Confessions of a retiring chalk

When Life Gives You Cracks, Keep Writing And Glide On That Blackboard

Akshita Rathore, AIS MV, XI F

Screechhhhhh…. Uhm uhm (Clearing his dusty throat)

Ladies and Gentlemen, respected teachers, sleepy students, and my dusty best friend Blackboard. Before you stands the most overused, underappreciated, and frequently broken member of this classroom, I, your humble chalk. Today, I don’t just speak… I crumble my way through my final farewell.

Dust to dawn
Ah, those glorious days! I still remember when I was brand new, teachers picked me up like a royal sceptre. My finest moments? When teachers left the room! While you might think students would talk or nap, I transformed. I became Picasso’s paintbrush, Shakespeare’s sword, and Einstein’s notepad (I am, after all, at least a hundred years older than him). In those ten magical minutes, I hosted the greatest underground talent show, right on my beloved blackboard.

Chalk’s daily grind
But life wasn’t always very smooth. I lived a double life, to be precise, educator by day, detective’s sidekick by night. My powdered form? Perfect for catching rogue fingerprints. Yet danger lurked everywhere. One slip from a teacher’s palm and crack! I’d split in half. And teachers didn’t even hesitate. “Half chalk is enough. I don’t need a complete one.” Imagine being expected to work…after being fractured. Isn’t it unfair?  I leave it to you.
Powdered perils
Let’s address the crimes. I’ve been kidnapped by mischievous students, hidden in pockets, crushed into dust, and launched across classrooms in full-blown chalk wars. I became the most accessible weapon in the room, rarely the respected tool of knowledge I was meant to be.

Sweet, dusty revenge
But revenge, dear friends, is best served with screech. Whenever I found myself back in a teacher’s firm grip, my chalky tip held a secret power ie the sudden declaration of a surprise test! Many wished for me to break but I’m not that fragile.

The fall of chalkdom
And then came the dark days. Sleek, dust-free markers rolled in like Bollywood stars, stealing the spotlight. I was pushed aside forgotten in corners, abandoned in trays, left to gather my own kind.
But a word to you, dear markers: enjoy your stardom while it lasts. Because just as you dethroned me… smart boards and touchscreens are already waiting to overthrow you.
And I?
Even as the smallest fragment
I can still leave my mark.

The six facets of a prodigy

How Eklavya Aggarwal Set Rubik’s Cube Amazing Record

Anushree Gupta & Naisha Das
AIS Vasundhara 6, X C

On November 2, 2025, Eklavya Aggarwal of Class UKG  B at AIS Vas 6, set a world record by solving a 2×2 cube while answering 26 mythology questions, a feat recorded by the International Book of Records. Let’s see how he transforms cubical chaos into focus.

The white cross: Beginning
In cubing, the white cross marks the beginning and acts as the foundation for the solve. For Eklavya, that base was laid at an early age. “I was three years old when I first learned to solve the Rubik’s Cube. I was inspired by its beautiful colours,” he shares.
   First layer corners: Mythology
His interest in mythology began during a Nursery school play based on the Ramayan. “Since then, these stories are my companions.” Calling Lord Ram his favourite, he continues, “Ram was a skilled archer, respected his elders, and loved his brothers very much.”

Middle layer: Journey
Daily routine at home and encouragement at school form the backbone of his journey. He says, “My mother tells me bedtime stories about Ram, Krishna, and Prahlad every day. I do pooja with my father every morning. My school supports me through different activities.”

Top layer cross: Staying calm
During the record bid, neither speed-cubing nor mythology questions felt hard. “I felt both were easy. When I completed the final layer, I felt very happy and truly blessed,” he says.  

Orienting corners: Abhyas
When asked what he would like others to learn, he answers without wavering: abhyas. “I believe practice makes a man perfect.”

Positioning corners: Future
His record attempt clocked an astonishing 1.40 seconds. But time cannot stop him from learning something new. “I’m learning how to play the piano now,” he signs off.