THE PLUS ISSUE NO. 02 | JAN 2020 introduction Dear Readers, ‘The Plus’. to the second 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 flitting attention span of GenZ. In as an emerging looking at gap year are this edition, we trend and acceptable norm. Gone are the days where and proscribed was one phase to the next jumping from and greater upon. With higher aspirations down looked reaching for is prepared generation the new expectations, for prepared is not And our system the stars! for of a generation are We the obvious. for “settling” believe strongly they want to do who want risk-takers that is hungry a generation are and constantly in. We we the trailblazers, are want. We what we for craving the change! are 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 your friends. In the pages that follow you will discover we the work of a review offer, we programs the kind of articlesdo and some quirky cells working! brain your to get also invite contributions to our magazine from We on practically the globe all over from (13-19 years) students anything that they are willing to you opinion on whether an 2 or even Frozen of review share. (It can be a is an issue at all!) think the CAA wishing Also, listening. are and we you for here are We year! May 2020 be your a veryyou Year! New Happy 2 hello again. introduction 2 good food 35 rooted and free 5 movie review 38 1 from the CEO 6 35 book review 39

gap year 9 what’s next? 41 9 testimonials 15 41 teenspiration 43

dance 23 heritage 25 Contributors: music 27 Content 23 Ananya Filbert [email protected] Pankhuri Mittal [email protected]

Design this day, that year 32 Munmun Aggarwal letters from past 34 [email protected] CONTENTS 32 5 rooted and free from the CEO 6

Now, new innovations are giving birth Namaste, to unexplored opportunities. Exponential Plus will equip the teens with the skills to There is a different tingling feeling to write to all the young utilize them and will prepare for the needs kids who are reading this magazine today. If you have read this of the future. much, congratulations! because your attention span is IGenPlus creates opportunities for young appreciable. students to be aware, informed and We are fusing the universal principles and evolved to make their own decisions. It is values from our ancient wisdom with IGP has been a fun journey for me since its inception. It's like about developing leadership skills in contemporary insights by mixing the having a baby to take care of all the young kids out there. Under- teenagers by promoting nouveau ways of benefits of the practices from the past to standing your concerns from which subject to choose, to the thinking by mixing Yogic Thinking, Design face the challenges of the present. The fights with the family or relationship issues, IGenPlus opens its Thinking, and Exponential Thinking. We idea is simple - to inculcate the values, arms to be your best friends. want to be harbingers of change and want practices, ethos, and spirituality in them to be the plus to the normal ways of life. with a clear explanation about the benefits We are not here to counsel you or guide you, we are here to Through YogiPlus, we help the students to in their day-to-day living. Teenagers today know you. Be with you. unearth the fullest potential of the mind, need scientific explanations and answers body, and spirit. This will develop their to all their ‘why’s. We will provide those. In the past 7 months, through our multiple programs, we have personality while focusing on character attempted to touch base your lives through sustainability, development, emotional growth, and This festive season we are excited to present creativity and heritage. We wish to continue the same. For your mindfulness. With us, students will not to you a compendium of all things crazy. better lives, we want each one of you to support us and be a part only define the purpose of life but also Our capsule sized articles are meant for of this movement. develop a sense of service, a sustainable the new-age reader. We are here for an lifestyle, and become culturally sensitive aurora, much in line with what IGenPlus This magazine talks about the relevance of GAP year. You may and inclusive. stands for. We believe in changing for the choose to take or not take a GAP Year. But rest be assured, this better. We believe in creating a generation magazine will give you a very different insight to the concept. Design thinking is the new buzz word of compassionate and creative leaders. but it is an inherent ability that can be While the school system is instrumental in The magazine is not an opinion, it is not a research paper either. nurtured. Through our curriculum in doing that, we recognize that it falls short It is the compilation of thoughts, feelings and expressions brought Creative Plus, students will go beyond in more ways than one and we are that together by the young dynamic team of IGenPlus. memorizing facts and will learn “plus”. We believe in the rootedness of meta-skills that amplify the mind power one’s personality and in freedom of Congratulations again! you definitely have a bright future for and make them more creative. This will thought and expression. We believe in the being able to read it through. help them think like an entrepreneur and constancy of change and the need to design ideas that can solve social upgrade ourselves, without putting our Hope you have a colorful year ahead. problems rather than cribbing about them. values at stake. Our values are the beacons Including areas like intuition and creativity, that guide us and through our existence, With love, conscious leadership, entrepreneurial we hope to bring more people on board Soumya skills, goal setting and more. with our ambitious undertaking. CEO & Co-Founder +91 98175 00105 www.IGENPLUS.com keep https://www.twitter.com/IGENPLUS

