The Social Science department of sapphire international school ranchi has organized a special assembly on 5th April 2014, on the occasion of Earth Day. Children from classes II to X participated in putting up an impressive show which included speech,mime, recitation etc. The effort made by the children was highly appreciated by all

1. Learn | Participate | Nurture | Believe
MILIEU
2014
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2. LEARNING THROUGH DOING
Soil Profile, Class PP4 ‘B’ Fun with Leaves, Class PP4 ‘B’
Traditional Games PP4 ‘B’
Origami, Class PP3 ‘B’
Best out of Waste, Class 4
Best out of Waste, Class 4

3. The world is changing fast. Man is adapting with the changes and creating new
social values. Society is getting restructured and actualised to meet global
economic and cultural necessities of the newly born world citizens. Stories are
changing on the LOCs, man's attitude is changing on investment logic, man's
interventions on nature and natural calamities are changing the climate of the
world, man's thinking processes are changing with discoveries and usages of
modern gadgets. These changes are not mere changes. These are progressive
changes.Sothesearerevolutions.
Revolution brings paradigm shifts in socio-moral stand points and pattern of
individual's response to social standards. In this manner, behaviour of
individuals, groups and society changes and frames laws to ensure the good and
civilitytoremainincivilization.
Education system of a country should act as a bridge between an individual and
the society around him. What an individual learns out of his experiences and
experiments forms the base of the knowledge system of society. Education is to
transfer the systematically truncated social outcome of individual's experiences
and experiments to the students. This social outcome is the knowledge base of a
society. It is difficult to teach such knowledge, preach such values and hone such
skills in such artificial situations which prevail in schools. That is why it is
necessary to create multiple opportunities for the students to experience the
learningthroughprojects,activities,researchesandpublications.
The teachers of the Social Studies department and the students who are under
their guidance are like a conglomerate engaged in analytical and research
oriented studies in social studies. Their researches, analyses, sensibilities and
decipherments found permanent seats in the pages of the social studies
departmentalmagazine-Milieu2014.
Milieu is coming out again as a testimony of cognitive rejuvenation and
intellectual ascent of the teachers and the students. It has been observed that
students have been more creative in writing, more apt in presenting and more
realistic in data collection. There has been no sign of plagiarism. Writers and
editors are highly appreciated for their hard work in making the tree of their
knowledgegrow.
Publication of the second issue of Milieu is a matter of great pride for the school
andessentially,nowapartofitsrichtradition.
From the Principal's desk
Mr. Dhruba Das
Principal

4. I want to share this moment of pride and ecstasy with all of you that our
students and teachers have given us by working religiously to shape up our
dreams. The dreams to make our students organised and well equipped with
every possible quality, so that they head forward with their watchword –“NOTA
LOOK BEHIND”. Actually speaking our sapphires will never have to look
behind .Like flowers, they are slowly opening up, blooming in the fresh
environment of love and care, growing with the showers of blessings, nodding in
appreciation for the guidance of their able teachers and swaying in the breeze
full of disciplined cheer. Their petals of growth can never droop, the fragrance
oftheirtalentscannevergounnoticedandtheirglorycanneverfade.
The best part is that our precious ones have started realizing that - “Indiscipline
never pays”, “Hard work always succeeds” and “Justice always triumphs”.
They have learnt to get involved in manifold activities and strive for their
completion, maintaining the standard of their performance. Along with
academics and other curricular and co - curricular activities ,they're squeezing
out quality time for researching, creating and coming up with beautiful ideas
stringed in the form of articles having the flavour of originality. Isn't it great?
Isn'titsomethingwecandependupon?
Here lies the key to their success. The nectar of which they have started relishing
and we hope with your co-operation and combined efforts we will make it
possible to erase the word “IMPOSSSIBLE” from our students' lives and help
them walk with steady steps towards their goals and conquer every height with
totalconfidence.
Vice-Principal’s Message
Ms Madhumita Banerjee
Vice-Principal, H.O.D, English.
‘Second edition of 'Milieu'
Seconds now my own view.
Achievements many, lapses few
Watch students' creativity brew.'

5. Society is the microcosm where we live, interact and spend our entire lives. It is
'society'whichshapesandmouldsusandinturnismouldedbyus.
Human beings have left their mark on the sands of time through their thoughts,
ideas, discoveries, scientific and numerical decipherations, aesthetics and the
list goes on. Renowned personalities like Plato, Aristotle, Galileo etc have
contributed immensely in the field of physics, medicine, mathematics, politics,
poetry, astronomy, geography etc. The high level of reasoning displayed by these
men, has time and again motivated and guided the human race. Their ideas have
been the cornerstone for many a theory which led mankind to strive harder to
unravelthelittleknownfacts.
Today's generation claims to have attained a high degree of development. Much
credit for this achievement is given to the field of science....its worthy claimant.
With passing time, the subject has gained popularity among the masses. This
indeed is a positive sign, since it raises hopes of further development. But the
question arises, who then is the creator, disseminator and benefactor of this
development? Well it is society of course. But sadly enough in the present rat race
where the only aim is to earn a fat salary, most aim for the so called high paying
jobs,whichcoincidentallylieinthefieldofscience.
But what do the statistics say? According to a recently published article by
Indranil Manna from IITKanpur, approximately 1 million students in India enrol
for the engineering courses every year but, only 0.5- 0.7 million students
complete the course. It goes without saying that those who dropout from these
courses were simply not cut out for this job. Then why did they choose to do this
course? There can be several possible interpretations but one thing is clear, i.e.
today's youth is neither guided nor motivated to take up the subjects in the stream
ofSocialScience.
The prevalent misconception is that one would not earn well if he chose to pursue
a career in Social Sciences. But with changing times, the scope in the field of
Social Science too has increased. Society has become more complex and so its
demands have risen creating scope for venturing into new avenues viz: planning
engineer, political scientist, philologist, palaeontologist to name a few. In the
years to come the social dimension is about to undergo a sea change. This will
call for Sociologists and Social Scientists to contribute towards the making and
theshapingofanewsocialorder.
I therefore urge my dear students to make an informed decision rather than a
blindchoice.
Editorial
Mrs. Aparajita Das,
Teacher-in-Charge, HOD Social Science

6. A year has rolled by since the publication of Milieu, 2013. During this time,
theSocialSciencedepartmenthasbeenengagedin variousactivities.
On 8th February 2014, the S. ST department put up the first Social Science
exhibition at SIS. It was a proud moment for all the students and staff of the
Social Science department, to display the exhibits which were the outcome
of weeks of hard work. The display portrayed the culture of various
countriesincludingChina,Egypt,Spain,Indiaetc.
The Social Science department organized a special assembly on 5th April
2014, on the occasion of Earth Day. Children from classes II to X
participated in putting up an impressive show which included speech,
mime, recitation etc. The effort made by the children was highly appreciated
byall.
SIS has always tried to give global exposure to its students. This year the
school added a new feather to its cap by participating in the
Commonwealth Competition 2014. This competition was organized by the
British Council to mark the Commonwealth games. SIS was a member of
Team 4, where we partnered with schools from nine other countries
including Scotland, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Jamaica, Kenya, Canada and
Nigeria. The students were assigned a minimum of seven different tasks
which included making a video about a day spent at SIS, a recipe booklet,
designing a logo etc to name a few. During the competition, students had the
opportunity to interact with peer group members from other member
schools.Ithelpedthestudentstounderstandtheirculturebetter.
This year, learning has been fun in the Social Science department. Under
the able guidance of the Social Science teachers, children engaged
themselves in performing various classroom as well as outdoor activities.
Ms. Neha Das led the students of PP4 in designing garments by using
different varieties of fabric. The school witnessed the first mock
parliament which was put up by the students of class VII under the
stewardship of Ms. Swati Sahay. In the mock parliament children debated
on some burning issues faced by the country. This activity gave direct
exposure to the students about how the sessions in the Parliament are
conducted.
DEPARTMENTAL BULLETINDEPARTMENTAL BULLETIN

