T O D A YT O D A YT O D A YT O D A YT O D A YApril, 2012

Join the RevolutionThe large room could only charitably be described as a centralhall - makeshift walls, a leaking roof and a mud floor (though itwas impossible to verify that, as no inch of the floor was visible).As the camera panned across the darkened room, it became apparentthat it was packed with hundreds of bodies jammed against eachother. Closer inspection revealed these to be of young children andteenagers, and you wondered which cruel jailor had imprisonedthem thus.

The shock was to learn that all these children actually chose to sleeplike this every night, because the alternative was far worse. If theystayed in their homes, there was a high chance that they would getcaptured by the LRA and whisked off to an unspeakably horriblefate. If at all they survived, they would be turned into child soldiers,or worse, sex slaves.

The Lord’s Resistance Army, run by Joseph Kony has terrorizedvillagers in at least four countries in central Africa for nearly 20years, killing tens of thousands of people. Mr. Kony, a sadistic,brutal psychopath of the worst kind, has been wanted for war crimesby the International Criminal Court since 2005.

“In a testament to the explosive power of social media, JasonRussell’s movie has made Joseph Kony and the LRA householdnames all over the world in a matter of a few days.”

Having had some experience with making movies about emotionallyarousing issues (though admittedly, not nearly at the level of thisfilm), in my opinion, the movie was a work of art. It was incrediblywell thought out. It had just the right amount of disturbing, pity-provoking, images, (though carefully nuanced so as not to be tooupsetting), accompanied by a simple, relatable, understandablesolution, and narrated through a personal, heart-wrenching story.

The movie took us through a heart-breaking journey, elicited tears,disgust, and outrage, but at the end, it gave us a solution. It gave usa simple way to help, and harnessed and channelized all the powerfulemotions aroused within us towards immediate action. The simpleyet elegant solution the movie offered resounded within me.

Russell said that we must keep Kony in the news, so that legislatorsare pressurized to act, so that there is political will to ensure thatthe US envoys stay in Uganda, so that the Ugandan army has achance of capturing Kony. This focused action allows all of us toget involved and to play a role in stopping these unspeakableatrocities forever.

I am personally fed up with the bystanders who bleat their fatuouscriticism of Russell’s effort from the sidelines. It may be true thatthe movie has oversimplified the issue, but the overwhelming factis that it is a very powerful and effective movie that absolutely nailsits purpose, and in fact it is its very simplicity that makes it work.

Invisible Children has also been criticized on the grounds that itfocuses too much on capturing Joseph Kony, and too little onrehabilitating the soldiers who have deserted. To me, this criticismseems narrow-minded in the extreme. This problem can only beresolved at the root. Only once Kony is captured, can we really startthe process of healing, efforts at rehabilitating deserters are futile,if more like them are created everyday.

'Invisible Children’ should be admired for what it has done, ratherthan criticized for what it hasn’t.

April 20th was the designated day for all those who wished to speakup against Kony to take action. On this date, people around theworld put up posters bearing Kony’s face in their neighbourhoods,and spread the message so that no one was ignorant of him andhis crimes… and we can bring the 1st International War Criminalindicted by International Criminal Court to Justice.

Amira Singh, 12

"If at all they survived, they would be turned intochild soldiers, or worse, sex slaves"

School WatchClass 6 Just a minute 1st Aryan Sadh, 2nd Yashodha JayalResult of Hindi Nibandh Lekhan Pratiyogita(Class 9 and 10)1st Rishabh Chatterjee, Aadit Raj Gupta2nd Rishabh Periwal, Tarana GuptaU12 football team played Blackburn RoversJunior Soccer League and after 18 matches,VVS is leading by 10 points

KONY 2012-SPREAD THE WORD

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Yamuna Yatra

2012

The Yamuna Yatra is said to be a ‘coming-of-age-ritual’ at

Vasant Valley. Each Class that goes on the journey, returns

with something new, which they will remember forever.

The Batch of 2014 too, had its own share of experiences...

"Lakhamandal was the first time that wehad ever seen a clean Yamuna and thisinstilled a sense of hope in our hearts. "

- Divya Shastri

"Our tiny tents were our only shelter in the freezing cold atJanki Chatti, where we spent two nights. It was here many ofus finally relieved our systems, and I guess that’s why we nowfondly remember it as Jaanki Tatti."

– Ragini Kothari

"The trek was long, and the decision to come on the Yatra hurt.But when we took a dip in the bubbling hot sulphur springs atYamunotri and drenched our shoes trying to traverse the snowall around, it was worth it."

