A V E

Vol. V ol. IV Issue 26

Established: 1995

Tuesday, 14th September , 2010

PROMETHEUS UNBOUND* * Based on a title of a play by P.B. Shelley

AVS LIFTS RIMC TROPHY

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...and the cup of joy runneth over.

he first ever victory by AVS in a pan-Indian sporting team event came in the form of the 10th RIMC Soccer Tournament, held at the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun. The tournament had a total of sixteen participating teams which included some top-ranking schools such as The Doon School, Scholars Home, Tibetan School and others, from all over the country. The entire soccer squad, led by captain Dilun Tatak, had returned to AVS a week before the School re-opened for the Founders’ Semester, in order to train as a team before leaving for the tournament. After five days of rigorous and intensive training, the team was ready to put its best foot forward, pun intended!

The opening match against the defending champions, Tibetan Nehru Memorial School (TNMS), began soon after the opening ceremony on the 3rd of September. AVS was soon up to a 1-0 lead courtesy Longce-im Ingti. Finally, after a cut-throat battle, the match ended in our favour with a 4-2 score. The second group stage match against Scholars Home had both teams putting up a good fight. The match ended with a 1-1 draw with Samraj Parmar scoring for AVS. The third and final group stage match against Moravian Institute was a crucial one as it would decide whether or not we would go into the quarter-finals. The match began indolently with some careless playing by the AVS team which resulted in them going down by two goals to nil. Eventually, AVS scored

Thought for the Week: 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 The most distinguishing feature of winners is their intensity of purpose. Alymer Letterman 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 1

Weekly Newsletter of The Assam Valley School

Best Player Nishant Barooah receives the trophy from the Chief Guest Maj. General B. C. Khanduri (Retd.) AVSM, former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.

three goals with Samraj clinching one and Nishant Barooah the other two, which sent AVS into the quarter-finals with a 3-2 win. AVS played the Army School, Clementown in the quarter-finals, wherein Captain, Dilun Tatak, scored the only goal of the match through which AVS strode confidently into the semi-finals. The semi-final match against the RIMC School proved to be a really tough one and both the teams battled hard through the eightyminutes match. RIMC managed to put two laboured goals against us which got them an early lead. But we hadn’t given in yet! Nishant, with his magical touch, sent the ball into the net, bringing the score to 2-1. In the second-half, tremendous effort was put in by every member of our team. The effort finally paid off when, in the final minutes of the match, Nishant slipped in his second goal, bringing the game to a draw. The game went into a penalty shoot-out where AVS won with a 4-3 score. AVS was now in the finals- finally! Our formidable rivals for the finals were Tibetan Nehru Memorial School, Dehradun, the winners of the 9th RIMC soccer cup. We were a little nervous in the beginning which caused us to concede a goal within the first 10 minutes. Before the end of the first half, Nishant equalized, bringing the score to 1-1. In the second half, Nishant scored the second goal which ensured AVS the ultimate glory. The exhilaration at lifting the Champion’s Trophy was apparent on all our faces and in future, we will certainly recall that moment as one of the proudest moments of our lives! The sense of pride and joy commingled with that of disbelief that we felt on holding the trophy w something that is probably never going to be duplicated for as long as we live. Also, each one of us felt that 2

in sporting terms, we had finally found our place in the sun. Nishant Barooah, very befittingly, was adjudged the Best Player of the tournament. It had been a journey to remember, an experience to cherish and a victory to savour. A victory hard-earned and well-fought for and, if I may also add, very well-deserved. And though today, almost a week later, I would never like to mitigate the euphoria with the dull sheen of analysis, what I can say is that: what won the tournament that day was hard work, team play and a dogged determination to show the rest what we are truly capable of. Nathan Remedios, XII

