Newsletter Niche - May 2021

May 2021

NEWSLETTER Niche

Editor: Saira Raza Design: Irshad ul Islam

“We roamed the fields and river sides, When we are young and gay; We chased the bees and plucked the flowers, In the merry, merry month of May.” - Terri Guillements

Delhi Public School Srinagar

Campus Roundup The month of May according to the Gregorian calendar, is named after Maia- the goddess of springtime and growth. Historically the gentle warmth of the month caused flowers to blossom, crops to sprout and the people to dance. Children made garlands from greenery and participated in joyful celebrations on the first day of May. But this time the pandemic continued to play a spoil sport and succeeded in dampening the element of joyousness. The holy month of Ramadan coincided with this month and further infused it with fervent prayers, resounding from all corners. Amidst all of this our academic pursuit has continued. The teachers and the students seem quite successful in establishing a deeper connect and a bond which still needs to be nurtured. The class tests are done with and so are the Pre Midterm Exams for class XII. Class XI is still to follow line. The energy levels seem higher post the Idd celebrations and to the joy of the teaching staff the classes are far more interactive. The initial inhibitions put to the side, the students are more than keen to expose and share their multiple interests. Their passion for debating, astrophysics, creative writing , Kashmiri history and so much more. One must admit that the month did give a few things to smile about. Many of the students who while still waiting for the decision of the CBSE regarding the Board Exams have not wasted any time in grabbing every opportunity for admissions in the world's prestigious universities. Some of them have even bagged scholarships giving them huge financial aid. They have done their families and the school proud. The remediation classes for the senior school faculty have finally begun with teachers coming to each other's aid in enhancing the communication skills. In a few cases it has worked like a magical wand while in other cases it will I guess take the longer route. We participated in an interesting workshop by Ms. Waklu, an engineer turned into a music star of repute. The teachers and the students were both enamored by her beautiful voice and her equally beautiful face. She left many thinking that a change in one's career can lead one to a more lucrative one. The underlined message was that one must follow one's passion and with that everything will fall in place. Well we continue to follow our passion to teach and let us pray and hope that things will fall in place soon. Like the birds that come back in the month of May , let us hope our students return back to the school campus.

At last came the golden month of the folk -honey sweet May, when the birds come back, And the flowers come out, and the air is full of the Sunrise scents and the songs of the dawning year.

Stephen Foster Saira Raza Abdulla

DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL SRINAGAR - Newsletter April 2021 - Page 02

Kashmiri Proverbs Every language consists of proverbs and riddles which are as important as serious literature. These area sort of the literary pieces of language, Kashmiri language too has a rich stock of proverbs and riddles. In fact Kashmir is a land of proverbs and common-speech in profuse with them. Rev. J. Hinton knowledge of Church Missionary Society collected a good number of these proverbs and published them. His work is also full of information regarding the customs and character of Kashmiris. Shri Som Nath Sadhu had also put together a good number of proverbs. I have given below a few of the most common proverbs, which are used even by the Kashmiris who have had no or very little education, in their everyday speech:Kokri Hanzi Degi Che Na Pooti Maran.

Chicken do not die from hen's kicks.

Raye Chhu Shabmam-i Sailab.

To an ant even dew is like flood.

Panun Aib Gav Mashok.

A man loves his own fault.

An-haren Arman Karimat Pasheman.

Bachelors crave for marriage but married men regret having married.

An Sanz Kolai Khodayas Havala.

A blind Man's Wife Is In God's Keeping.

Na Chhum Manchi Na Topai.

I neither want honey nor the sting(of bee).

Lokchar Naba-nor.

Childhood is care free.

Khena Modur Shrapna Teyoth.

Sweet to taste but bitter to digest.

Kraalas Ghari Khond Bana.

Potter's use broken pots at home.

Ye Gav Kharas Gor Duin.

Giving advice to a dunce is to give gaggery to an ass.

Oun Kya Zane Pron Bhate.

What does a blind man know about cooked rice.

Akh ta Akh Gave Kah. One and one make eleven.

Vana Chan Yaren Daye Sund Sag. God Waters the trees of a jungle.

Bakhtas Bodh Chaye Khidmatgar.

Wisdom is a handmade of good Luck.

Mohd Yoqube Ganie

DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL SRINAGAR - Newsletter April 2021 - Page 03

BEING POSITIVE - Need of the hour “A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world. Everyone you meet is your mirror".

No person is so inadequate that he cannot speak to himself positively! When we feel depressed and worried, we often hear people telling us: "Think Positive!" Usually, we do not pay attention to this sentence; sometimes we just smile, considering it as a joke or a way of talking. Did you ever stop to think what do these words mean?

Thinking Positive Thought is energy. By having certain thoughts in our minds and by concentrating on them and putting emotional energy into them, they become powerful, Energy does not perish in nature. These thoughts induce some kind of pressure on the energy level around us, causing these energies to move and act.

They change the balance energy around us, and in a natural way bring changes in the environment in accordance with our thoughts.

Even our health is affected in a positive way. We walk tall and our voice is more powerful. Our body language shows the way we feel inside. Affirmations work both ways, to build and to destroy. They are a kind of a neutral power. The way we use them determines whether they are going to bring good or otherwise. Therefore, make sure you have good energy and create good vibrations around you. All of us affect, whether positively or negatively, the people we meet. This happens instinctively and on a subconscious level, by thoughts and feelings transference or through body language. People sense our thinking and are affected by our thoughts. They dislike and avoid anyone broadcasting negativity.

Negative thinking, talking and attitude bring up negative and unhappy moods and actions. When the mind is negative, poisons are released into the blood, which cause more unhappiness and negativity.