- Namrata Narula

"We reached Dak Pathar, tired and dusty, think-ing we would have no fun there. But we eventuallyended up playing a cricket game with the local kidsand despite the fact that if any one saw us bat, theywould post it on YouTube…it was a game we’llcherish forever. "

- Sharanya Thakur

"Almost everyone bought kara’s atPaonta Sahib. The emotions you feelwhen 6 dozen other people relate toyour faith and what you believe in areineffable."

- Ranjit Singh

"Delhi was the first time we saw the polluted Yamuna in such closeproximity since we entered the plains, and it was not just horrifying,it was revolting in comparison. At this point we truly understood thesentiments behind the Yatra; why it began and why we were chosen."

- Pia Kochar

At Paonta Sahib

“Kharsali, Kharsali.”

"It was sad to see the river in Vrindavanas it was black, dirty and smelt bad. Butit was a lot of fun eating chaat anddestroying our stomachs with anabnormally large amount of it."

– Abhishek Dhawan

VASANT VALLEY TODAY PAGE - 3

The River As it carves its way through stones,

Melted ice from mountains, On its way it shrieks and groans, Sometimes stagnant or in fountains.

It is a treat to the eyes, Like an angel in disguise.

Somewhere blue, somewhere whiteA smile on your face when it’s in sight

As I sit here writing this poem,The river flows past my eyes.

It sends down my back many a shiver… Nothing beats the beauty of this river.

Amnaya Sheel Khosla, 11

V V I Q

Q- What do you understand by the term ‘Zugzwang’?

A few of the amusing answers we got:

Viruj Menon - Oh, I’ve heard that before, it’s a Chinese wordAryan D’Rozario - An American phrase that means nothing.Amaya Kothari - Expelliarmus! Zugzwang! It’s a quite well-known Harry Potter spell

Malika Oak - A sound effect used in movies?

Krishna Singh - The plant that the Zoozoos own, in Vodafonecommercials.

Zugzwang actually means a situation where one player is putat a disadvantage because he has to make a move – the playerwould prefer to pass and make no move (but is compelled todo so). In game theory, it specifically means that it directlychanges the outcome of the game from a win to a loss.

Making New Friends

March closed with an excellent note this year...The Exchange Programof class 9!!! The Grace Church students arrived in India on the 19th ofMarch, and after their tour in India, they came to stay with us in Delhi.The school arranged a visit to Dilli Haat, as well as to the light andsound show in the Purana Quila. It was amazing! In addition to this, theGCS students were taken for a visit to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, wherethey saw a collection of gifts given to the President. On the last day ofthe Program, we were all invited for a special dinner at Mr. Kapur’shouse. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The food and the ambiencewere amazing! The next day, on the 27th of March, we were forced tosay goodbye to our guests, who had left a powerful impact in our livesin this short period of time...

Rishabh Chatterjee, 10

sauhanao sapnaosauhanao sapnaosauhanao sapnaosauhanao sapnaosauhanao sapnaosapnaa hO maora ik Baart maoM na hao Ba`YTacaarBa`YT naotaAaoM ko baaro maoM na imalao samaacaar.

jana laaokpala laakr Annaa nao raoknaa caaha Ba`YTacaarhO yah sapnaa maora hO yah sapnaa maora.

kaSa Baart maoM maOM kuC garIbaI imaTa patagarIbaaoM kao pD,a ilaKakr ]nhoM kuC banaa pata.

kaSa maOM BaI Baart ko ilae kuC kr patahO yah sapnaa maora hO yah sapnaa maora.

nae naalao AaOr saD,ko banavaatanae pula AaOr baaÐQa.

Baart kao saurixat banaatahO yah sapnaa maora hO yah sapnaa maora.

mau[-d Asad 9 sa

PLAYLIST

1. Glad you came - The wanted

2. Mirror - Lil’ Wayne feat. Bruno Mars

3. Off To The Races – Lana Del Rey

4. Warning Shot - MGK

5. Calling (Lose my mind)

- Sebastien Ingrosso and Alesso

6. Ma cherie - Dj antoine feat. the

beatshakers

7. Charlie Brown - Coldplay

8. Make Me Proud-Drakeft.Nicki Minaj

9. Sister – The Black Keys

10. Settle Down - Kimbra

- Ranjit Singh, 11

2012 Exchange Program

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Budget

It seems, according to a majority of Indians

the 2012 budget has been thoroughly

disappointing as it lacked the required

‘boost’ or ‘thrust’ to push the slowing

economic growth in India.

