IntroducingTHE PLUS ISSUE NO. 01 | DEC 2019

ROOTED AND FREE www.igenplus.com introduction Dear Readers, Aloha! . ‘The Plus’ to the maiden edition of on board Welcome all to cover hope we monthly, this avant-garde Through interesting from ranging aspects that appeal to teenagers, articles music, buzz- food, on latest education, and the This is meant to be testimonials. to introspective words The articlesa fun and engaging read. been sliced have and diced to suit the flittingattention GenZ. span of The magazine is an effort by IGenPlus to reach out to are as their comfortteenagers We and go-to. food than to be more want and we reach arm’s within your will discover you In the pages that follow friends. your work the of review a offer, we programs of kind the articles do and some quirky we cells brain your to get working! also invite contributions to our magazine from We the globe on all over from (13 to 19 years) students (It can willing to share. anythingpractically are that they an or even fiction Thrones on the Game of be a fan think air pollution is an issue at you opinion on whether all!) . listening. are and we you for here are We on board! again, welcome Yet 2 hello. introduction 2 rooted and free 3 1 meet the team 5

gig economy 9 good food 33 in convo with 15 movie review 36 15 37 book review 37

dance 22 what’s next? 39 heritage 23 teenspiration 42 26 music 26 39

this day, that year 30 letters from past 32 CONTENTS 20 3 rooted and free

IGenPlus creates opportunities for young students to be aware, informed and evolved to make their own decisions. It is about developing leadership skills in teenagers by promoting nouveau ways of thinking by mixing Yogic Thinking, Design Thinking, and Exponential Thinking. We want to be harbingers of change and want to be the plus to the normal ways of life. Through YogiPlus, we help the students to unearth the fullest potential of the mind, body, and spirit. This will develop their personality while focusing on character development, emotional growth, and This festive season we are excited to present mindfulness. With us, students will not to you a compendium of all things crazy. only define the purpose of life but also Our capsule sized articles are meant for develop a sense of service, a sustainable Now, new innovations are giving birth the new-age reader. We are here for an lifestyle, and become culturally sensitive to unexplored opportunities. Exponential aurora, much in line with what IGenPlus and inclusive. Plus will equip the teens with the skills to stands for. We believe in changing for the utilize them and will prepare for the needs better. We believe in creating a generation Design thinking is the new buzz word of the future. of compassionate and creative leaders. but it is an inherent ability that can be While the school system is instrumental in nurtured. Through our curriculum in We are fusing the universal principles and doing that, we recognize that it falls short Creative Plus, students will go beyond values from our ancient wisdom with in more ways than one and we are that memorizing facts and will learn contemporary insights by mixing the “plus”. We believe in the rootedness of meta-skills that amplify the mind power benefits of the practices from the past to one’s personality and in freedom of and make them more creative. This will face the challenges of the present. The thought and expression. We believe in the help them think like an entrepreneur and idea is simple - to inculcate the values, constancy of change and the need to design ideas that can solve social practices, ethos, and spirituality in them upgrade ourselves, without putting our problems rather than cribbing about them. with a clear explanation about the benefits values at stake. Our values are the beacons Including areas like intuition and creativity, in their day-to-day living. Teenagers today that guide us and through our existence, conscious leadership, entrepreneurial need scientific explanations and answers we hope to bring more people on board skills, goal setting and more. to all their ‘why’s. We will provide those. with our ambitious undertaking. Being the first edition, we would like to PANKHURI MITTAL Program Manager introduce our wonderful team that has MEET been working hard to constantly put A postgraduate in English Literature, she loves the things up that might interest you. sombreness of winter and having deep discussions. THE She loves the familiar comfort of good words and Although at IGenPlus, we are not gender tends to lose herself in them. Like water, she is willing -biased, somehow since our inception, the to imbibe and change her course as the situation TEAM office is run mostly by women! demands.

Communication Designer MUNMUN AGGARWAL

A postgraduate in Communication Design from Pearl Academy. She has her hands’ full managing and designing the content we generate. A true HARI KIRAN fashionista and practical, she is fascinated by the intricacies of design. Always eager to learn and VADLAMANI explore: she believes in absolute clarity and flexibility.

