Happy Birthday Udantya!

Welcome to the tenth issue of Udantya!

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Udantya turns 1 today! This month we celebrate creativity in children .

__________________________ Backstage Pass The Essence of Udantya

Megaphone A Word from the Editors

Spotlight The Udantya Initiative - Aparna Vidyasagar & Namita Azad

Darkroom Create Children - Namita Azad

Armchair Critic ‘Murmel Murmel Murmel’ - The Works of Robert Munsch - Aparna Vidyasagar

Jam Session Raffi Cavoukian - Singin' for a better tomorrow! - Aparna Vidyasagar Poetic Justice

Beat Box

Cameo Has Technology Robbed Children of the Simple Pleasures of Childhood? - Rahul Srinivasan

FAQ

© Udantya 2011

BACKSTAGE PASS

The very essence of artistic expression is that, it is captured in many different ways.

A picture, a word or a tune.

Your rebellion, your journey and your destination.

Here, we aim to capture it all. Join us or explore with us.

Welcome to Udantya.

Welcome to our creative space!

Udantya aims to be a collaborative effort. If you have any articles, photos or music you would like to share, please email us at udantya@gmail.com. Future themed issues will be announced a month in advance.

© Udantya 2012

MEGAPHONE

From the Editors

Creative Carefree Children

Udantya marks its first year by coming full circle and celebrating creativity in the form of a very special endeavor- the Udantya Intitiative!

This month’s Spotlight introduces the Udantya Initiative- a creativity initiative aimed at young children. Spearheaded by Namita and Aparna, the initiative aims to encourage multi-dimensional creative thinking and self-awareness. We would love to hear your thoughts!

Darkroom features a film by Namita, ‘Create Children’, compiled from her photographs and those of Cameo contributors. The film showcases children from around the world, of all ages, and educates us about creativity.

Aparna talks about Robert Munsch, her favorite author from her childhood, in Armchair Critic. He’s funny and whimsical and really rather timeless. Read along to learn more!

Jam Session is serving up quite a fare this month! Meet Raffi Cavoukian- a very special singer; Poetry Jam is back again, and we share some of our favorite children’s films!

This month’s Cameo features returning contributor, Rahul Srinivasan, who writes about the influence of technology on modern children and the impact on their childhood.

We would also like to make a special mention of Cameo contributors Anubhuthi Bajpai, Nikhil Ray and Samar Khanna who shared their beautiful photographs with us this month and helped make our film wonderful! Thank you!

We hope you enjoy this issue!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UDANTYA!

© Udantya 2012

SPOTLIGHT

The Udantya Initiative Inspiration

Udantya began as an endeavor showcase the founders’ personal creativity, with the hopes of growing with each successive issue. It was a platform to let their expression take form, whether it was writing, photography, art or even film-making. Being a web-based magazine allowed for the interpretation of a single theme in a multi-dimensional manner. Hence the motto, ‘dwelling beyond the boundary’.

Through the course of working on Udantya both Namita and Aparna realized the therapeutic qualities of thinking creatively on a regular basis. Namita found herself growing as a writer and not losing her creative energy to the fast paced life around her. For Aparna, Udantya was freeing, off-setting the pressures of the research world. Through conversations with their contributors, some of whom were also friends, they also observed that having a platform such as this, with a theme upon which to focus their energies, gave the contributors the impetus to explore their own creativity. Some contributors had even made their first attempts at writing or photography on Udantya. These experiences further inspired Namita and Aparna’s vision for Udantya, in the form of the Udantya Initiative.

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The Udantya Initiative

The Udantya Initiative is a multi-faceted form of creative therapy targeting children in its first stage. Modeled on the web magazine, the initiative uses the written word, photography, art and video to stimulate creative expression. It aims to initiate the creative process early on and encourage young minds to think beyond the boundaries of the classroom.

©Aparna Vidyasagar

The primary goals of encouraging comprehensive creative therapy are to-

• Reduce stress (academic stress and social pressures) • Increase self-confidence • Encourage communication • Motivate team work

© Udantya 2012

Pilot Project

The pilot project targets middle schoolers, ages 9-14. The initiative will take the form of an after-school work shop. Tentatively, the workshops will be in hour long sessions, for one week. Each day will be focused on a single creative activity ranging from creative writing and poetry to art and photography.

The children will work in randomly assigned groups to diversify social interaction and communication. They will work towards putting together a presentation on the last day in a medium of their choosing, be it theater or film using each of the tools from the first five days of the workshop.

The Udantya team will conduct short surveys prior to, and following the week-long workshop in order to gauge the impact of the creativity initiative and gather feedback.

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Our goal is the successful completion of the pilot project by the end of this year and the subsequent implementation of our program. We will continue to inform you of our progress as we make this journey into creative education!

By Namita Azad & Aparna Vidyasagar

© Udantya 2012

DARKROOM

Create Children

Udantya celebrates its one year anniversary with its tenth issue focusing on 'Children'.