7. Students of Class 4 took great interest in the study of plants. They also
learnt about floriculture and how it has evolved to become a thriving
business today. As an extension to their learning, children participated in
a flower decoration competition on 27th August 2014. An interesting
activity performed by PP4 was related to 'Community Eating'. In this
activity, our dear mothers were requested to pack a lunch box with a
traditional Indian dish. They were also requested to share the recipe with
us. Children gathered in the mess to partake the goodies which turned out
to be a joyful experience for them.As an extension of this activity, children
later analyzed the difference in taste, flavour and the ingredients used.
Students of PP5 have learnt about the disposal of waste as part of their
EVS curriculum. In order to inculcate a sound understanding of how and
why commodities need to be reused or recycled, Ms. Kavita Jaiswal led
the students to create new products out of waste material under the
project tilted 'Best out of waste'. Students of class VII learnt about
tourism and that it has become a thriving industry. Later the children
wereguidedbyMs. RuchiSinghtodesigntheirown'travelbrochures'.
Culture is at the heart of the study of Social Science. It is very important
that we inculcate in our children a sense of respect for their culture and
tradition. Today's children have the dual responsibility of understanding
not only their own culture, but also the culture prevalent in different parts
of the world. This is because the spread of globalization has given birth to
theconceptofglobalcitizenship.
At Sapphire, we are sensitive towards the need of the hour. So we create
opportunities for our children to experience this global atmosphere
within the precincts of our school. This is achieved through the projects,
exhibitions, academic activities, and presentations etc. In future too, we
endeavour to impart new knowledge and skills to our students through
observationandexperience.
This year the school will be sending its first batch of class XII students
from the humanities stream to write their board exams. Our teachers have
been working hard with the children, so that each may achieve their
highest potential. We wish them luck and we are hopeful that they will
maketheschoolproudwiththeirperformance.
Mrs. Aparajita Das,
Teacher-in-Charge, HOD Social Science

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Journey of a Woman...
The Land of the Rising Sun
Green Beauty
“Kartavyam Anvatma” Duty Before Death
I Believe I Can
Let Nature Be Least Disturbed
Little Sapphires- Born to Shine
The Blues of Entertainment
Laughing Gas
Paint your thoughts
My Life as a River Around the World...
Bounties of Nature
Save Trees, Save Life
Justification of Expenses on Education
Nature- My Friend
Increasing Significance of the Role of
Election in India
A Gadget Freak World
What is Beauty ?
The Shadow at Night
Battle of the Brains
Let’s Be Fashionable
From Worshipping Nature to Destroying it...
The Social Dilemma
Social Science Exhibition 2013
And Thus Spake Yamuna
Our Earth one big Planet
Colourful Beliefs
Raise your Voice not the Sea Level
Riddles
Reminiscence of Partition
Government Vs Governance
Life without Mobiles and Internet
Save Trees
Answer Keys
CONTENTCONTENT

9. JOURNEY OF A WOMAN...
Ms. Mahima Roy sat on a recliner holding her new born grandson,
Ruhaan, in her lap, a faint smile lingering on her lips.The baby felt
like a bale of soft cotton.As she rocked the babe to sleep, her mind
started wandering as if being carried off by a time machine to the
past, her childhood. Nostalgic glimpses flashed, re-appeared and
disappeared again and again as she tried to assemble the torn
thoughtstogether.
As a child, she had always been a good student. She had learnt
yoga, dance and music. She was also a good artist. She had always
worked hard and maintained a proper physique. She had always
beenagoodperformeronthestage.
She got married at the age of 18 and continued with her studies.
She had learnt typing and shorthand but couldn't pursue her career
as a stenographer and ultimately chose the second option-the
teachingprofession.
Ms Mahima Roy winced visibly thinking of those days full of
hardships. How she struggled from morn to night to strike a
balance between the different roles she was required to play on the
life's stage--as a daughter, as a wife, as a mother and as a teacher.
Reminiscing, she heaved a sigh of relief and satisfaction. She had
put in her 100% and was rewarded. Both her sons and most of her
students have made her proud with their achievements and their
disciplined ways. Now, she heads a complete
family consisting of sons, daughter-in-
laws, a grand daughter and a grand
son.
A faint sound made by Ruhaan
brought her back to the
present. The child smiled and
smirked in his sleep. She
cuddled him and traced his
forehead with light strokes of
1

10. herfingerswhichputhimagainintodeepslumber.
She drifted to her past again and once more realised--"How time
flies!"Sherememberedmanyfondmemories--
The first day in school,stepping coyly with hesitant steps with a
stainless steel suitcase and a water bottle ,the smiling faces of the
Mother Superior,sisters(nuns) and other teachers,the joy of
performing well and becoming the class monitor,faint faces of
school mates and their naughty and innocent looks,some names
remembered and mostly forgotten.The scenes changed to college
days and she remembered herself as a soft spoken girl liked by
all.She went back to the day of her interview when her then
principal asked her to speak loudly as she was not audible across
the table.Now ,she almost broke into laughter thinking how her
shouts as a vice-principal make the wrong doers tremble.But even
now,she feels she is just and affectionate and her students
reciprocate her love.She still cherishes the memory of
motherhood.Oh!How wonderful one feels!As if receiving a
LifetimeAchievementAward!
Ms.Mahima believesstrongly-
Ifyouarejust
Godiswithyou;
Ifyou aredisciplined
Failuresarefew.
Ifyouaregood
Lovebegetslove;
Ifyou'retrustworthy
You'reblessedfromabove.
Really! Can a woman's strength be compared to anything? Her
2

11. appearance might be deceptive-- frail, timid, meek or unimpressive
but she surpasses everyone with her inner strength of
undemanding, unconditional love, endurance, compromise,
compassion, understanding and at times sternness to tackle the
demand of situation. Don't you think woman is a perfect blend, a
unique combination of God's creation? That makes her
"Ekamadwitiyam"- that is incomparable. Ms Mahima felt proud
forbeingbornawoman.
The child started stirring and raised his little arms. She lightly
touched his fingers-they seemed artistic. She placed the child in
the baby cot and her activity dragged her from the past to the
presentbutathoughtkeptonlingeringinhermind--
When her journey comes to an end....When she reaches her
destination...
Willhercontributionsbeacknowledged?
Willherdedicationberewarded?
Willtherolesplayedbyher onlife'sstageeverbeapplauded?
Willsheberememberedbyallforwhomshehadstrived?
THESE ARE THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS OF EVERY
WOMAN...........
Ms Madhumita Banerjee
Vice-Principal, H.O.D,English.
3

12. It was a cold and frosty morning in the December of 2009,
when I found myself waking up to witness the red ball of fire
paint the eastern sky of the country popularly known as 'The
Land of the Rising Sun'. Yes! This was my maiden voyage to
Japan. Since my father was posted in Japan as a marine
engineer,Ihadthefortuneofvisitingthatcountry.
Japan is a developed country with a flourishing economy. This
is evident from the fact that the country’s skyline is dotted with
high buildings and tall industrial structures, while on the
surface one finds luxurious cars and motor vehicles most of
which seemed to have been taken out from the showroom just
hours back. I felt that Japanese people were very particular
about the maintenance of their cars, but to my utter amazement
I found out that in Japan people discarded their cars after five
years because they thought it to be 'very old'! Can you beat
that?
While in Japan, we stayed in a small apartment in Yokohama.
Initially I felt scared thinking of the height at which the
apartment was, but I soon learnt that the buildings were
constructed following the earthquake standards and so they
werequitesafe.
Over the weekend, we planned to visit the Ueno zoo. Ueno
Zoological Gardens is the oldest zoo in Japan. It was founded
in 1882 and has grown over the years and expanded its area to
14.3 ha (35.2 acres). Now it is home to over 2,600 animals
from 464 different species and provides visitors with learning
experience about the diversity of animals. It is here that for the
first time in my life I saw penguins, polar bears, giraffes and
kangaroos.
THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN
4

13. My next destination in Japan was Disneyland and I feel it is the
most wonderful experience I have ever had. The thrilling rides like
the roller coaster, speed boat, splash mountain etc simply caught
my breath. I witnessed a parade of the world famous cartoon and
fairy tale characters. They seemed so real that we were instantly
transported to another world – a world of dream and fantasy. We
then visited the sea paradise where we watched the popular pink
dolphin show. Most children like me were thrilled to watch the
dolphins jump into the air.There were seals too and I got the chance
to touch one of them. Later in the evening, I saw the light parade. I
had never before seen such an extravaganza featuring a host of
stars.
This experience was so awesome, that till many days later, I
couldn't stop dreaming about it. Soon my vacation was over and I
returnedtoIndia,butIstilllongtovisitJapanagain.
Arshita Ishaan
V B
If global warming happens,
It would not be good,
For our earth and neighbourhood.
By destroying trees, we have destroyed mankind.
And that's why my dear, no trees you'll find.
For the sake of development,
You mustn't change the environment.
So please plant more and more trees,
And keep your earth pollution free.
GREEN BEAUTY
Nikunj
V B
5

