A goodilicious human 

A Beginners Guide To Punk Rock

Harshull Grover, AIS Gurugram 43, IX E

Thanks to James Gunn and Clark Kent, kindness, we all finally know, is the real punk rock. So, it’s time for us all to  pull an Anakin Skywalker and leave the Dark Side. Use this specially curated recipe for your courageous rebellion towards becoming a good human, because the loudest defiance isn’t destruction, it’s compassion dressed in a smile.

Main ingredient

500g honesty (the pure, no-additives kind)
Other essential ingredients

 A tin-full of empathy
 Another tin of ambition guided by hard work
 A cup of guts to trust and accept others
 A cup of being trustworthy
 Two cups dedicated to good behaviour and positive attitude
 A pinch of ego
 Butter for greasing - composed of simplicity
 Sprinkles of humble words, compassion, and love (Mind you, they are not optional.)
Instructions

 First, take a huge bowl and add your ‘honesty’ to it. No misery here, it is the base for your ‘perfect cake’, aka ‘the perfect human’.
 Add both cups of trust and trustworthiness to it. Do not hesitate to add good behaviour and a positive mindset along with those.
 Carefully add the tin of ambition, hard work, and empathy. Focus on the key details while gently folding your batter.
 Add a pinch of ego, just about enough to balance things out, and not be too gullible.
 Grease your ‘heart-personified’ baking tin with simplicity and bake it at your earliest convenience. But remember, it mustn’t lose its warmth.
 After taking it out of the oven, sprinkle all the love and compassion you have found. Add humble words, not sugar-coated sweet nothings. Missing or skipping this step is sure to leave the dish dry and very difficult to swallow.
Chef’s tip

If you ever have plenty of any ingredient, share with others. And make note: the main ingredient - honesty - is like salt; too little and the whole recipe feels bland, too much in the wrong place can sting. But just the right amount makes everything better. Tada! Your perfect human is ready to win hearts.

Tempered in battle

The Epic Saga Of A Sword Through Trial And Triumph

Aarna Sachdev, AIS MV, Alumna

In the primordial echoes of time, I emerged into existence amidst the thunderous beats of hammers, my destiny forged with a blazing inferno. While this may sound like a tale spun from fantasy, such has been my story, unfolding over 5000 years.

I have stood witness to various civilisations, evolving from the Stone Age to the contemporary era of warfare. Kings and warriors have clasped my hilt, wielding me as both a weapon and a shield. As a consequence, my odyssey has traversed the vast expanse of nations, marching alongside monarchs and soldiers alike.
I am the indomitable sword. Across the sands of time, I have inscribed the annals of history with my daring exploits. In my journeys alongside valiant warriors, I encountered diverse manifestations of my kind. First, I met the Katana, the very essence of the Samurai(s), a member of the Japanese warrior caste. My overachieving cousin possessed a sharpness that could cut a sheet of paper in half. These samurai blades were forged using two types of tamahagane (a form of steel), dating back to the Nara Period (710-794 CE). Crafted with meticulous precision by master craftsmen, who layered carbon to ensure unparalleled strength and flexibility, Katana came to be known as ‘the world’s strongest cutting tool’.
Venturing into the Persian lands, I encountered the formidable Shamshir, the name echoing its design - ‘curved like a tiger’s claws’. Its cold-steel blade, deeply curved for draw cuts, wrought havoc upon adversaries. 31-35 inches in length and 1-1.2 kg in weight, the sword made its way to India with the Mughals. Carried by warriors, the Shamshir’s crescent-shaped blade, with a guard styled in Indo-Persian-Mughal and Turkish fashion, left an indelible mark on history.
But when I came to the valiant lands of India, I was faced with many kinds of swords, Talwar, Urumi, Moplah, Nandaka, and many others. But the most memorable of them was the Khanda, also known as the ‘Last Stand Indian Sword’. A double-edged straight sword designed for cutting and slashing, it maintained a consistent width throughout, it originated from the Gupta period. Unique features, including a large guard, separate finger guard, and a dual-role pommel spike, showcase its prowess as both an attacking weapon and a handrest.
Voyaging into country, China, I encountered the formidable sister duo Jian and Dao - the Yin and Yang of Chinese weaponry. The Jian, known as the ‘gentleman of weapons,’ is a double-edged straight sword celebrated for its precision and grace over 2,500 years. In contrast, the Dao, a single-edged curved sword with origins in ancient battlefield tactics, is renowned for its raw power and versatility.
The stories of my kin are vast and rich, and each yearns to be recounted. Alas, the constraints of time and space compel me to sheathe my tales for now. Until our blades clash again someday, may our tales resonate eternally. Farewell, until the next encounter!
(Aarna is currently pursuing BDS in Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai.)