It has been promised that black money will

be curbed to a large extent. As much as I

yearn for that to happen, unfortunately, I

know it is unlikely to occur. It is heartening

to see that the government plans to give

importance to infrastructure for future growth, yet I don’t

believe any of the projects designed will come out of their 2D

blueprint considering the time it takes for our country to

execute any of it’s plans.

On the other hand, I am inconceivably happy to see that

20,000 crores are being taken out for rural development! It is

ethical how the taxes have been distributed according to the

person’s income and the hike in disability pension is

absolutely necessary!

As always, the budget has its pros and cons. Me, being a

hopeful citizen of this country will just be optimistic and

believe that everything will pan out the way it has been

thought through, and aspire for a better and more successful

India!

- Ananya Gupta, 9

Aaja kI naarI kla kI saSa@t naarIAaja kI naarI kla kI saSa@t naarIAaja kI naarI kla kI saSa@t naarIAaja kI naarI kla kI saSa@t naarIAaja kI naarI kla kI saSa@t naarIek naarI ek pUra caË hI. ]sako BaItr banaanao va badlanao kI Sai@t hO.}pr ilaiKt pMi@t DIeona maorIcaa[-lD Wara khI ga[- qaI. yah ek maSahUr naIit hOM. vaastva maoM, maOM[nakI baat sao pUrI trh sahmat hUM. yaid hma Qyaana lagaakr saaocao, tao hmao pta calaogaa ik AaOrt ko ibanaa maanava jaI nahI pata. hma ijatnaa caaho AaOrt kao naIcaa idKaMe,yah baat kBaI nahIM badlaogaI ik AaOrt Aaja kla ko samaaja ka ek bahut mah%%vapUNa- ihssaa hO, AaOr hmaoSaa rhogaI. hoilana kolar, [Midra gaaMQaI, imaSaOla baOiSalao, laxmaI baa[- AaOrmadr TrIsaa, yah saba kuC maSahUr naairyaaoM ko naama hOM AaOr [na saba maoM ek samaanata hO – yah saba ek eosao Kanadana maoM pOda hue, jaao bahut Kulao ivacaarao ka hOM AaOr [na sabamaoMAagao baZ,nao va naairyaaoM kao samaaja maoM bahtr AaOda donao kI vah AaOr [cCa qaI. hoilana kolar ko ijaMdgaI maoM k[- kiznaa[yaaM Aa[- prMtu ]nhaonaoM ]na kiznaa[yaaoM ka saamanaa kr, Apnaova Apnao doSa ka naama raoSana ikyaa. ]sanao duinayaa kao idKa idyaa ik yaid AadmaI eosaa kama kr sakta hO, AaOrt BaI. Aaja kla ko baZ,to tknaIk va iva&ana kI vajah sao,pZ,nao va pZ,anao ko nae nae trIko ]%pnna hue hOM jaao baccaaMo kao ApnaI Aaor AakiYa-t krta hOM. yahaÐ tk ik Aba garIba laaoga BaI Apnaa pUrI jaI jaana lagaa rhoM hO Apnao baoTaoMkao ivaValaya Baojanao ko ilae. prMtu ek hI samasyaa hO. gaaMva mao rhnao vaalao laaoga Apnao baoTo kao hI pZ,anaa caahto hMO, AaOr ApnaI baoiTyaaoM sao saara Gar ka kama krvaanaa caahtohOM. yah sahI nahIM hOo, [saI ko karNa Aaja Baart doSa j,yaada Aagao nahIM baZ, rha hOM. [saIilae Baart sarkar nao k[- yaaojanaae banaa[- hMO ijasasao baailakaAaoM kao BaI iSaixat ikyaajaae. Aaja ko [sa Baaga daOD, kI ija,MdgaI ko saaqa calanaa ek bahut mauiSkla kaya- hao gayaa hO j,yaadatr AaOrtaoM ko ilae . yaid AaOrt kao svatM~ banaanaa hO, ]sao pZ,anaaAavaSyak hO. ivaVa p`aPt krnao pr vah ija,MdgaI jaInao AaOr duK bardaSa krnao ko taOr trIko inakala laogaI AaOr dUsaraoM pr inaBa-r nahI haogaI vah Aa%mainaBa-r hao jaaegaI. yah[sa doSa ko ilae ja$rI hO. vah Apnao fOsalao Kud lao paegaI AaOr hmaaro doSa kI ]nnait maoM haqa baZ,aegaI . tqaa ek pZ,I ilaKI naarI ek saSa@t naarI hO.