Co-Founder and Mentor DIVYA VERMA Relationships Manager He is based out of Singapore. He is a social entrepreneur and the founder of The typical “Sharmaji ki beti”. She is a graduate Indic Academy, an institution that is seek from SRCC in Economics. A rocket, ready to -ing to build a renaissance based on Indic set-off. She enjoys the thrill of managing projects Civilisational thought. and can be very compelling with her work. She considers herself to be a coconut: tough outside, and soft inside, and we can’t agree more with her.

Research Fellow ANANYA FILBERT

After MPhil from IIT Bombay, she is pursuing Ph.D. from JNU. She loves to solve sudokus and read any- SOUMYA thing that interests her in the first three pages. She often freaks out about time and is always way too early (or too late) for everything. She has OCD AGGARWAL when it comes to organizing.

CEO and Co-Founder

She considers herself more of a POOJA MANI Program Manager team-mate than a boss. She is on-board with new ideas and believes in making the After graduation from NMIMS, a unique fellowship work space as positive as possible. A course in Youth Empowerment & Philosophy brought mentor and anchor, her equanimity keeps her to IGP. She is our one-(wo)man-army operating the IGP family together! from Mumbai, Always willing to learn, engage and improve. She loves to network and reach-out and can easily finish packets of banana chips. +91 98175 00105 www.IGENPLUS.com keep https://www.twitter.com/IGENPLUS

https://www.facebook.com/IGENPLUS

https://www.instagram.com/I_GEN_PLUS a

https://www.linkedin.com/company/IGENPLUS https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC03F_2B6ge_W7R_sujhb2yQ tab 9 gig economy

WHATT?! Ga..Ga..GIG ECONOMY Vishesh manages his work by turning up at his workplace thrice a week. He curates content and designs websites for a living. He loves remaining grungy and escapes to the mountains when city life gets too much for him. He likes that there isn’t a boring schedule for his life, but that he can work whenever he wants to. Shaina loves to eat bagels and she would trade anything in the Of course, there are deadlines to be world to sit in her room and wolf honored, but they don’t dictate his life. them down with cold coffee. She enjoys binge-watching online He dreams of opening a company with series. She enjoys her work too, his friends someday. But he needs to have which requires her to design industrial exposure and skill training videos for companies. She before he could do so. Vishesh has also maintains a portfolio of her signed for some advanced online courses work. She charges her clients on coding. based on the kind of work that is expected from her and Are you done with time-tables governing negotiate accordingly. She your lives? Dreaming of a job where you doesn’t have to go to any office can work in your pajamas? Interested to as such, and every day is work pursue the career of your dreams without from home. She is as good as the hassle of rushing to work? And what her last project. She advertises if all of this was possible in the comfort of through word of mouth and by your home? capturing the online space. Welcome to the ‘gig economy’. Wait, now what’s that?

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines REAL the ‘gig economy’ as an economic activity that involves the use of ‘temporary’ or ‘freelance workers’. It involves employing PEOPLE contract workers or freelancers for specialized and piecemeal tasks. So, basically, it’s bye-bye to the boring REAL time-tables that have been governing your lives until now! (Phew!) The gig economy is a way to make work TALK. more fun (well, kinda, but it still continues to be work) and incorporate creativity into an otherwise mundane workspace (now, that’s more like it). The burgeoning of the gig economy can be linked to the penetration of technology in the production process. With the onset of technology, big companies prefer to “I have not continued in academics after serve as platforms that moderate and my Master's as I felt I needed some industry mediate the procurement of labour from experience if I am to make any meaningful the pool of job seekers “just-in-time” for contribution to my area of study. Several their clients. times during my time at academic insti-

So what’s the brouhaha all about? tutions, I felt like I was in a bubble: I was not aware of what was happening in the As part of the generation that will shape real world where companies develop the future of work, the existence of the technologies day in and day out. I did a gig economy means the production two-month stint with a tech giant and process is being divided into increasingly “ then switched to another company that small specialized tasks. This means there was doing more pioneering work. are no more generalists but a production process that requires specialists only. This I have taken up a job in the same area as will mean that new job seekers will have my area of specialization and intend to to upgrade their skills and brace them- stay for at least a year or until I feel like I'm “ selves for the world more than ever. (So, in a position to make a mature contribution yeah, that’s h-h-h-y-y-y-uge, as Trump to my area of study at which point, I will would say it!). pursue a Ph.D. (or maybe not, because All that is fine, but what’s-in-it for me? Ph.D. is not the only way to contribute to a field) or start my own company (I'm not Well, first up, grab every internship gonna rule it out without even trying).” opportunity and training workshop you can get. Spend time researching where -Rohan*, People call me “Radiohead” your interest lies and hone them. Take Duh, what? intensive programs that can set you apart (*Names have been changed to protect from the rest of the labour pool. Give Zero-in on every freakin’ workshop and identities). importance to your skills and be confident internship opportunity. Practical experi- about them. Get proof of your achievements. ence teaches you a lot more than rote Well, great to get over determining your learning. Be prepared to be leaders, not worth solely through your qualifications. followers. Peace out. Dab. 2018 2019

