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VASANT VALLEYTODAY Excellence In Deed |तमाय कमण 7 APRIL 2020 WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE... 16th,December 2012 Picture this: You just watched a new movie with your male friend. You’re now on your way back home via the bus, and you think you’re safe. Nothing can go wrong, right? You have company, right? You notice that the bus is moving in a direction that is unfamiliar to you. The door shuts. Concerned, your friend objects, angering the other men on the bus. You feel them near you with hunger in their eyes. You’re worried. You don’t know what to do. You see your friend being attacked. You try to fight back but you’re dragged to the back of the bus, visible to no one, and gang-raped. Fear fills your intestines and sickens you to the very core, as the predators grotesquely attack you. You feel as if they are stripping you of your womanhood. You scream for help, but your voice meets the silence of Delhi that night: a Delhi that is unaware of the horrors you’re facing. You and your friend are thrown on the roadside, in the vain hope that you both would succumb to your injuries. Trauma. You’re rushed to the hospital. They say you only have five percent of your intestines left; they tell you that the rod inserted in you caused septic injuries. They say that your chances of surviving are minimal. But you want to fight. You want to describe your assailants, you want justice and you want a change in the rape culture that is rampant in Indian society. You are Nirbhaya. Your story reaches everybody. From the chai-seller to the children in school to the aunties at kitty parties- everyone knows you as ‘Nirbhaya.’ The prevailing narrative in India is that rape is not the rapists’ fault, but rather the victims’– what they were wearing, where they were, the time of night, and who they were accompanied by. Even with these false standards that try to assign blame to the victim, Nirbhaya emerged blameless. She was fully clothed and accompanied by a male friend. She was in Munirka, a part of Delhi even the privileged frequent. This made the affluent Delhiites, who were used to living in their own bubble, sit up and take notice. Nirbhaya was one of them. The outrage sparked by the 2012 rape case brought together people from all walks of life. From celebrities to ragpickers, children to parents, a sense of solidarity united the nation under one cause. On 21st December 2012, people took the streets. They demanded that Nirbhaya be brought to justice and the rapists be penalised for their heinous acts. What was his punishment? Serving life imprisonment. This proves that punishment is implemented depending on how much power you have. If this death sentence was really about justice, shouldn’t Sengar too have been given the death penalty? If these four men had been from powerful families, would they still have been given the death sentence? When Nirbhaya suc- cumbed to her injuries, we were forced to face the ugly truth of rape culture in our society. We realized that something had to be done and that was why thousands of Indians took the streets and took part in candlelight vigils. We wanted change. The death sentence served as a threat to this change. In the past eight years, society has once again regressed into victim blaming. The execution seems like a convenient conclusion, whereby the affluent can sit back on their couches and return to discussing trivial Nirbhaya- the final flicker of a dying flame Perks of Zoom classes ...Page 2 Quaran-time to do things! ...Page 2 Adventure Camps ...Page 3 A typical Zoom call ...Page 5 Quarantine bucket list ...Page 5 Quaran-tunes ... Page 6 What type of person in quarantine are you? ...Page 6 19th March 2020 Of the six men convicted for the Nirbhaya rape, four stood to be executed the next day. One, a juvenile, was released after spending three years in a reform facility. The sixth died during the trial. It was crucial for the four men to be brought to justice. It mattered not only to Nirbhaya’s family and and those close to her, but was also important for the precedence that it set for future rape cases. However, the execution of these men does not solve the issue of rape. It does not address what Nirbhaya, on her death bed, wanted to address. Even when it is seen through an objective lens, the death penalty serves little purpose. Most developed nations have banned it, and with good reason. It does not serve as the sort of deterrent that many think it might serve as: studies show that the death penalty has little to no impact on these sorts of crimes. This situation also indicates another issue in our justice system: the inherent bias towards people in power. Ex-B.J.P M.P Kuldeep Singh Sengar, was convicted in the 2017 Unnao Rape Case– the gang rape of a minor. The rape survivor was then involved in a suspicious car accident in which two of her relatives were killed. Shortly after, the victim’s father was arrested on a bogus charge-he died in judicial custody. Sengar was found guilty not only for rape, but also the conspiracy to murder the father of the rape victim. “Justice does not mean a life for a life; the absence of freedom is the worst that a person can have.” -Ex-judge Kurian Joseph matters. They have managed to achieve ‘Justice for Nirbhaya.’ They can go back to ignor- ing the rapes that happen every day in our country. They can go back to ignoring the fear that women feel when they have to walk on the streets alone at night. We can change that. We can ensure that Nirbhaya isn’t just written off as a rape case that was brought to justice. But for that, we need further dialouge. We need to talk about rape and sexual harassment simply because the number of people that experience it at some point of time in their lives is shocking. We cannot continue to victim blame as if it is second nature to us. More importantly, in order to bring about a change, we need to inculcate sensitivity towards issues, particularly in law enforcement. It is only then that justice will be served to rapists, and it is only then that Nirbhaya’s candle will light our minds. -Ananya Malhotra, Rishnav Thadani, 12 Vasant Valley Today// Page 1

