A civilised society resorting to primitive punishments, what does this refer to? The shame and scandal that educated and middle class people like you and me are bringing upon themselves – Honour Killings. Why would parents see it necessary to commit a crime as brutal as the murder of their own children who they have nurtured and looked after for such a large part of their lives? The answer is mind-numbingly scary and feudal. They want to defend their family’s reputation which has supposedly got tarnished due to their sons and daughters making a choice of who they want to spend their life with.
Family to most people is a sacred institution that one can expect unyielding support from, but in our society the pretentious community honour precedence over family affection, love and basic human values. Even the thought of marrying within the Gotra, outside one’s caste or religion invites strong censure from the family and if one dares to do the unthinkable then the fury of the whole community is unleashed.
The irony in this phrase – ‘honour killings’ could make one laugh out aloud. The worst part of this is that these occurrences cannot be attributed to rural areas, because it is happening right here, in the ‘civilised’ areas of our country. “The state is hampered by ambiguous laws on issues of honour killings and vote bank politics ensures that, no strict measures are implemented,” says Parth Singh, XII A, AIS Noida. Locals fearing censure are reluctant to come forward and report such crimes or even stand as witness. Such is the fear of these extra-judicial community organisations. One can only hope that awareness about such actions will force the government to sit up and take notice, saving young human beings who chose to love.
“Try to be a good human being before anything else...”
The Ramakrishna Mission is a philanthropic, volunteer organization founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897. It conducts extensive work in health care, disaster relief, rural management, tribal welfare, education and culture. The Mission bases its work on the principles of karma-yoga. The issue raised by this noble mission is The poor and the suppressed are selfless and honourable. Are they not Gods? Why not worship them first? Kripi Badonia, class VII-B, AIS Noida interviewed Swami Shubham, the Head Swami of the Ramakrishna-Mission.
What inspired the founders to start these centers?
Swami Nityananda, the founder and Principal of Ramakrishna Mission College, West Bengal, couldn’t see the plight of poor children and women and hence decided to dedicate his life to selfless service to the poor and needy by following the principles of the great Ramakrishna.
What are the activities conducted at the Noida Centre? We have twenty six boys, from poverty-stricken families. We provide food, shelter and education at public schools. Corporate firms like SAIL and HCL have helped us set up computer labs for the children. By the grace of God and thanks to the generous donors of Noida, these children are now growing in all aspects of life.
How can we as common citizens help your center?
By donating books, food, clothes, games, money. You can spend time with the boys, teach them about science and new technologies. You can also sponsor the education for one child or help enroll the children into schools.
Once the children leave the centre, do they often come back to see you all? Our children are very well brought up and are always coming back to help their juniors and providing services after their working hours. Like we’ve always taught them, we tell you all- ‘Try to be a good human being before anything else’.
F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
if you buy me a diamond
Kanchan Joneja & Devina Jain, X-J, AIS Noida
We need to know when to say stop, about knowing how much is enough. But in today’s world, the glass is always half empty; all we want is more. We have idealistic notions about friendship inculcated in us through stories. But as we grow up, reality stabs us in the back only to make us realize that the purity of friendship is eclipsed by insatiable greed. No doubt, our generation has grown up to have a devil-may-care attitude influenced by jealousy, prejudice, hatred and hypocrisy. ‘Friends’ are used as a medium to achieve goals, after which moving on and leaving the victim demoralized involves no hesitation. And then there are desperate attention seeking magnets with their Staedtlers and iPhones, on the lookout for fickle-minded followers. This verifies the universal truth: man is a social animal. He’d rather have a set of friends who hate him, instead of being alone. But contrary to this pessimistic outlook, there still are genuine people, who are proof that true friendship still exists. Yet like all situations, the power to veto is ours, whether we let ourselves drown in the sea of materialism, or be the anchor and keep the ship of true friendship afloat.
Between us
Welcome aboard the 2010 Amity, Noida edition of Global Times!
Writing for a school newspaper triggers communication, both with oneself as well as with others. This was amply evident during the course of ideation, when student writers came up with numerous storylines to enliven the issue. Creativity and criticism kept the writing muscle in the mind, active. Every story was suffixed with a nagging doubt – will anyone care to read? All averred that dissatisfaction leads to quality in terms of imagination, expression, observation and discipline when it comes to journalism. The issue you hold chronicles the diversity of ideas and the unrepressed energy that went therein to make it an interesting read.
Our cover story deals with the issue of protecting the tiger against all odds. It is a travesty of our times that inanimate stuffed replicas of the beautiful beast in the market have far outnumbered the ones that face extinction in their natural habitat.
It is heartening to know that the government has woken up to the problem, it still remains to be seen how worthy its efforts will prove in the face of poaching and encroachment of tiger habitat. The students can play a significant role in spreading awareness on the issue and supporting Project Tiger through posters, articles, signature campaigns and the like.
The Big Story analyses why engineering continues to be a safe option for many who opt for the science stream. Our young aspirants give an overview also taking into account its popularity in terms of a career that offers, both, a good pay packet as well as job security .
The creative corner celebrates the joys of childhood and how children relate to their immediate surroundings. We earnestly hope the plethora of flavours in this edition will make an interesting read.
Career calling
Dr. Amita Chauhan, Chairperson
Engineering is a profession that evokes both awe and pride. There are so many people who wish to enter this profession simply because of the status that it enjoys. There are also some students who are inspired by their engineer brothers and sisters and end up joining the league. Others simply give in to the pressure from their parents and take up this popular career choice.
There are no doubts about the opportunities that engineering as a career may bring along. But does your calling really lie in these opportunities? Every student must ask himself this question before he takes a plunge. Becoming an engineer is definitely an achievement that calls for appreciation and applause. But, not every student has the skill and talent that is required for the profession.
If you are good at painting strokes or playing with words, then you should enhance your creative streak rather than push yourself into a profession that emphasizes on the need for technical skill. Look within to find where your calling lies. Introspect to ascertain if you would really be happy being an engineer. It is better to be in a profession that you enjoy rather than something that inspires awe but no happiness.
On firm ground
Renu Singh, Principal, AIS Noida
It is a rare honour to be the Head of an institution which has been nurtured over the years by the untiring efforts of our dear Founder President, Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, a trailblazer among educationists and its dynamic and charismatic Chairperson, Dr. Mrs. Amita Chauhan along with my able predecessor, Mrs. Mohina Dar, who has taken Amity to lofty heights. Looking back to the start of this academic session we saw yet another success story unfolding itself as our students rose above the horizon with spectacular Board results. As they embark on the next challenging phase of their life, they carry with them the many tools of survival that Amity has equipped them with for a lifetime.
What distinguishes these students from others? Surely, it is not just academic excellence alone. Accomplishments in terms of values, resilience and life-skills certainly play a large part in today’s ever- changing global scenario. These students developed the awareness to budget time and use it efficiently. They also took the initiative to explore and critically analyze new ideas. They learnt to be positive and objective and not egocentric expecting everything to have relevance to their own interests. Above all, they learnt that true education means humility. These timeless virtues will help them become responsible citizens who will contribute meaningfully to the growth of a progressive nation in the years to come. Henry David Thoreau said, “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost: that is where they should be. Now put strong foundations under them.” At Amity, we believe the holistic education we offer is the foundation upon which students shape their personality and build dreams. I extend my compliments to budding writers, artists and the Editorial team for their dedicated efforts in bringing out this edition of Global Times. I hope you will enjoy flipping through its pages.
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