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Shanthi Sivaram / December 10, 2020 Posted by : editor

Egypt, the land of mystery!

Egypt had always been on my travel bucket list. The Arabian towns, the cryptical pyramids, the spooky stories of mummies and their curses, mystical temples, the deserts, and the Nile…the list goes on! I feel that these have created a time capsule that allows us to understand the life of Pharaohs and the lives of those who lived during their reign. Egypt, the cradle of civilization was calling me!

I visited Egypt in 2018 with my parents. It was a dream come true for me! I had done thorough research as to what places we need to visit in Egypt. I was pretty excited about this trip! We reached Egypt on 9th April 2018. We landed in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. After fulfilling the immigration formalities, we took another flight to reach Luxor. From Luxor, we reached Aswan by road.

Aswan, a city on the Nile River, has been southern Egypt’s strategic and commercial gateway for ages as it was the main trading route between Egypt and the southern lands. It contains significant archaeological sites like the Philae temple complex, near the landmark Aswan Dam.

The ancient city was also famous for its granite quarries. Thousands of Egyptian statues, obelisks, shrines, and even pyramids are constructed out of the granite mined in Aswan.

In Aswan, the Nile is at its most beautiful state! Flowing through the desert and then finding its path through the palm groves! We set sail to Philae Island in a taxi boat.

The Ancient Egyptians built a magnificent temple on this island for the Goddess Isis. The temple has beautiful scenes depicting the birth of the God Horus by his mother Isis. It was mesmerizing!

I could not get over these huge structures and the story behind these structures! I was completely taken back in time to the ancient Egyptian world! I started picturing every detail in my mind.

After this, our next destination was Abu Simbel! We started early in the morning at 5 am. The journey was a long one…under the guidance of the Egyptian army. Abu Simbel is located in Aswan, bordering South Sudan and so it is not advisable to travel alone as there is a threat from terrorists from South Sudan.

Abu Simbel is an ancient temple complex, originally cut into a solid rock cliff, in southern Egypt.

The Great Temple stands 98 feet (30 meters) high with four seated bigger than life statutes, at the entrance!

King Ramesses II, built this temple complex. The extensive artwork throughout the interior of the Great Temple reveals that this celebrates Ramesses’ victory in the war. There is also a temple for Queen Nefertari, Ramesses’ favorite wife. With this, we ended our trip at Aswan and our next destination was Luxor. Luxor is a city on the east bank of the Nile River in southern Egypt. It is on the site of ancient Egypt, the pharaohs’ capital at the height of their power, during the 16th–11th centuries B.C

Aswan to Luxor was a cruise trip on the river Nile. It was very special as it was my first time on a river cruise!

We reached Luxor after a day’s journey on the cruise. First, we went to the Karnak temple. It is the largest temple complex in the world! It is also known as “The temple of Amun, the god of Egypt.”

Karnak was not just the temple for gods but also the temple for rulers!

When we reached Karnak, the avenue of ram-headed sphinxes, amazed me! They are the protectors of the temple. Then comes the great court where we see a big statue of Ramesses II.

Next was the great hall that consisted of huge pillars…around 100 pillars! The whole scene was so magical and the stories told by the guide transported me to the Egyptian era of the 25th dynasty!

Later in the evening, there was a laser show in the temple complex. This made the whole experience of visiting the Karnak temple even more magical. I felt I was witnessing the action live! It was a day very well spent!

The next day we went to the West Bank of Luxor to visit the Valley of the Kings. The valley contains 63 tombs. It was the principal burial place of the major royal figures of the Egyptian New Kingdom, as well as a number of privileged nobles. The royal tombs are decorated with scenes from Egyptian mythology giving clues to the beliefs and funerary rituals of the period.

These give an idea of the luxury and power of the pharaohs!

It was a chilling experience to see the mummies! I visited the tomb of the magnificent king Tut aka Pharaoh Tutankhamen. Tutankhamen became pharaoh when he was only 9 years old!

King Tut made his mark in history in record time. He was just 18 when he died. He was a rich pharaoh and Tutankhamen’s tomb contained so many items of gold and precious items that cataloging them all took seventeen years! Pharaoh Tutankhamen brought many of his possessions with him so that they could accompany him in the afterlife! Yes, Egyptians believed that life existed afterlife! The mummy preserved the body of a dead so that they come back and use them in their afterlife. It was believed that “Anubis” was the god of mummification. He had a human body and the head of a jackal. His job was to prepare the bodies of the dead (mummies). The Egyptians believed that if the pharaoh’s body could be mummified, then the pharaoh would live forever even after death! The tombs were designed to protect the buried Pharaoh’s body and his belongings. In the Old and Middle Kingdoms, Egyptian kings were buried in pyramids. About 50 royal pyramids have survived, one such pyramid that I have visited during my trip to Egypt is the pyramid of Giza. This was built as a tomb for the pharaoh Khufu.

