S. No. 380 Regd. No. TN/NLG/8 15th September, 1997 No. of pages: 18
STUDENT EDITORS Samira Mohamed Rahul Bhargava Pallavi M Shikha Poonia Smriti Rana Divya Rao Rohit Varma Akshay Maini Nikhil Mukherjee Kulranjan Singh Aditi Sharma Ashok Raj Siddharth Inamdar Adithya Rao Tushaar Mehra Meenakshi Reddy Anna J Kurien Mohit Sinha
STAFF EDITOR Ms. Rema Vijayan
PUBLISHED BY Mr. Dev Lahiri The Headmaster The Lawrence School
Lovedale - 643 003
Sport has undergone a sea-change over the past decade. The guiding principle in the past, which was essentially the spirit of participation, seems to have been drastically altered. Prize money is now worshipped and a new and corrosive religion of ruthless competition has grown.
Money is an incentive, and should not be raised to the status of a goal. Mercenary participation will continue to mushroom along with the size of the purse the sport carries.
The ethical direction of sportsmanship today, is an extremely debatable topic. The rules of the game are very clear - there are none.
The Indian Cricket team accepting bribes epitomises the trend in this emerging culture. India is a cricket-fanatical country. The disappointment stemming from the discovery of bribery in the sport was devastating. Disillusionment prevailed when fans found out that all their frenetical support was vested with a team that rigged losses for a fatter bank balance.
The stabbing of Monica Seles over three years ago remains an enigma. No one can really be sure as to whether the miscreant was just a crazed admirer of Steffi Graff or a hired hand. Elimination of competition seems to have taken an added dimension. The answer does not lie in retiring a close rival to a hospital bed. The entire ethos of sport suggests otherwise. Quite simply, the solution lies in the use-worn cliché - 'Don't get mad, get even'.
Mike Tyson's shameful ear-biting incident sent ripples of disgust travelling throughout the world, leave alone the boxing community. Over a million people denounced their idol - a man who was once the World Heavy Weight Champion and considered one of the finest boxers of all time. In his exhibition match Vs Evander Hollyfield, even this folk-hero type personality succumbed to frustration and committed one of the most disgraceful fouls in the history of the game by, literally, tearing off his opponent's ear with his teeth. He later made a public apology on national television that did not even come close to being lame, leave alone justify his gross misdemeanour against Hollyfield in the ring.
Corruption, selfishness and a lack of grace are all living breathing
cells giving life to the organism of bad sportsmanship. The challenge lies
in minimising the effect of this plague on something as pure and innocent
as physical excellence, by simply encouraging thrill for thrill's sake.
The idea is to play hard, play it cool and most importantly, play fair.
In celebration of the 50th year of our country's Independence, the whole school marched from the main building to top-flats, where the National Flag was hoisted. The next day there was a variety entertainment programme which comprised a patriotic song and a dance based on National Integration, followed by an Inter - School Debate on the topic -'But for the British, India would not have been a nation'.
The Brass band, Girls band, and the Samman Guard took part in the Independence Day parade, along with the other schools in the Nilgiris. The whole parade was well received by the Ooty public, who cheered us all the way, from the Ooty Race Course to the Botanical Gardens.
The school is sending a delegation of five to the International Round Square Conference at Westfield, UK. The delegates are Arjun Rao, Antony Thomas, Parvathi Tampi, Neha Shukla and Aditi Sharma. The teacher accompanying them is Ms. Shanta Mathai. We wish them all the best and hope that they will be good ambassadors of the school and country.
The school received a pleasant surprise on the 4th morning, while filing in for assembly-Instrumental Indian music playing on our Large Hall sound system. It gave an added air of solemnity to the sacred twenty minutes and was well received by everyone. It seems to be a perfectly fitting way to start the day.
A group of seven biology students went on an educational field trip to Top Slip with Mr. V. Alphonse on the 5th of September. The group wishes to express their grateful thanks for the warm hospitality shown by Mr. Uday Kumar.
The Prep School put up a show in honour of the teachers, on the 5th of September. Sharon of class IV delighted the crowd with a Kerala folk dance. The grand finale was a play titled "Full of Eastern Promise", which sent the audience into hysterics with its antics and witty word play.
The Rotary Club of Ootacamund inducted the Interact Clubs' new office
bearers, on the 7th of September, at the YWCA. The new office bearers are
:-
President - Arvind Shashidhar
Vice President - Shalini Mathew
Secretary - Prashant Dhariwal
Treasurer - Adithya Rao
The 6th of September marked a truly historical day in school. We celebrated the original Founder's Day with the OLs from all over the globe. Most of them were from the U. K. chapter. The next issue will focus on the events of the day.
A group of seven class XII psychology students made a trip to the Mercy
Home, Ooty. It was a real eye opener to see autistic children, cripples
and the elderly fending for themselves with such vigour and independence.
To take a leaf from their books would do each and everyone of us a world
of good.
I.K Rohit Headboy Aravalli
Tom C Mathew Vice-Headboy Sumeru
Vigita Ningobam Headgirl
Yesha Bonsle Vice-Headgirl
Anamalai Prefect Aravalli S
hiva Prasad Prefect Aravalli
Meyyappan Hari G.M Aravalli
Bopanna M.G Prefect Nilgiri
Varun Devraj Prefect Nilgiri
Amar Chandra Mohan Prefect Nilgiri
Mohit Dhariwal G.M Nilgiri
Balesh B G.M Nilgiri
Shankar K Prefect Nilgiri
Kail.K Prefect Sumeru
Arjun Shekar Prefect Sumeru
Arjun A.V Prefect Sumeru
Tourab E Parvesh G.M Sumeru
Pradeep Omen G.M Sumeru
Manoj V G.M Sumeru
Mathew George G.M Sumeru
Krishnan K Prefect Vindhya
Joseph Louis Prefect Vindhya
John Koshy GM Vindhya
Zane Salim GM Vindhya
Shalini Maddirala Prefect
Ponrathi G.N Prefect
Mehnaz T GM
Ms.A.Veena has joined our computer department. Mr.Raji Philip has joined as the new Physical instructor. Mr.K.Tava Mani is our new physics teacher. We wish them a long and productive stay with us.
