T h e s c h o l a r ' s C h r o n i c l e
volume 1 • issueno 1 MAY - JUNE 2023
c o n t e n t s
Page 1 - ResistancebyAshiniSheroan
Page 2 - SunflowerEyesbyNandini
Page 3 - PeaceSimplyIsn'tAboutCoexistence byPurviShenoy
Page 4 - ForeverExaltationbyGraceScott
Page 5 - AveragebyAashiTripathi
Page 6 - OppressedbyPurviShenoy
Page 7 - Black & WhitebyLayanAlfy
Page 8&9 - TheSecondClassCitizenbyElizabeth
Page 10 - TheTaleoftheSocksbyVeeirKapoor
Page 11 - MyDam, HerLeechbyElizabeth
Page 12 - NotefromtheEditors
r e s i s t a n c e
Resistanceisinthesmallinstances
Ateachersabsence, Hencethefistofvictorydances
Frozendelightsmeltinthemouth, Therealhooliganinsideisoutand about
Endofclass, rushofjoy
IknowIwassupposedtobeinterested
Resistanceisinallthesmallinstances, Introducetheright, thewrongpounces
Endlessnights, Rushofresponsibility
TheluxuryofaPowerNap, Isonlynecessary.
Paymentofwhatyousow, Takesyouhighfromdownbelow Splurgeonsuccess,
It’sonlymyright, youknow?
Resistanceisinthesmallinstances.
Responsibilityrushes, Selfcarearises.
Oldagestrikes, Thelasthourflies.
Everyonetriestomakeitlast, Buttheyallknowit’llpass.
Resistanceisinthesmallinstances, Asliverofhappiness,
Stolenawayfromthefestival’ssweets, Allwhilediabetesadvances
Gossipawaythecurrentaffairs, Hostilityforwhat’snewintheair
Resistanceisinthesmallinstances, Theoptionofchoice, Issimplyhowitadvances Innocentlittlejoysthroughoutthe generations,
Suchatingleofdelight, Weresistwithallourmight Doyouthinkweshouldputupastrong fight?
Isn’tthiskindofresistancesimplyour right?
AshiniSheroan G.DGoenkaWorldSchool Grade 12
Sunflowereyes
Gazeintomysoul
FirsttimeIopenedmyeyes
Afeelingofwarmthandsafety
IknewIwashome
Sunflowereyes
Gazeintomyeyes
FirsttimeIwenttoschool
Yetinyourarmsonceagain
Afeelingofwarmthandsafety
IknewIwashome
Sunflowereyes
Gazeintomysoul
Firsttimeyouscoldedme Yet
Afeelingofwarmthandsafety
IknewIwashome
Sunflowereyes
Gazeintomysoul
FirsttimeIlefthome
Yetiknew
Afeelingofwarmthandsafety
Afeelingofhome
Toma
Thankyouforourhome
S u n f l o w e r e y e s
Nandini EditoratTheScholar'sChronicle
Peacesimplyisn'taboutcoexistence, It'saboutpersistence, Persistingforabetterworld, Persistingforadifference
Peacesimplyisn'taboutcoexistence, It'saboutacceptance, Acceptanceofthoseindividualswhoaddvaluetothisplanet Regardlessoftheirsex, race,religionordisability.
Peacesimplyisn'taboutcoexistence, It'saboutadherence, It'saboutstickingtogetherandprovidingahelpinghand, Becauseonesmallfavourcanmakeahugedifference
p e a c e s i m p l y i s n ' t a b o u t c o e x i s t e n c e
PurviShenoy UWCSEASingapore Grade 11
f o r e v e r
e x a l t a t i o n
Icouldlookintoyoureyesforever i’mwarm, therainhalts
theconvolutedmilkywayofyour mahoganyeyes
foreverexalts
Theskymeltssoftly blueskies, thegreyabsconds fromthevestigesofsenselessboys ofwhichmymindnolongerresponds youwhisperinmyear, wordsoflaughter
elation, yoursecretsburieddeepinneptune's ocean
leavesfar-ragingcontemplation
yourtumultuousnature can’tfathom
butcontinueloving
midnighttextsandrunawayvendettas cheekscrimsoningandblushing
Iponderonlove’s
immenseattachment
andoppression
inescapableentrapmentinthoseeyes
leavesmenothingmoretoquestion
Ireminisceonmyrequisite
twohalves
thesameheart
lifeisamelancholyreflection
sayingwearetrumpetstoaharp
Deathisinevitable
butmustit
happentomine
lovelessdreams, sorrowfulsongs
ingodskingdomhedothshine
love’sperpetualhymn
singscontinually
allthewhile
yourloveandsoulshinesdowntome inonemerearchaicsmile
GraceScott ParklandsHighSchool Grade
10
Onesideoftheskylookslikeabright future, attainableifIstoppedthinking somuch Onesidelookslikethethunderous stateofmindofanoldmanwhosekids andgrandkidsstoppedvisiting Grey withahintofsullendarkness A bitternessfortheseignorantyouths Thecentreoftheskyisme I’mthe edgeofacoin Ifyouflipit, anything canhappen Peoplepaylittleattentiontotherim thatseparatesheadsfromtailsina coin IfIwasn’tthere, wouldheadsortails evenbeawayofannouncingthe victor?
