What A Unique Way To Honor Students!

What a unique eco-friendly way to honor meritorious students! I am really impressed.

Curious news around the world is a daily source of information and interest for me and maybe for every second Indian too. I just cannot resist reading and writing about them on my blog :P

Schools = Intelligence = Toppers. Okay, TOPPERS or MERIT HOLDERS! Isn't that name, a craving for everyone? A craving not to know that you are most intelligent or something.....but a craving to earn an honorable award of merit for you hard-work!

Why do I ask this, eh? Wait....have tad bit patience for I'm coming to the point soon! But before that, one more thing! School reminds me of something else too, the compulsory subject, Environmental Education (E.V.Ed) which the ICSE board has marked compulsory for students till 12th. And I literally think there's no subject worse than that!

No, no! I do not mean that. What I mean is that we usually have similar books till 12th and they teach us the same old boring things, i.e. To protect the Environment = Plant tress (awww....how many times will I do that then?) and Acid Rain, CFC, CNG and same old things all over again. It is only additional burden too.So I plainly think EVE period is a waste of time.

If teachers are so keen on teaching, we should do something practical that generates interest than the same old boring text book. Like my school has recently supported a mission of planting trees but that isn't counted into our grades. Okay, back to square one. Why did I blabber so much eh?

Mangalayatan University in Aligarh has found an unusual way to honor their meritorious students, or rather eco-friendly, I'd say. This time around, talented kids are not being awarded any kind of medals, trophies or cash. It's different guys!

The university has decided to award students a tree, yeah! They have set up a "TOPPERS AVENUE" inside the campus itself, where they are planting trees each time, in the name of toppers! Yes, the tree kind belongs to the good student. It stands tall and majestic, as a prize for their hard work and dedication.

Cool? I think it's a fabulous idea. This is what I call abiding to thy own teaching! Along with helping the environment and igniting the fire of realization inside the students, the name of the topper will be eternally indelible!

Also, I think the child honored or his friends and family will take care of the tree as their own, just as you take care of all trophies or certificates you have won? Isn't it? And who knows...the child may unknowingly begin to help others around to realize how important a role trees play in the livelihood of mankind!

Fine...fine...I know it's time to shut my blabbering large mouth and time to know what you guys think! Time for you to get to work and share your views.

I am also going to share this article at school so any more innovative ideas for my school to follow, or to help others just as this school is doing, please share through comments. I'll share all of that at school with my teachers and will tell you the result soon :)

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Enjoy The Festival Of Lights- Happy Diwali!

DIWALI, all my Indian friends must have a smile on their faces at this name but for my foreign (firangi) friends this might be gibberish!

India is all lit up and decorated as a bride these days. Glowing diyas and candles, fireworks, loads of yummy sweets (ummmm.....MOM!!!) and nice gifts. That's all that comes to mind during Diwali.

I have got a week off for Diwali, but as usual, I haven't touched a book! I (actually the whole family) am really busy in decorating the house, helping mum, loads of crazy shopping sprees, saying sorry to dad for the big hole in his pocket and wishing friends and family!

Okay, for all those who do not know about the festival, I quote from Wikipedia coz I am not really very good about the technical and "actual" definition!

Deepavali, or Diwali is a major Indian festival, and a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism. Many legends are associated with Diwali. Today it is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across the globe as the "Festival of Lights," where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being.

To know more, please click here- it will take you to Wikipedia!

And now, to all my friends- A VERY HAPPY DIWALI!

I'm gonna have loads of fun!! But am not burning crackers this year. And it is not because of dad or mum or teachers. It's because of the devastating news I have been reading in newspapers these days. And mum and dad are certainly happy with me. I'm having loads of sweets....my favorite- kaaju ki barfi!

I am now going off to help bro put the lights. There's too much ruckus in the house to write more right now! But before going, I made a sketch for diwali, I've included it below and

HAPPY HAPPY DIWALI!

May the diyas and lights, enlighten your lives too :)

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My Journey Through Fire-II

Now comes the second part of the story which you all have been awaiting. I hope you enjoy it and find it another of my liked adventures on MINSY- My Magical Bed. If you have not read the first part, you can read it here- My Journey Through Fire-I. Enjoy!

The look of astonishment on my face on hearing Fireprobe's words soon changed to hunger and I asked him to summon anything that tasted good. Fireprobe did so and very soon, the food arrived. The plates were same as the floor, in different geometrical shapes. 