Yes, the pyramid of Giza, one of the old seven wonders of the world! It was built in 2500 BC.The mystery about this building is its design and construction. Even today, archeologists wonder how such a massive building of limestone has survived for thousands of years, without any damage even during massive earthquake that stuck Cairo in 1303AD!

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Pyramid complex bordering Giza, Cairo, Egypt. It is the oldest of the seven ancient wonders of the world!

It is made of limestone and it is in the shape of a true pyramid.it is huge. The base itself around 250 m wide! It is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is one of the tallest manmade structures in the world. For 3800 years, no other building was taller than this until Lincoln cathedral, which was built in 1311AD.

Next comes the great Sphinx! Another remarkable piece of sculpture that is etched in my memory. A sphinx is a creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human. It is a prominent mythological figure in Egyptian stories. The sphinx was a spiritual guardian. This Sphinx is huge. It is 240 feet long and is made of a single rock boulder!

I soaked in the beauty of this larger than life-size statue .the whole experience of seeing a pyramid and its guard was so ethereal!

I let it soak into my mind completely and then we moved on to visit a local restaurant in Cairo .it was already lunchtime and I wanted to taste some local food. For me, a trip is incomplete without enjoying local culture and cuisine. We went to this world-famous restaurant, Abu Tarek in Cairo. I tasted the Egyptian national dish Koshary. It was delicious! It was like a pasta dish with an Egyptian touch.

Our next stop was at the cultural show to see ‘Tanoura’.Tanoura means skirt in English, Tanoura dance is a kind of folkloric dance that is very common in Egypt usually performed by Sufi men for the Sufi music, who spin continuously. It was my first time to see such a dance form and I enjoyed it thoroughly. This trip has had many first time adventures!

Any trip is incomplete without shopping.

Yes, shopping! I went to Al-Khalili Market, an old large souk to shop for local spices and classic Egyptian art pieces like the papyrus scroll!

Egypt is the gift of the Nile. There are plenty of opportunities to explore the wonders of the past and present. Great Pyramids, statues of Abu Simbel suddenly crash into your sight, just like what it appears on TV, in movies, magazines, and guidebooks. It feels so familiar yet so strange! I feel so privileged to sit at the foot of the Great Pyramid, having a bird’s eye view of the great pyramid, spend time walking around and appreciating them from different angles.

“Once you drink from the Nile, you are destined to return.” This old Egyptian proverb holds true for me. I will surely visit Egypt again, with my children, to show them the history of the greatest civilization of the world!

-P SHRAAVYA HANDE,

GRADE 8A, Ekya School, JP Nagar

A few pictures from my travel diary!

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Shanthi Sivaram / March 26, 2024

The Hot Garlic Soup Inspired by ‘The Last Leaf’ by O. Henry

Sue and Johnsy, two young artists, shared a small flat on the third storey of an old house.
Johnsy fell ill in November. She was diagnosed with pneumonia. She would lie in her bed, gazing out of the window. Sue sent for the doctor. The doctor said to Sue, “Johnsy’s condition is not so serious yet. It seems she is unable to recover because she has lost the will to live.”
Sue became extremely worried for Johnsy’s well-being and mental health. She tried to make Johnsy interested in the things around her, but Johnsy never replied with more than a noncommittal hum.
One day, Sue was painting when she heard Johnsy counting backwards. Sue looked out of the window and saw an old ivy creeper climbing on the brick wall. The ivy was shedding its leaves in the strong gust of the wind.
“They are falling faster now,” whispered Johnsy. “Three days ago there were so many leaves. Only five are left now.”
“It is autumn,” said Sue, “and the leaves will fall.”
“When the last leaf falls, I will die” said Johnsy with finality. “I have felt this for the last three days.”
“Oh, that’s nonsense,” replied Sue. “Why do you believe your fate is tied to those old ivy leaves?”
“Human life is fleeting, just like those ivy leaves,” said Johnsy. “I got sick just as the ivy started shedding its leaves. It must be an omen. The last leaf will fall, and I will slip into slumber forever.”
Sue sat on Johnsy’s bed, kissed her and said, “You are not going to die. Plenty of people fall sick in autumn, and they recover soon enough. Do you want some soup?”
“I don’t want any soup. My time is almost up, I’m sure of it,” murmured Johnsy.
Sue decided to change tactics. She was not going to give up on Johnsy.
“It is true that human life is somewhat fleeting, but that’s exactly what makes life valuable. Do you not want to see what life has to offer before you slip into slumber? Will you not miss the cool breeze waking you up, the warm embrace of sunlight? Do you want to give up the feeling of the paintbrush gliding over the canvas?” Sue quavered.
“Look beyond the ivy to that tree over there,” Sue continued. “Even that tree is shedding its leaves, but it is also growing new leaves. It is going to live for many more years, just like you.”
Johnsy contemplated for a while. Then, she looked out of the window and smiled.
“Perhaps I will have some hot garlic soup. You made me realise that life is worth living after all.”
Written by Aahana,
from grade 9A

Shanthi Sivaram / March 22, 2024

Importance of Literature in a Classroom.