https://www.facebook.com/IGENPLUS

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/IGENPLUS https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC03F_2B6ge_W7R_sujhb2yQ tab Asif dreams of getting admission into one What’s the brouhaha about? of the top-most colleges for engineering Gap year in India continues to be a taboo in the country. When he had written the topic and is considered to be the last entrance exam last year, he had narrowly resort among students unable to cope missed the cut-off marks. That made him with the system. There is a perception of really upset and he felt he needed more ‘failure’ associated with the word itself. time for better preparation which he felt However, studies have shown that this was inadequate because of the academic needn’t be the case and that gap years pressure of securing very high marks. He can have a positive impact. For instance, 9 decided to take one year off more time to studies by Elisa Birch and Paul Miller prepare. He has enrolled for better (2007) have found that students who coaching classes to stay focussed and defer university are found to have higher maintain a schedule. marks than students who commence university directly after completing high CONCEPT NOTE Construed to be a fashionable practice in school. This mark advantage was found the UK about thirty years ago among to be more pronounced among students who had completed high school low-performing students, particularly GAP YEAR and who were awaiting their admission to male students, who are in the lower half college, the gap year has emerged as a of the university marks distribution. Thus lucrative option among students before the gap year provides a unique opportunity they take on the next phase of life. The for students to rejuvenate and work on gap year is a voluntary (or incidental) themselves. Also, the gap year gives the stepping out of formal education or students a chance to build on their CVs. employment for honing one’s prospects. Greater opportunities for millennials and a I TOOK The word ‘year’ is a misnomer and can growing need for ‘self-realization’ in their refer to any period of time that is ‘taken respective careers, gap years are A GAP Miriam loves to read and she wants to off’ for improving one’s prospects in life. emerging as a trend that can be read all the award-winning books by the welcomed for more reasons than one. time she turns 21. But usual school life YEAR! doesn’t leave her with much time especially Yeah, but who started it? Cool, I’m lovin’ it! since she has to focus on her class XIIth This trend of taking gap years has been exams. She has to fare well in the exams increasingly gaining popularity in the In this competitive world, good academic so that she could get admission into her US (especially after the announcement credentials are not enough to gain dream college. She began planning her by Malia Obama two years back to defer admission to reputed institutions. application a year ago and realized that her admission to Harvard by a year and Coupled with good grades there is a she needs to read and write more to make by the formal recognition of gap years pressing need to hone important skills like her application stand out even more. This through innovative programs by Ivy good interpersonal communication, leadership, will mean that she needs more time and League colleges like Princeton and other developing job-related / technical skills, with the growing academic pressure, it is universities like the University of North networks, and cultural capital. This path oh, YOU next to impossible for her to pursue her Carolina. In fact, some universities to self-discovery is not covered in the reading list which seemings to be increasing encourage students to defer their school academic curricula and oftentimes, TOOK TIME by the day. So she plans to apply for the admission for gaining some world families may not possess the requisite OFF! next intake and defer her admission. She experience, by participating in volunteer skill set to train their children for the world knows her parents may not approve of her work, building up certain skills, learning out there. decision to take time-off, so she has to be new languages and/or traveling to new sure of her plans while taking the time off. places). More recently, countries like She intends to take on some short-term Australia and Asian countries like China projects and immerse herself in field have also embraced the benefits of taking (NOPE.) experiences. gap years. Say what? taking the final plunge into either phase According to the social interaction that they wish to pursue. Joseph O’ Shea, framework, students who took a gap year who penned the book Gap Year: How benefitted from the same as they were Delaying College Changes People the motivated to pursue their careers/ Way the World Needs in the year 2013 academics due to the development of enumerates various benefits of gap years important skills like building social by collecting testimonials from students networks and cultural capital. It was also who have had gap year experiences. He observed that interaction with peers states that intensive gap year programs made them less selfish and more open to cultivate curiosity by providing refreshing working in groups. Such students also reading material and immersive came across as more self-reliant, mature experiences. Such programs offer and dealt with a difference with greater opportunities to get involved in different equanimity. Also because of greater circumstances that avoid burnout and experiences, such students had richer allows students to brace themselves for anecdotal experiences to share, which the next year. greatly increased their employability. This ‘time-off’ also helped them to focus on Oh, Really? other areas they had earlier not got the time to pursue like learning a new Gap years or bridge years help in language or pursuing extra-curricular unlocking ‘educational potential’ and activities like taking up a sport or a hobby ‘facilitating civic development’. This is which they could not pursue earlier due to because higher education should ideally their strict and rigorous academic schedule. prepare students for life and for being This period off also instilled a sense of able to handle social roles in general and motivation, interest, and a ‘sense of not just for hoarding academic purpose’. Abigail Falik, founder and CEO achievements. Gap years should be of Global Citizen Year vouches for an atti- “meaning-making” processes and should tudinal change in looking at the gap year be a reflective experience for students. It by renaming it a “bridge year”. She aims should provide students an opportunity to normalize this transition by using this to be “challenged” by facing newer and “time to build self-awareness, global engaging circumstances rather than think skills, and grit which are foundations of of it as a colossal waste of time. success”.

Awesome Sauce!

Most of the time students take gap years to personally grow and gain real-world experiences. This enables them to step out of the protective cocoon and familiarity of student life, which is rarely engaging or challenging vis-a-vis the real world. Also, gap years can act as a good time to pursue leisure activities and travel for opening oneself to other cultures and places. Gap years also provide a break from mainstream academics, allowing students to pursue other activities. This cooling-off period also lets students explore academic/ career options before film-making and creative thinking

IGenPlus conducted its first workshop in Mumbai on Creative Thinking and Film Making. workshops The day-long workshop, in collaboration with IAmBuddha Foundation, saw 15 students come together in a studio in Versova. Mr. Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, a noted filmmaker and 13 the expert for the day, conducted the workshop. He stressed on the importance of making creativity a way of living and finding the creative thinker present in each one of us. With one line statement, students weaved 15 different stories, and shared with everyone. They Every month, IGenPlus organise various workshops all over the globe. All the workshops learnt the nuances of storytelling and creative thinking. The workshop concluded with an cover different aspects for teenagers, namely, creative, social, entrepreneurship, spirituality, agreement to meet again where the students will be taught to actually shoot and make a and many more. short video/film.