3 days, 30 speakers, 350 teenagers 5 days, 25 Speakers, 200 teenagers The maiden edition of this unique residential The second edition was a successful fest was the best kick-start one could have! INDIC outcome, with delegates turning up from 10 The sessions included topics ranging from cities. Rana Daggubati created frenzy as the Cinema, Leadership, Vedic Mathematics, Chief Guest, the outdoor team activities were Toy-making, Sexual wellness, and more! TEEN synergizing, the entrepreneurship and creative workshops were a major hit, and the DJ night Celebrities like Bollywood director, Luv couldn’t have been more fun. Over 50 activi- Ranjan, Indian Chess Coach, R.B.ramesh, ties including the sessions and panel Principal Economic Advisor to GOI, FEST discussions on varied topics, including Sanjeev Sanyal, Corporate Chanakya, sustainability, career counselling, Radhakrishnan Pillai, etc lit the technology, etc kept the fest with their inspiring brain cells working! stories. SHIKHA BANERJEE Principal of Seth Anandram Jaipuria 15 School, Kanpur How long have you been associated thinking’. Looking at the social scene with Jaipuria School and how did you today, I feel blessed to have had a child- take up this role? hood like that. My association with Seth Anandram IN Jaipuria School (henceforth, SAJS), What values do you draw from your Kanpur has been for more than seven teenage days that you think are still rele- CONVO years now with a short break in between. vant for today's youth? It is interesting, challenging, motivating, Nothing in society has changed as such. I WITH and gratifying at the same time. However, feel that the basic life structure during my teenage days is not much different from today. Every value system, every groom- ing procedure stands firm and unaltered even today. But the point of repentance is that today's youth is unable to handle the freedom given to them. Frequently they it is a time-consuming engagement that go off track and refuse to accept and alter keeps me young and energetic. Being their mistakes. But here I need to add that among children is my elixir. my students at SAJS are equipped with strong leadership qualities and are What are the major challenges you face self-motivated learners. They are the ones while dealing with students today? who make this coveted institution a class Students of today are superior to us in apart. their intelligence but not substantially IN this interview, we speak to equipped with their emotional quotient. What is your take on the education the Principal of Seth Anandram Working on their value system is the most system and in particular, how as an edu- Jaipuria School, Kanpur, Mrs. Shikha important challenge today. It is a tough cator do you think the system should Banerjee as she takes time off from task but not impossible. The endeavor is evolve to capture the aspirations of her busy schedule to share her to prepare them for life not just for a liveli- GenZ? journey as an educator with us. hood, just as IGenPlus endeavours to do. The education system is ever-evolving. It is not a constant or a fixed procedure. It We at IGenPlus were very fortunate Looking back at your teenage days, can has always been need-based. It is like the to have been hosted by Mrs. Banerjee you please indicate to our readers, what flow of water which occupies the available during the Comfest 2019 (which is experiences you carry forward till date? space and takes its shape, size, the largest student-organized fest Our teenage days were very traditional, temperature, and color accordingly. There in the country). We had a really where a lot of emphasis was laid on physical is a paradigm shift every time and it is an wonderful stay and needless to labor, self-motivated learning, setting ongoing, continuous journey. GenZ is a say, we were highly impressed high moral standards, family bonding and technology-driven generation that needs with the level of commitment and commitment along with selfless community fostering and nurturing. As we know, they the meticulous organization that service, sharing and caring, respecting are open-minded, creative, and smart, her students had undertaken to elders and more. In a nutshell, it was an with an innate potential of strong pull-off such a grand event. apt example of ‘simple living and high communication, especially over social media.