"Literature is one of the most interesting and significant expressions of humanity" - P.T.Barnum

We as humans are social beings. We can't imagine our lives to be solitary. Literature facilitates us to understand and communicate with one another in society. It helps us explore the world around us and is a medium to express our views and experiences. So it is of vital importance that the students are introduced to literature at a young age.

Literature is necessary for students as it helps them to develop imagination, improves vocabulary and language skills and even enhances creativity. Literature helps them understand the world outside their home and school.

It is disheartening to see that literature is often not put on the same pedestal as other technical subjects like Math or Science. where it shouldn't be the case.

Literature includes different types of texts like stories and fables, myths

and legends, poetry and drama or even informational texts that help them explore other subjects. It prepares students to read and understand the real world.

There are one too many benefits of including literature at a young age. It is like an exercise for the brain, keeping an individual mentally active and stimulated.

Exposure to cultures from different countries brings in a sense of respect and tolerance, a feat possible through literature. It motivates one to appreciate different lives and their ways and also to graciously disagree with something that may not be right. The different characters the students are introduced to become a source of inspiration. They start to imagine themselves in varied situations. they learn different solutions to problems they come across.

More importantly, reading is fun and literature develops an inclination toward reading and makes them self-learners.

It can be concluded that literature is a gateway to nurturing a child’s life skills more than any assignment or task

can ever do.

Written By:

Shruthi Prakash

English Educator - Primary

Ekya Schools BTM Layout

Shanthi Sivaram / March 22, 2024

A Day to Remember: Juniors Bid Goodbye to Seniors with a Spectacular Farewell Party.

As the academic year draws to a close, emotions run high at our beloved school. The time has come for the juniors to express their gratitude, love, and affection for their departing seniors.

And what better way to do this than by throwing an unforgettable farewell party?

The air was buzzing with excitement as the juniors meticulously planned every detail to make it a night that their seniors would cherish forever.

The audio-visual room was transformed into a place of nostalgia and celebration, adorned with decorations to welcome the seniors. Each performance was filled with energy, enthusiasm, and dedication. Each video played, spoke volumes about the memories shared and the bonds formed throughout their academic journey, blanketing the atmosphere with a mix of joy, laughter, and a hint of bittersweet anticipation.

Our seniors were all dressed up to the nines for the occasion with the girls in a blue and white saree and the boys in black suits.

But how did all of this come to be? I am a grade 11 student and let me take you through behind the scenes of this event and how we prepared for this event.

  • Many girls formed a group and decided to dance to “Paint It Red” and “All Is Well”. Everyone’s efforts are to be appreciated as they come up with new steps and formations. Well-coordinated teamwork led to an amazing performance that got everyone cheering.

  • Meanwhile, my batchmate, Lara,  and a few teachers were preparing to sing songs dedicated to the seniors. Lara sang a melodious rendition of “When You Believe” and the teachers sang a medley of songs which got the seniors singing along as well!

  • The boys planned on dancing to the song “Galti Se Mistake” and their performance was full of creativity and humour. The choreography was inspired by the original music video of the song and they worked hard together and taught each other the steps. This performance got everyone giggling and cheering so loud!

  • It did not end with the students, even the teachers chose to step into this grand celebration. They danced on a variety of songs and each song made the seniors hoot louder. Even though they had a very busy schedule they would still take time and dedicate it to the dance practice during after-school hours. Huge kudos for their coordination and effort!

  • Mohana and Arshia came up with a very engaging script which had the attention of the audience. A small game was organised for the students where they had to write something good about one of their batchmates. Everybody put their hands together and made 32 crowns of appreciation for their seniors. A video of the seniors was made including photos and videos of their dearest memories. Last but not least, our teachers also prepared a video message for the seniors bidding farewell and wishing them the best for their future endeavours.

The day finally came. The 10th of February came. It was the day - the day for which we had been preparing for days. The graduation.

The place was set, the background screen was ready, the mic was ready and the sound system was ready. Our seniors came one by one and the auditorium was filled with chatter until the anchors came in and the event started.

After a few minutes, the head boy gave a heartfelt speech, followed by the chit game of affirmations then Lara’s beautiful performance.

The girls donned black kurtis and sunglasses and danced to “Paint It Red”, which got a round of applause. The seniors loved the “Galti Se Mistake” dance by the boys for its creativity and comedic execution and what made it better was the shorts with shirt and tie combination. The dance finale was to the song “All Is Well” which got the audience cheering for the dancers with lots of enthusiasm.