everyday environmentalism

We organized our very first workshop in Hyderabad with 35 school students. The workshop saw our eminent speakers- Utsow Pradhan, Reena George, and Anju Arora take students on a journey on how consciously taken everyday steps can lead us to a life of sustainability. The workshop was held at an organic cafe and taught the students the art of home composting, managing plastic waste through building eco-bricks, making bio-enzymes, learning about menstrual hygiene, and lifestyle environmentalism. The workshop ended with a pleasant nature walk and a token of 30 saplings from us to the students. The students absolutely loved it. It is experiences of meeting people across social and geographical strata that helps us learn more about ourselves and this soul searching GAP is a journey that takes as unique forms as the people who brave taking it. Mine, lead me to heal from past traumas, build back confidence and YEAR personality, take the time to visit and revisit family, memories, and the TESTIMONIALS experiences that built me until here.

15 A gap, much like a pause in our breath, between the inhale and exhale, is a neutral zone. There is nothing too great nor too foul, yet the phase leaves a profound cleansing opportunity for fresh clarity to restart. Often, this means that we get a chance to step back and reaccess our entire life through the perspective of an observer rather than a mere doer. Perspective, hence, is my vital learning, because my horizons are

I wouldn't have felt the now a lot more open and accepting- this makes me adapt to situations need for a gap ‘year’, had I taken in life a lot better. the opportunity to listen to myself, early on and frequently. Since, like most of us, I had an educational background only in one The need to take a break (in as discipline, I pursued a year - long diploma in liberal arts at Ashoka many forms) comes, in my opinion, University, Haryana. It was for me, the right blend of intellectual,

because of the pressure built social, spiritual, geographical and creative safe space where I could into a system that nurtures equip myself with ways to continuously grow as a human. "burning out" as a way of life. It is often that one forgets that there are things larger than one's own Time spent reflecting, creating, mind and body. In such a human play of asking these larger rhetoric “learning life skills or healing questions, experiences like these gap years will guide us to address through changes aren't given those with insights; anything from as a little thing as- What is my “ any relevance. I kept telling favorite smell? (It's the smell of warm lemon juice in the morning) to myself I needed a year after the say, What is the purpose of my existence? (It is to communicate feelings, hype of tenth boards and as an artist, from myriad human experiences). If not for answers, I twelfth boards to just make learned still to ask better questions, those that maybe weren't being informed decisions but the fear asked enough. of falling behind pushed me to take up my under graduation. If there as a course offered for anyone, at any age to structure their Soon enough, the placements gap year, I would suggest that elements like oneness with nature, got to me and the money-making skill-building workshops, creativity projects/platforms, community began until I found the strength work for social impact, research opportunities, spiritual work to take that reality check and (meditations, physically through dance, theatre or yoga or Tai Chi) cut off from the cycle for a year. and collaborative teamwork initiatives are kept in mind. Like many others, traveling and The gap year means immensely to each individual, but

exploring fields of interest were SUSHMITA AYYAGIRI the quality of that experience will be shaped by those the main pursuits. Opted for Gap Year, 2018 who took them. Currently, I am taking another break for 6 months which might get extended to one I strongly believe that these two years year as I believe one should pursue made me grow as a person. I became something when one has the strong urge more responsible and was able to sort out to do so and also should give time to my life. I could learn to control my oneself. Life is all about learning and living temperament as I had to behave a life one wants to live. I do not like professionally. I also cracked UGC-JRF comparing myself with my counterparts testimonial during that break which helped me go for as everyone has their own pace and their higher studies using the fellowship. The own struggles. 17 solo travels I did during the 7 months of border. As I boarded the bus and the project instilled in me the love for Signing off! waved goodbye to my parents, I got traveling and that too, by taking local an email. When I opened it, I was transport. I still keep this as my practice. I surprised that it was a job offer from travel and trek a lot nowadays. I had taken time off of 2 years after a prestigious institute working with completing M.A in Social Work from the government for an international Further, during the time I was doing Delhi School of Social Work, Delhi project and that I had to join within a Masters, I was suffering from obesity due University. We were actually week in Mumbai. It was like destiny to a medical condition of hypo-thyroid encouraged by our professors that was in my favor for hadn’t I taken the because of which I was 20 kgs over- we would ideally need some amount bus for Guwahati on that day and weight and my legs were unable to take of professional experience if we booked flight ticket to Delhi beforehand, my own weight. I desperately needed to would like to pursue our career in it would have been almost impossible take care of myself but was unable to do social work. This was the reason why for me to reach Mumbai. So, I reached so. So after I got my second job, I made I chose to drop out of academics from Delhi and reached Mumbai. Guwahati as my base and enrolled myself 2015 to 2017. in a gym. While I was working and Though the previous organization traveling I also made sure to hit the gym. This was the reason why I chose to was not bad there were a lot of limitations In those 7 months, I could shed 15 kgs and sit for placements and got an on the kind of work I was doing. But later 5 more kgs with proper diet and opportunity to work with a renowned the new job was like my dream job. I workout. This made me so confident that I international organization. There I met people from WHO, CDS, and the took sprinting and long-distance running got the chance to build a good rapport Ministry of Health and Family welfare as sports activities after I joined IIT with my colleagues and seniors. who had trained us for the job of Bombay. I have taken up trekking too. However, I had to leave the organization research officer. I was entrusted with citing health issues. Although these the job of training, guiding and helping I made good use of the gap years. What were the basic reasons, there were in maintaining the quality of work in ever I am today, I owe it to those two years deeper reasons which created so the states of Assam and Arunachal apart from the support of my family and much mental stress and disturbance Pradesh. It boosted my confidence friends. Those years had changed me as a that began to take a toll on my mental which was almost lost, due to lots of person both physically and mentally. So, health. setbacks at the previous job. At the whosoever is considering taking a break in new job, I met a lot of new people and between academics, I would suggest just After leaving the organization, I the job gave me the opportunity to go for it and use the time wisely. It will, on stayed at home for 5 months trying to travel in the states of Assam and the other hand, help the person under- recover and applied for jobs. I was Arunachal Pradesh. Due to this stand how life is and how people around deeply frustrated and disturbed opportunity, I could visit almost all are. Most importantly it will help the during this time, compelling my parents the districts of Assam and Arunachal person understand his/her own self as to heed to my request for visiting my Pradesh. It gave me a practical exposure there will be enough time to think and brother and my friends in Delhi. I took to quantitative research and conducting contemplate what he/she actually wants. a bus to Guwahati from my hometown fieldwork which later helped me Post the ‘break’ I could enjoy academics Sujata Bori is a graduate from IIT Bombay Jonai, which is at Dhemaji, Assam during my time at IIT Bombay where I more as it broke the monotony of pursuing and loves spending her time-off traveling and near the Assam- Arunachal Pradesh was doing my M.Phil. academics. chatting up with new people.