IS DOING. IS IGENPLUS

LIVELIHOOD LIKE LIKE LIVELIHOOD

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LIFE NOT JUST FOR A A FOR JUST NOT LIFE

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then Thyself’. To the students of today I I today of students the To Thyself’. then

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PREPARE THEM FOR FOR THEM PREPARE

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journey or the education system / / system education the or journey

Any other thoughts / comments on your your on comments / thoughts other Any “

TODAY. IT IT TODAY. CHALLENGE

and legacy of this esteemed institution. institution. esteemed this of legacy and

culture the in exists that procedure learning

constructive reconciling and mutual mutual and reconciling constructive

IMPORTANT MOST

after year at SAJS is a suitable example of of example suitable a is SAJS at year after

mindset. The success of COMFEST year year COMFEST of success The mindset. memorable.

right the have we if difficult is point

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VALUE SYSTEM IS THE THE IS SYSTEM VALUE

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just like there are numerous differences differences numerous are there like just as a teenager/while growing up? growing teenager/while a as

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awkward situation you have ever been in in been ever have you situation awkward EMOTIONAL QUOTIENT. QUOTIENT. EMOTIONAL

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such instance. such EQUIPPED WITH THEIR THEIR WITH EQUIPPED

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episode you have had as a principal? a as had have you episode

On a lighter note, what is the funniest funniest the is what note, lighter a On

ARE SUPERIOR TO US US TO SUPERIOR ARE

STUDENTS OF TODAY TODAY OF STUDENTS workshops20

A delightful walk in the lanes of Old while learning about photography: this combo was a delight. The participants explored the culture and heritage of Old Delhi, while our photographer facilitator taught them OLD DELHI - the techniques to click amazing Our maiden workshop in Hyderabad, it took young 35 students on a journey of sustainabil- pictures. A hearty breakfast ended ity. It was conducted in a special organic cafe by our three speakers who taught them PHOTO WALK the experience! everyday environmentally sustainable activities. Home composting, building eco-bricks, making bio-enzymes, learning about menstrual hygiene, lifestyle environmentalism, and a Nature walk, the day couldn’t have been more eventful! BIHU A frenzy sets forth when the women move in snake-like movements as they slither enacting their enchantment to the pepa. Their foreheads are dotted with big vermillion dots, their hair pulled back to a tight bun. White flowers adorn their hair with a purple orchid peeping out. The chador is dance wrapped tightly, sensuously around the dancers’ bodies. They move their hands, shoulders, and hips 22 to the beats of the dhol. The rhythm crescendoes and dips in various ways and each time the beat changes, the movement changes. Men and women interchange flirtatious exchanges, teasing each other. They share alternate stanzas and the verses of the lead singer are repeated by the group. Some- times, other instruments and props may be used to add to the folk dance. The characteristic ghee and red coloured muga silk outfits lend Bihu a unique place in its aesthetic appeal.

Energetic and extremely catchy, Bihu needs no introduction. Mainly performed by both men and women during the Bihu festival, the dance form is about brisk, quick movements and synchronizing them with subtle hip movements. The origin of this dance form is hardly known but as per the legends, its first official endorsement was cited during the rule of the Ahom king Rudra Singha. Rudra Singha invited Bihu dancers to perform at the Ranghar fields around 1694 on Rongali Bihu. Since incep- tion, Bihu has always been the one-of-its-kind and is easily recognizable by the costumes and jewelry of the dancers. The male performers are seen dressed in dhotis and gamocha. Women are dressed in Chador and Mekhela. Any Bihu perfor- mance is incomplete without live music. Musicians performing instruments like dhol, pepa, taal, toka, xutuli, gogona, and baanhi come together to form just the perfect beats for dancing. Not even one musical instrument can be ruled out of the list as they all play a pivotal role in producing the tradition- al tunes for the Bihu performance. One can expect a lot of vibrancy when it comes to the Bihu dance. The dance brings people together and is usually performed in the open so that everyone can chime in whenever the pick the beat! Source: http://discoveringindia.net/rongali-bihu-celebrations-in-assam-april-13-15/ heritage23 We’ve been hearing the word ‘heritage’ Built between 950 AD and 1050 AD by since our childhood. Always read about it the rulers of the Chandela Dynasty, the in books, heard about it from people that Khajuraho Temples were a cluster of 85 India has a ‘rich heritage’. But what exactly Hindu and Jain temples, out of which only do we mean by heritage? Is it the historical 25 are still surviving. With the fall of the monuments, or yoga, spirituality, culture, dynasty, the temples fell prey to foreign and traditions, or flora and fauna, or food, invaders, causing much destruction to the or what? area and forcing the people to leave.

