May - June 2023

T h e s c h o l a r ' s C h r o n i c l e

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?

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

Peacesimplyisn'taboutcoexistence, It'saboutpersistence, Persistingforabetterworld, Persistingforadifference

Peacesimplyisn'taboutcoexistence, It'saboutacceptance, Acceptanceofthoseindividualswhoaddvaluetothisplanet Regardlessoftheirsex, race,religionordisability.

Peacesimplyisn'taboutcoexistence, It'saboutadherence, It'saboutstickingtogetherandprovidingahelpinghand, Becauseonesmallfavourcanmakeahugedifference

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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. ”

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

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 & hasini

A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR EDITORS

JOANNA, NANDINI & NITYA