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.....and cities reached W Workshops Competitions many more 1 worldwide cultural 20+ expedition THEYYAM Theyyam begins when God has arrived. An ancient ritualistic art form, Theyyam predates Hinduism and is derived from tribal animism. It is a possessed performance wherein the dancer attains a state of trance before the culmination of his performance. dance An exclusively male domain, Theyyam dancers are trained from their tender teenage years and 23 disciplined in very particular ways before being indicted into the dance form. The preparation process is tedious and involves years of training, (both physical and spiritual) and commitment. The art form is accompanied by local accompaniments like the chenda, veekku chenda (percussion instruments), kurumkuzhal (a wind instrument similar to a shehnai), and elathalam (similar to cymbals); and for those witnessing its climax, the spectacle is meant to bring peace and prosperity. It is at the point of transcendence from the earthly realm, that the artist ceases to exist and time becomes non-existent.

Originating in the Northern districts of Kerala, namely, Kannur, Kasargode, and Kozhikode; similar forms are found in Karnataka as well (called Bhuta kola). The make-up is elaborate with deep black kohled eyes that are exaggerated to the point of transhumance. The face is painted vivid orange with intricate meshes of red paint across the artists’ visage. It is a glorification of other-worldliness and invocation of the dark and divine. Showcased in the open (often in front of shrines and under sacred trees), the dancer is adorned in grass and fronds of palmyra leaves, his head crowned with an over-sized diadem. He begins to don the costume only after rigorous preparation and chanting for weeks that prepare him for the final performance. Stretched over minutes or even hours, Theyyam is a feeling that binds the supernatural. It is to be understood as a personal journey or invocation that sets the tone for the rest of the evening. People from all over flock to see this journey that promulgates the human to the divine. It demarcates the personal journey of the artist from mere mortality to the magical. This journey is an exciting and personal Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Puliyoor_Kali_Theyyam_at_Mathamangalam.jpg trajectory to experience the unknown and miraculous. 25 heritage

Ajrak, meaning blue in Arabic is said to signify the universe which is believed to be an interplay of vibrant hues of the color palette: color red for the earth, black for darkness, white for clouds and blue for the universe itself.

Think of the moonless night sky, think of midnight, think of the absolute blackness of the dark, and think of the night sky …think of the star-spangled sky, against a stark blue-black background.

Does your mind conjure images of the AJRAK night sky dotted with magical patterns? Traditionally, vegetable dyes were used by This magic is what ajrakh (aka ajrak) is. ajrakh printers, but soon they began to use synthetic dyes realizing that vegetable dyes were proving to be too expensive. Deriving its name from ‘azrak’ or blue in But with the revival of the craft once again, Arabic, Ajrak printing is believed to draw ajrakh printers have reverted to the usage its origins from the Indus Valley of natural dyes. There is a move to Civilisation. Tracing its origins to more incorporate new motifs to the design than 4000 years ago, Ajrakh is a library day by day. This involves moving block-printed textile. It is resist-dyed using away from the standard geometric prints natural dyes like indigo and madder. and colors.