IfIwasn’tthere, wouldyoureallyknow whatwasgoodorbad? IfIwasn’tthere, wouldthingsinlife stillholdthesameweight?
Aneutralityisveryimportantinlife. I’mthat Neithergreatnorbad. I’mtheretodifferentiatethegreat fromtheworst. Peopleshouldreallyappreciatethe averagemore. Withouttheaverage, theworldwould behaywire.
Abedlam Adystopianhell
A v e r a g e
AashiTripathi WoodstockSchool Grade 12
ItwasAugust ,2004, AndIwasjust 11 yearsold, Andthatwaswhenthecitywas patrolled
Thepolicestaredatmyfaceandthen mymother’s
“You'reoppressingthem” hesaidtomy fatherandbrothers.
ItwasSeptember, 2004
AndIhadjustturned 12 yearsold
Andthatwaswhenthelawwasrolled
Thistimethepolicestaredatmyface andsmiledatmymother
“Thankyouforobeyingthelaws” he thankedmyfatherandbrothers
ItwasOctober,2004
Thecityhasnowgottenridofthe oppressed
Coveredfaceshavedisappeared, becomeunseen
UntilwemovedtothePhilippines
Thelush, bright , greentrees
Thecoveredfaceshaveappeared, becomeseen
Thecrosses, idolsandmosqueswere unexpected, unforeseen
Nooneisoppressed
Nooneispressured
Iamimpressedatthelevelofdiversity , thiscountryhasfeatured
ItisnowNovember
AndIamstillthesameyearsold
Andthistimethecitywasnever patrolled
Thepolicestaredatmyfaceand thenmymother’s
“Haveaniceday” theysaidtomy fatherandbrothers.
O p p r e s s e d
PurviShenoy UWCSEASingapore Grade 11
ThispoemiswrittentoshedlightontheHijabbaninFrance 2004.
Thewhitestoftheangelsshewas
Younglittlecreaturewithbrighteyes
Didn’tlistentoherparentsthistimebecause Obeyingthemwaslessinterestingtoherthanobeying hermind
Shewantedtoexplorewhatliesbeneaththatdarkhole
Thelandofthedevilsshereadnexttoawall
Awallthatwasinchesthatwasinchesaway
Fromthedarkhazardousnoreturnway
Buthercuriositywasaboveall
Andherbodyfellthroughthehole
Evilmonstrouscreaturessheexpectedtosee
Rippingherapartbeforeshecouldtrytoflee
Ormaybeshewillbethelunchtheyarewillingtoeat
Thesethoughtsfilledherheadasshewitnessed Partsofherbodygetcoveredinthedreadeddarkness
’’You’vehurtyourself ’’ werethefirstwordssheheard Asshelookedatherhandthatwascarefullywrapped
Shesoonrealizedthatalongwhilehaspassed Andthesocalleddevilshavebeentryingtocureher hand
Shespentthedaywiththedevilswhoturnedouttobe nicepeople
Buthadtoleave ’causeshereallymissedherfamilywho weresadlyjudgmental
Tothemshehadsomuchtosay
Abouthowtheywerewronginsomanyways
Becauseinthisworldthere’snoblackorwhitepeople
Weallhavegoodandsometimesmakemistakes
Afterallshefoundoutwe’reallgrey
B l a c k & w h i t e
LayanAlfy MarshalInternationalSchools Grade 10
Thegravelroadislitteredwithcobblesthatskidacrosstheairasanycardrivesoverthem, unconsciouslyaimingforanypedestriansinproximity Njekejekeischaracterisedbygreat foilroofswithcopperredstreaksremindingmethatthisismynewhomeawayfromthe homeIammoreaccustomedto Girlsarehappilyplaying; turningmangofibresintohairandbrushingthemwithcombs missingonetoomanyteeth
Mymother'sthicklyaccentedvoiceechoes "Kojo, whatareyoustilldoinghere?Ididnot cometothiscountryforyoutolazearound, goandsortyourselfout" Lethargically, Ilook formynicestpairofpantstocompensateformyworn-outshirt Istruggletobrushmy overgrowncoilsbackintoplaceandtakecarenottobreaktheonlyfairlydecentbrushinthe house Icanfeelmymother’sdistinct ‘African’ glareburningintothesideofmyheadand possiblybrandingmewithbittertheimageofherdisappointmentwithourwholeliving situation SometimesIcannottellifsheisdisappointedwithmeorourcircumstancesbutI supposethatthetwogohandandhand, especiallyconsideringthatIstillhavenotmanagedto findajob Desmondor "TataDesmond" - asSouthAfricanyoungboysareexpectedtosayhadmostoftheporridgeandgavetheresttohisbiologicalchildSihle, leavingmewitha dirtypottocleanwhenIreturn Iopenthericketygateandwalkpasthercollectingthe stagnantwatertomakeballsoutofthemudandIgreetTataLoyolo, myfavouriteneighbour, whoactivelymademefeelwelcomehere Heevenofferedtohelpusmovein, albeitthelack ofthingsthatneededtobepackedintoourshack
