise, is not, perpetually, on dream of. his eyesand And while quirky moustache for club the with as much passion as people can only Menchester Unaited fan, Kullu defend will his love as ifhe couldseem drop at dead any moment. A over his long hands, always his eyeswill make it forgoalkeeper school. the With no control seemingly It is amystery how Kullu number the is still one SAI SHARAN VATS KULVINDER DAHIYA Famous Moment: WELMUN‘19 Stigma: Formal clothes Style: Sycophancy, S^3 Khachhar Dalla, Alias: Famous Moment: Madhav leaving school Stigma: Being oversizedStigma: Being Style: SKD (Shashwat, Kullu, Dubey) Mashwat,Alias: Daanav him. how many so people, inand out of like school, still for swings, The Oliphant mood fails to understand includes a tie. Despite his weird lifestyle and affinity anything ‘classy’, or wearing any of sort attire that glory,full Khachhar incapable is practically of doing school captains forward look to spending year the in his share didcome inhandy after all). mostWhile however, quite has been unchallenged (giving away at WELMUN ‘19. Histop, to journey very the under Sannidhya’sdirt He rug. almost lost it all For someone with aclean record, there’s alot of intricacies of with Kullu football and Divyansh. one push. Shashwat can debating oftenseen be the allows himto literally bump people into air the with on pitch,boots football the Daanav’s huge frame he’ssportsperson, while often felt too big for his have renunciated getting involved again. An adept same for himsince Madhav left, andseems he to breakupthe of Mashwat. hasn’t School the been Rumour has it that Shashwat reeling is still from SHASHWAT SINHA SANNIDHYA AGGARWAL Famous Moment: Vatsal’s Nomination Stigma: Aloo KeStigma: Aloo Parathe Style: Vatsal’s Teddy bear, Panda Teddy,Alias: Chhaiyam Famous Moment: Almost Leaving School Password Interaction,Stigma: Social Laptop Style: Blue and Grey, S^3 Jappy,Alias: Tubelight him. contentsthe of his laptop from people the around his ways life, devisingnew he seen of can be hiding once. When he’s not busy lamenting tragedies the of muchso that he arather evenfaked sentimental exit day. jokes All aside though, Jappy loves school the instead of blue is evident oneach his face horrified regret the analyzing of everything, wearing brown andheart brain. all Someone inover believes who To blunt, very be Shreyansh is aman with no Sunday’s ke parathe. aloo is areallywho softbear has a teddy weakness for reallythan are. they Under Saiyam’s hard exterior scarier make looks seem them people whose those life to Vatsal’sbeing right hand guy. Another one of there is Saiyam. Aman has who devoted his Welham There are loyalpeople, ultra loyalpeople, thenand SHREYANSH JINDAL SANYAM GOYAL Award Famous Moment: Subject Chemistry Stigma: Highest Second Style: Chatur TopperAlias: the Peacockthe stage Famous Moment: Performing Genius on Stigma: Curved surfaces, MCGS surfaces, Stigma: Curved Style: Genius, FIFA, Fortnite FlattyAlias: doesn’t have it to experience again. in class is enough to depress anyone -Oli hopes he hollowthe on look hishe’s facewhen second best Ishaan....). Though it hasn’t alotseen been times, of and aspirations of along list of people (Aaryan, Satwik, unintentionally has broken dreams the In simpler deserves. Science words,messiah 12th Ishaan’s plans of domination. Science Satwik is the The whoone has single handedlyall of spoiled any effect functioningthe on of his brain. wonders his unusual whether shape head has had by athesis on how market the works. One often Ultimate Team, or you may find yourselfbarraged make sure not to mention words the FIFA or and any WELMUN.During point in aconversation, reelingstill from disappointments the of BVCMUN it’s Aconfident Suryansh Dalmia. young man, he’s contraption of boxes, come and closer you’ll realise fromLook afar and you might sight a walking SURYANSH DALMIA SATWIK AGARWAL 41 Famous Moment: Society Film Stigma: Uncontrolled Hair Growth Style: Netflix, Marvel Barad,Alias: South Indian Bihari Famous Moment: Gym Captain (oops) Stigma: Ambanis inKanpur,Style: Bentley Gym Cheelu,Alias: Dhinchak graduates. awaited Honour’s Society Film before Board he and fanatic, film we hope he’s able to the get much carefully planning out hisMarvel schedule. A true manages to maintain ‘chick the magnet’ fitness by could anybody’s rival skills inschool, he still man’s understanding. his binge And while watching an uncontrolled rate of hair growth, is beyond any he manages to for make girls fall him,despite having Varad is living proof of evolution the of man. How Gym year. this (likesecond best most other things inhis life) inthe got far”, so have he will content to be with being The literalvideos. manifestation of so hard, “tried his earnings come from Dhinchak Pooja’s Youtube in Kanpur, it that is believed amajor portion of batch. inthe rich kid The owner Bentleythe of only BatmanThe to Tawde’s Superman, Vedantthe is real VEDANT AGARWAL VARAD VENKAT 42 Famous Moment: S^3Prediction Stigma: Humour Section Style: No Ingliss Beedi-sa Speaking, Pandit Barun, Alias: Famous Moment: moment Every of his life Stigma: Market Stalk Style: Bikki Dubey Da Alias: college. hopes he cansomeone find to ‘ground him’ in disappointingyielded returns, and Oliphant the others, his investments “stalk inthe market” have hasn’tDubey there, ‘been done that’. many Like existence 10, there’s in grade no activity where Da 7toin grade becoming bane the of Saurav Sinha’s infamous From he does. for everything T-Republic but Dubey’s life mission to make has himself been Normal Welhamite’s pride take inhaving highlights, what sophistication means (no literally, ask him). Varun, for life the of him,won’t able be to tell you protein shake and iPad inhis hand, ifyou asked him, he may And while roamotherwise. around with a ‘divisionthe of power’ amongst S^3suggest the to shed image the of aPandit, his predictions of one of Editors). Senior the Despite efforts his best to have things English to all (including an allergy humour magazine, of Varun very this section seems As is evident from his various appearances inthe VISHWASH DUBEY VARUN KHANDELWAL Famous Moment: RoundSquare President Stigma: MIB Style: 100M Alias:Travis Famous Moment: Joining Welham Stigma: His predecessor Style: Vizag Anga,Alias: Ille lockdown. his influence on Yash been subjugated has the by Pranav.detrimental to him -befriended We hope Welham and soon, rightly didwhat very would be Yash, contrary to most boys, new learnt ways the of lackthe of an accent around everyone surprises him. atset school. Though he claimsfrombe to Vizag, nature, considering standards high the his namesake Yash’s enigmatic nature is acompulsion rather than one last before time graduating. gets to visit his beloved room (balcony included) less about pursuits lesser the of life. We hope Vatsal ofbeginning year, the Man the In Black couldn’t care have forcefully been handed a ‘Behtar Post’ at the to live life like Travis. to fullest the While he may multiple joint ventures balcony, inthe Vatsal likes to ‘slow things down’ is understandable. Part of For someone as fast on field the as Vatsal,the urge YASH AGARWAL VATSAL GOEL Famous Moment: Chomeen at Tuckshop Stigma: Ishaan Kapoor Style: Chowmein GargAlias: Famous Moment: Table Tennis Captain Stigma: wind the Style: Eating Danda,Alias: Paddy “nicer” contemporary. his plaudits academic have overshadowed been by a are deceptive. at it Apoet heart, that is sad most of for asecond, and you notice that will his truly looks on his plate; but put aside his affinity for chowmein in 2015,Garg has ensured that he always has alot his trademark laugh. Ever since joining school the A proud Aaryan has come Sciencee, known to be for school is his table tennis racquet. it that only the thing that keeps him‘grounded’ in he’s as ghost, rumour ashe thin is.has Apale still dinner, that you that realise is it atragedy truly how sufferedthe ordeal of sitting across him during Paddy really comes