Ajrakh is made by the Khatri community in Despite its historicity, Ajrakh has evolved the Kutch region of Gujarat and in Barmer with time. Wooden blocks that are used by district of Rajasthan. Ajrakh printing is a the artists are made in their homes today heady mix of intricate geometric patterns with the help of machine-like drills. against deep hued textiles. Further, instead of using the depleting natural water resources, modern artists Ajrak is a long legacy which involves use water drawn from borewells. Changing 14-16 stages of dyeing and printing which times have also called for critical changes can take up to 21 days to complete. More in terms of utility and design: however, the than a fabric, it is a tradition belonging to beauty of this traditional art has withstood the Sindhi community. the test of time. Source: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1150/2764/products/[email protected]?v=1537519793 GUNDECHA BROTHERS 27music

Pioneers of the oldest surviving classical style of Hindustani (or North Indian) vocal music, dhrupad, derives its name is from dhruva-pada, simply meaning "refrain," and denotes both a form of poetry and a style of music in which the poetry is sung. Dhrupad which literally means The Gundecha Brothers have sung great sure-footedness is said to have four broad works by Tulsidas, Kabir, Padmakar, Nirala stylistic variants (vanis or banis) – the in Dhrupad style. They have also sung for Gauri (Gauhar), Khandar, Nauhar, and many television channels in India and have Dagar, tentatively linked to five singing been broadcasted on British, U.S., German styles. The Gundecha Brothers from Ujjain and French, Japan and Australian radio as have been pioneers of this style of music. well. They have also performed and con- ducted workshops at many important international music festivals and institu- tions in about 25 countries in Europe, U.S.A, Australia, Japan, Egypt, Singapore, Bangladesh, U.A.E and Hongkong. Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha or the Gundecha brothers are the leading For their contribution to the field of exponents of the Dhrupad style of music. Dhrupad and Indian Classical Music, they Born in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, the were conferred the “Padmashri” in 2012 brothers were initiated into music by their and the “Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, parents. The Gundecha Brothers received 2017” by the Government of India. a conventional university education, where they studied economics and commerce and learned the Dhrupad vocal art under the renowned Dhrupad vocalist Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar and also with Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (the distinguished performer of Rudra Veena) under guru-shishya parampara in Dhrupad Source: https://www.facebook.com/gundecha.brothers/photos/a.233796659967195/244650535548474/?type=3&theater Kendra, Bhopal. Icarus, as a teenager and tired of the cold, damp cave began to complain that he had no hope of a life of his own. It was spring and the nests on the cliffs were filled chicks. Icarus walked up to his father and whispered quietly, “I envy those little birds, for soon their wings will grow strong and they’ll fly away from this place.” Daedalus blinked, a smile slowly growing on his face. “Well then, my little guy, we’d better start working on strengthening our wings so we can be off with the others!”

competitions ‘While Daedalus created thin tubes of light metal which he used to form the frame of two pairs of man-sized wings ,Icarus was busy collecting feather., He took the feathers that 29 Icarus had collected and used wax to attach the feathers to the light metal frames. It was painstaking work but a few weeks later, as the seagulls began to leave their nests, Daeda- Rooted And Free Essay Writing lus declared the wings complete.’ So most of us feel like Irucas, locked up in a cage. So like everyone else, he sets out towards The Essay Writing competition was our first such online initiative. As our tagline goes, freedom! #RootedAndFree, we decided to ask our young audience what they understand of it. And oh my! Weren’t we pleasantly surprised to know their take! 5 winners from India and ‘The day they were to leave, Daedalus lectured Icarus, “ Son, you must be cautious when Singapore won the prize money. Below is the winning essay. You can read other winning we fly. Fly too close to the sun and the wax will thaw and you will lose feathers. Follow my essays on our website. path closely and you’ll be fine. With an enthusiastic hug of good luck, Daedalus and Icarus stepped into the entrance of the cave overlooking the sea, spreading their wings as wide RG Sreeganesha, from D.A.V Senior Secondary School, Mogappair, Chennai as they would go and leaped, one after the other, out over the ocean. ‘FREEDOM‘- A word with multiple interpretations, synonyms and examples. It is a topic often debated. “Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants“, says “Oh, what freedom! “, Icarus threw his head back and laughed. Daedalus shouted to his son Oxford Dictionary. But can such a complicated and intriguing word be put into such a to be careful and follow him toward the shore of an island . But Icarus was having too much simple sentence? Let us find out at the end of this essay. fun – he was exhausted of always following his father, always listening to his endless lectures and Icarus was thrilled with his sudden freedom.” I’m finally free. I cannot believe Freedom is often thought about as a ‘State Of Mind‘. Freedom is to express ourselves with- I’ve been living all these years trapped in that cave missing this.” out any constraints. “Life without Liberty is like a Body without Spirit” said the Lebanese writer Khalil Gibran. He says that Freedom is the very spirit of life itself. We often prefer This is how we often tend to cross the limits set to us by our elders, taking dangerous freedom rather than peaceful slavery. Revolutions have broken out and advantage of the freedom given to us. governments have been over-thrown. Humans tend to rebel against oppressions. History is filled with such instances . The Indian struggle towards freedom is among the most studied ‘And with that he soared up into the sky.“No Icarus! Stop!” shouted Daedalus, “The wax will sectors of History. Millions gave their lives for the valuable freedom lacking at that period of melt if it gets tepid. Not so high.” time. Most countries around the world have understood the significance of freedom and have adopted Democracy. But Icarus was too lost in his own cheerful thoughts of pleasure to listen to his father’s warnings. As he flew higher he began to feel the warm wax dripping down his arms and As teenagers and students, we long for freedom. But with freedom comes the responsibility to saw feathers falling down around him. He saw more feathers glide away and he began to take important and life-changing decisions. To put it in another way, freedom to choose lose height. As Daedalus watched in horror, Icarus plunged into the sea at immense speed.’ comes with the responsibility of its consequences. Students often feel as though their parents, teachers and, in fact, all the elders nudge them to do a particular activity. For most of us, it This is an ancient mythological story of Greece. This story illustrates how dangerous freedom may be studies while for others it may be a certain coaching class. We feel a huge pressure can be. Freedom has both positives and negatives of its own. It is wise to let some aspects falling on us, chaining our lives to a routine of satisfying our parents. of our life be decided by the knowledgeable and the experienced. But freedom is a pathway and when used correctly, can take you through an alluring and satisfied life filled with colors The story of Irucas is an intriguing and a thoughtful one . ‘During the reign of King Minos, of your choice. there lived a man named Daedalus and his young son Icarus. Daedalus was an inventor of wonderful mechanical creations. He wanted Daedalus to work only for him and so he I prefer to fly free but hold on to my roots. Hence freedom is the right to act on our own and locked them away in a cave high above the sea. The only entrances to the cave were guarded to me, it means shaping and chiseling life in my own way with the help of friends, family by the King’s soldiers and an entrance overlooking the sea high up on the side of a cliff. and elders to create an exquisite statue of my life! Daedalus didn’t mind his imprisonment at first. Whatever Daedalus needed, King Minos provided him . Daedalus lived happily for many years working away on wondrous inventions. FROM THE THIS DAY, PAGES OF HISTORY THAT YEAR32 How: When the cases came before the Supreme Court in 1952, the Court consolidated all five cases under the name of Brown v. Board of Education. The most common appeal was that separate school systems for blacks and whites were inherently unequal and violated the "equal protection clause" of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Meeting to decide the case, the Justices of the Supreme Court realized that they were When: December 1953 deeply divided over the issues raised. Unable to come to a solution by June 1953 Background: In the 1950s segregation (the end of the Court's 1952-1953 term), laws in many states of the US prohibited the Court decided to rehear the case in African American children and white December 1953. During the intervening children from attending the same schools. months, however, Chief Justice Fred But Linda Brown, an African American girl, Vinson died and was replaced by Gov. Earl rose to challenge this norm. She could not Warren of California. attend a less-crowded white school a few blocks from her home in Topeka, Kan. Wow: After the case was reheard in 1953, Instead, she had to ride a bus across town Chief Justice Warren was able to do to attend an African American school. In something truly remarkable. He managed 1951, Linda Brown’s father and several to bring all of the Justices to agree to parents from her school filed a suit against support a unanimous decision declaring the Board of Education of the City of segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Topeka, Kansas in the United States On May 14, 1954, he delivered the opinion District Court for the District of Kansas. He of the Court, stating that "We conclude argued that separate schools were that in the field of public education the unconstitutional because they violated doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no equal protection guaranteed by the place. Separate educational facilities are Fourteenth Amendment. inherently unequal. . ."