Mr Nilendu Deb has taken charge as the Senior School Aravalli Housemaster.
Mr E. Girish has taken over as the housemaster for Vindhya House (JS).
In connection with the 50th year of Independence, a few Junior School boys performed a street play in a hamlet, Achanakal, about four kilometres from Lovedale. The street play was written by Mr. Rajasekharan, Physics teacher. The theme of the play was ' The Achievements of 50 years of Independence'. Twenty children participated in the play. Achanakal celebrates Independence Day every year. This year the village celebrated the day in a special manner by honouring the freedom fighters. The Lawrence School street play group was invited to perform. The group accompanied by Mr. M. J. Subban and Mr. Rajasekharan performed the play in front of a large gathering who appreciated the performance. This is the first of its kind and the school has decided to train the children for another street play to propagate 'Anti - Alcoholism' and ' The Danger of Drugs.'
The Lawrence Family Helper Project has been so far rendering service to children in their education, health and community service. The project has been recently affiliated to Help Age India, which funds old age care. 'Adopt-a-Granny' scheme was inaugurated by the Deptuy Director of Help Age India, Chennai- Mrs. Indirani Rajadorai on the 10th July, 97. The Headmaster, Mr. Dev Lahiri distributed the Identity cards and rice to 50 old people. Mr. M. J. Subban, teacher in charge of the project organised the function.
The Lawrence School children were involved in the service programme
of 'Adopt a Granny Scheme. Class XI children distributed monthly rations
and blankets to 50 beneficiaries on the 10th of August and conducted a
survey and visited homes on 30th August. Class XI boys and girls numbering
17, covered five hamlets and met the elderly people, who are being sponsored
by the project.
The last month provided a feast of sporting activities. The school has excelled itself in all the tournaments.
THE INDEPENDENCE CUP
The school hosted an open football tournament, to commemorate fifty years
of Indian Independence. Funds for the event were received, from the Ministry
for Human Resource and Development.
Seventeen teams from all over the district participated. Our school sent in four teams-Staff, Students, Sub-staff and Lawrence Recreation Club.
The Lawrence Recreation Club won the trophy after triumphing over the 'Golden Harvest' team in the finals. Their co-ordination was virtually flawless and team spirit ran high. It was a truly exciting, tension-filled game from start to finish, featuring a wealth of well-executed plays. The students team, captained by Shanker Subbiah, reached the quarter-finals where they lost to the 'Classic Club' in a tough match. They fought with grit and determination in true 'Never give in' spirit.
What was most evident was the good sportsmanship and exemplary behaviour of our teams against varying degrees of provocation. Gentlemen, we salute you.
All in all, the tournament was very successful and will become an annual event. We hope that participation will increase next year and we can help take soccer in the Nilgiris to greater heights.
INTER SCHOOL FOOTBALL
The Inter-School Football matches were hosted by St. Joseph's School ,Coonoor
from the 21st to the 23rd of August.
The under 19 team displayed tremendous skill, breezing through the first round against the Brindavan Public School, 6-0. The second round against Hebron was a tougher fight, but they emerged victorious with a score of 1-0. However, their luck ran out in the finals where they were defeated by the host school. Nevertheless, kudos to them for a tremendous fight.
TABLE TENNIS
At the Inter-School Table Tennis matches held at the Brindavan Public School,
we once again came away with most of the trophies:-
The Super Senior Girls team consisting of Radhika Nagu and Kripa Koshy and the Inters team of Anantica Harisingh and Radhika Bhalla were runners up in their respective divisions.
The junior team - Anushka Shimonker and Celina Stephen won the trophy, beating Stanes Higher Secondary School.
Sarah Zaki and Samira Mohamed won the overall trophy in the Senior division, beating St.Hildas, Laidlaw Memorial and finally, Good Shepherd Public School.
Faiz Rashid , Vidur Raj Bali and Musarat Sait reached the semi-finals in the Super Senior Boys.
Shahved Katoch and Mahesh S. were runners-up after giving the Stanes boys a run for their money.
The Junior team comprising Hoshang Garada and Ashwin S. were winners. The final was an intense match against Stanes School.
CHESS
Neha Shukla won the first prize in the Inter School chess tournament conducted
at The Hindustan Photo Films auditorium. She has been selected to represent
the district at the state level, along with two other representatives from
Breeks School and Laidlaw Memorial School.