tranaa gauPta 10 sa

Jailbird"It is not power that corrupts, but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear ofthe scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it."- Aung San Suu Kyi on receiving the1991 Nobel Peace Prize. Aung San Suu Kyi, an inspiring and prominent political prisoner fromBurma had been kept detained under house arrest for the seemingly unending period of 15 years.She had been subjected to confined existence since her National League for Democracy Party won59% of the National votes along with 81% of the seats in Parliament, on 20th July 1989 to herrecent release on 13th November 2010. The 1991 Nobel Peace Laureate also received the JawaharlalNehru award for International Understanding along with the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.Daughter of the "Father of Modern Day Burma," Aung San, she addressed half a million Burmesecitizens at a mass rally calling for a democratic government, to no apparent avail since this wasfollowed by a military Junta or coup.Aung San Suu Kyi follows the ideals of Our Nation’s Father, Mahatma Gandhi along with Buddhistphilosophy imploring non-violence and the freedom to Speech. She is the epitome of dedication,strength and leadership and the world stands in awe of her.

The GunThat powerful key to claimlives,Of children, husbands, soldiersand even wives.Physique, rather tough and boldSome cherish like a pieceof gold.While others dread the mere pres-ence of thy strength,Trembled to look at even at a length.No one dares looks down upon thee,For the fear of thy barrel holds the key.A mind; sharp, intense, quick and piercingTriggers feelings, thoughts, words which stingBurning the innocent insides of humanity,The unfortunate side of thy personality.The sight of thy restores law and order,Protects countrymen at the border.When thy talks, the word is final,Even to those that believe they’re spinal.Thy mind is governed by the hand of others,Sees not the relationship amongst blood brothers.For thy don’t kill people,PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE.

- Zara Adil , 12

Fearless Aung San Suu Kyi-Serena Nanda, 9

VASANT VALLEY TODAY PAGE - 5

Charles DickensCharles John Huffan DickensHe was a great writer.With every new novel he wroteHis fame became brighter.He wrote many wonderfulclassicsWith charactersthat can’t beforgottenE b e n e z e r ,Scrooge is myfavouriteEven though hewas prettyrotten!Great Expectations and OliverTwistAre read in every nation..David Copperfield and A Tale ofTwo CitiesAre filled with inspiration.Dickens wrote about theVictorian PeriodHe truly was a great novelist.His classics are read in everyschoolYou should read his books,I insist!

Tia Gulyani V- A

Getting Down To WorkFdn - C

Girdhar Chandhok I- A

Suryavir Vaidyanathan and

Jaisal Chopra III - B

Meri Dilli

A Monkey in theClassroom

On Monday morning, when Ientered my classroom, there wassomething unusual. There werenotebooks scattered on the flooralong with a few banana peels.Ilooked around and was shocked toosee a large, brown, hairy monkeysitting on my teacher's desk. “Lookout!”, cried my friend. I realizedjust in time what she meant and Iquickly shifted. The brown monkeylanded exactly where I was asecond ago. The monkey slippedon the banana peaels and wentcrashing into the food trays. The'Strawberry Lite' went flying intothe air and the rice hurtled acrossmy classroom. Everyone wasscreaming and shouting. Theteacher quickly called the zoo-keeper and told him to bring a vanimmediately. All that while, themonkey was hopping from class toclass and scattering banana peels.Soon the van came. It was hardcatching the monkey since he wassitting on a fan. Then the zoo-keeper threw a stone. It scared themonkey and it jumped down. Itjumped all the way to the exit ofthe school! “Oh! No!” “It’s gettingaway,” cried the zookeeper. Nowthe monkey was only a big browndot far away. Well, at least it’s notin my class.

- Devaki Jayal, IV-B

The Crowd is

Roaring

The praises cannot stop pouring

I have proved my sceptics wrong

I am the new tech heartthrob

You see I am the next Steve Jobs

Karan Dhingra, the rebel in school,

is the innovator of the year!

I have invented a gadget that will

blow your mind

The world is my digital space,

and there is no looking behind

I gazed in blank space all day in

school

But that’s where this idea came

to me, its so cool

Its made life easy for man

Friends cannot believe I can

A mind reading sensor that

automatically puts your thinking

on the computer!

I followed my intuition and heart

The awards have taken a start

No more writing with pen or

typing - I have a dream,

I am innovator of the year

On Time magazine cover

I have a dream

I have achieved

Like I always believed!