What: Brown v. Board of Education was Although it would take many more years actually the name given to five separate before all segregated school systems were cases that were heard by the U.S. to be desegregated, Brown v. Board of Supreme Court concerning the issue of Education was responsible for getting the Source: https://qz.com/1238691/linda-brown-what-integration-after-brown-v-board-of-education-looked-like/ racial segregation in public schools. process underway. LETTERS OF PAST Vincent van Gogh’s Mother Anna Carbentus van Gogh famous Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh to his BY mother Anna describing his struggle with his And now it’s certain that the work they’re making here at present is very different — more mental illness and inability to find meaning in colorful and more forthrightly drawn than what people used34 to do in Holland in the time of his work. This heart-warming letter is dated 23 Schelfhout, say. And yet the one is so much a consequence of the other. For example, you December 1889, almost 7 years before his knew the old Van de Sande Bakhuyzen and Jules Bakhuyzen. I thought of their work only death is an account of a son’s love for his recently, that with all the apparent difference there’s still so little change in people’s ideas. mother and his best wishes for his family during Anyway, I believe that Jules Bakhuyzen, say, would understand perfectly what I paint these Christmas. days, that ravine with the stream, and another painting — of the park at the asylum — large pine trees against an evening sky.

Dear Mother, I hope Theo sent you my studies, but I’m already working on another rather large painting Towards the end of the year, I come to bid you good-day once more. You’ll say that I’ve for you of women harvesting olives. The trees grey-green with a pink sky and purplish soil. forgotten it many times. It’s a year since I became ill, and it’s difficult for me to express the All the colors are more subdued than usual. I had hoped to send it before long, but it’s extent to which I have or haven’t recovered. I often have terrible self-reproach about things drying slowly. As I told you, I often regret that I’m sometimes so alienated; I resist it, but it in the past, my illness being pretty much my own fault, and in any event, it’s doubtful makes me so unfit to do many things that were actually my duty. There’s literally nothing whether I can make amends for faults in any way. But reasoning or thinking about this is wrong with my health, but last year’s shock means I would still dread going outside an sometimes so difficult, and sometimes my feelings overwhelm me more than in the past. asylum. I’ve sometimes imagined that if I abandoned painting and had some hard life or And then I can think so much of you and of the past. You and Pa have been so much, so other, like a soldier going to the east, say, that would make me better. But it’s already rather very much to me, possibly more even than to the others, and I don’t seem to have had a too late for that, and I’m afraid they’d turn me down. I think this half in jest, half in earnest. happy nature. I started to realize that in Paris, how much more than I Theo did his best to For the moment the work’s going well, but of course my thoughts, always fixed on colors help Pa practically, so much so that his own interests often went by the board because of and drawing, continue to go round in a rather small circle. So I want to live by the day — it. That’s why I’m so thankful now at present that Theo finally found a wife and is waiting trying to get from one to the next. And for that matter, my fellow painters also often com- for his baby. Anyway, Theo had more self-denial than I, and that’s deep in his character. plain that the profession makes one so powerless. Or that it’s the powerless who practice And when Pa was no longer with us and I went to him in Paris, then the poor chap attached it. How much you must be thinking about Theo and Jo and the forthcoming event; I hope himself so much to me that I came to understand how much he had loved Pa. with all my heart that it goes well. I’m glad to be able to imagine what your house is like after Wil’s description. And now, I say this to you and to Wil and not to him, it’s a good thing I didn’t stay in Paris because we should, he and I, have become all too much bound up in each other. And that’s Is there any more news from Cor? It’s very good that you’re close to Anna and will see your not what life’s for. I can’t tell you how much better I think it is for him as it is now than grandchildren around you. Give everyone at Anna’s my very best wishes at the ending of before; he had too many tiring things on his mind, and his health suffered for it. the year.

