I do not like it when people ask my name. If you have a name to give, then suggest it or do not ask that abhorrent question. I cannot have a name as according to humans, I do not have a soul or consciousness. I am nothing more than a music box and I play if you wish. So stop asking my name!
Now, onto introductions, I am Aryan’s life-long companion and I have helped him through his worst days. He didn’t like his friends so I played for him. When he visited his grandparents, I played for him. When he wishes, I pull out a tune and make him happy. Life was…wait, I am not living! Let me rephrase this sentence. My time with Aryan was wonderful.
Anyway, I was daydreaming when all of a sudden, a huge uproar took place. The lady and the man picked up my Aryan and took him somewhere. I was angry! How could they take him away without me, his music box! I do not like these people who Aryan calls “mom” and “dad.” They give me weird vibes.
A few days later, they pick me up and take me on a car ride to this hospital. The hospital looked so dull and bleak, with people looking like dead corpses and lifeless souls standing in line. They needed some music, so I decided to play but then “mom” turned me off. See, this “mom” is not nice, I told you so.
They carried me and then placed me in a room on a white tabletop. Next to me was Aryan, but he looked different. He had some kind of a mask on him and he did not move. There was this woman who looked white and blue and her face was also covered by a mask.
After some time, it was only me and Aryan. I looked at his beautiful eyes, now still and colorless. His hands shriveled and he was not the lively boy I once knew. With all his might, he started humming my tune and I played it to accompany his singing. It was very hoarse and weak, but it did not matter. I kept aiding him in his effort hoping he would come back.
“Mom” and “dad” were whispering and weeping softly. No one was happy and no amount of songs could ever make them joyful again. I tried playing but every time, they turned me off and ignored me. As the days went on, I did not have the energy to play. Life was bleak and no one wanted me anyway. I couldn’t even play for Aryan. What was the point if I could not make anyone happy?
I continued these repetitive thoughts in my head. I did not have much to do now that no one liked me. I do not remember how long I was on that tabletop, aimlessly wasting my time, sitting lifeless with no purpose.
Sometimes, I dreamed of me and Aryan, running through a playground, playing his favorite songs and him laughing and playing with his friends, but soon the remnant of life in him faded until it was no more and the lively hands and legs turned white like snow. He was dead at 2:03 a.m. and the doctor conveyed the message to “mom” and “dad.”
Dreary feet of people around me walked through the mud and sludge to reach a barren land. Mounds of dirt and soil covered the land and masked people carried wheelbarrows and stretchers. Aryan’s stretcher was the smallest of them all. A tiny stretcher was placed on the ground and they buried my Aryan. I was watching from “mom’s” handbag as his corpse was buried, covering that lovely face with dirt and he became nothing more than a statistic, another death in a time marred with demise.
The people had no smiles on their once bright faces so I played one last tune for that boy, something he can carry when he’s playing in the clouds, a tune he can hum to, skipping and frolicking, free from pain. I sang and sang and sang and sang….until my songs lost all meaning…just like his death.
By
Ramya Sridhar
Grade 12, Ekya School ITPL
The brain is a marvel. You could tell a two-year old that a certain picture is a dog, and the child will instantly associate the figure of a dog to that picture. Next time they see a dog, they will associate it with the word ‘dog’. If you show them the picture of another 4-legged animal, they may be confused, because, well they have not learned the name of that animal yet.
This is exactly what data science aims to achieve. Ever seen the front camera trying to guess your gender and age, but it shows your age 20 years off and the opposite gender? That is data science at work. Data science, in short, is the use of many scientific and technological processes to obtain knowledge and insights into the data. It is not perfect, and is very flawed, as of now. But with advancements in technology and mathematics, we can refine it to be the closest to the human brain, or even better.
Data science aims to transform the normal computer into a machine that can well, think for itself. It is the stepping stone for a whole new generation of artificial intelligence, computers which do not need to be programmed to execute tasks. All the science fiction movies such as ‘I, Robot’ may not be science fiction anymore. Day by day, we inch closer to that dream and a potential nightmare.
Data science has many applications as well as fields that pave the way for further applications. Some of the most popular applications of data science are -
As is with any breakthrough technology, Data Science has its advantages and disadvantages. Some of its biggest advantages -
But this future comes at a price. Some disadvantages of data science are -
So what do you think? Is Data Science the dream of dreams, or nightmare of nightmares?
By
Aryan Dalmia
Grade 10A
Ekya School JP Nagar
The value of homework has been scrutinized for a long time. There are a few students, parents, and teachers who go to a great extent feel that homework causes a lot of stress. Others feel that it is a boon, an encouragement to learn beyond what is taught in class. For the latter, it is the time they spend to work independently to achieve something. Is the scenario the same in an online setting with the pandemic? My thoughts below revolve around this aspect as a teacher at Ekya Schools for Grade 6 and 7.
Homework is where students and teachers work together to achieve a goal. It helps them to build a bond where they can discuss, attend to concerns, or even help solve the problem as in the case of math or any subject. The online learning model during the pandemic situation provides a similar promising time within families. Students at times get in touch with their parents for help or concern. When the family gets together to solve it, we notice trust and admiration. This successively allows parents to get more involved in their child’s education, understand what is happening in the class. How do I know this? Often, we teachers see parents and siblings attending but they are also participating by helping their child answer. We see this kind of bonding even in our family ties session.
Responsibility is the other topic I’d like to talk about. Imagine children completing their classwork, project, homework without being prompted. That would be a dream. Teachers and parents have to walk hand in hand to reach this path. We have to keep reiterating to achieve this goal. Once students do this without being told to do so, it means that they are responsible enough to make good decisions in life too. This indeed means they are heading towards a life encompassing larger goals of life such as social responsibility.
Considering the online mode of education with only 3 hours of classes on core subjects, students have a considerable amount of time to do asynchronous study. This after school 2-3 hours that they spend is a gift that they need to cache on. For instance, students can work on their assignments, etc. at ease and not rush for last-minute deadlines.
Thanks to Google, that invariably helps students to take notes, information, or homework off it so there is no space for research or students giving their views and opinions. But, I am hopeful that while there is information all around, there is an opportunity to use that constructively... And the online environment is an opportunity for students to move beyond copying to being ethical as well.
During these uncertain times, education needs to continue, families, students and teachers are the heart for a positive learning environment be it online or offline.
By
Ms Anjana Santhosh
Ekya School - JPN
English- Grades 6 and 7
6-7
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