REMINISCING RIMC

Ishworchandra R.: Trust your team-mates and believe in yourself. That is what I have learnt. Udayan B.: It was a wonderful experience. I am happy that we won the RIMC cup... Vishal M.: Wow! It still feels like a dream! Longce-im I.: We found it rather hard to believe that we were going to return to AVS with the trophy. Saurav M. M.: I love soccer and I am glad that our passion for the sport has brought about such a great victory and honour to the School. Richard L.: Vive le AVS!!!! Dilun T.: I would like to thank all those who supported us. Samraj P.: Waka waka.... Nathan R.: The style with which we won was good but the celebration... out of this world! Kanta G.: I miss waking up at midnight and, of course, playing the matches. The experience was enthralling. Pooja Gill, XII AVE Tuesday, 14 th Sept , 2010.

S E L I F THE POWER TO PERSUADE UR O AVS AT THE SHRI DEBATES M O R F ebating is an art, nay, a necessary evil, without was Man’s Final Frontier’. Indeed, it was a

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which the world would seem a lot drearier and exceedingly dull. Hence, we debate simply to debate or let’s say that we agree to disagree. At ‘The Athenaeum, the AVS forum for Debating and Global Awareness’, it has slowly become a way of life and the impetus is the ‘thinking Aviator’. He no longer relies on what others ideate or perceive but has his own opinion on various resolved or unresolved world issues. On what was the last week of July, Yash Mimani, Rahul Rajkhowa, Joyeeta Dutta, and Puspak Chamariya, accompanied by Mrs. K. Goswamiy, left for The Shri Ram School, Gurgaon to participate in the extremely prestigious Tenth Shri Debates. The warmth of the host family reflected the very essence of atithi devobhav, that is, the belief that the guest is like a God. We found ourselves in the warm and affectionate care of the extremely hospitable Mrs. Kavita Shriram at Shantiniketan, in New Delhi. We had a more than comfortable stay, exquisite cuisine, late night discussions/brainstorming sessions with the elders over the next day’s debate topic. The debates commenced on the morning of the 28th. A total of sixteen schools participated in this event, and were slotted into four pools. The Assam Valley School was placed in Pool ‘A’ along with The Scindia School,

difficult road to tread to try and defy the motion. However, we did not go down without a fight. Yash did salvage a lot and was declared the Second Best Speaker. One of the judges, Mr. Prannoy Roy, was very appreciative of our stand and complimented the team saying, “I came here thinking the opposition had no ground to stand on, but you proved me wrong”. The AVS Team won the Runners-Up Trophy but the best was yet to come! Yash Mimani was adjudged the over-all Best Speaker at the Tenth Shri Debates. The Shri Debates was indeed an exciting and enlightening opportunity where we learned new skills and developed the old. But more than that, it gave us a clear view of how far we had travelled and how much further we still had to go. This win is ample motivation to persevere and climb a few more steps upward with confidence and skill. Anusha Sharma

PIC OF THE WEEK

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At AVS debating has slowly become a way of life and the impetus is the thinking Aviator.

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Gwalior, Mayo Boys and TSRS Team A. With the best speeches we could conjure up, given the minimal research period, we set off on our first venture. At the Pool Level, we won each of the three debates and Yash Mimani was adjudged the Best Debater in all three. Joyeeta picked up the Second Best Debater prize in the second one. Our semi-final debate was against none other than Modern School, Barakhamba, described as a ‘tough’ team. Confident to the core, we fought valiantly and a thunderous applause resounded as The Assam Valley School wrote history. We had entered the finals. Yash Mimani was yet again awarded the Best Speaker Prize while Rahul Rajkhowa was adjudged the Second Best Speaker. By the time we were through into the finals, the grapevine was abuzz with, ‘AVS is damn good, eh!’ Expectations ran high on the 31st of August, the finals of the Tenth Shri Debates and the house was eagerly expectant to hear us oppose the motion that ‘Mortality 3

The rising mists kiss the limpid greens... and a cable-car permits humanity to get as near to the ethereal as it ever could. Photograph by Daksha Salam, IX. OBITUARY Deepest condolences to Mr. Deepak Sharma, Accounts Assistant, who has lost his mother and Kingku Pertin, Class X, who has lost his father. AVE Tuesday, 14 th Sept , 2010.