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VASANT VALLEYTODAYExcellence In Deed |शरषठतमाय कममणर

7 APRIL 2020

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE...

16th,December 2012Picture this: You just watched a new movie with your male friend. You’re now on your way back home via the bus, and you think you’re safe. Nothing can go wrong, right? You have company, right? You notice that the bus is moving in a direction that is unfamiliar to you. The door shuts. Concerned, your friend objects, angering the other men on the bus. You feel them near you with hunger in their eyes. You’re worried. You don’t know what to do. You see your friend being attacked. You try to fight back but you’re dragged to the back of the bus, visible to no one, and gang-raped. Fear fills your intestines and sickens you to the very core, as the predators grotesquely attack you. You feel as if they are stripping you of your womanhood. You scream for help, but your voice meets the silence of Delhi that night: a Delhi that is unaware of the horrors you’re facing.

You and your friend are thrown on the roadside, in the vain hope that you both would succumb to your injuries. Trauma. You’re rushed to the hospital. They say you only have five percent of your intestines left; they tell you that the rod inserted in you caused septic injuries. They say that your chances of surviving are minimal. But you want to fight. You want to describe your assailants, you want justice and you want a change in the rape culture

that is rampant in Indian society. You are Nirbhaya. Your story reaches everybody. From the chai-seller to the children in school to the aunties at kitty parties- everyone knows you as ‘Nirbhaya.’ The prevailing narrative in India is that rape is not the rapists’ fault, but rather the victims’– what they were wearing, where they were, the time of night, and who they were accompanied by. Even with these false standards that try to assign blame to the victim, Nirbhaya emerged blameless. She was fully clothed and accompanied by a male friend. She was in Munirka, a part of Delhi even the privileged frequent. This made the affluent Delhiites, who were used to living in their own bubble, sit up and take notice. Nirbhaya was one of them. The outrage sparked by the 2012 rape case brought together people from all walks of life. From celebrities to ragpickers, children to parents, a sense of solidarity united the nation under one cause. On 21st December 2012, people took the streets. They demanded that Nirbhaya be brought to justice and the rapists be penalised for their heinous acts.

What was his punishment? Serving life imprisonment. This proves that punishment is implemented depending on how much power you have. If this death sentence was really about justice, shouldn’t Sengar too have been given the death penalty? If these four men had been from powerful families, would they still have been given the death sentence? When Nirbhaya suc-cumbed to her injuries, we were forced to face the ugly truth of rape culture in our society. We realized that something had to be done and that was why thousands of Indians took the streets and took part in candlelight vigils. We wanted change. The death sentence served as a threat to this change. In the past eight years, society has once again regressed into victim blaming. The execution seems like a convenient conclusion, whereby the affluent can sit back on their couches and return to discussing trivial

Nirbhaya- the final flicker of a dying flame

Perks of Zoom classes ...Page 2Quaran-time to do things! ...Page 2Adventure Camps ...Page 3A typical Zoom call ...Page 5Quarantine bucket list ...Page 5Quaran-tunes ... Page 6What type of person in quarantine are you? ...Page 6

19th March 2020Of the six men convicted for the Nirbhaya rape, four stood to be executed the next day. One, a juvenile, was released after spending three years in a reform facility. The sixth died during the trial. It was crucial for the four men to be brought to justice. It mattered not only to Nirbhaya’s family and and those close to her, but was also important for the precedence that it set for future rape cases. However, the execution of these men does not solve the issue of rape. It does not address what Nirbhaya, on her death bed, wanted to address. Even when it is seen through an objective lens, the death penalty serves little purpose. Most developed nations have banned it, and with good reason. It does not serve as the sort of deterrent that many think it might serve as: studies show that the death penalty has little to no impact on these sorts of crimes. This situation also indicates another issue in our justice system: the inherent bias towards people in power. Ex-B.J.P M.P Kuldeep Singh Sengar, was convicted in the 2017 Unnao Rape Case– the gang rape of a minor. The rape survivor was then involved in a suspicious car accident in which two of her relatives were killed. Shortly after, the victim’s father was arrested on a bogus charge-he died in judicial custody. Sengar was found guilty not only for rape, but also the conspiracy to murder the father of the rape victim.