Actually, it’s all of this and more! Heritage Interestingly, for five centuries, i.e. 13th to may include property, culture, or values, 18th century, the temples remained under something that is inherited or passed forest cover, only to be discovered later by down from previous generations. It implies a British engineer, T.S. Burt. The temples a shared bond, belongingness to a are intricately and beautifully embellished community. and decorated with sculptures and art. These sculptures are not chiseled but are Since India is a confluence of ancient mobile and liquid, representing the people culture, traditions, and value systems, the who exult in the joy of living, with all its heritage India is unique. The entire main- fascinating variety. In fact, there is hardly land of India is a brimming pot of several any other place like Khajuraho where dialects, historical sites, festivals, cuisines, sculptures portray all kinds of human etc which have been passed down to each emotions with such great excellence. generation.

KHAJURAHO TEMPLES: A Spectacle of History & Creativity

Let’s look at one such heritage site of India, Even the women featured in the sculptures the famous Khajuraho temples of Madhya are so engaged in different pleasurable Pradesh. activities, probably depicting the empowering culture in those days. Situated nearly 50 kilometers away from Chhatarpur city of Madhya Pradesh, this Just imagine, how much would these site is considered to be an amalgamation temples have seen and heard! Bustling of human imagination, history, architecture, with so many tales, we can only hope that heritage, love, and passion. A UNESCO someday we could hear their stories too. World Heritage site, these temples are a stunning example of rich art and architecture of ancient India. Source: https://www.andbeyond.com/advice/asia/india/why-visit-khajuraho/ VIENNA BOY’S CHOIR 26music

Who: Over more than 700 years old, one “A choir consists of many individuals of the best boys choirs in the world, the who have to act as a team. A good concert Vienna Boy’s Choir is a band of boy sopranos can become a great performance if and altos. Comprising of over 100 boys every single participant can bring his aged between 10 to 14 years of age, most own personality to the mix.” of the boys hail from Austria while some -Gerald Wirth from all over the world. Their tours are specific to the four Austrian composers they cover, namely, Schubert, Haydn, Bruckner, and Mozart. Constantly upgrad- ing their genre by including newer trends in music, the Vienna Boys have managed The MuTh is located right next to the to stay relevant and have become the Augartenpalais, where the Vienna Boys pièce de résistance in their journey. learn, live and sing. The new music center is a powerful cultural stimulus in the The beginnings of the choir can be traced Augarten. The MuTh builds bridges: to the year 1498 when Emperor Maximilian Between music and theater, tradition and I laid the foundation stone for the Viennese experiment, great artists and above all - Court Music Orchestra, of which the Boys' between experts and the next generation. Choir was a part. In October end and November, the Choir toured the Indian subcontinent by cover- Join the Band-Wagon: In Vienna, it is often ing Mumbai and Delhi. Their ensemble possible to hear the Vienna Boy's Choir was titled ‘A Passage to India’ and they regularly as part of the Vienna Hofmusik- began with their traditional and classical kapelle or the Holy Mass in the Hofburg favorites by Mozart, Rossini, and Chapel on Sundays (September to June). Schumann. They ended the concert with a In 2012, they opened the MuTh, which is twist on Amir Khusrow’s Qawwali ‘Man their new concert hall in the Augarten. The Kunto Maula’ and Mahatma Gandhi’s name MuTh is an abbreviation of ‘Music favorite bhajan ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja and Theater’ and its stage is home to Ram’ commemorating his 150th birthday. avant-garde music and theater productions. The troupe also featured Rishan a four- teen year old boy from Gurgaon who has been touring with the Choir for the last four years and graduated from their institution recently. This ensemble is a perfect example of the harmonious conflu- ence of how music, like all other art forms, Source: https://www.eriereader.com/article/from-austria-to-erie-the-vienna-boys-choir has no barriers. Roots and Shoots

As a very adorable initiative, this competition asked competitions the teenagers to partner with their 27 grandparents. During the part- nership, both parties had to learn from each other, discuss, create and then share with us their learning. The entries came in the form of a video, art, story, and The Design Awards poem.