14. “KARTAVYAM ANVATMA”
DUTY BEFORE DEATH
6
Ravi Chandra Singh was a little boy, when his father took him to the
Parade ground to witness the grand parade on Republic Day. Ravi was
thrilled as there were many other children who had come to be a part of
this grand event. The parade began with the flag hoisting and march
pastofthearmedregiment.
Ravi had never seen any army personnel from such a close distance.
He was charmed by the attire, the smart moves and the ammunition
which they carried. On his way home that day, he asked several
questions to his father related to the life and contribution of a soldier.
He came to understand that it is a matter of pride and valour to be a part
of the army. So when he reached home, he told his mother that he
wished to join the army. His mother considered it to be a child's
imagination, until he graduated from the army corps and joined the
IndianArmy.
By dint of his talent, Ravi was soon promoted to a senior position.
Time flew by and soon his parents fixed his wedding. Ravi's wife
Preeti was proud to be a soldier's wife, but she feared about the safety
of her husband. A few years passed by and Ravi and Preeti were
blessedwithalittleboy.TheylovinglynamedhimRaj.
Raj was going to be four years old and the family planned to celebrate
the child's birthday with much festivity. So Ravi came home, happy to
meethisfamilyafteralongtime.
The political scenario in the country was unstable and people lived
under threat of impending war. One day while Ravi was playing with
his son, he received a call from the headquarters informing him that
his leave was being cancelled and that he would have to report to duty
immediately. Dark clouds of worry loomed large on the family. Preeti
pleaded with her husband to give up the job and settle in the village.
But for Ravi his job was his passion. All his life he had waited for the
supreme moment when he could render his service to his nation. He

15. 7
tried to console Preeti that he would be safe and would return
shortly, but it didn't help. Ravi's parents wished that their son would
notleavebuttheydidn'twanttobreakhisheart.Sotheykeptquiet.
Two days later, Ravi was to leave, when Raj hugged his father and
told him “Baba I want to go with you. Please take me along.” Ravi
laughed and said, “Sure my son, when you are as tall as I am, I shall
take you along.” Preeti was in tears and Ravi found it hard to
console her. Many people in the neighbourhood came to bid him
goodbye, for each one knew that they might not see him again.
Everyone tried to cheer him, but deep within they knew that things
mightnotbethesameagain.
Ravi's parents went to the station to see him off. Ravi's mother
Lalita Devi had so long controlled her emotions. But when the
whistle blew and the train began to roll out of the station, she broke
down. She had given her son to the nation and now there was no
looking back. Ravi's parent's returned with a heavy heart. On seeing
them Preeti broke down weeping bitterly, “Why did you let him go?
Who will rear my little son, if something happens to Ravi? I don't
want my son to say that his father is Late Ravi Chandra.” Ravi's
parents knew that Preeti's fear could be a reality any moment and so
theyfelldumb.
Days seemed like weeks and the only source of life in the family
was Raj. News reached the village that war had broken out and that
fierce battle was on at the fronts. A few days later the radio

16. broadcasted the news that the war was over and that India was
victorious. Ravi's family was relieved to hear this but they were
anxious to know about him. They tried to contact his colleagues but to
no avail. Two days later the phone rang and a deep voice asked,
“Hello, is this officer Ravi Chandra's family?” Lalita Devi's face lit up
for she thought that the caller wanted to inform that Ravi would be
visiting his family soon. The voice on the other side continued, “I am
very sorry to inform you that Capt. Ravi Chandra is no more. He gave
his life fighting against the enemy.” Ravi's mother held on to the
phone trying to figure out what she was hearing, while the others
lookedonwithexpectanteyes.
When Lalita Devi did not respond for quite some time, Preeti knew
whatthecallerhadsaid.Shepickedhersonandhuggedhim.
That day, Raj proudly said, “My father's name is Late Ravi Chandra
Singh”.
Thatday,Preetididn'tcryandfeltproud.
That day , Lalita Devi and Chandra Singh were proud to have given
birthtoRaviChandraSingh.
Thatday,thesonofmotherIndiagavehislifeforthenation.
Tripti Srija
VII A
I BELIEVE I CAN
IbelieveIcandosomething,
IbelieveIcandoeverything,
Butnoonebelievesme,
Yet, I believe in myself and I
knowIcan.
Don'tstopme,letmedo,
Iwanttodosomething,
Somethingsmall,
Orsomethingbig.
WhatIdotheyneverbelieve,
Whattheydotheyeverbelieve,
Theydon'tletmedomywill,
Theyalwaystell,youcan'tfulfil,
But I believe in myself and I
knowIcan.
IbelieveIcandosomething,
IbelieveIcandoeverything,
Butnoonebelievesme,
Yet I believe in myself and I
knowIcan.
Anushka Priya
V A
8

17. Shyam Tiwari
Faculty, Social Science Deptt.
Behind the curtains of development, there lies a miserable and dying
world. In the name of mechanical growth, nature is getting
disturbed. In recent times, our land has witnessed the cataclysm of
river water. Last year in Uttarakhand especially at Kedarnath, Uttar
kashi, villages and townships were demolished and even
disappeared within one night because of cloud bursting as reported.
This year it is the turn of Paradise on planet earth, Jammu and
Kashmir, which is almost submerged under the cataract of Tawi in
Jammu and Jhelum in Kashmir. Probably it is not the last disaster but
manymorewouldfollow.
The issue, which is important today, is whether Ganga, Kosi, Tawi,
Jhelum and other rivers entered into the villages, localities and
townships or is it the other way round? I think we encroached into
their natural territory. For diverse needs dams, water reservoirs and
river projects were built in the route of all the major rivers. Their
water currents were blocked to generate electricity etc. It is almost
fine up to this. But by stopping the water current, the river's width
contracted resulting in new land space emerging all of a sudden. We,
the human beings, sensed a commercial opportunity in it without
considering the threats involved and built colonies after colonies and
townships over there, honestly speaking in the natural path of the
river or in the river itself. It is observed that over a period of 20- 25
years, every geographical area experiences heavy rainfall which
over floods the dams and reservoirs. The pressure of water in dams
often compels the authorities to release the water which would
obviously follow its path that too in a hostile mood, ruining all the
constructions standing up in its route, destroying all the newly
emergedriverside coloniesandtownships.
Is it correct to blame heavy rain and flood for all the destructions or is
it we who cause it? It is not water which enters into our localities and
ourhousesratheritiswewhohaverunintotheirterritory.
“THINK AND ACT TO PROTECT LIFE”
LET NATURE BE LEAST DISTURBED
9

18. “It'snotwhatyoudoforyourchildren,butwhat
you have taught them to do for themselves, that
willmakethemsuccessfulhumanbeings.”
AnnLandera
Children are the most special creation of
God and they have a special way of
adding joy to every day. I take this
opportunity to share my wonderful
experiences that I have been through, while working in Sapphire
InternationalSchool,Ranchi.
I consider myself fortunate enough to be blessed with the opportunity
to be a part of this prestigious institution. Innocent smiles, sincere
hearts, twinkling eyes and bright faces energize me every single
second and inspire me to do more for my children. The gentle words
and extraordinary attitude of the little ones give me pleasure and
satisfaction which makes me feel that I have chosen the right place to
contributemyservicetothesociety.
Here, children learn new life skill oriented things with fun, joy and
happiness. We have been able to contribute positively to our
immediate community and especially among our children. Our aim is
to make them active and positive members of society, teaching them
about different cultures and about being kind and respectful to one
another. We take good care of their overall personality development
and enhancement of knowledge. We aspire to continue our service in
future too. We hope to receive your support and co-operation so that
wemayachieveourgoals.
LITTLE SAPPHIRES – BORN TO SHINE
Kavita Jaiswal
Faculty Social Science Deptt.
10

19. THE BLUES OF ENTERTAINMENT
Ramesh was an intelligent, smart and diligent student. He was an
academician par excellence and almost always topped the class. He
was a gifted child, which was explicit through his performance in
oratory, music, badminton, painting etc. He was the pride of his family
and specially his father. On the occasion of his eleventh birthday, his
parents gave him an XBOX360 as a birthday present. He was very
happy.
Initially Ramesh had little idea how to play the game. Besides his
studies and many other activities kept him busy all day long. Over the
weekend, Ramesh decided to explore the game. So, he invited his
cousin who was very knowledgeable in this aspect. Ramesh had a hard
time trying to understand the game and how to play it. Days passed by
and Ramesh continued his regular routine, once in a while attempting
to play the game. But things weren't going to be the same forever. One
day, Ramesh and his friends had a heated discussion on video games
andhowentertainingtheywere.
Ramesh who was now quite intrigued began to devote more time in
mastering the game. Three months later Ramesh's friend came to his
house. When he saw the XBOX360 he suggested a few more games to
Ramesh and said that he should play those too. Ramesh lost no time in
persuading his father to purchase those games for him. Now he no
longer played on the synthesizer which happened to be his favourite
pastime. He spent less time with his books and often remained
engrossed in thoughts. He would often calculate mentally, his next
moves which would help him to win the game. This preoccupation
distancedhimfromhisfamilytoo.
A few months later, Ramesh had to appear for his class
assessment. As expected he scored less marks in all the
subjects. This drop in his performance disturbed
everyone except Ramesh. Counselling sessions were
organized by teachers and parents alike. However, these
sessions didn't seem to bring out any desirable result.
His parents were alarmed by his changed behaviour
and found themselves struggling to establish
any communication with him. As if this was
not enough, four months later, Ramesh's
11