“Justice does not mean a life for a life; the absence of freedom is the worst that a person can have.” -Ex-judge Kurian Joseph

matters. They have managed to achieve ‘Justice for Nirbhaya.’ They can go back to ignor-ing the rapes that happen every day in our country. They can go back to ignoring the fear that women feel when they have to walk on the streets alone at night.

We can change that. We can ensure that Nirbhaya isn’t just written off as a rape case that was brought to justice. But for that, we need further dialouge. We need to talk about rape and sexual harassment simply because the number of people that experience it at some point of time in their lives is shocking. We cannot continue to victim blame as if it is second nature to us. More importantly, in order to bring about a change, we need to inculcate sensitivity towards issues, particularly in law enforcement. It is only then that justice will be served to rapists, and it is only then that Nirbhaya’s candle will light our minds. -Ananya Malhotra, Rishnav Thadani, 12

Vasant Valley Today// Page 1

Vasant Valley Today// Page 2

QUARAN-time to do things! Call your cousins and other relatives: Catch up with them, see how they’ve been, and get to know all the family gossip!

Try out some recipes in the kitchen: What’s the worst that could happen? Sure, you might cover the kitchen walls in spaghetti sauce, but why worry about the future when you can live in the present?

Start a blog or journal: Publish something that’s been on your mind- let your creative juices flow!

Play (or even make) a board game: Bust out your felt tip pens and a chart paper and make a game! Or just play with your family and watch as everyone ends up hating the Monop-oly winner.

Make a family tree: Sit down with your grandparents and trace your ancestry.

Learn something new: Take up a course on Udemy or Coursera. Try you hand at painting, molecular biology, astronomy and more!

Perks of Having ClassesWhen school decided to implement Zoom classes, everyone was disappoint-ed- instead of having one long holiday, we were being forced to have online classes. However, seeing the familiar faces of all my friends (even if it’s only through a computer screen) is rather refreshing. Although, doing classes on Zoom do have some drawbacks, here are the highlights:

ZOOM

Interview your grandparents via Skype: Test their tech-nology skills and your patience!

Practice shuffling cards like a pro: You never know when it can come in handy to impress someone…

Learn the periodic table song: Now is as good a time as any. Get a few brownie points from the Chemistry department!

Anybody can dance! Dance to Bollywood songs, exer-cise and have some fun!

SLEEP (No explanation required)

Make short movies- Make movies documenting your day. You could even make a video showing how your appearance has changed over the years!

- Gabiya Nayyar and Vira Chhatwal,10

Some interesting ways for you to spend your quarantine!

परकति का पनरजीवन

बरसो सर करतर रहर हम परकतत का तिरतर शोषण

हो गए तिषकरिय मिकय आज सब तो परकतत को तमला अवसर पािर का एक पिजजीवि|

ि भीड और गाडी का शोर,ि कारखािो का धआ हवा भी कहती ह जसर हमारर दोषी तिपर ह कहा

हम बद पडर ह अपिर घर म आजादी सर वषजमत होकर

जसर बद पडर हो तिडडयाघर म बाहर िाि रहर ह बदर

वही परकतत को दरखो बाहर परड-पौधर हो गए सवततर|

कोयल कक रही तिभमय होकर मोर िाि रहर मगि

मषकल सर डदखती थी गौररया अब वह सबह िहिहाकर करती डदि का आवाहि|

वयाकल ह हम जलद घर सर तिकल बाहर लरडकि परकतत मा कहती ह हमसर मझम भी तो जीवि की यही लगि|

-अतिरदध वतस, 9

‘Uniform-ity’Although the school has made it manda-tory to wear uniforms in class, no teacher knows what you’re wearing underneath your hastily buttoned shirt! Personally, I have been attending all my classes in sweat-pants, and if I’m being honest, the comfort of my sweats actually helps me focus.

Staying Out of TroubleDuring normal school days I would get into trouble on a daily basis, but on Zoom I have a perfect track record. Coincidence? I think not. Every time I feel like I might do something to disrupt the class, I just mute my audio to avoid any mishaps.

ControlAnother perk is you can choose who sees you and who doesn’t. Not looking your best today? Still want to come to school so you don’t fall behind? Now all you have to do is attend class with your camera off! (PRO TIP: If a teacher asks you to turn your camera on, just blame it on ‘technical difficulties’-works like a charm).