The Design Awards sowed the seed of innovation and sustainability in the young minds. The competition asked the students to come up with a solution to an everyday challenge they witness through design thinking. And students did come up with Rooted and Free Essay Writing solutions from urban and rural schools alike, involv- ing teamwork, efficient The Essay Writing competition planning, technology, and was our first such online local support. The winners initiative. As our tagline have won the prize money and a goes, #RootedAndFree, we chance to showcase their entries decided to ask our young at the annual exhibition in ITF 2020. audience what they understand of it. And oh my! Weren’t we pleas- antly surprised to know their take! 5 winners from India and Singapore won the prize money. You can read the winning essays on our website. THIS DAY, THAT YEAR30 When: 7th November 1867 Word: Pitchblende

Where: Warsaw, Poland A mineral that would forever change the lives of the Curies. It is a radioactive urani- Who: Maria Sklodowska Curie was born um-rich mineral and ore occurring as 152 years ago to a family of teachers. She black/ brown clumps that contain radium. was the youngest of five children. Due to Marie made it a mission to isolate radium political unrest at that time, her parents from the ore. Soon her husband joined her had lost all their wealth. As a result, Maria in her work. They succeeded in isolating and her siblings were brought up in radium from the ore and this discovery penury. She constantly took out time to secured them the Nobel in physics. educate herself and was helped by her father to tutor herself. In 1890, she tutored Wow: This arduous and dangerous work and studied at the Flying University where earned them the Nobel Prize in Physics in she began her practical scientific training. 1903, jointly with Henri Becquerel for their By 1891, she moved to Paris which work on radioactivity. Marie also obtained brought her into contact with the great her doctorate the same year. physicists of that time and began using the name Marie. She chose to study physics In 1906, tragedy struck when she lost her and mathematics at Sorbonne University. husband in a road accident. However, she She studied all night mostly living on carried on… bread, butter, and tea. In 1893, she came first in the license of physical sciences, Double Wow: In 1911, she won the Nobel which brought her under the tutelage of Prize in chemistry for creating a means of Gabriel Lippman. She stood second in the measuring radioactivity. Not long after, license of mathematical sciences in 1894. Sorbonne built the first radium institute That year she met her partner, Pierre with two laboratories: one for the study of Curie. radioactivity under Marie Curie's direction, and the other for biological research into the treatment of cancer.

FROM THE PAGES OF HISTORY Will O’ the Wisps: Marie Curie died in In 1895 they got married and their part- 1934 due to aplastic anemia, caused due nership continues to be an inspiration not to continuous exposure to radioactive only for the scientific community but for substances. anyone who knows about her. They discovered Polonium, which was named Wonder-Woman: This month let us after her native country and if that wasn’t honour, this wonder-woman, Marie Curie, Wedding Photo of enough, they discovered radium too, that her indomitable spirit and her contribu- PIERRE & MARIE CURIE, 1895 too, within a gap of a few months! tions to the world of science. LETTERS OF PAST TRANSCRIPT Fidel Castro, “one of the most iconic personalities of the 20th century,'' BY as stated by India’s current Prime Minister, Narender Modi, was an indomitable force in world politics. In November 1940, almost 13 years Santiago de Cuba 32 before Castro spearheaded the Cuban revolution, replacing the then Cuban dictator, Fulgencio Batista, wrote a cheeky and sweet letter to Nov 6 1940 the then president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Mr Franklin Roosvelt, President of the United States. Imagine, how ironic is it that Fidel Castro, who will survive multiple assassination attempts by the United States government’s CIA in his My good friend Roosvelt I don't know very English, but future life, wrote a letter to its then President as a 12 year old teen! I know as much as write to you. I like to hear the radio, Young Castro's priceless letter was rediscovered in 1977 by specialists and I am very happy, because I heard in it, that you will at the National Archives and Records Administration. be President for a new (periodo). I am twelve years old. I am a boy but I think very much but I do not think Written in broken English, the letter makes an interesting read! that I am writing to the President of the United States. If you like, give me a ten dollars bill green american, in the letter, because never, I have not seen a ten dollars bill green american and I would like to have one of them.

My address is:

Sr Fidel Castro Colegio de Dolores Santiago de Cuba Oriente Cuba

I don't know very English but I know very much Span- ish and I suppose you don't know very Spanish but you know very English because you are American but I am not American.