BADMINTON
In the Niligiris district badminton Championship held in The Anna Stadium
, Ooty, on the 23rd and 24th of August, The Lawrence School made a clean
sweep of all the prizes. The results are as follows:
1. Mini Boys winner (Under -13) Mathai George 2. Mini Girls winner (Under - 13) Shobita Thomas 3. Sub Junior Boys singles (Under 16) winner Tirthankar Singh 4. Sub Junior Boys doubles (Under 16) winners Tirthankar Singh and Thilak Yathiraj 5. Junior Boys doubles winners (Under 19) Shrimoy Agarwala and Musarat Sait 6. Men's double winners Mr.Nedumaran and Mr. Senthilkumar
Many of our boys were placed second
1. Junior Boys Doubles runners-up Manish Narain and Thilak Yathiraj
2. Junior Boys singles runner -up Shrimoy Agarwala
3. Singles runner-up (under 13) I.K. Ponappa
4. Sub Junior Boys doubles runners-up Shantanu Saharia and Mathai George
5. Sub Junior Boys singles runner-up Shantanu Saharia
6. Women's singles runner-up M. Pallavi
7. Sub Junior Girls singles runner-up Shabri Bali
8. Junior Girls singles runner-up Shobita Thomas
9. Mini Girls singles runner-up Celina Stephen
10. Mix doubles runners- up S. Nedumaran and Mr. Senthilkumar
The following boys' potential in the game was recognised:- Shrimoy Agarwala,
Shantanu Saharia Pallavi M and Shobita Thomas District selection for Men's
team S. Nedumaran, Shrimoy Agarwala District selection for Women's team
Pallavi M
Dear Thiru Dev Lahiri,
Though belated, I hasten to congratulate you, your staff and students for the excellent performance in the Golden Jubilee Independence Day Celebrations, held on 15.08.97, at Ooty. The participation of city school children by way of the disciplined, smart and colourful march past through the town, followed by a display of variety entertainment was the talk of our town on that day. All the entertainment was thought provoking and created an awareness of National Integration amongst the audience.
In fine, I would like to place on record, my spontaneous and wholehearted appreciation for the performance on that day.
Please convey my hearty congratulations to all concerned.
Yours sincerely,
P.Sonai, I.A.S Collector of the Nilgiris, Udhagamandalam
Respected colleagues, Lawrencians and indeed all members of the Lovedale community who have gathered here today - we are all assembled, as you know, to commemorate a unique historical event, and as such, we should consider ourselves extremely privileged.
50 years of Independence - what does it mean to each one of us? Is it only a question of "media-hype" - a series of glossies and television programmes? Is it only parades and lavish parties and "get togethers"? Is it only a question of standing here today on Top Flats and singing the National Anthem - and then forgetting all about it within the next 5 minutes? Or is there any more to it? What does 50 years of Independence mean to me as an individual? Does it make me look back and take stock - does it make me look forward and make new pledges? These are questions that only each individual can answer for himself of herself.
Much has happened in India over the last 50 years, some of it good, some bad and some even downright ugly. On the one hand we have made tremendous progress in Science, technology, engineering, management; on the other, the gross decay in our political and moral fibre cannot be denied and has indeed made us the laughing stock of the world. The other day, I read in the papers that Sri Lanka has won a silver medal in the world Athletic Games at Athens, an event more hotly contested than the Olympics. Sri Lanka is a country smaller than Tamil Nadu and ravaged by war. And here we are, a country of over nine hundred million people, starting from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari, and what do we have to show for it?
But does that mean that we give up? I must confess that I am deeply distressed by the growing trend amongst Lawrencians to go off to the U.S.A - and a vast majority of them never come back. Is this what the school was created for? We enjoy the privilege of being a microscopic minority that attends an institution such as this. Surely we owe more to the country than just reaping the benefits of this education and then pushing off to the U.S.A in pursuit of the seductive dollar?
May I suggest, in all humility, that for those who feel that there is more to life than making money, India is the place to be. The other day, I was pleasantly surprised to meet a young man who had qualified with an M.B.A from the U.S.A, and was doing social work in Gujarat. When I asked him as to why he had chosen to return when he had it "all made" in the U.S.A, he replied, "Sir, everything that was to be done has been done in the west. There is nothing left to do there. The west is so bored that they have to resort to bungee jumping!".
The truth is that, even today, in spite of all our faults, those who want to do something worthwhile with their lives, can do it in India. Of course there are problems, some seemingly insurmountable - but then remind yourselves of what the American Marines say, "Winners never quit and quitters never win". Are we going to be a generation of quitters?
It was, I think, Leon Trotsky, the great Russian revolutionary, who once said that, "They only die who do not take root in others". Let us all assembled here today, take a pledge, that we will never die. We will continue to live on in the lives of the generations to come, through the good that we do today. Are we, therefore saying that we should have nothing to do with the west? That we should bury our heads in the sand like the proverbial ostrich, and deny whatever is happening around us? No, certainly not. It is imperative for our existence that we recognise the fact of global dependence, and place our Nationalism in that context. Gandhiji, who today many of us find fashionable to scoff at and label as "backward looking", realised the need for a global outlook long before today's advocates of the "global village" He said, "my idea of Nationalism, is that my country may die, so that the human race may live. There is no room for race hatred here. Let that be our Nationalism". And again, "I do want to think in terms of the whole world. My patriotism includes the good of mankind in general. Isolated independence is not the goal of the world states. It is voluntary interdependence."
What then, are we to look forward to in the next 50 years? To me, that is the crux of the matter. This historic day must be the foundation for a glorious future - a future towards which all of us make a contribution. Of course, this future can only be based on much of our past. Jawaharlal Nehru perhaps summed it up best when he said, "India must break with much of her past and not allow it to dominate the present.... All that is dead and has served its purpose must go. But that does not mean a break with, or a forgetting of, the critical and life-giving in that past. We can never forget the ideals that have moved our race, the dreams of the Indian people through the ages, the wisdom of the ancients, their love of truth, beauty and freedom, their toleration of other ways. If India forgets them she will no longer remain India. It is not this we have to break with, but with all the dust and dirt of ages that have covered her up and hidden her inner beauty, significance and that have twisted and petrified her spirit. We have to cut away this excrescence and remember afresh the core of that ancient wisdom and adopt it to our present circumstances. Old as we are, with memories stretching back to the early dawns of human history, we have to grow young again, in tune with our present time, with the irrepressible spirit and joy of youth in the present and its faith in the future".
