An Inside Look At…CHEMISTRY!
Our Schools
You all must be wondering what I’m talking about. Is CHEMISTRY just like a usual subject, No! It’s more than just that. Chemistry according to the dictionary is the emotional interaction between two people. And that’s how my English teacher explained it as I was completing my Writer’s Effect question. English class was just over and I was already bombarded with tons of words, synonyms and perplexing phrases. Paragraphs and lines seem to be endless and the feedback for my answer was not what I expected. I was disappointed in myself.
“I need a break’, I thought to myself, standing up as the Chemistry teacher walked in. But I desperately wanted to run to the playground.
And here I was sitting in Chemistry class learning the periodic table. But all I was dreaming of was my interaction with my one and only friend, just relaxing in the corridor, endless conversations on topics which for the world might seem silly.
“Surya, are you dreaming!” I could hear my teacher call out. “What did I just say? “
I froze. Jolted from daydreaming by her loud voice, I muttered “I was listening ma’am”
“Then, if H2O is water, what is H2SO4?” Giving one stern look she repeated her question.
I blabbered “Swimming four laps in our community pool, ma’am”.
What happened next is for me to know and for you to wonder.
Having said this, I have a profound appreciation for Chemistry.
Chemistry is like Lego! Ideas and frameworks can be broken down into smaller pieces and then reassembled in different ways to build something entirely new. You’ll find with each new thing you learn, everything else you’ve learned before makes more and more sense as the concepts all start to piece together.
If you agree with me, put on your safety goggles, grab your periodic table, and embark on an adventure that will ignite your curiosity and ignite your passion for chemistry!
Surya Jain 9A
Ekya School, Byrathi
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Ekya / April 03, 2024
The Power of Learning with Intent: A Guide to Purposeful Education
In a world brimming with information, the art of learning has evolved beyond the mere acquisition of facts. Learning with intent, a deliberate approach to education emphasises quality over quantity, depth over breadth, and purpose over passive absorption. It’s about cultivating a mindset that transforms knowledge into meaningful action and empowers individuals to navigate the complexities of the modern age effectively.
At its core, learning with intent involves setting clear objectives and actively engaging with the subject matter. Whether exploring a new language, delving into scientific principles, or honing a creative skill, intentionality infuses each learning endeavour with purpose and direction. As Albert Einstein aptly said, "The only source of knowledge is experience." This quote amplifies the importance of active participation and hands-on learning, highlighting that true understanding arises from deliberate engagement with the material.
Furthermore, engaging actively with the material is paramount. Embrace challenges and embrace mistakes as opportunities for growth. This proactive approach not only deepens your understanding but also cultivates critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for success in any field.
Moreover, learning with intent emphasises relevance and applicability. Seek out opportunities to apply newfound knowledge in real-world scenarios, bridging the gap between theory and practice. By contextualising learning within your personal or professional sphere, you enhance its significance and utility, making it more likely to stick.
In conclusion, learning with intent is a transformative approach that transcends traditional notions of education. By setting clear objectives, engaging actively, prioritising relevance, and fostering a growth mindset, individuals can harness the full potential of learning to achieve their goals and thrive in an ever-changing world. So, embark on your learning journey with purpose, and let each lesson propel you towards a brighter, more fulfilling future.
By Sweta Pradeep Rao
Senior English Educator
Ekya School JP Nagar
Ekya / April 02, 2024
Gadget-free Summer Break
With summer vacation around, I urge parents to explore various ways to facilitate children to make healthy choices during their vacation time.
Last week, when we asked our Early Years to visualise their characters and create a story, most of them came up with stories about ghosts and monsters attacking others. When we had conversations about what gave them this idea, we understood that these story ideas emanated from their online games. While gaming per se develops specific skills and requires focus, it also stifles the imagination of young children. Since it is visually appealing, children tend to remember those images in their heads all the time.
I often see parents providing very young children (1 year to 3 year olds) with gadgets as the means to keep children engaged and entertained. I see children watching phones in the waiting areas of clinics, hospitals, school lobbies and banks.