Expanding Your KnowledgeImagine having a question in class but being too scared to ask it- we’ve all been there. You can just ‘private chat’ the teacher your query! Apart from that, hav-ing access to Google during class can do wonders for in-class discussions.

Time-SavingSince we now attend school in the com-fort of our homes, it saves us from our daily commutes to and from school. You’ll be surprised how much free time you have on your hands. If you manage your time well, you can open up time for all sorts of new activities, I, for one, have taken up Yoga. Bhastrika, anyone?

Always look on the bright side of life! -Aryaman Minocha,12

Illustration by Sara JayaKumar,9

Vasant Valley Today// Page 3

ADVENTURE CAMPS 2020QUARAN-time to do things!

Ranthambore National parkThis year Class 7 went to the famed Ranthambore National park

to enjoy a trip full of laughter and friend-ship. It was an overwhelming mixture of good food, games, and most impor-tantly, wildlife. Half the campers saw a sloth bear roaming amiably through the forest, five feet away from the can-ter. Everyone saw tigers- just look-

ing at them made you want to kneel submissively on the ground. We saw them stride down roads and jump on rocks with terri-fying ferocity. The fort was a huge structure, towering above us. We climbed it slowly and painfully, stopping to explore interest-ing landmarks. Satisfied with our experiences we returned home with that bitter-sweet feeling one always encounters at the end of camp. We reached school and crumpled exhaustedly into our parents’ arms, happy, but sorry to see such a wonderful trip end.- Kaavya Mukherjee Saha, 7

SARISKA and ABHINERIOn the third of March we left for Sariska. We reached school ear-ly in the morning, full of excitement and ready to get going. On reaching the camp-site, we went on a tour to visit a gorgeous palace and lake. The next day, we woke up early, re-energized, and left for a trek, where we observed the chirping sounds and vibrant colours of different birds. In the safari we saw various animals- peacocks, deer, boars. We even heard a loud roar! Soon we left for our sec-ond campsite- Camp Abhaneri. The camp organisers held a meeting where we learnt how traditional bangles were made and even got a man to tie Rajasthani Turbans on all of us! Late at night we had a talent show which was no less than a Broadway musical. In the blink of an eye, our time together was over, and we had to head home. During the bus ride, all we could think about was the mem-ories we had created over the past three days. -Shirin Sultana Shaw, 6

CAMP CHAKRATAAfter a bus journey filled with melodious tunes, triumphant cries

of UNO champions, and many sleepless hours, we finally reached our camp. Nest-ed between the mountains, Chakrata was a dream destination; the freezing weath-er and the high altitude sent shivers down our spine both literally and metaphorically.Our first activity was the village visit. After some interaction, we realized how privi-

leged we actually are. We were also fascinated with their enthusiasm to learn despite all the challenges they faced. We played a series of activities called “helter-skelter”, bonding with each other like never before. “Put in the GASOLINE” became our batch motto! Finally, it was our last and most awaited night at camp: the talent night- one everyone talks about even now. Some of the performances were amazing, and many hidden talents were revealed. Come 6th March, we realized that it was time to bid farewell to this lovely location where we created so many fond memories together. We were never ready to, but it was finally time to say goodbye. We looked ahead, dreading the 13 hour journey back to Delhi, praying this camp could last forever! -Nikasha Manaktala,8

RISHIKESH- CAMP KOUDIYLAAt the crack of dawn- armed with masks, sanitizers and high spirits- we embarked on a journey we’d never forget. We travelled to Haridwar by the Shatabdi train and completed the rest of the journey by bus. We were quite exhausted by the time we reached camp, but were excited for the adventures that lay ahead. The next day, we headed on a downhill trek over a shaky suspension bridge and a pile of precariously balanced rocks. This was followed by the unforgetta-ble experience of bathing under a waterfall and playing on the riverside- a unique and exhilarating memory we will always treasure. After the long and tiring trek, we returned to camp and played some evening games. One of the best features of this camp was the great number of water sports and activities available- we built a raft (actually managing to make it float!), went kayaking and took several dips in the river water. We soon left the campsite- not quite willing to go back home. After a long train journey, where we sang until our voices gave out, we reached school at 2 am. The aching bones, the tired shoulders and worn out eyes were all worth the beautiful sights and new memories. -Daksayani Chandra,10