And that, I feel, is the essence of the pledge that we have to take
today - To combine India's age and wisdom with the exuberance of youth
and to take the Nation forward, in every sense of the word, into the new
millennium.
Mr. Arulmani and his wife, Sonali, represent the Consultant Psychologists Group as well as the Promise Foundation in Lawrence School. They offer their services to students and their caretakers, who may be parents, teachers or guardians.
Q: How many schools do you keep in touch with ?
A: We work with about 45 schools in Bangalore, Goa and the Nilgiris and
even in Italy and Switzerland.
Q: What kind of services do you provide?
A: We have twenty different programmes. Among them are study skills, career
guidance, counselling and leadership programs. We also have perseverance
and mind training programs for sports students. All these are conducted
in schools and colleges.
Q: At what level do you start your study skills workshop ?
A: We start these right in the first standard. Of course, we have different
programmes for them, such as reading, spelling, handwriting, etc. There
are different programmes for different age groups.
Q: How did you come up with a grading for our aptitude tests ? Is it
just our reactions to various situations.?
A: People who have a talent for that particular subject respond to certain
situations in certain ways. Your response is compared to people who are
known to have an ability in that particular field. After that, your scores
are compared to other students of your age.
Q: How many students do you work with on an average ?
A: We meet more than 8000 students per year. We meet a whole range of students,
especially from slums and villages. Fifty percent of the students we meet
are underprivileged. They are usually street children or children of construction
workers. We get their basics sorted out and then encourage them to join
school.
Q: What is done with the data and the aptitude test results ?
A: Once we have all that data, we sit with each person and discuss their
aptitudes, likes and dislikes. This is the time when the student can find
out whether his/her likes coincide with their his/her aptitudes. At the
class X level, we also tell them what subject combinations they should
follow in class IX. At the class XII level we discuss careers, job opportunities,
entrance exams and eligibility to different colleges.
Q: What is your success rate ?
A: We have a success rate of ninety percent, which means that ninety percent
of our calculations have proved accurate , if followed. When students follow
our advice, chances are that they will be successful in their chosen careers.
When they have an aptitude for the subject, they will be able to do well
in it with less effort.
A father is a man who expects his children to be as
good as he meant to be.
To commemorate 50 years of Indian Independence, the Lawrence School hosted a debate in which 13 schools took part-Kodaikanal International School, Laidlaw Memorial, Good Shepherd Public School, Hebron, St.Hildas Girls School, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Stanes, Kotagiri Public School and Lawrence School, Lovedale to name a few. The topic was, 'If not for the British, India would not have been a nation'. Each team had two members, one who spoke for the motion and the other against.
A humorous point of view put forward by the Good Shepherd School, during their rebuttal was the 'little known' fact that Mahmud of Ghazni came to India seventeen times, only because, "Indians are very hospitable people!", much to the amusement of the audience.
The Kendriya Vidyalaya team was extremely daring and were the only pair to rebut each other.
Another aspect of the debate, was that it showed not only how the contestants delivered prepared speeches but also how they reacted during the rebuttal. People who were calm and composed while delivering their speeches, often lost their poise under the pressure of rebuttal.
When the debate ended, the teachers seemed bent on prolonging the tension for as long as possible, by delaying the results, causing a lot of nail biting and nervous fidgeting, amongst the contestants.
The results were as follows: Good Shepherd Public School First Lawrence School Second Kendriya Vidyalaya Third
The Good Shepherd participants debated passionately, but our Head Boy Anirudha Gopalakrishnan ran away with the 'best speaker' award, for his excellent delivery. This did nothing to dampen the winners' excitement as they enthusiastically "high - fived" each other on stage.
Kudos to all the participants for a thought provoking debate.
Q: What role do you think Public Schools like ours play in helping to
improve the standard of sport in our country?
A: I think we play a very important role. A Public School like ours gives
as much importance to sports as to studies. Most public schools are giving
a great deal of importance to sport so as to create an awareness about
the importance of excellence in sport.
Q: How did the idea to host the Independence cup evolve?
A: We wanted to raise an awareness about 50 years of independence . We
wanted to involve the non-school going community who couldn't take part
in literary activities such as debates.
We also hope that this will raise the standard of sport in our country. We keep blaming the government for our lack of success in sports. But if we are to do well, sports will have to become a "people's movement." It will have to start at grassroots level and people will have to take the initiative. This is what we are trying to convey through hosting these tournaments. I also believe that sport has much to do with National morale. No one is disappointed if an Indian artist does not win in an international art competition. Most people don't even know about it. However when India does lose a one day Cricket match the whole country is in mourning. After all, Olympics are held for sport, not for art or music.
Q: How many more tournaments will we be hosting?
A: There will be two Basketball tournaments. One is the Divia Bidappa Cup
in memory of one of our late head girls. This will be only for the girls.
For the boys there will be a cup donated by an OL - Mr. Anand Rangaswamy.
Q: Do you plan to make this a yearly feature?
A: Yes, especially since both football and basketball are very popular
sports in the Nilgiris.
Q: How do you plan to raise funds for these various tournaments?
A: Well we depend on well wishers. The Divia Bidappa cup has its own funds
raised by Divia's batch mates. Mr. Rangaswamy has created his own fund.
And we are also trying to raise money for the Soccer tournament.
This month, we introduce you to probably, one of the most wanted men in Girls School. He can walk in and out of Girls School as he pleases! And what's more that is his job. To go where only the bravest of men dare. Do we see a whole new career option unfolding for you boys out there ?!
Well, Narayanan has been working in the school for the past 22 years. He was in the Engineering Department for 15 years and then shifted to the red haven, also known as the Girls School, where he has served for the last seven years.