20. parents were called to the school for a counselling session as Ramesh
was found involved in a brawl with other boys. This was indeed
shocking for his parents and his father decided to discard all the gaming
CDs.
Ramesh who had always been his father's favourite could not take this
easily. He withdrew into a shell not just because he was hurt but more
because he was unable to cope up with his studies, as he had not
understood some key concepts.Although Ramesh tried hard, but he had
lost track and the class had raced ahead leaving him behind. Ramesh did
qualify for the next class but not as a topper. This set back in his
academicsaffectedhisperformanceinotherareastoo.
This is not a lone story of Ramesh alone, but is equally true for many of
us who are unable to establish a balance between work and
entertainment. As students we must remember that entertainment is a
partoflifeandnotlifeitself.
MoraloftheStory:
The moral of the story is that entertainment provided to a child should
be limited so that their focus towards their education and career is not
diverted.
Safetytips:
Ifyouarebelow18yrsofagedonotplaythesegames:
1.Grounf theifAutoV
2.MotalKombat
3.SaintsRowIV
4.MetroLartLight
Harshit Aditya
VII B
12

21. 1. Name three famous poles ?
Ans: North, South and Tad !
2. Where was the Declaration of Independence signed ?
Ans: At the bottom !
3. Teacher: Where is the English Channel ?
Ans: Student: I don't know, my TV doesn't pick it up
4. Teacher: What can you tell me about the Dead Sea ?
Ans: Student: Dead? I didn't even know it was sick!
5. What do you call the little rivers that flow into the Nile ?
Ans: Juveniles
6. What did the ground say to the earthquake ?
Ans: You crack me up.
7. Me: I wish I had been born 1000 years ago.
Friend: Why is that?
Me: Just think of all the history that I wouldn't have to learn!
8. Why did Arthur have a round table ?
Ans: So no one could corner him !
9. Why were the first Americans like ants?
Ans: They lived in colonies
10. A mathematician, an accountant and an economist apply for the same
job.
The interviewer calls in the mathematician and asks "What do two plus
two equal to ?" The mathematician replies "Four." The interviewer asks
"Four, exactly?" The mathematician looks at the interviewer
incredulously and says "Yes, four, exactly."
Then the interviewer calls in the accountant and asks the same question
"What do two plus two equal to ?" The accountant says "On average, four
- give or take ten percent, but on average, four."
Then the interviewer calls in the economist and poses the same
question "What do two plus two equal to ?" The economist gets up, locks
the door, closes the shade, sits down next to the interviewer and says,
"What do you want it to equal to"?
LAUGHING GAS
13

22. 14
PAINT YOUR THOUGHTSPAINT YOUR THOUGHTS
Tuhin Singh, Class 3 ‘B’
Akshat Mishra, Class 2 ‘B’
Shubhangini, Class 2 ‘B’

23. 15
Ayank Kumar, Class 3 ‘B’
Kshitij Rajhans, Class 3 ‘B’
Krish Pradhan, Class 3 ‘A’
Dayashish, Class 3 ‘B’

24. Maanavi Makhijia
VI A
Atop the snow clad mountains, amongst the dark green valleys, a
few drops of water gave birth to a silver stream. The stream cradled
in the lap of nature just as my mom cradled me. Slowly and timidly,
flowed the stream, paving new ways amongst unknown land. I
thought the river was my forerunner and so I followed its footsteps,
in acquainting myself with the strange, wide world around. I found
myself surrounded by warm hearts like the mighty mountains,
caring hands like the soft sand and kind words like the bubbling
sound.
Days passed by and the silver thread of water grew into a rivulet
while I blossomed under the loving caress of my family and friends.
Joy seemed to be overflowing in my life and I found myself prancing
like the stream. I was bubbling with energy knowing no bounds and
full of life. Soon the rivulet became a mighty river and gushed down
the mountain, overcoming obstacles in its path.Youth filled me with
hope, courage and a longing to be free from shackles. It kindled in
my heart, a deep desire that I would reach for the sky and shine like
the sun. I dreamt that none could scale that height and so I would be
the only one. Little did the river know, that each drop of its water
wouldmeetthesameseaandthatitwasitsdestiny.
Moments later the river found itself at the foothills, manoeuvring its
path through valleys and plains. Life wasn't as easy as my dream -
this I soon discovered. I realised that to scale the lofty mountains,
one might trip at times. My thoughts and actions now smoothed out
as the river lost its pace and moved in wide bends. I now lived each
day to the fullest knowing that I would not live it ever again. My
friend now moved slowly through the plains trying to leave a mark
whereveritsetfoot.
We both know that we are heading in the same direction. Our bond
has grown much deeper and we trust each other like never before.
Our experience has made us wiser so now we calculate time not by
hoursbutbydeeds.
There's a long way to go for the river before it reaches the sea … and
a long way for us to go, before we know that we have left a mark on
thesandsoftime….
MY LIFE AS A RIVER AROUND THE WORLD…
16

25. Harshika Jaiwasl
PP 4 B
One day when I was walking,
With the sun shining down on me,
I was all hot and sweaty,
Till I found myself a TREE!
And that's when I realized
How important they’re to our lives,
A little shade, fresh air and fruits,
To all the trees, I SALUTE!
Sumier Singh
4 A
BOUNTIES OF NATURE
SAVE TREES, SAVE LIFE
O' Earth! My mother, you gave me birth,
And filled my little life with mirth.
You gave me love,
And you gave me care
You gave me food,
And this beautiful Earth to share.
You gave me water,
You gave me air,
Your bounties are truly rare.
O' Earth! My mother you are my giver,
I want to walk in your shade forever,
I want to live with your love forever.
17

26. JUSTIFICATION OF EXPENSES ON EDUCATION
Education is a vital need for human survival. It is difficult for a person to
sustain his/her life without proper education. Education doesn't only
mean to attain any degree from an institution, but it means to acquire
knowledgeandskillsothatonemayleadacomfortablelife.
In order to educate people and uplift literacy rate, Government of India
has been spending a lot to set up schools, colleges and universities in
every part of India, but possibly much of the investment is going waste,
as it is least beneficial to the students or to our education system. Some
schools are still without teachers, some government schools present fake
documents of huge number of enrolment only to avail facilities
providedbythegovernment.
Parents all over the country prefer to send their children to public school,
convent school and other fancied schools which have mushroomed over
thelasttwodecades.
According to Union budget 2013-14, Government of India proposed to
spend Rs. 27257 Crore for Sarva SikshaAbhiyan (SSA), Rs. 5284 crore
for scholarship to the SC, ST and OBC candidates and Rs. 13215 crore
forMid-Day_Meal-Scheme.
So, spending a huge amount of money deepens our liabilities more and
more.
Already our economy is running in deficit. We need to attain 100%
literacy rate by 2020 as promised to UNO.
To achieve this goal, government.
authorities are investing huge amounts to
increase literacy rate. The question is
whether the investment made is benefiting
education or are we simply allowing some
influential identities to increase their
wealth.
In my opinion there should be a proper
management team who will look after the
expenditure on education and the return in
terms of results of the students and their
contribution towards our society and our
economy.
Manotosh Pattanayak
Faculty Social Science Deptt.
18

27. NATURE- MY FRIEND
Oh, this nature is so cool. The trees,
the plants, the amazing blue sky are
like my friends. I don't want to lose
them.
We all know that there is so much of
pollution on earth. The fresh air
around us gets polluted due to
emission of smoke from industries
and for so many reasons. As we
breathe in the polluted air, we are
likely to fall sick. The clear waters
are being dumped with garbage and
effluents. Consumption of this
polluted water leads to various
waterbornediseases.
My E.V.S teacher always tells us
that we should not pollute the
environmentand I think she is right.
I try to warn everyone, “Don't
pollute the air”, but few know what
to do. As children we can at least
Shashastra Singh
IV A
contribute by not wasting
resources like water, paper etc.
We can avoid using harmful
chemical colours while
celebrating Holi. Instead, we
should ask for organic colours.
We should reduce the amount of
crackers we burst during
Diwali.Although we are young,
we can make a difference to the
earth by creating a demand for
nature friendly goods. If the
demand exists, then the
companies will be compelled to
produce environment friendly
products.
I love the Earth and I promise
that I will save the trees. I will
fight for my friend nature and
protect it from all harm. Will
youjoinmeinmyeffort?
19