(Thank you very much)

Good by. Your friend,

(Signed)

Fidel Castro

If you want iron to make your sheaps ships I will show to you the bigest (minas) of iron of the land. They are Keep writing letters, you guys! Maybe your letters could also become an in Mayari Oriente Cuba. interesting read for the future world. Source: http://www.lettersofnote.com/2009/09/my-good-friend-roosvelt.html THAI good food 33 CUISINE

Thai cuisine is (like any other) is a confluence of cultures. It originally was not a distinct cuisine but originated with the people who emigrated from the Southern Chinese provinces. With Szechwan, Buddhist (“Indian”) and links with Southern Muslim states, Thai cuisine evolved into a unique blend of neighboring cultures.

Thailand, having never been colonized was not hermeti- cally sealed from the colonial gastronomical influences. Thai cuisine has been heavily influenced by Portuguese and Dutch cuisine. Since they allied with the Japanese during the second world war, Japanese culinary influenc- es are not wholly absent. Thus the essence of Thai cuisine is to capture and balance the five flavors of sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and spicy.

Interestingly curries in Thailand are identified and named after colours, the most common ones being: green, red, yellow, and orange. However, contrary to what the colours could mean, the mildest (in terms of spiciness) is orange, with green being the spiciest. Yellow is spicier than orange and red being even more, but less than green.

Thai cuisine, like Indian cuisine, is largely based except that the spices are first ground into a paste before adding them to the broth. Another point of difference is that Thai cuisine uses a lot more coconut milk and fresh herbs like lemongrass, basil, and galangal (ginger). Due to most of the products being local, Thai cuisine has not traveled far. It is only recently being discovered as a rich cuisine with intricate flavours. Also, unlike Indian cuisine where seafood and meat curries are bereft of vegetables, in Thai cuisine vegetables are added in plenty to the meat/- seafood curries as well. The main staple is rice: sticky rice and it can be eaten in many ways. The way the rice is cooked and eaten depends on the region you belong to! Source: https://www.matchingfoodandwine.com/news/pairings/which-drinks-pair-best-with-thai-food/ 36 movie review THE SKYIS PINK

Cast: Jonas, Farhan It also beautifully captures Rohit Saraf Akthar, , Rohit Saraf who plays Ishaan, Aisha’s brother. Ishaan, being the ‘healthy child’ loses out on his Director: childhood with his mother and shoulders the burden of his sister always being the For starters, the movie might seem like a priority: without being resentful. love story of a couple at the outset but it represents much more than that: far more The story and the movie is an inspiration. than that, to be precise. The movie begins It captures the conviction of a family to on the roads of Chandni Chowk and takes make the impossible possible. Some us to the lavish streets of London. It is might say at the end, the girl did lose her about a family that struggles, enjoys and life. But if we look at from a different hopes for a happy life. perspective, it shows how family, as an institution and support system made it It is a story about a couple who puts their possible for their child to live for 18 more lives on hold to get the best for their years, despite medical odds. daughter. It is about how during this jour- ney, they lose each other and find each The movie is based on the true story of other, in their struggle to keep their Aisha Chaudhary, a motivational speaker daughter Aisha alive. who loses the battle to pulmonary fibrosis at the age of 18. The movie rightfully The couple lives apart for years to trying captures the magic of life and the somber to balance work and caregiving. It is beauty of the inevitable. The movie will largely about Aditi Chaudhary, a mother make you laugh and cry at the same time: who spends almost two decades to protect and will leave a lump in your throat. her daughter, knowing deep down that she will never be able to do it. But she The movie is also a reflection of the fact keeps at it relentlessly: each day, trying that death is a reality. It is inevitable and with greater gusto. The film captures how all our worries, egos and stress are useless. her desperation makes her so adorably It also touches on grieving: for those who vulnerable. are left behind. book review 37 FLOWERS OF ALGERNON