In these seven years, he has started his day at 6: 30 AM, (so all you athletes- he understands what you go through every morning !) and makes umpteen trips between Senior School and Girls School, collecting notices, parcels and general mail from the office. Narayanan is so much in demand for one simple reason, that he is the messenger of joy, that carrier of hope, the deliverer of our messages to our homes and the outside world- It is basically he gives out the letters.
In the evening, he sweats it out in the boiler room, ensuring that we have enough hot water for our much needed bath.
Narayanan lives with his wife and two daughters, in a small settlement at Grass Pitch, where he returns at 8: 00 PM every night.
"Narayanan, have I got a letter?" "Narayanan, turn the second boiler on!" "Narayanan, please post this for me" "Narayanan, there is no hot water !" Narayanan ,Narayanan, Narayanan! It just never ends.
For being one of the most efficient and popular people, in and around
Girls School, we would like to thank you Narayanan, for going out of your
way and making our stay here so much more comfortable!
The day was gloomy, cold and wet.
The most horrible kind of day you'd ever get
I counted the chimes of the alarm clock,
and assured myself it was around four o'clock.
The prefect shook me up to say,
"Get up you lazy bones, I pray.
Its time to have the usual fun,
and proceed for our `little' cross country run".
For her it was totally dedicated play,
but for me, it was utter dismay.
Then off I went, trudging through the night,
when I saw the most amazing sight.
At first I thought it was untrue,
it was a mixture of purple and blue.
The clouds were parting in the sky,
and the sun was slowly rising high.
It held me stunned and captivated
I cannot say how long I waited.
But suddenly I realised it had been too long,
when I saw a fast approaching throng.
I continued my cross country run,
and concluded it had been lots of fun.
I can't say I love the sweat and toil,
and the slopes that make my blood boil.
But when I see the sun set sail,
I feel it was almost worth the pain.
Xan Chacko Class IX
Though Rajiv Khandke won the title, it was upcoming cueist Rustom Bharucha who stole the day's thunder in the handicap Single Frame Snooker Championship of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) houses held on Sunday.
The 17- year- old stole the hearts of a packed audience with his excellent potting before going down to seasoned campaigner Khandke, 105-40 in the final.
Some of the youngest players like 12 year old Hatim Ghadyali, former winning along with 15- year- old Zubin Bharucha and the three cueists of the fairer sex, Nina Sethna, Natalie Motado and Manjari Kakatkar, not only acquitted themselves creditably, but added extra charm to the championship.
Special prizes were given to the brother duo of Rustom and Zubin and
Mazhar Therbhoy as a token of encouragement.
"Where are the pants I left here a minute back?" "Where is the food?" "Oh, my God! Some one left the geyser on" "Naughty dog. Leave my pants alone." "The geyser will burst unless someone puts it off" "My stomach is growling. Where is the food?" This is an almost typical day in the household. Almost the only difference was this time we were off on a holiday, to an exotic beach resort on the outskirts of Madras.
"Why don't you put the geyser off?" "I'm too scared it will burst on my face." "This dog is going to destroy my pants." "Silly boy! The food is in the microwave." "Come on, doggie. Give me my pants." This ensues in a tug-of-war between father and dog. And dog emerges victorious, with a piece of the fabric between his teeth. There is a roar of anger followed by a loud "Thud" and a yelp. My father comes, back, clutching his pants (what's left of it) in his hands. Looking slightly lost and very angry, he asks my mother, "Now what do I do?"
Finally, my mother restores calm and order in the household - first she switches off the geyser (which is about to burst), then she fetches my father a pair of colourful bermudas (which my dad had buried in his closet ages back. After all, out of sight is out mind.) and soothes him by saying ," This is just what is needed for this occasion."
Finally, everything is ready and all of us have been hustled into the car, when we discover that our huge surfboard won't fit in. We all get out and are thinking about a solution for this problem, when my brother comes up with a brilliant idea. "Why don't we leave Anandita behind? After all, she is big and so is the surfboard. So, if she gets out, then perhaps the surfboard would ............. ow!"
"That wasn't necessary, Anandita, was it?" My mother says reproachfully.
In the meantime, my dad has solved the problem. The surfboard will go on top of our car. So, up it goes and we tie it up as securely as possible.
Then we set off with our brilliant blue, huge surfboard, bobbing along on the top of the car, threatening to fall at any moment.
Soon, I slip into deep slumber. I wake up sometime later, hot and bothered, to find the car stuck in the middle of a desert road. Now I'm worried "What's up?" "I don't think I've brought the water." "So, what's that got to do with us stuck in the middle of nowhere?" "Well your brother is thirsty" "Oh so you think being stuck in the middle of this road, when the temperature is so high that the tar on the road seems to be melting will help us out. I see. That's an interesting solution." "You always seems to exaggerate things a trifle bit, don't you?" "Now don't you both gang up on me ! Otherwise, I'll..." "Well would you look at that" We all turn to look at what she's pointing to, and see the source of our entire problem, curled up on one end of the car, fast asleep, with the dog in his arms.
There is a collective sign of admiration for an individual who can go to sleep while everyone else is fighting his cause. "At least now I can drive in peace without having to hear "I WANT WATER" every half hour. Now you see why we stopped?", Says my father.
I was about to retort hotly, when my mother said, "Relax, my dear. Why don't you get some sleep while you can?"
I acted on her advice, to be woken up, just as we entered the driveway
of the resort. Later, lying on my back on the sand ,listening to the breakers,
I thought to myself, "Well it wasn't that bad, was it?"
Anandita Philipose Class X
Don't tell the world what you can do. Just do it.