The food was delicious and nothing like I had tasted before. I just cannot describe how well they tickled my taste buds! Then Fireprobe put some kind of rectangular boxes on the table. These boxes were flat and as I later learnt, were their currency (money). One could not leave or the hotel would not leave us actually, until you paid the money.

Soon we were out into the open once again, this time a

t a different place. This was some kind of an amusement park or playing ground. All around, I could see Sycs, smaller than Fireprobe and in different colors, playing in bowls (yeah literally, like the ones we have on Earth), plates, spoons shoes etc.

Fireprobe said, "Our kids here play on the things that humans from Earth throw into the fire. We eat paper which they burn and all other edible things. I think we owe all our gratitude to people like you, Robtee"

Hearing this, I suddenly burst our laughing. After I controlled myself I asked Fireprobe if they had a clothes shop here and he told me they didn't need it for they were born with different colors on themselves. The wood on which we burn fire, each time gives rise to a new Sycs.

Curious to know more, I asked Fireprobe about himself. He told me that he himself was a non-living, made-by-Sycs techo which were called fireprobes. They were created to help the Sycs find where the humans were burning things and where new Sycs were being created. Often if a human put his hand into the fire, it was Fireprobe who would push it out. (Got a correction there in the Biology book- they say it's OUR brain....now I know HA!). He told me that each fireprobe lived only for three days and this was his last day.

Suddenly surprised and sad, I took him into my hands from the floating air. I felt really bad for him and was going to say something when I heard........

"TRINGGGGGGGGGGGGGG" . Ah, Minsy, this is the time I hated her for bringing me back! But you know what? When I felt in my hands, I felt something.....it was Fireprobe. He had diminished in size, the size of my small finger and was no more speaking.

I looked at him and smiled....this was another souvenir from my adventures in a magical world. I carefully placed him into the drawer, next to all other magical gifts I possessed, and gleefully jumped off the bed to get dressed for school.

Guys......please tell me how you liked it and is it any worthy of me to write more of my adventures on MINSY? I surely enjoy reading your comments and if you haven't yet read the first part, please read it here- My Journey Through Fire-I

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My Journey Through Fire - I

I hope you all do remember that I have been writing my magical bed adventure series of stories. For those who do not remember, the secret is that I have a magical bed and as soon as I am tucked into my bed, I am drifted off to a faraway magic land...... ( ADITTION TO THIS PART- I've named my Magical Bed "MINSY"). Don't you worry! I have given links to previous posts at the end of this story :)

One of my recent experiences was my journey through FIRE, the first part of which is narrated here.

Fire, the word and particularly that miracle has always aroused my curiosity and generated interest inside. I lay in bed thinking of it, when my Magical Bed (I have now named it "MINSY") obliged me by taking me on a tour to the most unexpected, unusual, yet exciting of all places. Yes inside FIRE!

The initial entrance gave me goose bumps. My Bed took me to a forest amidst the cold dark night. I looked around but saw nothing, expect the scary darkness that encompassed me. Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, I saw a fire ignited right under my nose, and miraculously, it soothed my cold and numb veins but did not give me the common sensation of feeling as if I am burning, even when the fire was right under my nose, so very near.

Then my bed held me tight actually it felt as if it had tied my legs and hands to it's ends and then took a struggling, terrified and loudly screaming me and astonishingly, mercilessly threw me into the fire. Momentarily, I heard my petrified screams echoing into he serene ambiance and I remade my mind about my sweet little Bed!

But wonderfully, as I had changed my thoughts about my bed, I realized it was not to be so. My Magical Bed had actually done me a favor....one I will never forget ever.

As I entered the fire, I realized, it was a world, a world like any other, like a world on land, in water, in the sky so in fire too! The ambiance was like spring, not as I'd expected. There were people too....ummm....or maybe not. They were not people but yeah, some kind of living things.

As soon as I entered, I was welcomed by a flying, hand sized "speaking" computer. It flew and zoomed itself into my hands where it snuggled comfortably. It had lips and a tiny hand, just like animated mobiles and stuff we see on advertisements or net.

Then, I heard the most cutest of baby voices I'd ever heard, just like an infant speaking it's first few words! It said, "My name is Fireprobe. I will be your guide throughout your tour through the "Goldenfiresyc World". I think I should inform you robtee (that's what they call Miss, Ma'am or stuff like that) that people here are called Sycs and they speak a tongue unknown to you (Sycsi) so oblige me by letting me be your guide and interpreter."

I heard him and felt flattered. While I stood there thinking what I was to see next and what this journey had in store for me, Fireprobe guided me to a place which I think was a kind of restaurant so I could first eat something and continue my sojourn.