This brings us to a fundamental question “ Should children be engaged by parents all the time?” Not necessarily. What is likely to happen if children were not handed over gadgets at the waiting lounges? What would they do? Some of them may cry, some may throw a loud tantrum, and some may crib. If parents show resilience and allow children to settle down themselves, they will soon find ways to keep themselves engaged. Likewise, during summer vacation. What if this is a “no gadget” vacation and parents do not take up the responsibility to engage their children? What would children do? How can parents show resilience here and facilitate children to make healthy choices? I leave the readers with this thought for this summer vacation.
Mathangi R,
Head of School,
Ekya NICE Road.
Ekya / April 02, 2024
The Eye of the Storm
In the hushed embrace of an Indian evening, our journey began, a symphony of anticipation orchestrated by the hum of jet engines and the flutter of boarding passes. The promise of adventure beckoned from distant shores as we boarded our flight bound for the United Kingdom, our hearts aflutter with dreams of far-off lands and newfound horizons. But as we soared through the velvet sky, a foreboding shadow loomed on the horizon, a harbinger of the chaos that was soon to unfold. In the blink of an eye, the tranquil serenity of our airborne sanctuary was shattered by a deafening crack, a burst of purple lightning that danced across the heavens with an otherworldly fervour. The air crackled with electricity as the plane shuddered beneath the force of the storm, its metal frame quivering in defiance against the tempestuous onslaught. And then, in a heart-stopping moment of sheer terror, the heavens unleashed their fury upon us, casting our fragile vessel into a maelstrom of chaos and uncertainty. The sky darkened to a shade of ominous charcoal as the winds howled with a primal ferocity, tearing at the wings of our faltering craft with savage intent. The cabin was awash with panicked cries and frantic prayers as we clung to our seats with white-knuckled desperation, each passing moment stretching into eternity.
And then, as if mocking our feeble attempts at control, the plane tilted almost 180 degrees, its nose plummeting towards the earth with a sickening lurch. Time seemed to stand still as we hurtled towards the ground, our fate hanging in the balance as the world spun wildly out of control. But just when all hope seemed lost, a glimmer of salvation emerged from the chaos, a beacon of light amidst the encroaching darkness. With a mighty roar, the engines surged to life once more, their thunderous symphony drowning out the cacophony of the storm as we clawed our way back from the brink of oblivion. As the storm clouds parted and the sun cast its golden rays upon the horizon, we emerged battered but unbroken, our spirits buoyed by the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity. And though our journey had been fraught with peril and uncertainty, we emerged from the crucible of the skies stronger and more resilient than ever before. For in the crucible of adversity, we discovered the true measure of our strength, our courage, and our unwavering determination to defy the odds and chart our course through the tempestuous seas of life. As we touched down on solid ground once more, I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the world around us, a testament to the indomitable spirit of the human soul.
Arjun Narasimhan Kuppuswamy
Grade 8C
Leonard Cohen: The Beauty of Brokenness
A wordsmith, a thinker. Words wear silence the moment he dons his performance space. The singer-songwriter in focus is Leonard Cohen, the wonder boy of Alessandria, who speaks the language of love in his ambiguous ever-deepening baritone. Probably, he longed to meet Death face to face. Probably, he wanted to whisper the universal anxiety of Gen Y, "Did you ever go clear?"
What makes a writer modern? Is it the minimal effective lyrics underlying the acceptance of universal grief or is it the aura of self-immolation an artist requires for his art? What makes a writer modern, is still a question of ambiguity, rather a study of individual curiosity. But when someone talks about the discomfort and disharmony of human life with such jaw-dropping ease, when someone writes Man's impending obituary with heart-wrenching prayers, we as the audience are left spellbound. He writes,
" If I am dumb beside your body while silence blossoms like tumours on our lips…
it is because I hear a man climb stairs and clear his throat outside the door. "
Blinded by grief, riddled with conflicts and saddled with sorrow, Cohen is as cold as a new razor blade. A songwriter, poet, novelist and the doyen who treats love as “a memory that betrays faster than friends,” Cohen is the manifestation of human collective consciousness. One moment, he seems deadpan, the next moment he turns dapper. He is unique in the sense that he aces the mundane heartaches with a sense of beauty to fill the void. Or, maybe, as an artist, he likes to think a little more about the philosophy of emptiness, which we all have felt somewhere in our lives,
"like a bird on the wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir," he has sung his ways to be free.