Conscious of the hand that pleadingly beckoned, the man stopped his steed. On the wet grass lay a mass of bundled sack.
"Help me" said the dark shapeless blur, "Help me sir.... please. My body is crushed ice, and my ears and head pound to a tribal rhythm".
"Who are you?' ,inquired the path weary traveller "I am the stone," replied the young voice, "and the steel, girdles and wood".
The wayfarer, puzzled, asked "how may that be? You are but a blue child lying by the road." The child smiled. Smiled and pulled the rag tighter around his wiry frame.
"Take my hand" said he, the old man with the young boy face. The traveller shied. The hoarse whisper came again. The man, hypnotised, complied.
Two hands met. One, damp grass and the other, warm mane The child smiled again. "We have done it" said he.
"Done what?" Asked the bewildered man, not knowing what due he had received, but curious nonetheless.
"You are the cement and I am the rest. When hand met hand, skin on skin, the most beautiful bridge was made."
Dim glow challenges darkness. The traveller picked up the bundle and
rode again, into the black fist of night.
Samira Mohamed Class XII
On November 16th, 1996, a Mars bound Russian probe blasted off on a 60 million mile trek. Its mission - to find out more about the red planet and look for signs of life. It ended up in the Pacific Ocean.
On July 4th, 1997, as Americans celebrated the birth of a nation, another historic event took place - the landing on the planet Mars by the Mars Pathfinder. The next day, NASA scientists prepared to send off the pathfinder's tiny rover on a historic mission - To roam the desolate, rock-strewn surface of Mars.
A nimble, high-tech, six wheeled machine the size of a microwave oven, weighing about as much as a chubby toddler, was set to roll into history, millions of miles from home. The mobile rover from earth was named Sojourner, and arrived on the surface of Mars after being taken there by the Mars pathfinder. The solar powered rover took 4 minutes to roll down the ramp and onto the surface. It met Barnacle Bill - the first rock it came upon and scanned it with its alpha proton X-ray spectrometer, and later scanned Yogi - the second rock. The chemical analysis of the rocks have not yet been released by NASA. The camera on the lander, costing 6 million dollars, is taking pictures from the same vantage point as that of an adult human.
On July 8th, 1997, scientists got, what they say, is photographic proof that there were once enormous floods on the red planet. "A comparable flood on earth would be one that filled the Mediterranean basin", said Michael Malin, one of the 70 pathfinder scientists. They speculated that the flooding was hundreds of miles wide, moved at a rate of about 35 million cubic feet and occurred 1 billion to 3 billion years ago.
During the next decade, the red planet will be the solar systems most
popular travel destination. Pathfinder and Mars Global surveyor, are the
first of nearly a dozen Martian adventures now being planned by three countries
- The United States of America, Russia and Japan.
Antony Thomas Class XI
" Splat !" the infamous sound that always seems to cause a shudder, but once realised only disgust. Screams and shrieks followed by "Run !" or "Oh ! move your desk. " Too late, the invincible pigeons emerge victorious again. This is just the start of a typical day in the life of most Lawrencians.
The unbeatable pigeons never seem to be satisfied, eventually following us for tea and emphasising on our school motto 'Never Give In'. These devious creatures always seem to hit their target, the latter being the raven tresses of the distressed damsels.
Back in class, our knights in shining armour (our class guys) try in vain to shoo away the ignorant creatures. Not succeeding, they resort to more violent tactics.
The pigeons finally bored by all the unwanted attention, exit gracefully, leaving their marks of authority on our attire.
Peace is restored once again in the classrooms of Lawrence until...
Ananya Saha Class X Sitara Sriram Class X
Today we talk about secularism.
Today we talk about peace.
Today we talk about all the good things,
that our world will finally come to be.
"We are Hindus ",say one group, "
And that we are proud to be.
We worship our Lord Rama, and Krishna,
the greatest of Gods is he."
"We are Muslim" ,say the other group,
"And that we are proud to be.
Our great Almighty Allah,
we pledge ourselves to thee."
"We are the mighty Christians,
And that we are proud to be.
Our lord our saviour Jesus,
we beseech ourselves to thee."
Though everyone says they are secular,
though everyone says they believe,
In one Almighty power,
But their religion is what they first see.
Why are there differences?
Why is there prejudice in this world?
Why are people black or people white?
Why are people ever ready to fight?
Instead why can't there be peace?
Why can't there be care?
Why can't racialism be wiped out,
as if it were never there?
Why can't civil wars be stopped,
and all walls of hatred broken down?
Why can't people open up their minds,
and see what the world is going through?
Why can't people see the bloodshed,
that is vanquishing humanity in two?
So today we talk about secularism,.
today we talk about peace.
Today we talk about all the good things,
that this world will finally come to be.
But is there a better tomorrow for us?
For that we will have to wait and see.
Aliya Rashid Class IX
There are three stages in life;
You have to take a nap but you don't want to;
You want to take a nap but you don't have the time;
And you want to take a nap, you do have the time, but
you can't fall asleep !
"There hasn't been any male senior mistress in Girls' School as yet."- Mukti is a trivia buff incarnate.
"That bird looks like an aeroplane with wings."- Manish, a little confused with superman!
"Did you get your blazer made?" "No, I got it stitched."- Little things make a big difference to Vijay!
"I brush my teeth to prevent diabetes."- Tarun also combs his hair to prevent ulcers.
"Oh! She's putting on her eyes"- Fariha explains the complex technology behind contact lenses!
"I've got lapped chips."- Potato chips, tapioca chips, banana chips... but lapped chips ? Anushka's chapped lips got her into more trouble than she thought!
"The whistle just rang"- And according to Manish, the bell just blew.