First let me tell you about the place where I stood. The floor looked like flowing fire but was not hot and neither liquid but solid. All around there was no sky but a kind of yellow light through which one could see no zenith or anything else but the eternal yellow glow.

As I asked Fireprobe where to move, he unexpectedly started laughing and asked, "Move, Robtee?...he...he..."

"Then what do we do. Just keep standing here like dumb?" I asked annoyed. Obviously Fireprobe realized my annoyance and explained.

"Here, no one moves. I mean people are born at a place and they live there throughout life. Whatever they need, they just summon it." Saying so, he said something strange, probably in their own language and Voila! there suddenly stood before me, a kind of building with doughnut doors.

I entered (actually it came towards me and engulfed me in its doors) excitedly. Then in the flick of a finger, we were seated on chairs and a menu floated towards me. It was like the ground, looked like a fluid but was solid yellow in color, the words floating above it.

Fireprobe read out the menu to me in English. Paper Mache, Paper cloves, paper Ice cream, papyrus paper butter and Papery Bread! yeah, people here ate different flavors of what we call paper on Earth.

Okay....so this much is enough today. To know more....about what I chose and what I ate and my further journey, keep reading my blog for I'll be posting the next part sooner than you know :)

You can read the other stories of my adventures here:

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Children Conquer Hearts of Even All Geeks!

Today, I am presenting an Acrostic Poem about children before you. You can read about acrostic poetry on Poetry For All at The Writing Pages.

Calling out, the mothers exhaust

However, their games are never lost

In the rain or scorching sun

Little kids with their bats run

Doodles of energy and sweet innocence

Rekindling the thirst for knowledge and urge men

Every time you pull their rosy cheeks

Naughty yet sweet, little children, conquer hearts of even all geeks!

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The Revival Of An Old Bond

I rummaged through the wardrobe, sifting my hands between the hoards of dresses scattered in an unearthly manner. Vexed, I started throwing the things on the floor.

That's when Mom entered. She looked at me stupefied and with a look of horror started shouting at me.

"What are you doing? It was only yesterday that after slogging for three hours, I was able to settle your things. And now....ahhhhh" she cried with a voice full of a symphony of anger and confusion.

"Ma", I replied desperately, "It's not here too, and Geetanjali will be here in a few minutes. What do I do?"

"You still after that stupid pen of yours. Don't you have any other job? Why don't you just clean your room and present her with a nice place to stay in?", she asked, annoyed at my naivety and angrily took a stride out of the room.

Nervously exhausted, I sat on the tip of my bed, my hands clutching the sides tightly in fear of falling off. I had to find it, the glowing pen with a Mickey shaped cap.

With a sigh, I went back into reminiscing those old days. Geetanjali, a crooked smile with gaping holes where her teeth had broken, long flowing hair and a lovely yet mystical dark face. The cheekbones jutted out high and the face stood out brilliantly under the sun.

She was thin and agile. We both were the best of friends. We were neighbors who went to the same school and studied in the same class. I've known her ever since I remember.

I was a shy five year old who did not talk to a soul in class except Geetu. She was more than a friend. We were like sisters, there was a strange, unknown, mystical and magical bond between us. An unbreakable bond that was everlasting and unforgettable.

We both wouldn't go to sleep without wishing the other, "Sweet Dreams". The only time I remember myself being angry at her was a sunny day when it unexpectedly started raining and our hearts fluttered with joy. I jumped out splashing in the puddles and enjoying myself as my clothes dripped wet and the rain soaked my hair.

I remember joyfully calling out to Geetu and for the first time, we contradicted. She started shouting at me for being so careless, telling me I'd get sick and I stood there in the rain staring back, surprised. Later, the surprise changed to anger for her not listening to me.

But the next day all went well, as I broke into fits of coughing and sneezing, lying in bed clutching the blanket hard around myself, with a high temperature. Geetu came, and calmly explained that she'd recently read that one would get sick by playing in the rain and that's the reason she'd been calling me back.

The warm faith and confidence in her seemingly deep blue eyes renewed me and filled a new zest and vigor. This incident strengthened me, and Geetu was like an elder sister, always there to help my perplexed soul, the careless and confused girl I am.

The sound of the honking of the car brought me back to my senses. She'd arrived....oh no!! I still didn't have the pen which was our last parting gift, the one that I'd promise never to loose, like all things I had, one that I had promised never to be careless with, unlike myself, one that was indelible with teary eyes as I wished her goodbye. It was my 7th Birthday and Geetu was leaving town, her father had been transferred to someplace else.