LET THE CHAOS BEGIN... THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES ART: AMBISO TAWSIK, XI

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ndia is a country renowned for its great physical contrasts: it is a country that suffers from both obesity and undernourishment. A country hungry for recognition, it has achieved this by being one of the youngest new economic superpowers. Competing with China, bagging a gold and two bronze medals in the Olympics was not enough. So India takes a big decision. Our ministers gather around the table and decide to take a big step and glorify our country. They ponder about how this would happen. It is decided that India will host the Commonwealth Games, the event next in line after the Olympics. Hosting such a prestigious event would boost India’s prestige and prove her worth… or so we thought. India has been recognised and we, as Indians, are proud. However, this is not an occasion for pride. In order to host the Commonwealth Games, our ministers have left no stone unturned. We find our government ruthlessly appointing labourers of all ages, including 10,000 children, to beautify the capital under extremely hazardous circumstances. Till date, approximately 71 laborers have died in accidents occurring in construction sites in Delhi. Maybe our leaders would term these as mere regular occurrences, but I would certainly call them deceased victims, or rather, martyrs, of unnecessary decisions taken by the establishment.

India has been known for many reasons that it would not be proud of. Ours is a country that follows the directions of politicians blindly because the majority of the country still use their thumbs to cast their votes. I have seen the preparations while at Delhi during these vacations and I know that what India is hoping to have is something of a dream. The Commonwealth Games have been known to be an event of high standards and Delhi’s preparations definitely do not come to par. It is obvious that India’s hosting of this event might not be successful enough to be compared with recent sporting majors such as the Olympics in China or even the FIFA World Cup held in South Africa. I am tempted to say that our show may not even be better than the previous edition of CWG held in Melbourne in 2006. Antareep Boraz, XII

A Walk Home

‘Tis time I return to my native land, Where lies my forgotten past. And walk along the narrow brooks, And read again, those childhood books. Let me walk again on the narrow roads, As a child where I trod, Following random thoughts, And all the dreams for which I sought.

Walk along those majestic elms, Under which I played in shadowy realms, And see again the sanguine sun, And lie on the cushion of fern. As I walk the pastures of my home, I see again the cattle roam, I feel again the country breeze, That played with the swaying trees.

When I walk to the door, And walk on the wooden floor, I loose myself to my childhood days, For, now I know that I am home again! Rishab Akoijam, X

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AVE Tuesday, 14 th Sept , 2010.

Laugh Your Way Through The Semester SERIOUS MEN Manu Joseph This is an irreverent take on higher education in India as seen through the eyes of a peon at a university parodying the IITs. The novel is rich in humour, especially in the manner in which it describes the ways in which the peon instructs his son to impress the world by pretending to be brilliant at mathematics. Also enthralling is the romance between the institution’s resident irascible genius and problem child and the young female physicist. The novel also manages to gently ridicule every single Indian institution in the course of its plot. The Gropes Gropes, Tom Sharpe The Gropes are a family of strong matriarchs, originating from the alliance between a seasick Viking deserter and an unattractive nun, who force the men they can find around their closely guarded estate into marrying them. Into their

clutches falls young Esmond, who bears the singular misfortune of being despised by his father for resembling him so closely in character and appearance. You will barely have time to pause for breath, as Sharpe makes you laugh at every second sentence. A mother with an unfortunate tendency to confuse real life with romantic novels and a father who rigidly suppresses any imagination he has adds to the hilarity. Meet Mr. Mulliner P.G. Wodehouse This is a classic from that unrivalled master of humour, P.G. Wodehouse. Mr. Mulliner is a gently alcoholic middle aged man who haunts bars in Northern England looking for men with whom to share his (rather tall) stories about his various relatives. The stories in this collection include that of a shy curate who becomes overly courageous after drinking one of his uncle’s concoctions, with rather damaging results. Another story (which will arouse instant envy amongst the male population of our school) involves yet another relative who manages to win his wife by sleeping through an earthquake!