"We are having gym in the basketball."- Shalu... It's a small world after all!
"Are you going ? Have you gone?"- Confusion grips Divvu like a claw!
"They are playing catch and cook!"- Beware Vidur! He's armed and dangerous, and it looks like he's pretty hungry too!
"Who's the Prime Minister of Tamil Nadu ?"- Kripa reflects the desperate need to read more newspapers!
"I can smell the candlelight."- Strange things happen to Bala when the lights go out!
"What are you chewing the water for ?"- Satya explains that chewing thirty- two times does not apply to everything.
"I want the first cup of mug."- Rathi doesn't want much from life, although she certainly knows what she does want!
"Life is full of Barfis."- Buggy's philosophy is simple, short and very 'sweet'!
"I could see the invisible halo over his head."- Two Senior School boys in awe of someone else's piety.
Roses are red, Violets are blue Sugar is sweet. This column is not !!
The Eavesdroppers
There was something about her. Something distinctly beautiful. Not in her face or her features, although they too, were so very expressive. No, what I meant was, a mere glance at her was enough to make out that she was different. But I just couldn't put my finger on what exactly it was. Maybe it was just my ever scrutinising eye at work again. After all a new face in school did attract a lot of attention.
Her name was Sarah. She caused a great stir on her first day in class, flashed that lovely, warm smile of hers and a trifle abashedly, got on with introducing herself. Something that struck us was her paleness. She had straight, black hair and lovely, brown eyes which for some reason looked very tired.
I happened to be her partner in class and didn't quite like the idea of being stuck with a total stranger. We were so awkward at first, hesitating to open up and so inhibited in our actions. But in a few weeks, we became the best of friends. It was inevitable. She was so full of life and fun, ready to go overboard just to make me laugh...
Our friendship was cemented and we became inseparable. We got into trouble together , tried our best to co-ordinate our clothes so that we looked alike. We even fell for the same boys.
A year passed and we were closer than ever. There was only a week left for us to graduate. Both of us were counting the days. We had reached that threshold when we were about to enter the world of work, we had heard so much about.
The next thing I knew, Sarah was in hospital and dying. She had known it was coming for the last year or two...leukaemia had been slowly killing her. And to think that all the time we had spent together, she had been slipping away, slowly and painfully. To think that every single day was like a battle for her, a constant struggle to keep alive. And never, not even once, did she complain. I can still see her, lying so limply, on the hospital bed, with tubes and pipes sticking into her.
A week later, on the day of her graduation ceremony, Sarah died. I would
never see her again. She taught me how to live... while she was dying.
Aditi Sharma Class XI
Have you ever had the misfortune, of being compelled to ask questions? I've tried to stop, asked for advice, but so far no helpful suggestions.
The first thing in the morning! Why must I get out of bed? Ouch!! That I'm afraid to say, was a pillow being thrown at my head.
On being asked about this habit, "Why must you question so?" "I do it because, the one who asks. Learns the most, don't you know?"
And so it goes on, throughout the day, Like "Why is why called why?" "Have you ever wondered...? "Ask until They'd like to stick my face in a pie.
And so I continue asking my questions, on things between the earth and
the sky I doubt I'll ever run out of subjects, Why is why called why?
Ashwati Parameshwar Class X
The life of a needle hangs by a thread.
Everyday the morning papers bring news of dacoities, murders, kidnappings , hold-ups of trains, hijacking of planes, adulteration of foodstuffs and even drugs. All this violence and crime makes one sit up and wonder whether crime has become inseparable from civilised life. We appear to inhabit a planet of well dressed gangs.
Men have been barbarians much longer than they have been civilised and deep within them there is the propensity, persistent as the force of gravity, to revert to our first natures. Small wonder ,that under stress and strain the most civilised people are as near to barbarism, as the most polished iron is to rust. Nations, like metals, have only a superficial brilliancy.
The biggest of all crimes, that we associate with this civilisation is the horror of war. War is murder on a gigantic scale. And the irony is that this large scale killing, this butchery is eulogised in glowing terms and Victoria Crosses are awarded. Besides being organised murder, war is also organised looting. All efforts are directed towards the crippling of the economy. The atom bomb was dropped not on Tokyo, the capital of Japan, but on Hiroshima, the industrial hub of the country. The outcome of war in the modern world is unpayable debts, reparations, ruined investments, the utter disorganisation of finance, the collapse of the monetary system and often, revolution from below. Here is a crime which, definitely, does not pay.
The civilised man stabs in the dark. His crimes wear a thick cloak.
Varun Sampat Class IX
Modern Lovedale's list of extra-curricular successes is quite staggering. The horsemanship, we have come to expect, but debating, painting and photography were never taken to Inter-school standard in our time, and I know we did not have a Board of Honour for snooker! For us, snooker and billiards was for the Prefects only; riding was an illicit pastime achieved through trading soap and pencils with the spud-tat drovers; debating was a short-lived comet, strictly between Boy's and Girls Schools, until the early absence of boy `volunteers' killed it; Art was short for Arthur! Now, I read this list of successes in Inter-School tournaments in amazement. Please join me:
Art, Essay-writing, Debating and Photography- Lovedale first in Debates and Painting; Second, Third and Fourth and Fourth in Photography. (What happened in the Essay competitions?)
Girls' Basketball Tournament won by Lovedale Seniors and Juniors
Girls' Hockey Tournament won by Lovedale Seniors and Juniors
Under-19 Irani Cricket Tournament won by Lovedale, together with Best Batsman, Best Bowler and Best Fielder.
Maharashtra Government Award for the most promising Billiard and Snooker player won by Rustom Bharucha.