Karan Dhingra V- C

'k''k''k''k''k' sao krolaa

sao krolaa

sao krolaa

sao krolaa

sao krolaa

gairmaa hO maora naamagairmaa hO maora naamagairmaa hO maora naamagairmaa hO maora naamagairmaa hO maora naamagairmaa hO maora naamapsand hO mauJao Kanaa Aama.ijamanaOisTk AaOr daOD, hOmaoro KolajaanavaraoM maoM AcCI lagatI hOmauJao vholamaorI daost hO Annayaa raoca

]sao gaMdo lagatO hO kaOkraoca.mauJao AcCa lagata h fuTbaa^laCuiT\TyaaoM maoM jaatI hU^M maOM maa^la.pZ,naa mauJao AcCa lagataKolanaa BaI mauJao AcCa lagata.pZ,tI hUM caar - ba maoMcaahtI hM na laDUM iksaI sao.

gairmaa raNaa caar - ba

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2012… Is the End Near?

21st December 2012. We’ve all heard of this illicit date. The Mayans “predicted” the end of the world with one of their calendars.On this date, doomsayers assert that Earth will be ravaged by a smorgasbord of cataclysmic astronomical events. It’ll be the dayNature fights back. The day when the human race will be completely destroyed. Unbelievable, right? Almost impossible. Almost.Turns out it might not be as untrue as we think. Infact the recent earthquake in Indonesia has even scientists stumped. With anearthquake with a magnitude of 8.6 and an aftershock of 8.2, the earthquake wasn’t a mild one. But that wasn’t the surprisingpart. Earthquakes of this magnitude generally occur in a subduction zone, where tectonic plates one dives beneath the otherinto Earth. However this time it was an intraplate earthquake which is a usually smaller earthquake with a maximum magnitudeof 6. This is the first time an earthquake of such a magnitude has occurred here.It seems strange. Like it’s almost a warning. A warning to show what’s to come. Maybe we’re reading too much into this. Maybethis is all nonsense. Or is it?

THE TELEVISION HALL OF FAMEA C A S T L E E R W O P H O M E L

X F U M A D M E N B P E A J U L A

C P F H E A H L S Q Z U V I T O E

B I G B A N G T H E O R Y L S D N

B E J U S D R O P D O S I S U E T

W S U P E R N A T U R A L S O X O

P D L F E D E D L U R K E G T T U

H O W I M E T Y O U R M O T H E R

W J A A F K N T M U O P P A P R A

X C O M M U N I T Y G F P O A E G

A P N I G U H U V L B V S R R U E

G O S S I P G I R L M Y U P K S D

1. Famous crime solving duo comprising of NYPD Detective and author.

2. Set in the 60s, about advertising agency and a man named Don Draper.

3. “Penny, Penny, Penny…”

4. Brothers solving mysteries related to spirits and ghosts.

5. “Oh my god, they killed Kenny!”

6. Serial killer as a hobby.

7. Vince, Ari, Turtle, E, Drama - the original crew.

8. Greendale community college and its best study group.

9. The finest of the fine - Brought to you exclusively by the Upper East Side of Manhattan

10.Suit up.

Debating: Do’s and Don’ts

On the 13th of April, a workshop on debating was held in school for all the interested debaters from various classes. Theworkshop was conducted by Mr. Logan, who has been involved in debating for the past twelve years. Like any debater, hewas enthusiastic and passionate.He began by talking about how debating is in fact intrinsic to human nature. After all, since the dawn of time, people havebeen ‘debating’ over food, space, wealth, and so on. So every person is a debater at some point of time in their lives.Debating in a formal setting, therefore, provides a chance for our inherent capacity to debate to be showcased in anorganised way, with both teams on a level playing field. As the workshopwent on, Mr. Logan talked to us about some of the key points ofparliamentary debating, one of the most popular forms of debating at theschool level. He introduced us to some of the technical aspects of debating,such as defining the motion and the format of a constructive argument.After the break, Mr. Logan decided to organise some in-house debating.Each group was to define the key terms of the topics and give constructivearguments. However, as the passion of debating took over, rebuttals andretorts began to fly even before the arguments were made!The workshop was indeed quite an experience for all present, whetheractive debaters or not- and hopefully, it served to instill the love of debatingin those who weren't!

Sanjna Surya, 11

Entourage

The Big Bang Theory

South Park

Ananya Gupta, Arman Puri, Noor Dhingra,

Rishabh Chatterjee, Serena Nanda,

Aakanksha Jadhav, Ananya Jain, Indraneel Roy,

Tarini Sardesai, Aastha Kamra, Bharat

Somanathan, Namrata Narula, Pia Kochar,

Sharanya Thakur, Vasudha Dixit, Akhila Khanna,

Amira Singh, Ishan Sardesai, Rishabh Prakash

Editor: Vandita Khanna

Editorial Board

Tarini Sardesai, 10