I hadn't slept for nights, hadn't eaten a morsel for days and lamented at her loss which seems for eternity. For the loss of a friend, a sister, a soul mate, a guide and a true philosopher.

But now she was back and like the careless self I am, I lost the pen!! As I stood up and looked at my reflection which shimmered with beads of perspiration, I heard the door behind me open....

I turned back.....she screeched....I screeched and then we cried!!

After five years....She's not changed a bit Those lovely flowing tresses and those deep blue eyes! Though she had all teeth now and no missing gaps and looked far more stunning, after hugging and all, we sat down talking.

She looked around the room and smiled, "Still not changed, eh Meghu?, she asked laughing at the mess of clothes on the floor.

I looked down and told her why it was so, after hearing that I was finding the pen, she looked at me stunned. For a moment I was not sure what to expect, the look was of astonishment and confusion, and then, suddenly without a warning, she burst out into a volley of giggles as I stared.

Geetu looked at me and started laughing like crazy, as I stared back equally dazed and vexed at her maddening streak. Had she lost her senses or what?

Without stopping her laughter, she took me to the garden as I tried to struggle out of her firm grip, seemingly afraid to be in the company of a lunatic laughing so madly. She took me to the mango tree we had planted together last summer, which had now grown into a luxuriant tree with a firm bark and loads of green leaves and white mangoes peeping out.

Then she did something much more crazier. She sat on the ground and started digging as I stared at her, my astonishment crossing all bounds. After a few seconds, she handed over to me something she had found, and surprisingly it was a green glow pen with a Mickey cap all bound with a plastic wrap and a note which said..."Geetu sweetie is back!"

It was then that I remembered how she and I had together dug that pen itno the roots of our beloved mango tree with teary eyes as we bid each other farewell, and while going, she had mockingly tried to renew my spirits by joking that, "The day I return....I know you'd be hopelessly searching for the pen and then I'll have to find it out for you, like all other things! I bet you won't remember it's here!" And then she had tucked in that note...

It was at that moment that I looked at her and knew that the note said it correctly...My dear sweetie was really back!! And then we both laughed together...just like those old days..... The Revival Of An Old Bond...

My recent meeting with an old lost friend inspired this story. And as you know, I love hearing your tales too. So please remember to share your joys with me of the time when you met a long lost friend!

Killer Maths

M- Mental

A- Ability

T- To

H- Handle

S-Strenuous Sums

Yea....that's what maths aka mathematics actually stands for. It's a deadly ghost, a hound that troubles me in all my nightmares, which usually consists of ghastly numbers jumping around with me trembling in the center.

It looks as if all these numbers and signs (addition +, Subtraction - etc.) are deadly tribal spirits waiting for the right moment to place their poisonous teeth on me when I create a mistake and kill me with their venom.

It's the toughest thing in life and most difficult. Yes, mathematics is. I just finished my exams, as you people know, and maths was the toughest of all. I did not get a wink of sleep the night before the math exam, ummm.... I should say I was afraid to sleep or I'd have another of those deadly math nightmares.

I do not know why a student needs to do maths. Wake up teachers!!!! This is the 21st century. The technological advancement is so very huge and human life is addicted to technology.

So why in this modern world, with various calculators, high-tech puzzle solvers, net helps and computers does a student need to do maths after all? Can he not survive in this world without it? and with the help of all these gadgets?

I am doing english, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, history.....but why MATHS??? Arrrgghhhh......I can still remember the day when I sat in the exam hall, scribbling away on sheets.....numbers unknown, calculations mistaken....no idea where the mind was, a math bug bit in the center, head screamed.....but I went on scribbling, afraid to close my eyes or faint!!!

I had a sip glasses of water just to satisfy my parched throat, though it was no respite, I'd say it was strength. I cannot tell you how much relief and sense of satisfaction I felt after submitting away my Mathematics paper, giving it all away for the teacher to bear and mark/grade.

And each year it's like this.....I HATE MATHS guys!!! It's a really really terrible nightmare for me. I cannot stand it....argghhhh :X

So anyone there to give me a suitable reason why I need to do maths....after all, there are so many calculators and stuff, why can I not just use them and be glad???

P.S- This post is in fond memory of my brain which died after remembering that tomorrow I'm gonna be shown the math paper. Before dying, it told me to apologize for posting so late and not commenting, all due to some movies I'd to catch up on and books I had to read.

May my brain lie in peace till the killer, mathematics is caught!