CAMP WALNUTA dash of adventure, a great amount of fun, a compulsory dose of drama, and most importantly, gallons of friendship and togetherness. We left for Camp Walnut, Bhimtal, at 4:00 am, sleepy yet excited. The train journey was filled with fun, loud conversations and Bluff, and the Jeep ride up the hill more than made up for our fatigue, with the won-derful view of greenery. After a night of good food, laughter, and gossip, we woke up at 6:00 am and began our activities- Mission Impossible, Community Service, Rock Climb-ing and Bouldering, which went on for two days. After another night of whispering and eating leftover tuck, the much awaited Helter Skelter games began. Though we were inconvenienced by the heavy rain and freezing cold, we still had a blast with indoor games. We enjoyed the Talent Show at night, which served as the perfect con-clusion for a wonderful journey. On the last day, we left with tired eyes and heavy hearts, the values of team work, friendship, and empathy now instilled in our hearts along with memories of joy, laughter and adventure. We sincerely thank ‘Inme’ for a wonderfully planned trip and are grateful to the teachers and instructors for tol-erating us! It was truly the experience of a lifetime. -Sumaya Beri , 9

Vasant Valley Today//Page 4

School Camps 2020Innumerable Memories at Jim Corbett: It was the time of the year that everyone had been eagerly waiting for. Full of excitement, I reached school with my duffle bag. Soon we boarded the bus. We stopped for breakfast at a Haveli. After a long eight hour journey we reached a road from where we had to get into jeeps to reach the campsite. Moving along nar-

row roads, we were happy to finally see cottages along cobbled pathways and amongst beautiful gardens. After settling in we went for a trek along the Khichdi River. The next few days were loaded with interesting activities and a lot of walking. From splashing in the waters of the Khichdi River to playing fun games like “Where is my Monkey”, “Dog and the Bone” and “Tug of War”, it was a lot of fun. The greatest thrill at the camp was the safari at Corbett National Park where we saw king cobras, sambar deer, spotted deer, and elephants. Our jeep was the lucky one as we saw two tigers. It felt like we hit the jackpot. On reaching the campsite everybody shook hands and congratulated us. The last evening at the camp there were mind blowing

performances by all the groups. My group performed a play on Star Wars. Next morning, with our luggage and innumerable memories we boarded the bus. Everyone felt the trip ended too soon. Adhiraj Jaswal V-A

Our Stay at Baghaan: The day Class 4 left school for the camp in Baghaan in Garh Mukhteshwar, the air was filled with excitement. We board-ed the bus. Every once in a while, our teachers gave us some snacks. I was thrilled when the bus stopped. Ev-eryone was taken to the central lawn where we were told about our cottag-es. I was not expecting that type of room. It was very clean and the beds were very comfortable. We kept our bags and went back to the cen-tral lawn where the camp instructors told us about the schedules ac-tivities. The first day, we were going to do Burma Bridge. Everyone had a break to prepare something for the bonfire at night. The evening tea time was quite a pleasant surprise for everyone. It was Alisya's birth-day! The teachers had arranged for a cake. It was great fun. The next morning, we went to do zip line followed by candle making which was so amusing. Soon we went to do pottery. The pottery was a little messy but after I saw the final design I had absolutely no regrets. The rain on the next day played a dampener as we missed the village interaction and star gazing. However, the star gazing instructor came over and made a little presentation on constellations and telescopes. The next day was a clear day and we managed to visit the flour factory, a brick kiln and jaggery manufacturing unit. The rainy spells kept us indoors but we were engaged in a drawing competition. The evening ended with a movie on river Ganga and tigers. Next day, we left the campsite after an early lunch at 12 p.m amidst heavy rain. I was so thrilled to meet my mom! Adven-ture camp was a lot of fun this time. Maedhaavi Mahajan Class IV - B

शिववर याता: म बहत उतसाडहत थी, हम सब सकल सर ३ मािम को अपिी तशववर यातरा कर तलए दमदमा लरक जा रहर थर| दो घटर कर बाद हम एक बहत सनदर जगह पहिर| डिर हमिर गरमा-गरम िाता डकया| थोडी दरर बाद हम

सब िर डदलिसप खरल म डहससा तलया| शाम को मररी सहरतलया और म अपिर तमब म घस गए| हमारी खशी और भी बढ गई जब यह पता िला डक हमारी पयारी अधयावपका शीमती जसवाल हमारर साथ ही रहिर वाली थी! अगला डदि बहत मजरदार था, कयोडक हम एक लमबी पदल यातरा पर गए| हम एक गाव सर गजर कर आगर बढ रहर थर| गाव कर तमटटी कर घर दर सर भी िजर आ रहर थर| शाम को हमिर अलग-अलग खरल खरलर, कववताए तलखी और िाटक म भाग तलया| अिािक मसलाधार बाररश होिर लगी, हम जलदी-जलदी अपिर तमब की ओर भागर| रात को तमब म