alive. It is only after you’ve surprisingly Krishnaite, calm it is inBethany that Parthwhether up ended wrong inthe house. A One conversation it is all for takes one to wonder PARTH DANGWAL AARYAN GARG Famous Moment: Subject Choices Stigma: Cannibalism Style: Wrong Stream Jaanvar,Alias: Adimanav Famous Moment: from Cheeps Dubai Stigma: Poverty Style: Money TawdeAlias: Cheeps). you hear of boughtstuff fancy the has Dev (Dubaian were luxuries that couldn’t bought, be just wait till life inherited can or be bought. If you thought there have him.Tawde unnerved that believes anything in batch,in the Vedant’s to 9seems ingrade arrival on his own birthday. Once undisputed the rich brat to buy here PS5s,Dev was sending out them as gifts he wanted to). While rest the of world the struggled his ‘own’ home (Imean, he could buy it inasecond if Already living feels life, thatthe truly Dev school is conversationevery that reaches his ears. back from thought giving a very out opinion on of Rinchin’s fellow “intellectuals”, Arjun never holds that involves abite himtaking out of someone. One nature, and don’t if there surprised is an be incident a human faceto cover it up, Arjun is an animal by going for himis anybody’s guess. While he may have teachersscience and opted for commerce -how that’s buta sciencee, on D-Day, he betrayed his beloved Up until to destined Grade become X,Arjun seemed DEV SHARMA ARJUN CHAUHAN Famous Moment: Kabir Singh with Dodai Stigma: Light Style: Center Fresh, Fake Accent Kaalu,Alias: Koyla Famous Moment: Sneaking inFood Stigma: Veg Momo Style: Mount Abu, Aditya Mehra Alias:Non Veg Momo house. to cooking Maggi -for his “godfather” inKrishna doing kinds of all jobs - from in phones sneaking on Netflix.trustworthy A lackey, seen canbe he achievement of having watched possible show every highlight of his short tenure at Welham the has been mostthe un-Krishna Krishnaite -Mehra. The intosettled life inKrishna house by befriending One of two the warring momos batch, inthe Gautam hours” accompany people as ahuman torch “dark inthe beaming smile, it is rumoured that he often has to kinds ofreact to all information with his trademark arebe, asight (kisne touch to see kiya?). One to uneventful. His outbursts, however rare may they His life ever since joining rather school has the been softfrustrated demeanour withSciencee life. liesa The literal manifestation of Ismail Koyla, under his GAUTAM JAIN AARYAN RASTOGI 43 Famous Moment: Sneaking inFood Stigma: Non Veg Momo Style: Bihari, Panda VegAlias: Momo Famous Moment: nahi, compulsory Legal Stigma: Karan Dalmia Style: Highest In TheRoom Chaar (420) Alias: Sau Bees experienced all aspects of Welham the aspects all experienced nightlife. Under his panda like appearance, lies afox has who eventually resulted inan run. unsuccessful food One of his many attempts Krishnaite a true to be Momo’s silent personality lies a resourceful boy. for his money. Asurprisingly classy Bihari, under more than capable of giving his counterpart a run The other member the of momo duopoly, Momo is to him. at himfrom above, ‘angels’ the haven’t kind too been business. Peep Lil And while might looking down be along to weirdest the raps as he about goes his punk rockstar inside humming himand seen can be JAWthe and SAW. Chaar has Sauembraced the Bees becoming apatronhas been of organisations such as (or night) is on aroll. The highlight schoolof his life Welham effortlessly. Kalind at anypoint theday of One of boys few new the has who fit into life at KALIND LATH HARSH SINGHANIA 44 (Please reply)(Please Famous Moment: Big fan from india Stigma: Pre-Sc Style: Magician 2.0,Baba Chadda Alias: Facebook, NATO ‘18 Famous Moment: Mercedes Ad CLA on Stigma: Karan Dalmia Style: Kolkata, Wannabe Mehra,Alias: Bakra ask Karan). disappointments of WELMUN ‘18 and MGD (just heartbreaks, Mehra has moved on from in style the something he likes. While he’s had his fair share of let up any opportunity to ask for prices ifhe sees with a‘bakri’ laugh. Acar fanatic, Mehra not will to follow plans his party trademark imaginary A wannabe at one heart, can him always expect forgiven for he was actually aJamunaite. thinking permanentThe ‘refugee’ of Jamuna, yoube could that he was put into wrong the house afterall. Aditya Mehra to seems have accepted fact the SC from across border. the hope help his skills running himavoid Pre- acertain during liketo lockdown. Dev the exactly look We teamBasketball from him,he’s it taken upon himself left on delivered. heWhile didn’t get tothe inherit To fair, be Hiten should, by now, to being used be waitingis still for his idol’s reply on Instagram. Basketball Theteam’s ‘Most Valuable Player’, Hiten ADITYA MEHRA HITEN GARG Famous Moment: LRC Meetings Council Stigma: Aaryan Mahipal Style:Under table the Chausa,Alias: Chatur Famous Moment: USAVisa Interview Stigma: English the language Style: Ujjwal Sharma, Ramjhula Bikki Alias: a visa to USAaftera visa the shenanigans. his interview person, one wonders still how he managed to land package for entertainment. Agenerally likeable (My father make puls…), and you have perfect the his excellent command over English the language by quotaset sports his brother. legacy Add to that hascricket, found Bikki it difficult to live upthe to something quite contrary. Despite his excellence in but ask Parth about and his experience he’ll tell you Some say having abrother at school is an advantage, hisenough (and to fulfil others’) needs. Oliphantthe hopes that he findsthat desks are big his plansAnd while for college remain ambiguous, teachers’the (just books ask good Aaryan Mahipal). never miss upwill on opportunity the of part to be leave schoolat the of beginning the year. the Gora weren’t someone helped acertain to when decided him than just and books studying. To fair, be things levels of success) have proved that there is more to Ishaan’s of history usurping positions (with mixed PARTH SHARMA Ishaan Kapoor Famous Moment: Udae Udae Stigma: Application College Style: Sandeep Sir KathuAlias: Famous Moment: Scholar’s Gown Stigma: Anything clean Style: Two Weeks ASciencee Suar,Alias: Smelly unexpected college acceptancesunexpected as nominations. Common Apps. Oli hopes he’s with blessed as many path becominghis painto filled a musician in only with his music. to As present he struggles and cameos, inreaching he vocal believes heights crazy. Known for his trademark piano performances of Raghav is aKrishnaite with surprising levels of Underneath sweet the and soft personaspoken practically inventedpractically distancing, social a problem with anything remotely clean, Smelly inCommercesettled without Maths. Aguy with didn’t last long, and Saksham has now comfortably study in Class XI.Although, science predictably, that muchwith so confidencethat he bravely opted to An who?). achievementGown (scribe that him filled he miraculously scored enough to score aScholar’s (much like his weight) on has up the been ever since A student of school since the 2017,Gullu’s life SAKSHAM GULATI RAGHAV KATHURIA Famous Moment: Founders Assembly 2020 Stigma: The sun Gang kinds ofStyle: All meat, BOO Ladakhi Chinki, Alias: another side) Famous Moment: IPSC(from Basketball Stigma: Hair Basketball, Style: College Daly PeterAlias: social life, remain will social buried inIndore. (Inter House 2019), it his legacy, seems like his teams,basketball but after multiple failed attempts hopes school withthe of high making it into the on him (his hair is a visible indicator). Peter entered at anewbie being Welham rather has been tough center the being of attention at to College Daly doesn’t do well with breakups. transitionThe from One forgiven could be for that thinking Sanchit chicken like acaveman during dinner. thatall dissipates second the you himhogging see discussions. One might to start like Rinchen, but around with his compatriots, in‘intellectual’ steeped Gang, Rinchen can oftenseen BOO be roaming Amember ofhis home known lesser the