28. India is a vast country but has a farce democracy. It is mainly
because of the attitude of the people living here. We claim to be
the largest democracy in the world, but are we truly
democratic? Are we aware of our duties and responsibilities
towards our nation? Even after 68 years of independence, we
are not politically educated. How many of us are aware of the
total number of National parties and the manifesto of each one
ofthem?
In India, elections mean dictated democracy. No matter what
the agenda of the party is, very few politicians compete in
elections with an intention to free the country from corruption.
Rather their hidden motive is profit driven. They wish to
become richer than others and become more powerful.
Elections in India are held from time to time at the expense of
the taxpayers. But has the country benefited much so far as
development is concerned? Have we been able to eradicate
poverty and hunger from the country? Does every child have
the opportunity to be literate if not educated? How many
national and international disputes have been resolved by our
elected representatives? Is the fruit of development to be
enjoyedonlybytherichandthepowerful?Soitseemstobe.
INCREASING SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ROLE OF
ELECTION IN INDIA
20

29. Elections in India have gained much more importance than any other
issue. Before and after every election millions of rupees are being
spent on campaigning, media coverage, training and conducting the
elections etc. This valuable resource could have been allocated for
establishing schools in rural areas, hospitals or even for the
construction of roads. This would have benefited the nation much
morethanconductingtheelection.
It is in the hands of the common people above the age of 18 to take up
the responsibility and give their precious vote to the one and only who
deserves to sit on the prestigious chair and give sensible direction to
the nation, as well as control and settle the disputes. If today's
generation does not take this duty seriously, in twenty years to come,
thecountrywillbefacedwithapoliticalcrisis.
Sakshi Jaiswasl
IX
A GADGET FREAK WORLD
Mr. Shankar was a business executive in a multinational company.
His job demanded him to spend long hours on the internet. This need
gradually converted into habit. Even when at home, he preferred to
devote his time surfing through the net instead of spending time with
his family. He often felt disturbed if any member of his family sought
hishelpevenforsmallerrands.
His sonAyush who went to the pre-school, soon learnt
various skills in operating the laptop and the mobile
phone. Mr. Shankar was very proud of his son, as he
felt that his son was showing signs of technical
excellence. As years passed by, Ayush developed an
addiction for the gizmos. He was hooked on to these
gadgets for long hours of the day. As a result he was exposed to a lot
of unfiltered information. His addiction hampered his academic
progress.
In today's world both for adults and teenagers, mobiles are a must.
The younger generation is found to be more
influenced by these gadgets. The advent of
these gadgets was intended to fasten the pace
21

30. Mehul Choudhary
CP 2 A
of communication and for the dissemination of
information. But their purpose has been
truncated. Social networking is the single
largest cause of distraction in this regard.
“Facebook is just a means of communication with people, not to
dedicate your whole life to facebook!” People whether young or old
are so busy communicating with strangers that they have almost
deserted their near and dear ones. People hardly talk to their
neighbours, but they do not miss texting to a so called distant friend.
We have bridged the distance of thousands of miles but created a wide
gap with our known people. Should we consider this as a boon to the
society?
The over use of these modes of communication has exposed mankind
to various kinds of fraud, crime and violence about which the society
is neither well informed nor prepared to combat. A whole new world
of illegal activities has cropped up about which we do not have
adequate information. As a result many people especially youngsters
aregettingcaughtinthenetwithoutevenbeingawareofit.
It has become a commonplace affair that teenagers are engaging
themselves in heated arguments with their parents if the latter
discourage or prevent them from using these gadgets. This is not only
true in India but this is a common social problem world over.At least
till date none has been able to find a tangible solution to it. Teenagers
do not realize the harm this kind of exposure do to them, until it is very
late. By then they have lost many valuable years of their lives when
they should have been engaged in building a career. Many end up
compromising with their lives. As for the
adults, realization dawns on them
when their offsprings follow the
troddenpath.
Every kind of entertainment is
beneficial if enjoyed within limits.
When the demarcation line is
violateditisboundtoharmtheuser.
“Don't risk yourself by over using
mobilephonesorInternet!”
22

31. WHAT IS BEAUTY?
The journey from Kalka to Shimla by toy train or the journey from
Guwahati to Shillong by bus makes a person mad. Mad at what?
Mad on seeing the beauty of nature. I describe nature as beautiful;
someone may describe it in different terms but does that matter
much? The only thing is that seeing the sights of nature, the
greenery, the tall trees, rivers and mountains make us admire those
thingsandfillourheartswithjoy.
If we get up early in the morning and stroll in the garden or park, we
admire the scenery, the blooming flowers, the chirping of birds and
the dew drops on the leaves and grasses. If we are lucky to see the
sunrise and sunset, then there is nothing more beautiful. It does not
mean that beauty lies only in nature, but beauty is there in other
things too. It depends on the inner eyes of the observer, whether he
wants to describe a thing as beautiful or merely a sight that he has
seen.
A new born child has innocence in its eyes. It is ignorant of the
outside world. It just has its own small world consisting of its father
and mother. Various movements of the child, its smile, its cry for its
mother all depict the simplicity of the child and one may find beauty
init.
Above all the relationship between a child and its parents, the
relationship between friends, relatives and between teachers and
students seem beautiful, as it is an example of the love, care and
respect which they feel for one another. When we see someone
helpinganeedypersonweseethebeautyinhisheart.
Finally, I would like to say that it is well said – 'Beauty lies in the
eyes of the beholder'. Beauty is not just the pretty faces which shine
in the lime light. Beauty is something that we adore, admire, and
respect, something which is simple and innocent. So friends, next
time when you see something, watch out to see whether you find
beauty in it or not, because as they say – ' Beauty is always skin
deep'.
Ms. Neha Das
Faculty, Social Science Deptt.
23

32. THE SHADOW AT NIGHT
Hey, I am here to share a story that has changed my life in many ways.
Back in 2000, when I was in Delhi, one night, I had trouble falling
asleep. I had the TV on in my bedroom watching the late news. Just as I
started to get relaxed enough to where I felt like I could drift off I felt
what seemed like someone sitting down on the edge of my bed. You
know how it feels when the bed sinks down as if a person has sat there?
Well that is exactly what it felt like. I didn't think too much of it because
I was pretty tired and our minds can play tricks on us, right? I did not
think of it much and went off to sleep .But I guess that was a mistake
because I had hardly closed my eyes when my TV turned on by itself. I
thought maybe the remote was on my bed and I might have hit it by
accident. Well I looked and to my surprise the remote was on the other
sideoftheroomonmycoffeetable.Weird,huh!
Before proceeding further with the story I think you should know
something. Back in 2000 this happened shortly after the death of my
grandmother, when I would sometimes feel that someone was sitting
on my bed. That happened a few times, but until last night it had been a
longtimesinceIhavefeltthat.
Last night I was on my laptop in the dining room, all the lights were off
except for one between the dining room and the kitchen. Well, as I sat
there typing and snooping around the internet, I saw from the corner of
my eye, a woman in what looked like a dark night wear walk from our
hallway, crossing the dining room and into the kitchen. She was
walking very slowly like someone extremely tired and could barely
take another step. The weirdest part is that not only did I see the
woman; I heard the footsteps as well. It sounded like heavy work boots
stamping on the floor. At that moment I didn't think anything of it
because I thought it was my aunt. When I noticed no one turned the
kitchen lights on or opened the fridge or made any noise at all, that is
when I became curious and decided to investigate. I called out to
whoever was in the kitchen and when I received no response, I got up
and turned the kitchen lights on and there was no one there. I began to
walk into each room asking if anyone had been in the kitchen and no
one claimed they were and to my surprise, my aunt was not even
wearing anything near the colour of the clothing I saw on that person. It
was physically impossible for my aunt to have changed her clothing so
quickly. My father was the only other man in the house but he had been
sleeping for a while now. My sister came out to help find an
explanation, when I showed her where and how I saw the woman. We
24