Then a video filled with the memories of the seniors was shown which made most of them emotional. The dance which everybody was eagerly anticipating started - it was our beloved teachers who completely rocked the stage with their amazing performance.

Then a few teachers gave a very emotional message followed by songs dedicated to their students. The event came to an end with video messages by the teachers,  a crowning ceremony and high tea.

In conclusion, the event was successful, and enjoyed by all the students - juniors, seniors and teachers. It wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s contribution and teamwork. It was an emotional roller coaster for everyone and a day which will never be forgotten.

Written By:

Stutee Samantray

(Grade 11, Ekya BTM)

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#StudentBlogger: Promises A short story

“Yo, Ms.Clemintine thinks that the Cunfra is under the bleachers.”

“The what?”

“The Cunfra. Don’t tell me tyou don’t know what it is!”

“I’m sorry, but I have absolutely no clue what the Cunfra is. It sounds like something straight out of a movie.”

“Well today in history, Ms.Clemintine told us about this precious book that lies hidden inside this school. She said that kids long ago wrote about it, and hid it. She also said that it holds some kind of legend or curse or something. But, who believes that.

“Oh..”

Hi, I’m Noah. I used to live in Philadelphia for 12 years, but I recently shifted to Maine due to dad’s work. I am 15 years old and I go to Falmouth High School. This is the kind of school where kids act like actors from movies. Some are over-dramatic, some exaggerate a bit too much, and some just chill. I personally just chill.

I wanted to share with you this incident that happened to me a few days ago. It has kind of shaken me up a bit. It involves the grumpy school janitor, and myself, and a bathroom. So get yourself comfortable and a bag of popcorn if you wish, and sit back. I’ll take questions at the end.

It was just my second day here, and I was having a bad tummy-ache. I asked my teacher to excuse me out of class and went to the boy’s washroom. The janitor, Mr.Bram was kind of in a bad mood. But he is always, so nevermind that. I saw him holding a book. I assumed that it was some kid's book. It was only us two in the washroom and something with being alone with someone else just creeps me out. Anyway, I finished my business and I came out to find Mr.Bram gone. He had left a book on the counter, so I opened it. Here is what it said:

       Today was the third day after Charlie’s demise and  I am really missing him. I didn’t mean for him to go up, but I honestly had no other choice. If I hadn’t passed the promise onto him, I would not have been here right now. This was the sorry, not sorry kind of situation. Anyway, I don’t want to say much as if I do, it will get confusing for you. But just one thing, to the person who is reading this, the curse is going to be soon onto you.

I really wanted the last 3 minutes of my life to be erased. What curse, who’s Charlie, and why does Mr.Bram have this book?

“You!” Mr.Brams grumpy voice sounded the room. “I knew you were going to cause trouble when you walked in.”

“I-I-I can explain”. I stuttered. “It was a book, I thought it was my math book. It’s been lost”

“Hmph. You have the curse don’t you. Ughh, kids these days always have their pointy nose in everything. Fine, let me explain.

“This curse was put on a boy named Dixin 55 years ago. You say a promise in front of the book, then you die within the next 2 days. The only way to break it is to pass the promise on to another person in front of the book.”

“Oh dear, I better tell my enemy to promise me something,” I said getting up.

“Oh! And one more thing, can you promise me not to tell anyone about this book. People think it is hidden, let it be this way”

“I promise,” I said without thinking. In a flash, I looked up and saw Mr.Bram’s sly yet creepy grin. I have the curse now!! 

By Kriti Madan,

Grade 8A, Ekya School, JP Nagar

#StudentBlogger: A synopsis of Dr. Mohit Sehgal’s talk

On the 28th of November, we hosted Day 2 of the Career Camp, following a very successful session of "Meet the University", on Day 1. The theme of this Career Camp was 21st Century Careers, and it consisted of people from various careers in Science, Commerce, and Humanities. I was asked to help moderate the session of Dr. Mohit Sehgal, a research scientist in Cell and Gene Therapy. The session started off with a bang, as Dr. Sehgal started discussing his current project, CAR-T cell therapy, a technique used to treat certain blood cancers, and it is being studied in the treatment of other cancers. CAR-T cell therapy is a type of treatment in which a patient’s T cells (a type of immune cell) are changed in the laboratory so they will bind to cancer cells and kill them.
After that, Dr. Sehgal talked about his education and journey from the University of Rajasthan to the Wistar Institute in the USA. Finally, he took questions from the audience. It was a very interactive session, with the audience asking many questions, and Dr. Sehgal giving detailed responses to each of them.

By Aryan Dalmia, 
Grade 10A, Ekya JPN

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