Et tu, ALEXANDRIA?

Hoarding: A Preemptive Response To Uncertainity

Parneka Chowdhry
AIS Gurugram 46, XI J

From Julius Caesar to you, from 700,000 scrolls in Alexandria’s library to 30 active browser tabs— we have incessantly, passionately submitted to the appeal that hoarding brings. In the third century, the Library of Alexandria was the unrivalled hoarder’s haven before it was engulfed by a raging inferno. The irony, however, is that despite being reduced to ruins, it stays with us, tucked within our Google Chrome window. Owing to our constellation of open tabs; we cling not to knowledge, but to the possibility of accessing it. “What if I need this article later?” is the 21st-century way of saying, “Yes, Zenodotus, we need 20 more copies of this scroll.”
The inevitability of loss and the anxiety tied to impermanence coexist in a world where it is possible to maintain the illusion of perpetuity. The Egyptians didn’t need documented knowledge for all variations of the lentil stew recipe. Similarly, you don’t need last week’s astrology prediction; you need comfort in the clutter for a false sense of autonomy over what surrounds you. But is it essentially bad?  The endless stack of open tabs might be detrimental to your browser’s health, but ultimately, it’s just a pre-emptive response to unpredictability.
Nevertheless, if it’s human nature to resist change, then it is upon the laws of the world to enforce it. Like the Library of Alexandria, nothing is safe from one accidental shutdown, one auto-update, and one ‘clear all history’. Try as one might to resist the truth, the trajectory of life is ungovernable. It returns; even in the form of an ‘accident’. The fire that devoured the Library of Alexandria was intended solely for setting the harbour ablaze for defense. Similarly the ‘minimise windows’ button is in the concerning vicinity of the ‘close’ button. What starts as the first step to a short break may end up being the last step of your journey with the window(s).
We seldom intend to close all tabs, and neither did Mr Caesar, but the browser tabs close and the library burns — there is peace and mourning in that acceptance. That one moment of panic, and your coffee mug conveniently spilling over, suffering as a casualty is always followed by “Ah well, maybe I didn’t need that anyway.” New windows will prevail, opened only to be closed, and there will be more libraries, inaugurated only to be sold. In another thirty minutes, there’ll be a new recipe you’ll try to save, before it’s gone again, lost to the power of ‘reload’.
But for now, click save and close all the tabs, for the past does not need to load forever.

 

Success like air

I have always loved telling stories as I find them the most easy and efficient way of communicating my deep thoughts with my Amitians. As the nation celebrates our women’s World Cup triumph, I feel immense pride as an Indian — and, as a mother, inspired to share a story of success with you all.
Once upon a time a young boy went to the great philosopher Socrates and shared with  him that he wants success in life and so he seeks Socrates’s guidance. The great philosopher asked him to come back the next day. So the boy went to him again and this time Socrates took the boy near a river and holding his hand started walking into the river, and once he reached deep waters Socrates with all his might pushed the boy’s head down into water. The boy after struggling for a while managed to pop out his head from water and Socrates asked him, “What did you  want?” “Success,” screamed the boy, and with that Socrates once again dunked the boy’s head deeper into water and this time he did not let him come out. He kept his hand over the boy’s neck to ensure that his head remains inside water. After much struggle, the boy managed to come out gasping badly for air, Socrates asked again, “Now what do you want most?” “Air, air, air,” gasped the boy. Socrates took the boy on the bank of the river, sat down with him and told him, “When you were dunked deep into water all you ever wanted was air, nothing else came to your mind. Success is same, it is just like air, if you want success with your entire mind, body and soul, then you must desire it wholeheartedly, just like you desired air to breathe. Just like you struggled with all your might to come out of water and get air, you have to be dedicated and work hard to be successful in life.”
The Women’s Cricket World Cup triumph is the result of years of relentless hard work a victory born of deep desire and determination, as essential to them as air itself.

A fearless mind

Transcending the boundaries of space and land, the knowledge was envisioned to  flow freely, with confidence and fearlessness by revered poet Tagore, some decades ago. The aspiration has been a brimming reality at Amity, visible in the thoughts and expressions penned down by students in ink in The Global Times, for which we are extremely thankful to our Chairperson, Dr (Mrs) Amita Chauhan. The collection of creative poems, conversations, and narratives worked upon by our editorial team for our contest issue, reflects thinking, disciplined, and synthesising minds, completely devoid of fear. The journey of thought process of emerging ideas, that could have been shaped through Vasudha, debated through MUNs, reached community through Youth Power, exchanged globally, and powered with BHAAG mantra, culminated to find a place in this contest issue. The Vedic prayer, often rendered by our Chairperson, as “Abhayam mitrat abhayam amitrat,” encourages Amitians not to be afraid of failure, rather embrace it to rectify their actions. She instils among Amitians the courage to say ‘No’ to bullying, anger, and peer pressure to be a fearless individual. Through prayers, shloka chanting, yoga, mindfulness etc, Amitians have been empowered emotionally, socially, and spiritually to face all hurdles of life. Congratulating our EB for their efforts towards another successful issue, we celebrate every endeavour that nurtures fearless mind and a soulful learning.

Living with change

Dear readers,
Another year, another edition – another collection of thought-provoking ideas and series of meetings. With every passing year, the competition intensifies, and so does the evolution we witness around us. This evolution is a gift, reminding us that change is the only constant. From the birth of civilisation to today’s youth striving for permanence, time reminds us that adaptability is our greatest strength.
As educators, we experience this change firsthand. Each new batch of students brings fresh ideas and perspectives, urging us to remain flexible and guide their energy in meaningful directions. The Amity universe continuously strives to build a society where purpose aligns with the contemporary and learning evolves with time.
This edition celebrates the change shaping our world, through art and theatre, science and the internet, while reflecting on the foundations of the past to improve the present and embrace flexibility as a way of life in the future.
Happy reading!