Create Children is a tribute to the thought that creativity needs to be a harnessed from childhood.

http://vimeo.com/36390893

By Namita

Please note: 'Alone in Kyoto' by Air is ©Emperor Norton Records, 2003 from the soundtrack of the film 'Lost in Translation'.

© Udantya 2012

THE ARMCHAIR CRITIC

‘Murmel Murmel Murmel’ The Works of Robert Munsch

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Murmel, Murmel, Murmel' Written by Robert Munsch. Illustrated by Michael Martchenko. Published by Annick Press, 1982

I can’t remember the first Robert Munsch book that I read, but I sure do remember them all! I started reading them when I was about five years old, for the next couple of years or so. Our teachers would read his books out loud in school; I’d read them by myself; or my mum would read them to me at bedtime. I never grew tired of them.

As I try to remember, back to all those years ago, I know that I loved the books simply because they were so much fun! Each page reverberated with energy and the promise of some hilarious, exaggerated adventure; an adventure which, for a little child would seem entirely plausible! The characters were quirky and the stories, whimsical. The imaginative spirit of the books certainly ignited a spark within me. As I look back upon the books from an adult perspective, I think that encouraging imagination, and creative uninhibited expression are the hallmarks of a good children’s book. In addition to all the fun, there are a lot of positive messages for young children- messages parents can reinforce. Be proud of who you are; don’t be quick to judge another; don’t let anyone treat you less; there’s nothing to fear.

A part of Mr. Munsch’s success lies in the fact that his stories were often modeled after little children that he knew and very often his own adopted children. It is this grain of veritas that resonates with his audience. His genius lies in the fact that he could turn almost anything into a story- from somber issues such as adoption and the ensuing feelings of being different from your family, to something as mundane as a tantrum in a grocery store. With each story it is almost as if he travels behind the veil of the ordinary and unremarkable to weave a simple magical tale.

Robert Munsch’s stories were brought to life by the excellent illustrations of Michael Martchenko (at least in all the classic Munsch stories of the 80’s), matching the narration perfectly each step of the way. Even at the age of five, I had become a discerning reader, knowing that the Munsch-Martchenko team was a class act and getting curious whenever Mr. Martchenko illustrated something else!

I often buy Mr. Munsch’s books for my nieces and nephews or the children of my friends and I always make sure to re-read the books. Even today, they never fail to entertain me. I definitely recommend the books for young children ages 4-7. They may be simple reading for children ages 8-10, but they are definitely enjoyable and can be read along with more advanced reading material.

by Aparna Vidyasagar

Robert Munsch’s official website lists all of his books along with an audio clip of Mr. Munsch reading aloud to children. The audio is free to stream online and can be downloaded. The website also features a synopsis of

each book and a little bit about how each story came into being.

© Udantya 2012

JAM SESSION

Raffi Cavoukian- Singin’ for a better tomorrow! Children growing up in Canada during the late 70’s and 80’s will remember the music of Raffi Cavoukian, or just Raffi, to the

kids. I remember his music being so much fun- the kind of silly fun that little kids enjoy so much! Through his songs we learned everything from the vowels and little life lessons to appreciating music and gaining self-confidence. It is not surprising that an individual whose career was dedicated to children would go beyond his musical calling to work for children and a better future.

Raffi’s philosophy is called ‘child honoring’ and it is a simple philosophy that makes instinctual sense. It in involves putting our children first; in other words, “how we regard and treat our young as the key to building a humane and sustainable world”.* Happy, healthy, confident, well rounded, and culturally and environmentally aware children make for better citizens and leaders of tomorrow.

It is a philosophy that we can and do practice, but the key is to be aware of how we impact children and how children can impact those around them and their futures. By honoring children, we are giving them the tools and the desire to become better global citizens.

More information on Raffi and his child honoring philosophy can be found at http://www.raffinews.com/.

I couldn’t find my favorite song by Raffi, “Apples and Bananas” which is probably the best way to learn your vowels! But here’s another great one- a way to shake your sillies out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF9xQu7O2Eg&feature=plcp&context=C36a3b2fUDOEgsToPDskIlFpq-qENvTG0tG8mK6Xxr

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* http://www.raffinews.com/child-honouring/what-is-child-honouring

By Aparna

© Udantya 2012

Poetic Justice

Unfettered

When chalk dust is fairy dust,

and snowfall leads to wonderland.

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No moments are idle, no days are wasted.

Time’s a plenty; play is invented.

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Surrounded by friends, some unseen.

Who needs sleep, when you are living the dream?

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Eons, ages, years may pass;

look within you, isn’t that the same lass?

By Aparna

© Udantya 2012

Beat Box

This month we share with you, our favorite family friendly movies of all time!