33. noticed that the area where this woman had walked by was terribly
cold, so cold that smoke came out of our mouths. To make matters
worse, my dog who absolutely dislikes men, came out of my room and
began to bark at nothing, right in that same area. She growled as if she
was ready to attack, then she turned around, jumped into my bed and
lay in there still looking towards the kitchen. At this point, I began to
freak out; I could not find an explanation to this. Thankfully, I haven't
seen this woman again but I do believe it was a ghost and it was the
ghostofsomeoneverytiredorpossiblyold.
Views on ghost and spirits have varied over the time and are different
for different societies .Ladies in white were reported to appear in many
rural areas, and supposed to have died tragically or suffered trauma in
life. Many early societies believed in spirits and animism, the belief
that animals and inanimate objects possess a spirit. Although the soul
was sometimes symbolically or literally depicted in ancient cultures
as a bird or other animal, it appears that the soul was an exact
reproduction of the body in every feature, even the clothing the person
wore. Any place where ghosts are reported is said to be haunted, and
often inhabited by spirits of deceased who may have been former
residents or were familiar with the property.Any supernatural activity
inside homes is associated with violent or tragic events in the
building's past such as murder, suicide or accidental death. There are
many references of spirits in the ancient religions of Sumer, Babylon,
Mesopotamia and Egyptian culture. In India, a ‘bhoot’ or ‘bhut’ is a
supernatural creature, in the popular culture, literature and some
ancient texts. In Hindu Mythology there are instances of evil spirit who
haunt cemeteries and take demonic possession of corpses. There are
professional parapsychologists and "ghost hunters", such as Harry and
Peter Underwood who published accounts of their experiences with
ostensibly true ghost stories such as Price's ‘The most haunted house’
inEngland,andUnderwood'sGhostofBorley.
Throughout history, humankind has paid reverence to beliefs and
mystical thinking. Regardless of how one may reject religion,
religious support of supernatural events gives credence to other
superstitions. But today although there are instances of people still
believing in spirits, these instances have reduced over the years. We
have become more scientific and rational and many of us have come a
longwayfromthesesuperstitions.
Ms. Piyashi Das
Faculty, Social Science Deptt.
25

34. BATTLE OF THE BRAINS
1. Groups of lions are known as ______________?
a) Prides b) Herd c) Flight d) Caravan
2. Which Indian Economist was awarded the 2011 National Humanities
medal by Barack Obama?
a) Abhijit Banerjee b) Amit Mitra
c) Avinash Dixit d) Amartya Sen
3. What does a kangaroo; an anteater and a seahorse have in common?
a) Long hind legs b) Can jump a long distance
c) Pouch to carry their young ones d) They are all mammals.
4. Which Indian city, famous for its lagoons, is known as the Venice of
the East?
a) Alleppey b) Hyderabad c) Jaipur d) Mumbai
5. “Ricksdag” is the name of the parliament of which country?
a) Iran b) Norway c) Sweden d) Kazakhastan
6. KLM Airways belongs to which of the following countries?
a) Kuwait b) Netherlands c) Japan d) Spain
7. Where are the Headquarters of International Union for Conservation of
Nature and Natural Resources.
a) Geneva b) Phillipines c) Paris d) Sydney
8. Who was the last British monarch of the House of Hanover?
a) William Henry b) George Augustus Frederick
c) George William Frederick d) Queen Victoria
9. Which of the following musical instruments is of Indian origin?
a) Sitar b) Flute c) Violin d) Tabla
10. Which country has the highest life expectancy?
a) Andorra b) U.S.A. c) Japan d) Sweden
Answer key page no. 46
26

35. Today's generation
Grows in the shed of fashion,
Taking cigarette in the mouth
Saying bindass! Aha!
Making their lives swaha!
But they don't know, that
Cigarette is that thing
Which starts with flashes,
And ends with ashes.
Pretty faces painted all over,
Hair in variant hues and colours.
Trendy dresses that hardly fit,
Gestures and postures that rarely
meet.
Gossiping and chatting make girls
bright
Going to discos coming late at night;
Make them wealthy and wise.
That's why they do not
Hesitate to lie.
But have you ever tried to see
What sorry picture you make of
thee?
Have you ever cared to hear
The frivolous murmurs far and near?
So dear friends
Be updated in fashion
But do not forget
Your culture and tradition.
LET'S BE FASHIONABLE
Isha Bhengra
VIII C
27

36. FROM WORSHIPPING NATURE TO DESTROYING IT ….
One morning, I woke up and looked out from my
window. I was trying to see the gulmohar tree that
adorned my garden. But I couldn't find it. I rubbed
my eyes and tried to look for it, but alas! It was not
to be seen anywhere. I called out to my mother,
“Ma, where is the gulmohar tree? I can't see it
outside my window.” My mother was aware that I
loved the sight of the tree when it was in full bloom.
She looked at me and said softly, “ It has been cut
down”. “But why?” I asked. My mother paused and
then began slowly, “My dear, as you are aware,
your grandpa plans to build a new house. For this we need more space
and so we had to fell it.” I didn't say anything but I wondered why we
neededabiggerhouse,whenthepresentonewasbigenough.
We are cutting down the trees randomly, without showing any concern
for the environment. Man is so concerned about his worldly pleasure,
that he forgets that it is the nature that sustains him.We are crying hoarse
that global warming is on the rise. Well the main cause behind it appears
to be deforestation; and who is cutting down the forests? Well man of
course.Ifitisso,thenwhomarewepointingat?
Long years ago, our ancestors understood the need of forests and thus
protected them. Ayurveda practitioners discovered that most plants
have medicinal properties. Since ancient time people used to worship
Tulsi, Neem, Banyan etc. and most of these plants were found in every
house. Since vehicles did not use fossil fuel, so pollution was unheard
of. Moreover, human beings were dependent on trees so they valued
them.
But now-a-days, people are driven by materialistic ideas. They want to
mint money at any cost, even if it means that by doing so he is harming
his own future. People are amassing wealth to lead a comfortable life,
28

37. but with the rising rates of pollution he might suffer from various
diseases.Canadiseasedpersonleadacomfortablelife?
Communities around the world have traditionally shown respect to
the environment. This is evident from the various activities related
to nature e.g. to save nature England celebrates 'MAY – DAY' on
which people of different communities plant trees. Israel celebrates
'Tu bhi Shavet'. In this festival all families who have a new born
baby has to plant one tree and later on when the child grows up he/
shehastotakecareofthatplant.
Let us all join hands, and pledge that we will turn the wheel of
destruction in the opposite direction. Let us take it upon ourselves,
that each year we will plant one tree and take care of it till it is
mature. If this can be achieved it will not be long before we can
effectivelystopthepaceofglobalwarming.
So, I request all of you- ‘Plant one tree each year and save our
belovedenvironment’.
Roshan Sinha
VI A
Prakrity Agarwal
VIII C
THE SOCIAL DILEMMA
Geography, history and civics…
Three things of the frightening remix.
They cause a lot of confusion..
To which there is no solution.
While learning those horrid maps
We tend to take long naps.
As we study about lakes and hills..
It kills our thinking skills.
When we study about the nomadic past..
In our memory it doesn't last.
As we study about those silly kings..
A lot of yawns , history brings.
For studying S.St, I'm never keen..
Because next year I’m going to become a teen.
29

38. 28
SOCIAL SCIENCE EXHIBITION 2013
30

39. 31

40. AND THUS SPAKE YAMUNA......
Hello Children! I am riverYamuna. I was born as a clear stream of water
in the Himalayan ranges. I originated from the Yamunotri glacier and
flowed down the fertile plains of India. I have been witness to so many
of Lord Krishna's pranks. For this reason, ever since my birth I have
been revered by your forefathers. Every morning people would reach
my banks for a holy dip. I soothed their body, quenched their thirst and
contributed to the sustenance of life on earth. My waters were
considered holy and people worshipped me as God. In return, I
promised to give fertile soil for their crops, fresh water for their daily use
andsupportallformsoflife.
As I descended from the mountains, I flowed through several hamlets,
where little boys would play a diving game; ladies would come to fill
their pots while people of all ages would come for their daily bath.
During festive occasions, people would offer prayers only after taking a
dip in my waters. During Diwali and other festivities, people floated
lighted diyas in my waters. Oh! What a beautiful sight it was! The diyas
floated on my waves creating patterns of light. I felt myself blessed,
when I witnessed these happenings, and thought to myself that the
purposeofmylifehadbeenfulfilled.
As I reached the Northern plains, my waters were used by the farmers to
cultivate their crops. The fertile alluvium which I brought down from
the hills every year would get deposited along my banks. The farmers
thanked me for replenishing their fields each year. The lush green fields
growing paddy and wheat dotted my banks. What a pleasing sight it
was!
32

