Centennial light bulb

Confessions Of A 124 Year Young Bulb

Lakshya Narula, AGS Gurgaon, Alumnus

I am a product of a generation where things are meant to last. That makes me a predecessor to the generation of conspiracy products with a reduced lifespan. Although my kind is notorious for short lives, I was granted this long life by the hand-blowing process in the Shelby Electric Company Ohio. My makers had no idea they were crafting a living legend - the Centennial light bulb.

Their secret recipe? A thick carbon filament, high nitrogen atmosphere, and good old fashioned craftmanship - none of this flimsy ‘planned obsolescence’ nonsense that causes modern bulbs to flicker out faster than a TikTok trend.

My early career wasn’t glamorous. I first served in 1903 at Fire Station 1, Livermore. As a rookie ceiling light, firefighters barely noticed me! I guess, they were more concerned with, you know, fires? Finally, my importance as a beacon of hope was recognised by Mike Dunstan. Since then, I had a burning desire to survive transfers, renovations, and power cuts! Now, I live in the sunny state of California, Fire Station #6, since 1976. I must admire the caution with which I was transferred. My socket’s cord, carefully severed, for any harm could cause irreversible damage to this miracle! Deprived from my oxygen supply (electricity) for 22 minutes, police took me to a new home in a special box.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first time I had been resuscitated. Obviously, it was just an act to scare you kids! But seriously, the power supply is at fault here. I had to wait 9 hours and 45 minutes before coming back to life, phew! Still, I am considered to have been burning continuously.

My contribution to provide navigation in the dark makes me a reminder of faithfulness and service. I am a representation of the true spirit of the human ingenuity and the innate quality of envisioning and achieving extraordinary feats. Seems I’m exaggerating right? Wrong - American ex-president George W Bush himself stated this, and I have written proof!

I bet you’re dying to see me now. Don’t worry, you hashtag hatchlings can find me live on the internet, constantly monitored by paparazzi (webcams). Otherwise, you could travel to Livermore for a visit. And bring me a walker please… I’ve fallen from my prime of 60 watts to just 4 watts! Some say I’m only a flicker away from retirement. But I’d like to think I’ve a few more decades on me. I’m what? Only 124 years young. But Guinness seems to believe otherwise. (Please! Do I look 125?) Who do you believe more? I’m about 40 years older than Guinness and much, much wiser.

(Lakshay is currently pursuing Bachelor of Computing from Nation University of Singapore.)

The great Indian household

The Survival Guide Of Desi Things

Lavanyaa Verma, AIS VYC Lucknow, XII B

Namaste, Namaste! Hello and welcome to the Great Indian Household, the only reality show where no one gets eliminated, only marginally and provisionally cancelled. And just like all desi homes, once you enter, you can never leave! Please give a round of applause for our contestants and don’t forget to vote for your favourites:

Player 1: Polythene bag - the eternal overachiever

It was brought into the house on a slow evening in 2017, carrying potatoes with free green chillies. Over the years it has evolved into a crafty equivalent of a Russian nesting doll with 57 additional polythene bags inside it, and somehow, they keep multiplying. It’s been a raincoat, a shoe-carry cover, and even a glove - like Frank Sinatra said, ‘That’s life’.

Player 2: Biscuit tin - the master of betrayal

The unboxing is not even a jump scare at this point, we see it coming from needles away. No longer home to delicious Danish cookies, residing inside are now the new tenants - needles, threads, a museum-sized collection of buttons, and a variety of safety pins in every size. The perfect example of ‘expectation vs reality’. You open the tin with hunger, and close it right back with a heartbreak. Their best friend is the ice cream box, or rather the frozen pea-keeper. Appearances can be deceptive? What an understatement.

Player 3: Quartz plate - the royalty of crockery

The true favourite child of all mothers, the blue floral pattern has stood the test of time and a generation of visitors. Not all are worthy of these delicate entities, requiring the same love and care as new born babies. On regular days, no one is even allowed to touch them. The only reason guests even get to see them is because India does not have a queen.

Player 4: Old cloth - from riches to rags

Once a party shirt or a proud kurta, the only runway it glides over now is the kitchen slab or bookshelves. Every new swipe adds to it another personality layer of stains or dust. And just like in all desi homes, once it enters, it can never leave! What a journey! A true hero!

Glamour may vanish in desi households but utility endures.

They have all experienced clean-ups, multi-functionality, and "Ab toh nikaal do isko!" In this house, everyone is a champion, but there can be only one winner. Make your decision, cast your vote.