Ireachthechaoticfour-waystopwhichremindsmeoftheMakalamarketbackinGidana
EverybodyJay-walkingandeachcarthinkstheyhavetherightofway Vehiclesmockthe stopsignsbyslowingdowntopickupanotherpassengerandspeedupontheirway. Finally, Iamseatedinataxiwaitingtobetransportedtothenearesttown Wepassbysomewhite peoplesittingcomfortablyintheircars, probablyreturningfromtheirholidayhomesthatmy motheroncepromised, thinkingourmoveherewouldguaranteeustheirlifestyles Some drivetruckswhichmusthavebeenusedonfarmsthatgetpasseddownthefamily Seated uncomfortablyacrossme, amanalongsideamuchbetter-fedladyarehavingaconversation aboutwhywhitepeopleneedtogiveuptheirprivilegesinexchangeforourforgiveness I don'texactlyseehowthiswouldfixtheproblem butwouldIdaresaymyopinionsaloud?
Anyway, mostofmyknowledgeaboutthislandanditswhitewashedhistorycomesfromjust lookingaround PeoplewithskindarkerthantheirsyetlighterthanmineliveinTin "houses" withcorrugatedroofs Wefeastonintestinesandotherscrapssincemeatitselfistoocostly Ricketydoorsandperforatedwindowscharacteriseallourdystopian-likeschools Separated byanaturalborderontheothersidearehouseswitharchesandpillarslinespotlessstreets andbackyardswithlittlebodiesofstagnantwater, justlikeourgutters TheirInheritedfarms andlong-lastingintergenerationalwealthmakemewonderiftheybelieveinthepowerof praiseandblessingswithinstoriestoldaboutancestors, justaswebelieve
TataLuyolooccasionallytellsmestoriesabouttheXhosaancestors Histalesbringcomfort, whichisdifferentfromDesmondwhorarelyeversaysmuchtome Ionlyeverinteractwith himwhenhereturnsforsupperandtakesaglanceatmebeforeattendingtomymotherand Sihle. ThetaxistopsandIstumbleoutandbumpintoalight-skinnedyoungman Seemingly revolted, hemumblessomethingunderhisbreathalongthelinesofgobacktoyourcountry Wordshaveconsequences, oratleasttheyaresupposedto Somehow, eversinceIarrived here, peopleseemtohavethe ‘right’ tosayanything, completelyunawareofthe ramificationsthatcomeafteryouhavesaidsomething Anyway, societydoesnotreallyseem toincludemewhenitcomestospeakingoutonthingsthatbotherthem Idonotexactlyhave theprivilegeofbeingabletovoiceoutmyopinionaboutSouthAfrica, whichisalotlikethe censorshipbackinGidana- butjustbasedondifferentreasoning Impervioustohiswords, I gathermythoughtsandcontinuewalkingtowardsthespotwherealltheyoungmenwaitfor jobsaspaintersorgardenerswhenIcomeacrossaquaintcoffeeshop Asthoughasiren's songwasbeingsung, Iwaslurednearandbegantoclimbupthestairstowardstheentrance andtheall-whitebuildinghasthoseexactarchesthatIwasthinkingaboutearlieron
T h e s e c o n d c l a s s c i t i z e n
Iwalkinandgreettheladyatthecounter Shesmilesinstarkcontrasttoherhickoryskin andleadsmetotheowneraspanicalongsiderealitywalksinwithme Iwalkpastthe eclecticsetofchairsandneutral-tonedbeanbagsliningthesideofthecaféthatreceivesthe leastsunlight. Theyoungladyraisesherhandslightly, gesturingtowardswhatIassumeisthe boss’sofficebeforewalkingoffbriskly “Well, allIreallyhavetodoisjustspeakmyhonest truthandtrytomaskmyaccentasmuchaspossible, afterall, Idonotwanttoscarehim away Theofficeisakaleidoscopeofdark-huedwoodencarvingsandtheownerisamixedracemanwithclothesthatshowamanwithagoodandeasylifewhichhideshisroughhands thattellastoryofhardshipandresilience LikeaGreatDane, hestandsatanimpressive heightwithasweetyetdominatingpresenceandhiseyesflickertowardtheseatacrossfrom him Itakeaseatwithasurrealsenseoffamiliarityintheair Hisslightlyaccentedvoice inquires "Whatbringsyouhere, myboy" "Goodmorningsir, Iamheretolookforajob, I amverygoodwithoutsidework "Hethenasked, "Howcomeyouneedthisjob specifically?"Irespondedbysaying "ImovedherefromGidanabecauseofitseconomic situationandIneedtohelpputfoodonthetable"