When I was first ill I couldn’t accept the idea that I had to go into an asylum. And now at The weather here has been quite mild in the last few days. Although many days of frost present, I admit that I should have been treated earlier, but it’s human to err in that. A and wind, too, but then the sun shines more strongly than in Holland. Do you remember French writer says that all painters are mad to some degree, and although there’s a great that Rappard once said ‘it’s sometimes refreshing’ when he’d had typhoid fever and later deal to be said against that, it’s certain that one is too easily alienated by it. Be this as it stayed with us? I sometimes think about that when I feel much stronger and at times more may, here, where I don’t have to concern myself with anything, etc. — I imagine that the clear-headed than last year. standard of my work is getting better. And so I go on with relative calm and do my best at Now I wish you a happy Christmas and a good New Year. Embraced in thought by my work and don’t count myself among the unfortunates. At the moment I’m working on a painting of a path between the mountains and a small stream that works its way between Your loving the stones. The rocks are solid lilac grey or pink, with bushes here and there: box and a sort Vincent of broom, that have all sorts of colors, green, yellow, red, brown, because of the autumn. And the stream in the foreground white and foaming like soapsuds, and further up reflect- I’ll write to Wil next time because it’s time for the post. ing the blue of the sky. Source: http://www.vangoghletters.org/vg/letters/let831/letter.html KERALA good food 35 CUISINE Malayalis embrace rice as their staple At its core, this cuisine keeps you wanting My earliest memory is about food: in all forms almost all food. Apart from rice, coconut features as more. Through its all-embracing nature, the places I know. The three years that hold the most a constant: it is used for its meat or flesh, Kerala cuisine has a bit for everyone. So entrenched memories of food in my life were the first water, milk and oil. How these and other next time, come on board and try all that three years I spent with my grandmother in Kerala. Hot ingredients used in the cuisine to deliver the state has to offer! piles of fat boiled rice with fiery fish curry at home. My a plethora of dishes is actually quite legs would be against a wall as I sang along A.R. magical. Rahman songs (‘Muqala, Muqabila...’) while waiting for the bells of the peanut vendor. I would rush in munching Appam, idiyappam, puttu (fermented rice on the peanut brittle candy: eager not to fill my belly with pancakes and hoppers) are the bread and such snacks. Kanji and payar (rice gruel and smashed butter equivalents. Kappa (tapioca, a root lentils) at the Anganwadi was what I looked forward to. vegetable) is consumed with vigor - either A simple meal, but it was sublime. All kinds of chips - steamed and eaten with mouth-numbing banana, jackfruit, yam and tapioca prepared by my bird’s eye chilli chutney or maybe mashed countless aunts were enough to keep hunger away. and cooked tinged yellow with tumeric, chilli, and to be eaten with hot fish or If the neighbors made fish curry, I was there with my meat gravies. nose up, sniffing in the spicy, tangy, glorious air. I was the ‘neighborhood cat’. I’d enter their kitchens for fish and Vegetables are eaten with as much gusto slip out with stolen hot crunchy pappadams (fried cous- as meat and fish; thoran (chopped and ins of the khakhra) fresh out of the wok, teary-eyed as I stir-fried vegetables with coconut), would not let them go even when they burned my small pachadi (raita of sorts), avial (mashed up palms. I would wolf them down by twos or threes, till I roots and vegetables with a coconut had to be shooed away by my mother. base) are a few ways to prepare them.

Through all these memories, what stood out is that Snacking is a state past-time. The sweet Kerala does not discriminate picky eaters. The cuisine smell of pazhampori (fried plantain being linked to its geography, history, demography, and fritters) – its crisp exterior giving way to a culture is diverse - Mappila cuisine, Syrian-Catholic food piping hot over-ripe plantain as its core, complimented by the traditional smorgasbord of vege- parippuvada (fried lentil discs), suhyan (a tarian delicacies found in the traditional Hindu sadya. distant cousin of modak) and bonda (fried Historically influenced by the visits of the Arab, Portu- banana dough balls)are drool-worthy. guese, Dutch, Roman, and Greek traders to the port Steamed snacks are a class of their own. towns, the array of dishes are numerous and the styles of Kozhukkata, dumplings filled with fresh cooking them are aplenty. Local ingredients like rice, coconut and jaggery and kumbilappam, coconut, pepper and spices also play a crucial role in how banana-wheat-jaggery dough stuffed in Aashna Jayakumar is an architect who similar preparations stand apart from the rest of the bay leaf cones have such distinct flavors loves to experiment with food. According region. when steamed, it belies the simple to her, she is on a “quest to nowhere just ingredients used. living life”. 38 movie review FROZENII