41. Gradually several small and big towns grew up along my banks. My
banks seemed to be overcrowded with houses and millions of people
flocked from I know not where.They got themselves busy constructing
bridges, for they wished to cross me. They said that they needed
electricity, so I allowed them to construct dams in my high streams.
They said that they wanted my banks to be stable, so they constructed
embankments.ThisstifledmyflowandIwasunabletomovefreely.
One day I saw a tall structure. I wondered what it might be.Afew days
later a few people were found standing along my banks and discussing
something very seriously. I tried to eavesdrop and heard that they were
talking about something called - an industry. I didn't quite understand
what they meant, but I assumed that they were talking very highly
about me, for they were discussing about ways of using my water. My
ego was heightened for I felt, that my resources were proving very
beneficialtoman.
Weeks later some tubular structure was being laid down connecting me
to some other point. They also fitted some machine like object which
made a roaring sound. It made me tremble at my heart. The next day
early at dawn, the object was set in operation and it emitted such a loud
noise that all the creatures in the vicinity were disturbed from their
slumber. Suddenly I felt something exert a strong pull and a large
amount of my water was suctioned and diverted elsewhere. Before I
realizedwhatwashappening,Ifoundmyselfinalargeconcretepool.
As compared to my beautiful banks I found this pool quite a constricted
place. I wondered where I had landed and what was to be of me. Later in
the day my waters were being channelized in different directions. I was
up one moment and then passed down hurriedly through another pipe. I
was quite bewildered for I had never experienced anything like this
before. Then I noticed that my colour was changing; there was a
greenish tinge. I thought I looked pretty. Hours later after passing
through various channels I was sent through another huge pipe; this
timebacktomynaturalstream.
33

42. I was happy to be back where I belonged and breathein the fresh air.
Next morn the same routine was followed. I gradually adjusted to
this new regime. Months later, I noticed a change in myself. I felt
that my water was heavier than before. I also noticed that the
number of fishes were reducing. To my amazement I found that
people who earlier worshipped me were now turning away from
me. They would cover their faces whenever they came near me. I
wondered what was wrong; till one day I heard some people
comment that my water was no longer potable and that I was
polluted. They also said that my present state was due to the
effluentsbeingdumpedintomywatersbytheindustries.
It was like a bolt from the blue. Was I to be blamed for my infamy?
For ages I had been nourishing the fields and sustaining all forms of
life including man. Then why did you do this to me? Do you not
understand that by polluting me, you are harming yourselves the
most? Who will supply fresh water to you? Will any form of life
survivewithoutwater?
So dear friends, if you understand my feelings then you will stop
othersfrommisusingscarceresources!!!!!
I warn you, if corrective steps are not taken now, the damage will be
irreparable and you will destroy your own destiny. Before it is too
late......SAVEME!
Anusha Demta
VI B
34

43. Everywhere I looked
I found misery, cruelty.
The green beautiful earth
Has now become a desert.
I prayed to GOD
Because I was scared.
He whispered in my ears
“It’s all up to you, my dear!
“Live together as one family
And make earth green, gorgeous
And a happy place to be!!”
Anubhav Sengupta
IV B
OUR EARTH ONE BIG PLANET
I reached out my hands
To touch the bright blue sky,
And the friendly green
That rise up so high!
I reached out my hands
To touch clear blue stream,
But to my amazement
I found it to be a dream!
I wake up suddenly
And turn around to see;
That people are cruel
As much as they could be.
They were fighting
And destroying nature's beauty.
COLOURFUL BELIEFS
Have you ever imagined how the world would look like, if it was painted
all red or all green?Well one can easily imagine how monotonous it would
be. The world looks beautiful because, nature has coloured it with
different hues and shades……something we popularly refer to as
COLOUR. Colour plays a significant role in our lives. If you are
observant, you may notice that people of different regions have a
preferenceforacertaingroupofcolours.
Man has ascribed different attributes to the colours which have added a
whole new dimension to it. He considers some colours as lucky,
depending upon their date of birth and chooses to adorn himself in his
chosen colour. In some societies, religious beliefs are closely linked to
certain colours. For example Red colour is considered holy in the Hindu
religion, while the followers of Islam revere the colour Green as most
sacred.
However it is interesting to note that colours have different meanings in
the different hemispheres of the world. In Korea blue is the colour of
mourning but in India, white is the colour of mourning. Here we have
someinterestingbeliefsrelatedtocolours:
35

44. Colour
Yellow
Region
Western Hemisphere
Western hemisphere
Eastern Hemisphere
China
India
Thailand
Japan
South Africa
Eastern Hemisphere
China
India
Middle East
Meaning
Happiness, Joy, Hope
Danger, Energy, Action
Prosperity, good forture
Good luck, vitality, happiness
Purity, fertility, love, beauty
Used in wedding ceremonies
Colour for Sunday
Life, anger and danger
Colour of mourning
Sacred, imperial
Sacred, imperial, royalty
Sacred and auspicious
Happiness, prosperity
Green
Blue
Purple
White
Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
Eastern Hemisphere
China
Eastern Hemisphere
India
Japan
India
Japan
Eastern Hemisphere
India
Korea
China
India
Thailand
Spring, new birth, regeneration
Trust and authority, conservatism,
peace and calm
Royalty, spirituality
Brides and weddings, angles
Regeneration, hope, fertility
Feminine colour
Wealth
Sorrow, comforting
Privilege, wealth
Associated with Lord Krishna
Calmness and stability
Death mourning and funerals
Unhappiness, symbol of sorrow in death
Purity, Innocence
Exorcism
Hope, new beginning
Colour of Wednesday
Red
36

45. As we know times change and old association may be slowly adhered
over the years. Western culture has adopted some eastern colour uses
while some eastern cultures have adopted western ideas. This cultural
exchange has enriched the civilization at large. Our daily activities
have been closely intertwined with the aspect of colour so much so
that it has become a part of our identity. Whether the attributes
attached to each colour has any validity is quite debatable, but
certainly the way colours are used in any society speaks a lot about
theircultureandbelief.
Unnati Utkarsha
VIII C
RAISE YOUR VOICE NOT THE SEA LEVEL
The official slogan for the year 2014 given by the United Nation
Environment Programme is 'Raise your voice not the sea level' and the
theme for the World Environment Day is 'small islands and climatic
change'.
It must be mentioned here that the serious attempt to make the earth a
safe and secured planet for the living creatures was held in the year
1972 at Stockholm on 5th of June and thereafter, every year 5th June is
observed asWorld Environment Day to spread awareness of the need to
preserve and protect our biodiversity as well as to discuss the problems
in the environment and surroundings and look for the corrective
measures.
Since then a number of conferences took place to deal with
environmental challenges such as global warming and climatic change,
disasters and conflicts, ecosystem management and resource
efficiency,etc.
37

46. Ajay Chouhan
Faculty, Social Science Deptt.
The last summit on environmental problems was held in 1997 in Japan
which ended with Kyoto protocol. Undoubtedly, so many measures
have been taken to control climatic change, but, are these measures
sufficient to make earth a safe planet to live? The answer is ‘No’.
Then, who is responsible for it? Again, the answer is not satisfactory,
because, the developed nations say that they are not polluting the
environment because they are using environment friendly technology
and they blame the developing countries for using obsolete
technologies.
This is again a debatable topic. Because, if we examine the various
aspects, we will find with certainty that the per capita consumption of
natural resources in developed countries is 10 times more than in
developing countries. So, it is obvious that the citizens of developed
nations in the name of modern facilities and comfort are exploiting the
naturalresourcesmanytimesmorethanthedevelopingnations.
Now, the real debate is not on who is polluting and how much, but it is
on how to save the earth. Because climate change is one of the greatest
challenges before human kind in the 21st century. No one is immune
to its effect and we must be diligent in working together to find
solutions. Once the environment is threatened, then it will lead to the
destruction of all forms of life. At such a juncture, it will not
discriminate between the developed countries and the developing
ones. It is also true that all the people on earth, present or past, have
polluted the environment. The only difference might be in the degree
anddimensionofdamagedone.
Now, the time is not to play the blame game that the developed
countries had polluted most or developing countries are polluting
more. But the challenge is to stop the pollution level and increase the
greenery. Mere framing of rules and regulations by different agencies
at different levels will not work until and unless the programmes are
notsupportedbythelocalpopulationatthegrassrootlevel.
As per data available, in most parts of the world, where forests have
been preserved, it was mainly because of the endeavour of the local /
tribal people and not merely by the framing of rules and regulations by
thegovernment.
So, let us make environmental programmes a programme for all
people across the world irrespective of national boundaries. Only
when we raise the awareness of the common mass, will any
environmentalprogrammebetrulysuccessful.
38

47. RIDDLES
I am an insect and the first half of my name reveals
another insect.
Some famous musicians had a name similar to mine.
What am I?
I always run but never walk,
Often murmur but never talk,
I have a bed but never sleep,
I have a mouth but never eat.
What am I?
I have an eye, but cannot see out of it.
I love the ocean, but never swim in it.
My back is white and belly is gray.
I sometime arrive but never stay.
What am I?
I have seas without water
I have forests without wood
I have deserts without sand
I have houses with no brick
What am I?
Which bird is the odd one out: finch, gull, eagle, ostrich
or sparrow?
I lead you in the right direction
Though I don't guarantee perfection.
Magnetism is the key
For me to find just what you need.
What am I?
Answer key page no. 46
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
39