Mary Poppins (1964) USA http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058331/

Who can forget the timeless optimism of the magical nanny, Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews)? With her joyful ditties and cheerful attitude, she sang the blues away. And, she got the little Banks’ children to pull up their socks and take on the world! Watch this film! If you don’t know what ‘supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ is; then you are truly missing out!_

Sound of Music (1965) USA http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059742/

Julie Andrews does it again with yet another wonderful musical. This time however, the tale is based on the real Von Trapp family who escaped from Nazi Austria to the United States, under the guise of being a troupe of traveling singers. The story has a little bit of everything, romance, humor and drama. It is immortalized by the wonderful music by the famous duo- Rodgers and Hammerstein, that has remained popular over time!

Children of Heaven (1997) Iran http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118849/

This is a heartwarming tale of two siblings, Ali and Zara. Ali accidentally loses Zara’s shoes, and knowing their impoverished father cannot afford another, the two little children devise a plan to share Ali’s pair. The story is poignant and at times tragically comic. Above all, it shows us the amazing resourcefulness and resilience of little children, and a wisdom far beyond our own.

Valentin (2002) Argentina http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0296915/

Valentin is simply delightful! Valentin is a sweet-natured, inquisitive, loving, bespectacled child who brings sunshine to all the lives he touches. The films is humorous and uplifting- life as seen through a young child’s eyes. An the young actor, Rodrigo Noya who plays Valentin, is possibly the cutest little guy ever!

© Udantya 2012

CAMEO I

Has Technology Robbed Children of the Simple

Pleasures of Childhood? The advent of technology has truly revolutionized each

and every sphere of life. The computer and the internet have been major technological tools that have facilitated this revolution. Ranging from productivity and efficiency in any activity, to virtual connectivity amongst people, the benefits of technology can hardly be underestimated. However, just like every coin has two sides, technology has also placed some roadblocks in people’s paths to social and intellectual development. I feel that one of the biggest banes of technology has been that it has robbed children of their simple childhood and innate innocence. With the growing addiction to computer games, online networking and aimless browsing, playing outdoor sports, reading informative books, and spending time with one’s family and friends have become rarities and alien concepts.

When one visits any park, playground or open space, the sight of a few children playing can be depressing. A person from a previous generation, be it one’s parents or grandparents, may tell you that their life-defining moments were experienced on a playground and not within the confines of a closed room. No computer can teach someone how to get up after a fall. No

computer can make a child experience sunshine, rain or snow. No computer can teach a child to walk or talk. These teachings of life can only be experienced by venturing out in the open world and spending time with one’s family and friends. Computers have thus robbed children of some of the most simple and pleasant experiences of childhood.

In my opinion, books are the biggest source of information and enlightenment for adolescents. The genesis of a curious and intellectual mind is the assimilation of thoughts resulting out of thorough reading of books and conversations with people. While articles can be read on the computer as well, computers offer a plethora of other distractions and make diligent reading of articles an extremely arduous task. Reading books at an impressionable age always stands one in good stead.

Addiction to social networking, video games and similar other technological fascinations has made today’s children and adolescents rather mechanical and disconnected. The love, affection, warmth that emanates from family members and close childhood friends is often instrumental in moulding a child’s social skills and future. One may have a thousand friends on Orkut, Facebook and other networking websites, but there is nothing more gratifying than playing or spending time with a school friend or locality friend. As a matter of fact, most of my best friends today are my childhood friends.

© Udantya 2012

There is no doubt that technology should be used to aid children and adolescents in their endeavors, but in no event should it hinder their social and intellectual development and rob them of some of the most defining experiences. Technological fascination such as computers and video games should never replace sports or the printed word. If parents and teachers fail to strike the right balance between exposure to

technology and exposure to the simple, often defining, experiences of life, they would be unwittingly stymieing the all-round development of today’s children and adolescents.

By Rahul Srinivasan

© Udantya 2012

FAQ

We’ve had a few questions over the past few months, so we thought it would be a good idea to chart out our very own FAQ page.

Do you have specific requirements to submit to Udantya?

Absolutely not! We love it all; the quirky, the unexpected and the conventional. Share your ideas with us. We want to highlight creativity and artistic expression in all forms.

Since we are a web-magazine, we have not yet felt the need to set any page limits or length restrictions. If that changes, we will let you know!

How much time do I get to submit a piece?

We usually announce the following month’s theme when we release an issue. Our rough editing scheme is as follows. (When you email us to contribute to a particular issue, you will get a set dates for that month).

-We usually ask for a short summary of your idea for the intended piece by the end of the first week of the month. -The first draft follows roughly a week to ten days later. You can submit a first draft even if you didn’t tell us your overall summary. Partial drafts are also accepted, so that we get an idea of the direction of your piece. -We like to work closely with you and reserve a week thereafter to finalize a draft. Our goal is to facilitate your vision for your piece and we view this portion of the process as a team effort.

Can I send you stuff even if it doesn’t fit a theme?

Yes, of course! We will try to find a place for it. You may even give us ideas for more themes!

Might I make a suggestion?

Yes! Questions, comments, suggestions and ideas are all welcome. Just email us at udantya@gmail.com

© Udantya 2012