inLadakh. rejoiced at opportunity the to attend classes from Dehradun hasn’t kindto Chinki’s been eyes, and he past.in the One of silent the kinds, warmth the of happening, but by they’re hetime the does, already Rinchen to time takes process they’re things when SANCHIT CHAUDHARY RINCHEN NORBU Famous Moment: Mussoorie ‘trip’, Farewell Stigma:Plastic Surgery Style: Instagram Model, Faizu Lal, Bhai SaineeeAlias: Africa Famous Moment: Exchange to South Stigma: Hari OmSir Style: Foreign Frands PUBG Alias: efforts to improve inPUBG. Sir’s squash program, he has now his best focussed make some. Once a devout in Hari believer Om on aquest tosome findfriends, boy, and did he outcomes from such Shivek experiences, embarked most And people while for look Africa. learning andfrom embarked PUBG on an exchange to South phrase, ‘stretch yourselves’. year, Last he took a break A loner by Shivek design, in the believer is a true Market. his investments to only ‘Lal’ the stock Stalk inthe even Whatsapp. Rumour has it that he’s restricted portfolio is available on Instagram, Facebook and with aknack for ‘aesthetic’ the stuff, his modelling might not have to go to AmitySomeone afterall. with his budding modelling career, it he seems Devansh doesn’t no education, need and fair, to be SHIVEK AGARWAL DEVANSH SAINI 45 ZAID AHMED TANISHQ RIJAL SIRAJ ULLAH Alias: Sheikh, Muzzlim Alias: Bauna, Nepali Alias: Jaed, Zaayed Style: EDM, CR7 Style: Chota Packet Style: Medals, Lalit Sir Stigma: Junior School IT Lab Stigma: MUNs Stigma: Krishna Warden, “family friend” Famous Moment: Kara Riddim on Spotify Famous Moment: Shivam Dodai walking Famous Moment: Shirtless at Swimming A ‘sheikh’ by name only, Siraj’s influence is restricted into school IPSC to the confines of Dehradun. Unaffected by the day A man of intimidating height and stature, Tanishq A product of Lalit Sir’s fitness regime and the victim or time, he believes in using each day (and night) heaved a sigh of relief when Shivam Dodai walked of all his affection. Despite his best attempts to to its full potential. And while the excitement in his into school. Another one of those people whose hide it, Jaed was disappointed when his favourite life seems to have mellowed down, his restraint is darker sides is a secret, stories of his escapades principal left school (nobody to appreciate the more of a ‘forced’ decision (Junior School IT Lab in Jaipur will make your jaws drop (watering clinking of medals now). However, it seems karma anyone?). plants on the terrace). Once a promising MUNer played its part and plopped a ‘family friend’ to make (international only), Tanishq lost all interest as soon things better. A man afraid of nothing else, rumour as trips dried up. He spends his rather short days has it he fears his warden more than anybody. There immersed in his laptop, devouring any movie that was a time when Zaid took things ‘seriously’ in life, he can lay his eyes on. and it didn’t workout - ever since he’s focussed all his efforts into ‘sliding’ into every possible DM on Instagram. MANAS SHARMA Alias: Polio, Criss cross Style: Hard drive Stigma: Right angles Famous Moment: Letter to WGS Known for his attractive gait and the outburst of pimples on his face, Manas is a mystery man. Criss cross used to be an industrious sportsperson, but the lack of motor skills has now restricted him Published By: Mrs. Sangeeta Kain, Principal to only gaming. A man of taste, he possesses a secret hard drive with the most amusing movies. Welham Boys’ School, 5, Circular Road, Dalanwala, Dehradun 248001, Uttarakhand, India However, beware, for behind the facade of technology and nonchalance lies a heartbroken teen The views in the Magazine are of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of who once believed in love. His failed attempts at communicating across the border have forced him the Magazine and School. back into his shell. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. Copyright: Oliphant 2020 All Rights Reserved 46