His watershed album Songs of Leonard Cohen, followed by Songs from a Room, Songs of Love and Hate, and New Skin for the Old Ceremony deserves special mention.
Cohen’s relevance lies in the fact that his literary works explore common but deep themes including faith and morality, isolation and depression, betrayal and redemption, social and political conflict, sexual and romantic love, desire, regret and loss. I, too, have grown up with a black and white poster of a 25-year-old Cohen sitting in cold rooms, walking past the streets of London, writing sad poems. He was a Bohemian whose first purchases in London were an Olivetti typewriter and a blue raincoat at Burberry.
The song "Blue Raincoat" he wrote in 1971 is a perfect mix of the various themes explored by Leonard Cohen. One of the predominant themes is, "To forgive or not to forgive?" The emotional conflict experienced by Mr. Cohen is concisely packed into one line -
"I guess that I miss you, I guess I forgive you."
The stinging feeling of betrayal, from both his best friend and wife and the love he has for them, all came apart, little by little, "falling like ashes".
The theme and feeling of isolation is perfectly expressed in his song "So Long, Marianne" when he writes,
“Then why do I feel alone? I'm standing on a ledge and your fine spider web Is fastening my ankle to a stone”.
This song expresses the longing the reputed singer-songwriter feels for his lady love Marianne and how he wishes for her to come back and for them to start afresh - a desire that remains unreciprocated, an eternal sadness drools from his eyes and he writes,
“I see you've gone and changed your name again
And just when I climbed this whole mountainside
To wash my eyelids in the rain.”
Suzanne, popular as one of Cohen’s best works, is reflective of the immense and boundless love humans feel for each other, as he writes,
“And you want to travel with her And you want to travel blind."
Reflecting the influence of depression on his writing, Leonard Cohen, in his 1992 song Anthem, wrote,
“My feeling is that whatever I did was despite that, not because of it. It wasn’t the depression that was the engine of my work. . . . That was just the sea I swam in.”
One need not look into any of Cohen’s songs to understand regret and loss in life. His songs are rather an inspiration that helps the sleepless fight their own silent battles. He pens down in one of his autobiographical entries,
“I suppose I will never lead the ordered life my father led, and I’ll never live in the kind of house he lived in, with its rituals, its dignity, the smell of polish.”
A short goodbye. A few sentences. But words of such clarity, simplicity and beauty are bound to stay with us. Before we conclude, let's embark on a small personal anecdote:
"He heard that Marianne was dying and two hours later he wrote to her that he too was old and his body failing. He had, of course, written for her before, with the lyrics of So Long, Marianne and Bird on the Wire. This time he told her:
“Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine.”
Waiting Rooms. Four bottles of wine a day. Buddhist Monasteries. I wonder how one can compose songs on one's favourite loss. In "So Long, Marianne", he writes: “It’s time that we began to laugh/ and cry and cry and laugh about it/ all again.”
Unmatched in his creativity and insight, Leonard Cohen was a true visionary whose voice will be sorely missed. A critic once wrote in a separate statement. “I was blessed to call him a friend, and for me to serve that bold artistic spirit firsthand, was a privilege and great gift. He leaves behind a legacy of work that will bring insight, inspiration and healing for generations to come.”
A world of possibilities
“I used to complete my home assignments on time. I used to respect my teachers and follow their guidelines.” -typical thoughts of an educator teaching 21st-century students.
Are these familiar thoughts, whether you are an educator or a parent?
Well! Parents and Educators! Please wake up to the new reality. Your guidelines are not going to be “ followed” just because you are a parent or an educator. That is not essentially due to a lack of respect. It is because children of today evolve a sense of identity very early on. They are confident, young individuals with a wide variety of knowledge at their fingertips. They question the status quo and are curious about everything around them. Just imagine these young individuals turning into adults and transforming their community, city and world around them with their ability to question, think, act and inspire.
Let us work with them with these possibilities in mind. To convert these possibilities into a reality, parents and educators have to see themselves as guides, facilitators, mentors and coaches. They can no longer give unilateral instructions and expect children to follow them. It has to be dialogical and facilitative. Give them the context and purpose, they will love to think, act and do.
“Just focus on the possibilities. The limitations will take care of itself.” said someone and I would like to leave all parents and educators to work with children from this space of possibilities.
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