Narrated as a series of first-person pro- Dr. Strauss and Professor Nemur take gressive reports, Flowers for Algernon Charlie and Algernon to a scientific revolves around the story of Charlie convention in Chicago, where they are the Gordon, a developmentally disabled thir- star exhibits. Charlie realizes that he is a ty-two-year-old man and his fleeting lab rat for the scientific community. He brush with intelligence. Because of his feels that Nemur treats him like just eagerness to learn, Alice Kinnian, Charlie’s another lab animal, even though it is teacher at the Beekman College Center disturbingly clear that Charlie’s scientific for Retarded Adults, recommends him for knowledge has advanced beyond an experiment. The directors of the Nemur’s. He realizes that Nemur’s experiment, Dr. Strauss and Professor hypothesis contains an error and that Nemur, ask Charlie to keep a journal. there is a possibility that his intelligence gain will only be temporary. Charlie works at Donner’s Bakery in New York City as a janitor and delivery boy. Overtime, Algernon’s intelligence begins The other employees often pick on him, to slip, and his behavior becomes erratic. however, Charlie is unable to understand Charlie worries that whatever happens to that he is the subject of mockery. He Algernon will soon happen to him as well. Charlie forgets that he is no longer believes that his co-workers are good Algernon eventually dies. Fearing a enrolled in Alicia’s school class for special friends. After a series of tests—including regression to his previous level of adults. His last request is for the reader of a maze-solving competition with a mouse intelligence, Charlie visits his mother and his manuscript to leave fresh flowers on named Algernon, who has already had sister in order to try to come to terms with Algernon’s grave. the experimental surgery performed on his past. BY him—Charlie undergoes the operation. Thinking: What are the limits of science? Charlie succeeds in finding the error in Are ethics important? Can there be a Soon, Charlie is delighted by the realization Nemur’s hypothesis, scientifically proving DANIEL coexistence of the development of that he is capable of solving moral that a flaw in the operation will cause his science and ethical practices? What if dilemmas on his own. His growing IQ intelligence to vanish as quickly as it had Charlie stayed super intelligent? How threatens his workers in the bakery and come. Charlie calls this phenomenon the KEYES would the story have been different in soon, he is let off because the other workers “Algernon-Gordon Effect.” When Charlie’s that case? Would you rather be intelligent are disturbed by the sudden change in regression is complete, he briefly returns or popular? Kind or brilliant? him. And within no time, Charlie becomes to his old job at the bakery, where his a star, too-good for himself. coworkers welcome him back with kindness. #INSIDEINDIA A Musical Trail 39 what’s next? this month. 21-30 DEC’19 10 Days | 7 Cities Bengaluru | Kochi | 999 NOT OUT Coimbatore | Thanjavur | (30th November - 30th December) Auroville | Puducherry | Chennai

A short story writing competition that will hone the creative writing skills and let the teens discover novel ways to express themselves to the world. Just use the excerpt, and let imagination do the rest. Here’s the excerpt: I woke up. It was still dark. I saw my father going towards the paddy fields. The air was dry and the sky, cloudless. I got up to go towards him.

Apply before: 30th Dec’19 | At: www.igenplus.com

FILM MAKING (14th-15th December)

Our first workshop in Mumbai, this one is specially curated for teens to expose them to filmmaking and creative thinking as an alternative career option. It will put into perspective the way life could be captured through lens by none other than the successful filmmaker, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri.

Apply before: 12th Dec’19 | At: www.igenplus.com/worksops/mumbai Apply before 5 Dec’19 | At: www.igenplus.com/insideindia upcoming year.. what’s next? 42

GAP YEAR A unique self-discovery program to nurture a better orientation towards academic and work life. Students, after completing school, are provided with multiple opportunities of exploration, leadership development, unlearning and learning.

INDIC TEENFEST 2020 ONLINE COURSES

The legacy has to continue! Indic TeenFest 2020 is going to be bigger, better and To accelerate our mission to impart holistic education and reach out more and more bolder! Welcoming teens from all over the nation at under one roof , building a strong teenagers, we are coming up with online courses on crucial, creative, and challenging personality and exposure to new interests! topics of today. Stay updated! #Teenspiration

Melati Wisjen, 17 Isabel Wisjen, 18

Melati and Isabel Wijsen were swimming in the waters of Bali when they noticed something that didn’t belong: floating plastic bags. And so in 2013, at ages 12 and 10, the sisters from Indonesia launched Bye Bye Plastic Bags to raise awareness about the issue. Their profile has risen considerably since then. This year, they organized Bali’s Biggest Clean-up, with 20,000 people collecting 65 tons of waste; they also helped get 350 local businesses to commit to eliminating the use of everyday plastic products like cups and straws within the next two years. Beyond their home island, Bye Bye Plastic Bags!

Source: https://time.com/5463721/most-influential-teens-2018/?amp=true THE PLUS THANK YOU ISSUE NO. 01 | DEC 2019

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