सोतर समय मझर थोडा दख हो रहा था पर घर जािर की खशी भी हो रही थी| अगलर डदि गरमा - गरम िाता करकर , थोडा खरलिर कर बाद म अचिछी यादो कर साथ सकल कर तलए रवािा हो गई| नयरा कपर िीन-स

Our First Ever Adventure Camp...Finally the most exciting day arrived: 3rd March 2020. We reached school extra early with our heavier than normal back packs. We were greeted by many smiling faces. We waved to all the parents as our bus drove off. Within an hour and half we were close to our camping site “Bulls Camp Pahadi, Damdama”. We were served the most delicious breakfast. Quickly we were divided into our groups. Each group had their own name and logo. Within our groups we played games, painted our flag and also learnt how to pitch a tent with the help of our instructors. By evening we were all very tired and after a quick filling dinner, we were asked to sleep. The beds were really cosy. The next morning brought the real ad-venture, the hike. It was fun to trek by the banks of Damdama lake. In the afternoon we had a difficult yet fun filled treasure hunt. Next, was our own group presentations. From poems to plays and riddles we had dhem all. At night we had a small party amongst our tent mates. We were sleepy but it started to rain, which kept us awake for

some time. The next day was a clear morning and after breakfast, we packed and cleared our tents. Just before lunch, we did a bullock cart ride and an enjoyable obstacle race. We were asked to clean our camp site and “leave no trace”. Back in the bus we reached school by 3pm to be

greeted and hugged by our over anxious parents. I was happy to be home again, but it was GREAT FUN at the camp. Natalia Kapoor III-B

When we reached the campsite at Bull’s Camp Pahadi, I saw many tents with numbers written in front of them. We had breakfast and then everybody got chits with names of animals written on them. We then had to make the sound of the animal we got (I got the pig). Then we got to know which tent we were in. We also had a treasure hunt and an obstacle course. For our snack we had hot choc-olate. We even went for a hike. In the evening we had a talent show in which each group had to present something. The next day we did some activities and went home. I had a really fun time at the adventure camp. Noor Jain III - C

Vasant Valley Today//Page 5

MOVIES TO WATCH-LEGALLY BLONDE (2001)-FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF (1986)-FREEDOM WRITERS (2007)-ANDAZ APNA APNA (1994)-PARASITE (2019)-THREE IDIOTS (2009)-KUNG FU PANDA (2008)

-CONTAGION (2011)-RAAZI (2018)-LITTLE WOMEN (2019)-RUSH HOUR (1998)-GOOD NEWZ (2019)

A typical Zoom call:CAUTION: All of the names being used are fictional and all similarities are purely coincidental.

“Hi, hello. Is everyone here? No? But I told you all to be on time! Ok, we’ll wait for a few minutes.”*Awkward silence*“So…how are you all?”“Good, ma’am.”“How is quarantine going?”“Boring, ma’am.”*Squints at screen*“Where are they?”“Ma’am, they’ve been in the waiting room for the past 20 minutes.”“But my screen says I’ve let everyo-”(Enter sleep deprived students wearing school jackets over their clearly visible pajamas)“Ok, let’s begi- Kriddhant! Why are you in space?”“Ma’am I’m not actually in space ma’am, it’s just a virtual background.”“And, you, Pia, why are you smiling?”“Nothing ma’am- I am paying attention.”“Huh? Then why did you just send me a mes-sage saying ‘I don’t understand anything lol’”“Ma’am galti se bhej diya! Ma’am you’re my favourite teacher!”“Raju! Why is your camera off?”“Ma’am my camera isn’t working”“Really? But it was working in yesterday’s class teacher’s lesson when you were singing ‘Pappu Can’t Dance’...“Uhhh… ma’am but it got scratched after that”“Huh. Quite inconvenient indeed!”30 minutes pass...“Oho, now who is dhinchak dhinchak and why is he on the call? I will remove this person now…”“NO MA’AM! WAIT! I forgot to change my name back! It’s me, Mukesh.”“Mukesh, if your efficiency grades are low this time, don’t come running to me. Now, we only have a few minutes left. Any questions?”“Ma’am, can I go to the bathroom?”“You had a break just before this! Be quiet Nehal!”“So students, I know we don’t have much time left, so homework for today is-” *Call disconnects*