Adreyo Sen

A-VOICES ...on the RIMC Victory Wish we were there to watch the finals... but they have definitely done us all so proud. WilliamS.: As far as soccer is concerned...sky’s the limit. Loma T.: I missed it! Suravi P.: A fabulous achievement! Mirnal A.: Let me spell out victory to fellow Aviators... H-O-L-I-D-A-Y! Wazbeer H.: Good to see they achieved victory even without a talent like me in their team... good going! Adelphia P.: It has brought in a sense of pride for each one at the school. Hitova A.: I am so proud of the AVS soccer squad. Tanvi B B.: Kudos! to the heroes of AVS. Prapti B. B.: I wish we were there to witness the historical moment of our school. Junaina Firdaus, VIII Toni Y.:

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A weekend getaway or a working trip... A brain storming session or a pat-on-theback... Whatever the recent trip to Iora Resorts by the Publication Unit was meant to be, one thing was certain: it was fruitful in every possible way. The scribes of AVS outside the resort AVE Tuesday, 14 th Sept , 2010.

NOTES FROM DOWN UNDER

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n the 21st of August, six excited souls boarded a flight all the way to the land of kangaroos, Australia, for an exchange programme. After a seventeen-hour flight with a brief stop at the Hong Kong airport, we reached our destination, Sydney. We were extended a warm welcome by the teachers and students of our host school, St. Ives High School. We were then introduced to our buddies, Victoria, Gorgie, Ada and Tom, who later, after school hours, escorted us to their houses where we were to stay during the exchange. We were greeted by the families of our buddies who made us feel at-home at once. The essence of an exchange programme is two-fold: to get a close look into the life of someone sitting in the other corner of the world and, give him a taste of what we Indians are made of, and this particular objective was truly achieved. The various engagements that were planned for us were really interesting and intriguing. We went around the city, looking at their fine and modern architecture. We visited several places of interest like the

Torongo Zoo and the Manly Beach. We got a close look at the Australian wildlife: the duck-billed platypus, emu, kangaroos to mention only a few. Back on the school premises, during the Wednesday Assembly, we formally introduced ourselves to their school community. The classes we attended with our buddies were far more interactive and engaging than the Indian education system where cramming and rote-learning has become the only way out. The following day we were once again out in the sun, taking a trip around the city. We were taken on a ferry ride and to the Luna Park. We also did a little shopping so that we could have something as a keep-sake to remember our trip by. On Friday night, a little gathering was organised especially for the exchange students. The exchange ended on a nostalgic note and a tear or two. It created a genuine regard for the people of Australia and an appreciation of their culture and lifestyle. We bid adieu to our mates and carried memories that would be cherished for a lifetime. Wazbeer Hussain, XI

HERE’S A CHANCE TO WRITE HISTORY. A CHANCE TO HAVE A SAY. A CHANCE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT YOUR VOICE MATTERS. HERE’S A CHANCE TO BE A PART OF THE AVE FOUNDERS’ ISSUE. WRITE IN BEFORE THE 25th of SEPTEMBER.

Editor-in-Chief: Vishakha Sharma. Deputy Editors: Karken Bado, Pooja Gill Associate Editors Editors: Sukrita Baruah, Prapti Borah, Antareep Boraz. Production Manager: Tanzeem Ahmed.

Publisher: DHM (Educational Administration), The Assam Valley School, P.O. Balipara, Dist. Sonitpur, Asom784101, India. Telephone: 03714-292470. E-mail: E-mail:ave@assamvalleyschool.com. Printed at: Swastika Printers, Rangapara, Asom. Website: www.assamvalleyschool.com.

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AVE Tuesday, 14 th Sept , 2010.