Cast: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, commissioned by their grandfather, King Jonathan Groff Runeard. The movie unravels magically, Directed by: Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee weaving the story of Elsa and her discov- Music by: Robert Lopez and Kristen- ery of the truth. Anderson Lopez Elsa invokes the power of water, as The sequel to the original Frozen fran- “water remembers everything” and chise that released in 2013, this musical discovers some truths about her family. takes off with the story of Elsa, the Snow Anna, Olaf, Sven, and Kristoff along with Queen and Anna who dare to relive their a plethora of interesting friends, giants, childhood stories. Set three years after and enemies, reach out for each other and the events in the first part, the two sisters come together to help Elsa realize her set themselves on an adventure as they journey. This movie beautifully captures are beckoned by a mysterious voice that the power of nature and its individual only Elsa can hear. She is drawn and elements.. Apart from the obvious, the determined to find Ahtohallan, which movie is also a reminder of living in har- until then was only a magical river that mony with nature and respecting its existed in her parents’ stories. power and boundaries. This movie also skirts on the issue of forests and indige- Elsa discovers that their kingdom is alive nous peoples and their rights to their land because of the benevolent interplay of the very briefly but deep enough. four elements of nature: namely, earth, fire, water, and air. Elsa soon realizes that Further, as a caution, some scenes are their kingdom, Arendelle is no longer tear-jerkers especially if you have an elder under the magic spell of nature Gods but sister or sibling (like me) that will compel is instead cursed for violating the trust of you to revisit your childhood and pick up indigenous people of the Enchanted your phone and text your sibling. Do Forest. All their lifetime, Elsa and Anna watch this movie for the wonderful music, are made to believe that they had been the beautiful graphics and the simple deceived by the indigenous people storyline. This movie has its heart in the despite the construction of a bridge right place. book review 39 PERSEPOLIS

This book which is a virtual laugh riot tells So she takes refuge in God and begins a haunting tale of the life of a little girl in reading all the books she can. Iran. Grappling with the intense pace of a familiar world collapsing around her, Quite suddenly, the Shah is overthrown, Satrapi captures the madness of growing and a new Islamic regime takes control. up against the political turmoil of her All the schools are segregated along country. As Penguin Random House, in gender lines and Marji is forced to wear a their description claim, that the book is veil. Slowly, though, Marji and her parents “intensely personal, profoundly political, realize that the regime isn't any better and wholly original, Persepolis is at once than the monarchy that preceded it. a story of growing up and a reminder of Everyone who supported the revolution is the human cost of war and political now a sworn enemy of the government. repression. It shows how we carry on, The events that follow are unbelievable with laughter and tears, in the face of and, at times, horrifying. absurdity. And, finally, it introduces us to an irresistible little girl with whom we Reflecting on Marjane's innocence in this cannot help but fall in love”. horrifying world, the language, and illus- trations have been kept very simple and Using powerful black-and-white comic profound. It aims to paint an unforgetta- strip images, Persepolis is a humorous ble portrait of daily life in Iran and of the and haunting memoir of a young girl in bewildering contradictions between life Iran. Largely personal and anecdotal, at home and public life told through the Persepolis is filled with happiness and lens of a child. grief. It is capable of leaving you in splits Thinking and making you reach out for tissues. What does it mean to be born in a war zone or conflict area? The story begins with a young Marjane BY (or Marji), who doesn't understand what's How do you think such teenagers are different from you? going on around her. Her parents talk about dialectic materialism and martyrs. Marjane Do you know/ have such friends who you think have faced such situations? Her teacher says that the Shah is divine. What would you have done? Her maid doesn't eat with the family. Mar- Satrapi jane herself wants to become a prophet. 41 what’s next? THE PLUS DEBATE Understand. Interpret. Learn.

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Kartik Sawhney, 17

Breaking all odds and choosing to pursue science, Kartik Sawhney fought all odds to prove that his disability would not serve as an impediment in the pursuit of his personal and professional goals. Being the first blind student to pursue science education in high school in India, he advocated for a change in the rules that now allow all blind students across the country to pursue sciences. His fight did not stop there: after several months he convinced the top technical universities in India to open their doors to blind students, leading to at least fifteen students in India pursuing engineering today.

While IIT rejected him as its entrance examination does not allow blind candidates to appear for the same, he chose to go abroad and became a computer science graduate from Stanford University and co-founded Project StemAccess (now I-Stem) that provides technical training, mentorship and hands-on opportunities to blind math and science students across the country. I-Stem also works closely with the government, technical universities and corporations to make their campuses and culture more inclusive. Before this, he co-founded NextBillion.org, an award-winning global mentorship program for students with disabilities interested in technology that has worked with over 180 mentees and mentors in 10 coun- tries. He has also developed technical solutions and conventions for accessible STEM which are being used by blind students across the world. He feels that tech- nology holds immense potential to be a great leveler for disabled people.

In recognition of his leadership potential and work, Kartik received the Queen’s Young Leaders Award 2016 from Her Majesty The Queen. In addition, he was included in the Limca Book of Records and has been recognized by several other organizations including Google and the Government of India.

Source: https://www.queensyoungleaders.com/awardee/kartik-sawhney/ THE PLUS THANK YOU ISSUE NO. 02 | JAN 2020

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