In all seriousness, we greatly appreciate the effort that all of the teachers are putting in for us. Even though we are all missing school and the outside world, seeing them so cheerful every week really lifts our spirits. So, thank you all so much! -Prithvi Oak, Sanaa Sharma, 12

सच च योदा

हमारी दतिया आज अराजकता म ह। करोिावायरस की वजह सर सब अपिी सववधाए और अपिी सरका को अिदरखा करकर अपिर घरो म बद होिर की तशकायत कर रहर ह। वर सतिक और डॉकटरो कर योगदाि को भल जातर ह। सात रोतगयो का परीकण करकर ‘ली वरिली आग’ िर दरखा डक करोिावायरस कि हद तक SARS वायरस की तरह ह।और डॉकटरो को करोिावायरस कर बारर म सििा दरिर कर िार डदि बाद सावमजतिक सरका बयरो िर उनह ‘गलत डटपपणी’ करिर की सजा दर दी। इसकर बवाजत उनहोिर वहाि म कई लोगो की जाि बिाई। कि ही डदि बाद कोरोिोवायरस िर उिकी जाि लर ली। हम कसर कह सकतर ह डक यदध कर मदाि म डॉकटर डकसी सतिक सर कम ह?

ऐसी पररशािी कर समय म फास कर एक तिडकतसक िर िीि सर घर ि लौटकर िीि कर रोतगयो को बिािर की कोतशश करिर का तिणमय तलया। षजि डॉकटरो को कोरोिावायरस का डर हर रात सताता ह, वर परततडदि सरितमत असपतालो म दसरो डक जाि बिािर कर तलए िल पडतर ह| अमरीका म बहत सारर डॉकटर अपिर पररवारजि को एटलाटा म िोडकर, नय यॉकम कर रोतगयो को मदद करिर जा रहर ह। सिातक डकए हए डॉकटर भी कोरोिा कर षखलाफ जग म शातमल हो गए ह| हम सबको डर लगता ह। हम सब इस अतिषचितता सर तिकलिा िाहतर ह। परत हम जब तक इस पररषसथतत म ह, हम अपिर बहादर सतिको और डॉकटरो की सरका कर तलए ‘सोशल डडसटषनसग’ का पालि करिा िाडहए। हम इिकर वबिा करोिावायरस कर षखलाफ इस लडाई को जीत िही सकतर।

डॉकटर तामबररली कर शबदो म, “मझर पता ह डक म भी सरितमत हो सकती ह। म िही जािती डक म अपिर पररवार और पररमी को डिर कब दरखगी, पर मझर पता ह डक म सही काम कर रही ह।” -शायला उपाधयाय, १०

THE CITY OF EMBER Jeanne DuPrauINKHEART Cornelia FunkeNINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR George Orwell

THE PALACE OF ENCHANTMENTS Douglas Hurd, Stephen Lamport

FAHRENHEIT 451 Ray BradburyLOOKING FOR ALASKA John Green

ERAGON Christopher PaoliniTHE OUTSIDERS S.E. Hinton A SEPARATE PEACE John Knowles

Illustration by Sara JayaKumar,9

QUARANTINE BUCKET LIST

TV SHOWS TO BINGE ON(as recommended by teachers)

-PATRIOT ACT WITH HASSAN MINHAJ -ANNE WITH AN E-THE OFFICE-WORLD WAR II IN HD COLOUR-EXPLAINED-F.R.I.E.N.D.S-MODERN FAMILY-DEVLOK WITH DEVDUTT PATNAIK-VIR DAS: FOR INDIA

THE DARK ARTIFICES Cassandra ClareIF I STAY Gayle Forman SIMON VS THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA Becky

AlbertalliTHE FIFTH WAVE Rick YanceySEPTIMUS HEAP Angie Sage TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Harper LeeWITCH AND WIZARD James Patterson, Gabrielle

Charbonnet THE CATCHER IN THE RYE J.D Salinger

BOOKS TO READ

Virtual tours of various museums, Globe theatre performances and Broadway musicals can now

be streamed online for free!