Lovedale's Equestrian Team won a silver medal in the Junior National Equestrian Championships held in Shillong, in December.
What can we say but WELL DONE!
Did you know that they have added golf to their activities? - in Ooty!
What happened to Lovedale's nine-holes at Butts?
There was a young maiden, waiting for her beloved gone raidin'. Along came the good old witch, with the usual voice of high pitch. She gave her a substance, of terrible smell, in abundance. Forcefully down her throat it went, to dreamland, she was sent. Then the witch croaked- "In sleep, ye shall be soaked, till thy beloved finishes raidin', to awaken the beautiful maiden, with a small peck, upon your fair neck!!"
He comes a finding, his love always binding. There she is, in bliss awaiting the kiss. He places the peck, and there on the deck, lies a young frog, Ready to go to a swampy bog.
Away, she hopped And into the pond, she flopped, to join many a frog and toad, in her new abode.
Heart broken, after her, he went, to kiss each one, he bent. She didn't
seem to be there, Madame Croak didn't care. To add to all this, the cost
of each kiss, was a large blister, and yet he missed her.
Shiv Dewan Class X
I have, generally been considered fortunate for having had the opportunity of attending Lawrence School at Lovedale. It is definitely as good a school as good schools go anywhere. "Never Give In" is the motto. That kind of school, my parents, along with those of others who sent their children there were led to believe that it 'prepared one very well for the outside world', and supposedly having done so, the Headmaster would declare to the outgoing, senior most class- the XII, that " You are the people of tomorrow- go out into the world. It is waiting for you. Take the opportunities by their horns and move ahead." I may have got the words somewhat wrong, but the gist was pretty much that.
Each working morning, before classes, we of the Senior School trooped into what now seems, was a wonderful wood panelled Assembly Hall, sang hymns that few of us truly believed and sat down to 5 to 10 minutes of a sermon that admittedly was sometimes extremely gratifying. Towards the end of the academic year the emphasis of these short talks leaned heavily in the direction of the imminent Board Examinations. The importance of academic success, the modes of preparation, career choices...., that kind of stuff. And all this capped with the, "wonderful and exciting future", that lay awaiting the graduating class. I must admit that by this time the very large majority of us, sick to the teeth as we were of the constraints of the disciplined, pre-planned routine, did come to believe this and feverently began to look forward to the "wonderful and exciting future" that was waiting for us. Sure, I felt this must be the case. The Headmaster, amongst all the rest, said so. "We could all be what we wanted - our life lay before us."
It is now more than two decades since I graduated school and it has taken me all that time to realise, in the clarity of hind- sight, that the Headmaster had lied, and lied horribly. All that he had said sounded " just right" and yet it was all wrong. Nothing he said prepared us for the harsh cruelty of reality and the bashful clarity of rationality, that life forces us to concede to, as we go along forward - and not too many of us go forward. I think that there was a lot he could have told us about what we were about to face. He did not, and it did not surprise me that no one else did, either.
Few of us had a deep knowledge about what, precisely, we wanted to do with the rest of our lives and have even lesser knowledge about what we could do and would be allowed to do. Only a few of us were brilliant, although it would have seemed that we were purposeful and determined, by and large. Nobody had the faintest notion that being purposeful and determined are only minor attributes in doing anything.
Rationally speaking, what I would have liked to be told before entering the rat race, could possibly have run alongst these lines; " that we should always be tough on ourselves, fight to the best of our ability, riding on high expectations - knowing all the while that failure is a distinct possibility and yet it is only an occurrence- it is not an end. It is something that has happened and something that must be accepted and then quickly circumvented." That often people who can make or break you, are lesser than you and that there is only humility that will help you scrape by. That what you give is what you get and very often it is that you only give. Still giving it all you've got is the only way. And do it today because there is no yes in yesterday and who knows that tomorrow may bring. Worse, what it may take away.
To be able to steer yourself in the uncaring chaos around, on a person has to have plans. As with all valid plans they must constantly face evaluation, revision- revision with the changing constraints or openings that seem to come up. The plan must allow each person to fit in- what you are, what you can do, what you have to do, what you want to do. And of course, "....this above all. Be true to thine own self." (Hamlet)
There is a thing about plans. They lose their shine very soon. Sticking to them is the key, no matter how basic or simplistic they may appear. Even altered, convoluted an unsuccessful plans are important, because only if there exists some kind of frame, can it be revised and altered. Consider the current scenario- what is happening and how does one fit in? Understand that are factors far above the control of individual effort. The standard Doctor, Engineer, MBA pursuit is not necessarily the smartest thing going about in town. You could be tired and frustrated with more than half your life having passed you by, before you even begin.
Even so, one ought to have plans. Short term plans and long term plans. This is one way we define ourselves. Giving a direction rather than drifting and it is so easy to drift. Look closely at the multitude of 16s to 25s in colleges today.
If only it could have been inoculated in us that 'that nothing is more worthwhile than your pursuit of excellence- in any field and that mediocrity in any of it's facets is the thing to have above."
And even if it is not pertinent to the young persons about to graduate,
it is worthwhile keeping in sight that at the end of the day there are
different notions equally important; that of containment, of acceptance,
the agility to move into different vocations, because even with being suave
and strategic and tenacious it will only be the very fortunate few who
will find containment in doing what they do, the way they do and most likely,
even such a state, is temporary.
Sanjiv Srivastava (OL)
Life is trial and error, unless you are an incompetent crook, in which case life is error and trial.
Have you ever noticed that when you wash tight clothes , they get tighter; and when you wash loose clothes, they get larger.
Thanks to Balamurugan J. for getting us this issue in electronic format.
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Last Modified: Sunday, 19-Jul-1998 18:12:34 EDT