Negative thinking is the way to failure, frustration and disappointment. Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

According to the survey done positive thinking is linked to a wide range of health benefits including: Better stress management and coping skills Enhanced psychological health Greater resistance to the common cold Increased physical well-being Longer life span Lower rates of depression Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease-related death Most important you start loving yourself

Creating Positive Attitude A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and a successful outcome of every situation and action. Avoid sentences like 'I wish I could have' or 'I wish I should have'. Past is gone and future comes when it comes. Present is what we have so we must make the most out of it. Be natural and be happy with what you are and what you have. Focusing on what you have will m give you more happiness instead of pondering over what you lack. These simple suggestions will help you in developing positive thinking in your life.

Begin each day with a great heart and a charming smile.

Nazma Bhat

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Paintings by Adil Mubeen

DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL SRINAGAR - Newsletter April 2021 - Page 05

Poems by Ms Mushkeen

DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL SRINAGAR - Newsletter April 2021 - Page 06

Education for a Social Change The developments in the socio-political scenario in Kashmir over the past many decades, has prompted me to question the role of education in bettering a situation which might sometimes seem to be fast moving towards collapse. What must an educator do in times of sudden changes? The reoccurring hiatus in the process of learning has resulted in a drastic increase in the involvement of the school going youth in acts of violence . Looking at the past many years somewhere in the process of growing up they have learnt to legitimize violence sometimes towards others and at other times directed towards themselves. Needless it is to say that, in any uncertain situation, the children suffer most.

Socially from having been an extremely secular state Kashmir is fast moved towards rigidity .The valley appears to have slowly forgotten to cherish the diversities in multiple terms. Despite all changes good or bad the educator still hopes to make it a better place aware of the platform and inherent strength to bring about a social change. The task seems herculean but not impossible. I believe the classroom space can be transformed from being a cocoon where the educator expects to complete his syllabus from an exam point of view without any external interference, to a space of dialogue and vibrant discussions leading to democratization of thoughts. So far the reality of conflict which the students carry within, has not been allowed to enter the discussion space of school. The student is unable to connect as the teachers have overlooked their socio-political baggage. We have already limited the canvas of the understanding of the students. When in actuality their understanding needs to filter through multiple layers of conflict. If our prevailing education system had responded to the existing environment of discontent instead of sidestepping it, these youngsters would have been better prepared to negotiate their rights and accept their responsibilities towards the society and might have responded in different, new, positive transformative ways. Violent articulation of grievance and injustice must then be viewed positively as steps towards a therapeutic catharsis of mistrust, violence and trauma. It is then that the space of the classroom must be viewed as a safe haven for exchange of ideologies- an amalgamation of many but crystallization of none. A space for exchange of thoughts, grievances debates giving birth to solutions which are non- violent and peaceful. Empowered by new thoughts and positive ideologies the student is then geared for creating a social change which is the need of the hour. Jefferson had actually supported the right to rebel and had said, “ a little rebellion now and then is a good thing.” However this participation must lead them to a process eventually defending and enhancing their liberties. According to Horace Mann education enhances the intelligence and virtue in masses making them socially responsible and good citizens. He argued,“ If we do not prepare children to become good citizens…then our republic must go down to destruction.”

Hence with education in a classroom where a child can learn not only content but get empowered with social and academic skills and cultivate an appreciation for a democratic living, a classroom that has space for frequent dialogue. That will enable them to acquire collective knowledge which can be used to bring about a change in the society. A dialogue which will examine all aspects of an issue be it political or social without scoring points at the expense of someone else. It is important to note that they can only become agents of change when their curiosity is aroused and their quest for the ‘why’ of things and situations is quenched. It is they who will provide hope for the future of our society. As Dewey believed that this can only be achieved when students are engaged in explicitly critiquing social injustice and actively organizing to challenge oppression within the limits of a class and outside.

Having said that, it is important to state that the methods of protest must be productive, peaceful and non-violent.

Saira Raza Abdulla

DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL SRINAGAR - Newsletter April 2021 - Page 07

सुनहरी याद

आशा का दीपक

बार - बार खो जाता है मन , जसक सुनहरी यादो ं म । उड़ी जा रही ँ म , जसक क नाओ ं क छावँ म । डू ब गई ँ सपनो ं म , गुम हो गई ँ जसके ालो ं म । शायद वही अ है मेरा , खोजती ँ हवाओ ं म । हरसू के फू ल खले है , रंगत है िफज़ाओ ं म । ाल आते ही आख ँ छलक , आसँू करीब है नगाहो ं म । िफर खो गया मेरा मन , उसक सुनहरी यादो ं म । मने उसक यादो ं को मन म सहज के रखा है , वो तो मेरे ही अदंर है ; लोगो ं को उसके न होने का धोखा है ।

मन मेरे अपने आप को दख ो ं देते हो, ु ो खुद को अके ला होने के लए कोसते हो अरे! ई र ने िदया जो है , सहज लो तमु , तु ारे पास वो सूरज है , जसके उदय होने से दु नया उठती है । तु ारे पास वो हीरा है जसको ई र ने तराशा है । मन म रख आ ा , आ ा का दीपक जलेगा । तू अपने नसीब को ो ं कोसता है , ो ं रब को दोषी मानता है , तझ ु े लगता है िक तू अके ला ही उन काटँो ं पर चला है । अरे पीछे मुड़कर देख और पहचान , िक वो कदमो ं के नशान िकसके ह जन पर तू चला है ।

--------------------------------माँ क ओर से बेटे को सम पत (रजनी म )

DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL SRINAGAR - Newsletter April 2021 - Page 08

(रजनी म )

‫ﻓﺮﯾﺪﮦ ﺟﺎﻥ‬

DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL SRINAGAR - Newsletter April 2021 - Page 09

DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL SRINAGAR - Newsletter April 2021 - Page 10