EDITORIAL BOARD

Anivartin Daga, Anirudh Vats, Sumaya Beri, Sara Jayakumar, Tvisha Jerath, Advaita Sehgal, Siddhant

Nagrath, Shyla Upadhyay, Daksayani Chandra, Jehan Vir Singh Bhandal, Katyayani Jha, Tara Jing Gopi-

nath, Arshya Gaur, Anahita Kukreja, Kavyini Garodia, Prakriti Mahajan, Prithvi Oak, Sanaa Sharma, Vedika

Bagla Editor - Reana Soni

Vasant Valley Today//Page 6

QUARAN-TUNES Feel It Still ...Portugal. The ManIf the World Was Ending ...JP Saxe and Julia MichaelsDon’t Start Now ...Dua Lipa All Time Low ...Jon BellionSunday Best ...SurfacesTalking to the Moon ...Bruno MarsMonsta ... Benee Invisible Things ... LauvAfreen Afreen ...Rahat Fateh Khan, Momina Mustehsan Young Like Us ... FransWhat We Had ... SodyDancing with a Stranger ...Sam Smith and NormaniGreyhound ...Calpurnia River ... Bishop BriggsNo Make Up ... Bilal Saeed High Hopes ... Panic! at the discoMemories ... Maroon 5 The Scientist ... Coldplay

What type of person in quarantine are you?

Q1. What is your favourite thing to do all day?A) Clean and organise your room B) Play video-games or board-games C) Stay in bed, like a normal personD) Research and read up on the virus

Q2. What is your first meal of the day?A) Fruits and Cereal B) A decadent breakfast: ham, avocado - the works. C) Lunch (or maybe even dinner)D) Whatever is in the fridge (candy will do)

Q3. What do you miss the most while in quarantine?A) School, surprisingly B) TravellingC) Going to the mall/ Eating out D) Meeting your friends and gossiping.

Q4. What are you streaming on Netflix?A) Sitcoms: The Office, Brooklyn Nine Nine, and Friends B) Dramas: Stranger Things, Riverdale, Sherlock C) Workplace dramas: Suits and Grey’s AnatomyD) Panic Watching: Pandemic, Contagion, World War Z

Q5. If you started a blog right now what would its primary focus be?A) Tutorials on optimising everyday tasks B) Publishing new recipes: Our very own Masterchef India JuniorC) Organisational methods: Marie Kondo, anybody?D) A Portal for people to discuss preventive measures to take in the crisis

Mostly A’s: The Busy Beaver: You have decided to take this time of quarantine to get your affairs in order. From cleaning the house to organising your cupboard, you have a fixed set of tasks. You even take time out to study and work on assignments.

Mostly B’s: The Vivacious Vacationist: You are extreme-ly enthusiastic and eager to make the most of your holidays. From clapping excitedly at 5 PM during the Janata Curfew to playing the notorious Instagram Bingos, you are open to new trends. You like to spend time eating good food and streaming recommended movies.

Mostly C’s: The Laid-Back Loafer: You have been using this time to relax and let loose. Your breakfast is lunch. Snacks and binging are your haven. You enjoy spending your time surfing social media and simply ‘chilling’. You have decided to spend the quarantine in a laid back fashion, something that otherwise becomes difficult in a normally fast-paced life.

Mostly D’s: The Conspiracy Creator: After obtaining a PhD from WhatsApp University, you have become a pro in research-ing about everything ‘Corona’. From being acutely certain about this being China’s biological warfare to analysing Rapunzel’s dis-tancing from the Corona Kingdom, you have acquired expertise in the art of fathoming theories of this zoonotic virus and are the first one to turn pale every time someone coughs.

-Katyayani Jha, 11 Advaita Sehgal,10Send all articles/suggestions to [email protected] Online issue available at www.vasantvalley.org

Silver Linings “Everything happens for a reason. Be thankful for what is, not whine

over what’s not.” After the Board Exams ended, I resorted to my passion: writing. I expressed my deepest feelings in my poems and shared them with my family, and my mother, being ‘extra’, sent them to her friends. Her enthusiasm was a blessing in disguise as it opened a new door for me. I was given the honour to be part of the editorial board of India Today’s online platform called the ‘DailyO’. It was an oppor-tunity extended to me to write daily about the lives of teenagers in quarantine. I was elated!My first article was a juxtaposition of the Board Exams and Coronavirus, which I compared to Leopold and Loebe. It indeed was a double whammy! Link: https://www.dailyo.in/voices/coronavi-rus-covid-19-board-exams-board-exam-pandemic/story/1/32632.html

It’s fair to say that due to the 21-day lockdown, our lives did a 180. We teenagers found ourselves sitting on our couches glued to our gadgets at home rather than taking notes at school. I documented our ‘qua-routines’ in my second article. Link:https://www.dailyo.in/voices/quaran-tine-lockdown-coronavirus-sanitiser/story/1/32641.html

While the situation is unfortunate, we should make the most of it and use this time to rediscover the talents and passions we had put off earlier. -Arshya Gaur, 11