Iproceedtoscrambleformydocumentation, prayingthatmyidentificationdocumentwill notdeterhimfromhiringme IcanstillrememberthedayIgotmypapers, everyoneinfront ofmeseemedtogetacardyetforsomereasonIreceivedagreen-colouredbookeventhough Iamalsoapermanentcitizen Itisalmostasthoughtherearedifferentlevelsofpermanent citizenswithsomebeingfirstclassandeveryoneelsejustbeinganadd-oninsociety. Before IcouldtakemyIdentificationdocumentout, hestoppedmeandasked ‘‘Whatareyou doing?” Takingoutmypaperswasmyautomaticreactiontomostquestions, soIcouldnot bringmyselftolookathim, letalonerespond Asmilecameacrosshisfaceashesaid “My lastquestionwaswhenyoucouldbeginworking, whatdidyouthinkIasked?” Thefearthat onceencompassedmycomplexioncametopassjustasthenextfewweeks
Aftertakinganorder, IrealizedIhaveonlybeenhereforashortwhileyeteveryexperience seemstobeasenticingyetfrighteningasthelast SouthAfricaisatrulycomplexcountry withdifferentperspectiveseachtellingthesamestory Hopefully, someday, asasecond-class citizenwillbeabletospeakaboutmyownperspectiveonthisstorywhichisthejourneyof theforgottenindividualinSouthAfrica
Elizabeth ClaredonHighSchoolforGirls Grade 11
AidenandEthan Weretwosocks ThatMaruMoriknitted Withhersheepherder’shands
“HeyEthan! Thisguyneverwasheshis feet! Heissoharebrained! He’slikeastray, stinkingdoginafivestarhotel”
“IknowAiden! Hisfeetareso malodorous Hisfeetarelikebagsoftrashina brightgreenpasture ”
“Healwaysputsuswiththeothersocks Andtheyaresotornandragged!” “Yeah! Wearesomuchbetterthan them Wedeservetobekeptinacupboard onlyforus!”
“No! Ideservetobekeptinadrawer onlyforme Haveyouseentheleftfoot! It’sgruesomeandIhavetosuffer everyday Sothat’swhyIshouldhavemyown drawer, ”
“OhcomeonAiden! Givemeabreak! Therightoneistheworst! Mywholebodyisgettingblack! That’swhyIshouldhavemyown cupboard, ”
“Togetherweareateam, ”
“Ourdestinywassupposedtobeso muchbetter Wecouldhavebeenownedby millionaires!”
“Ibettheirfeetwouldbeasfragrantas lotuspetals. ”
T h e t a l e o f t h e s
o c k s
VeeirKapoor GDGPS Grade 6
y d a m , h e r
l e e c h
Mydam, herleech
Myheartcontracts Ibegmyselfto calmdown
Myeyesightfaded, earsstandingon endandhandsasdryastheGariep dam, onlywaitingfortheauthorityfrommy ownnervestopushagainstits concretewalls
Itiseitherafloodoratricklebut eitherway, thecracksofitswallsare welcomed
Nowmidday
Itiscoming
Notslowbutnumbing
noteventhesixthsenseofintuition cantellwherefrom
Withsharpclawsandtheaccuracyofa Mathematiciancalculatingallsteps towardsherfully, simultaneouslysuckingherdryasthe Pacificembodiesme. Pollutedorclean, allmemories becomemeaningful.
The 13thhour
Sheisunlucky..
Ominousobjective, planningitsnext assaultlikesecondnature, completelydefault. Mycrisisisnowexistential Missionsuccessful.
Sheisgone
Mydamfullyburstbutwithherblood thatleft… herwithanunquenchedthirst
m
Elizabeth ClaredonHighSchoolForGirls Grade 11
Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to all who have contributed to the development of this Issue and the Scholar's Chronicle. Our team has been extremely grateful to work alongside a group of very accomplished and gifted individuals. We truly hope that our readers will enjoy from our latest issue and that they will continue to return for more enriching and captivating articles. Thank you for your unwavering support.
Your Editors
KK & hasiniA BIG THANK YOU TO OUR EDITORS
JOANNA, NANDINI & NITYA