48. REMINISCENCE OF PARTITION
My cherished desire, to see the
three historical places of Punjab--
Wagha Border, The Golden
Temple and Jallianwalla Bagh
–was made possible due to the
kind hospitality of a friend of my
father. He was the Director
General of police of Border
Security Force. On my father's
behest he arranged for my stay in
Amritsar and also provided a
vehicletofacilitatemetoseethethreeimportantplaces.
The Swarn-Satabdi Express which departs from New Delhi station at
7.20 a.m. would take me toAmritsar. I decided to take this train for my
th
ensuing journey on 29 May 2014. Stepping out from the cool
compartment on a mid day of May, in Amritsar station was like going
near the burning blast furnace, but the air-conditioned guest house of
theforcewasreprieving.
At first I visited Wagha Border where I witnessed the parade by the
soldiers of both India and Pakistan during the time of disembarking the
national flags of the respective countries. The retreat ceremony takes
place at sun set approximately at 6 p.m.; prompting me to leave the
guesthouseat4p.m.onthesamedayofmyarrival.
Despite, the vehicle belonging to the force that was manning the
border, it was parked far off behind the border gates and I had to walk
till there and before being allowed to sit on a chair reserved for me,
thorough frisking was done. The V.I.P. enclosure where I was sitting
was only few meters behind the gates of India and Pakistan and was
quite within the sight. By the time I occupied the chair, allotted to me, I
found several other guests were already seated adjacent to the northern
side of the road that was straight way going towards the Pakistani side
after crossing the closed gates of the two countries. The gates were
40

49. guardedbytheirrespectivesoldiers.
The other side of the road which was across the border was similarly
laid out with chairs occupied by high officials, civil and military
whohadcomefortheoccasion.
The sight of smartly dressed Pakistani Rangers marching out from
their enclosures to the iron gate in the midst of chanting of “Pakistan
Zindabad” by the huge number of spectators from Pakistan holding
and waving their national flags, was provocative but was countered
by the Indian Border Security Force performing the similar act with
spectators on this side too chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” with the
tricolour flag fluttering in their hands. The euphoria of patriotism
was so intensified and charged among the viewers that some of
them began dancing to the tune of the nationalistic songs with
nationalflagsintheirhands.
The drum beat coming from the Pakistani side was clearly audible
to which the soldiers of that country was parading menacingly.
While on the Indian side too the men marched gallantly. The show
of valour by both armies seemed to throw a challenge at each other
for a dual. As the sun was going down, the iron gates of both India
and Pakistan were opened by their respective soldiers. The flags
were lowered and handed over to another soldier who carried it
insidehiscamp,andthatmarkedtheendoftheceremony.
41

50. The crowd gathered on both sides started melting out. The narrow strip
through which they were retreating was adjacent to the India- Pakistan
border. The Pakistani spectators too were retiring just as we were
through their territory in our full view, facilitating us to look at each other
with inquisitive eyes filled with several questions in them, answers to
which were not known by either population. Most probably they might
have been known by the leaders of the pre-partition era of undivided
India.
Ruchi Singh
Faculty, Social Science Dept.
GOVERNMENT VS GOVERNANCE
Every nation in the world has its
o w n k i n d o f g o v e r n m e n t
depending upon what is suitable
to the people according to their
needs or wants. But today's world
is witnessing that most of the
m o d e r n g o v e r n m e n t s a r e
democratic where India enjoys the
honour of being the largest
democratic country in the entire
world. But the question arises
“ W h a t d o y o u m e a n b y
DemocraticGovernment?”
A democratic government may be
defined as that government which
has the public mandate to run the
affairs of the country for a well-
defined term. If a government
succeeds in providing capable
governance, then it has a chance
of coming back into power again.
But here again a question arises
“What does capable government
mean?”
W h e n w e s a y “ c a p a b l e
government” we only understand
it as the existence of responsible
and representative form of
government. We often get
confused between “governance”
and “government.” Government is
a group of people who rule or run
the administration of a country,
where as Governance is the act of
governingorruling.
In the 21st Century it is very
difficult to find countries and
states with good governance. We
are all aware of the fact that
poverty and illiteracy still exist in
almost all countries, corruption is
spreading like a cancer in the
whole world. For decades, we have
had extraordinarily large
42

51. bound to follow the system of
governing the country in a rightful
manner. When an individual
witnesses good governance in his
or her family, in the school where
he or she studies or in the company
where he or she works, only then
these individuals go ahead and
govern the country in an effective
manner if selected as the
representativeofthepeople.
For good governance it is also
necessary that people who are
well educated and possessing
good character should be selected
in elections, since the main
objectives of such kind of persons
are firstly to administer and
Govern and secondly, to serve and
benefit both the citizens and the
country in the best possible
manner. For instance, the
education system in India does not
impart any kind of technical skills
to the students due to which they
governments while ironically the
quality of governance has been
quite poor. There has been more
attention paid to the size of the
government and not so much to its
quality.
It is essential to clear one thing here
that the term “good governance”
does not only signify the
government of a country or state
but it signifies proper governance
in any organization or institution be
it any school or office. Good
governance should be present in
familiesatthefirstplace.
The head of the family or the eldest
member should be given respect by
all the other members and a proper
code of conduct and decorum
should be maintained so that the
individuals are disciplined. Good
governance at these primary
institutions helps an individual to
become a disciplined human being
as a result of which he or she is
43

52. d o n o t g e t a n y s t a b l e
employment opportunities. The
need is to prepare the young
blood with such kind of
education that would help them
to acquire vocational skills that
accelerate them towards various
employment opportunities and
also enable them to be self
employed.
A g o o d a n d g e n e r o u s
government is one where all the
individual's rights are protected
and they feel that they are not
discriminated from one another
on the grounds of caste, creed,
colour, sex, race and religion.
But good governance does not
occur by chance. It cannot be
introduced overnight. The
process is often a gradual one,
involving changes to long
standing practices, entrenched
interests and also bringing
changes in social, cultural and
evenreligiouspractices.
Good government must be
flexible, active and well-
m a n a g e d w h i l e g o o d
Swati Sahay
Faculty, Social Science Deptt
g o v e r n a n c e r e s t s o n
accountability, transparency, and
participation. To make the
governance of a government
efficient and transparent most
governments have already taken
or are taking initiatives offering
government services online
which is called E-governance. E-
governance means 'electronic
governance'. E-governance
includes the use of Information
and Communication Technology,
especially the Internet by
government and civil society to
promote greater participation of
citizens in the working of the
government. As the term
suggests, good governance means
governing the people in a way that
the interests of the people of all
sections are preserved rightfully.
E-government enables citizens to
interact and receive services from
the government and help the
g o v e r n m e n t t o a c t i n a n
accountablemanner.
44

53. LIFE WITHOUT MOBILES AND INTERNET
Vishal Ohdar
VIII
Save me ! Save me !
A voice came out from the tree
As I went near the tree,
It requested me, “Don’t cut me”.
B’coz I make your air pollution free
Pollution is your deadly enemy
It does not give shelter to society.
As I pondered over nature’s call,
A juicy apple on my lap did fall.
An apple a day, keeps the doctor away.
As a child I heard them say.
So why then do we cut them dry ?
I heard a voice within me cry.
Today as I take my pledge,
To nurture greenery around my ledge,
I urge you friends to hold my hands,
Together let us take this stand. Nissim Arya,
IV B
SAVE TREES
Life without mobiles
Is a sun without shine,
And a glass without wine.
Life without Internet
Is a bird without feather
And a baby, without mother.
Life without mobiles
Is a body without heart
And a machine without parts.
Life without Internet
Is a cloud without rain,
And a wound without pain.
45

54. Answer Keys
Battle of the Brains
42
1. Beetle
2. River
3. Hurricane
4. A map
5. Ostritch, it is the only one that cannot fly
6. Compass
Travel Brochure-7 “B”
Riddles
1. d) Caravan
2. a) Abhijit Banerjee
3. c) Pouch to carry their young ones
4. a) Alleppey
5. c) Sweden
6. b) Netherlands
7. a) Geneva
8. d) Queen Victoria
9. b) Flute
10. a) Andorra
46

55. LEARNING THROUGH DOING
Flower Decoration Competition,
Class PP4 ‘A’
Flower Decoration, Class PP4 ‘A & B’
3D Model of Solar Eclipse, Class 5 ‘A’
Rangoli Design, Class 2
Designing cards with dry leaves and flowers,
Class 3 ‘B’
Best out of waste, Class 4

56. SAPPHIRE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
12th Milestone, Ranchi -Khunti Road, Hardag Ranchi - 835221
www.sisranchi.com