FoHoH Reflections

By Nila Fernando,  Grade 11, Fiitjee Global School     Picture this: You’re in front of an audience and it’s your turn to take the stage and present. This scenario, while quite commonplace in both academic and professional fields, is an anxiety inducing one for more than a few people.  According to Forbes magazine, the average person’s number one fear is, none other than, public speaking. It managed to trump even the fear of death and the likeness of uncertainty. While it may seem preposterous for a few, the fact of the matter is that effective oratory skills and the confidence required aren’t a given for many.  Communication is far from simple, but it is very much necessary in this dog-eat-dog world.  What good are our qualifications and outstanding abilities if we’re unable to express our thoughts and ideas eloquently?  It isn’t your content alone which matters; your manner of speaking, that is, tone, body language, vocabulary and mannerisms are all ...

  #by Ramya Raghuraj, Brentwood A-2104 Patterns of the soul!  Kolam/Rangoli: Kolam is India’s long-held tradition and culture, these intricate patterns sitting gracefully on the floor of almost every other Indian household. This tradition passed down through generations, the women of India have kept the art of rangoli alive. Although creating rangolis is still a daily practice in certain rural areas of India, in cities, rangolis are often limited to auspicious days and festivals like Pongal, Diwali, Lakshmi puja etc. Significance of Rangoli and connection with women: Since ancient times, women have been waking up in the wee hours of the morning to clean their homes and create rangoli patterns which is believed to welcome goddess Lakshmi and ward off evil. Drawing the kolams, with bare fingers is a form of Mudra technique that is believed to boost spiritual stamina of women. Kolam is a form of a prayer, meditation and expression of the sacredness of life. Kol...

  ~Natalia, 6 years

Dear Friends of Hira,🌞 We are The Saplings🌱 On The Bush Walk! We are nearly a 150 🌱🌱..🌱of us, We moved to Hira recently, because of Volunteers🤗❤️ like you..             We are very young and fragile today, But We are here to stay - and Hira is going to be home for us for the next 100 yrs & we are only going to grow stronger🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 - We need ur support🙏🙏 and help to cross the next 2 summers - and in return, We promise you - the following for the next 100 yrs 🤝: 1. Shade 😎 2. Fresh Air 🍃 3. Flora and Fauna and life surrounding it 🌿🐞🦅 4. Visual Beauty 🏞️ 5. And Reduce ur Carbon Print ♻️ What do we need from you? - We need u to adopt us 🌱🙏 1. Visit us whenever you have time, talk to us, and pat us - we can understand emotions. 2. And if possible please give us some water or be a part of the 💧🪣Watering Plan. your contribution will help us for :  Adoption and Watering Plan A volunteer will be given a plant with his or her name tag🏷...

#By Shalini, Seawood  Look deep into nature, and then you'll understand everything better - Albert Einstein We are nothing but a replica of nature. Be it in the colours we wear, the mood we carry, the smile we share, the support we give, the tune we hum or the warmth we exude. We are all nature's children. As we assimilate this deeper and deeper into our consciousness we begin to manifest our version of it.  Look at the epiphanic symphony of Northern Lights, or a magical rainbow through a light drizzle, maybe a colourful array of dancing tulips bidding a bitter winter goodbye or overflowing rivers in monsoon rain, meandering through drenched greenery…everything echoes a rhythm…one which resonates with our inner core. Alive and exuberant!  Our community has these beautiful auras too. We need to just look! Thriving Cannas in multiple hues, Hibiscus blossoms waiting for the sun's first rays or pretty flowers peeking under loose fences. Have we stopped, taken a deep breath, ...

#by Gitanjali, Bridgewood A  Kids growing up in military regiments are often referred to as “military brats” but my story refers to The Indian Air Force where my father served as a Meteorological Officer, in short, ‘the weather man’. That's me with an aircraft just landing behind our house. The balloon I am blowing is hoisted up a pole to show the direction of the wind for the meteorological officer to forecast the weather!  So, all his ‘postings’ were at ‘flying stations’. The most impressionable stint for me was our 4 years in Jorhat. Impressionable, because I was between the age of 4 to 8 years, and I was “home schooled” during this period. Apparently, I was attending a play school in Agra when we were tossed across the country to Jorhat. Mom was the only lady in the camp and I was the only child. All other officers preferred to leave their families behind but my mother would countenance no such decision by my father.  A journey to Jorhat meant crossing the Brahma...

#by ArunKumar, Bridgewood Maguri beel is a lake formed by the doomdooma river on one side and the dibru river on the other, both tributaries of the mighty Brahmaputra . This unique riverine eco system is home to many resident and migratory  species of birds . The baghjan grasslands which are small  islets in the midst of these rivers are home to some rare species of birds like the Marsh babbler that is endemic to the Brahmaputra plains , Jerdons babbler , the endemic Black breasted parrotbill  and few other species .                  We were given a heads up the previous day that we might have to wade across the river to reach the grasslands as the water was very shallow and boats might not be able to ferry us across. We picked a piece of cloth from the Digboi market and cut it into pieces for each one of us to use it to clean our legs after crossing the river so we could wear our shoes. It would b...

#By Arvind Aathreya, Seawood My first experience or must I say, love affair with this fruit, began when I was four or five years young! In Bangalore, there is this fruit called “pulli vaazhaipazham”. It is oh-so-very sweet and tasty. The taste still lingers strong in my memory even today!  Just the other day, I was having this conversation with a friend on how Indians make the best of the banana fruit, and it made me think about putting out this note as an ode to this humble superfruit - the banana! Let’s begin from the banana tree, or as it’s called in Thamizh - Vaazhai Maram! The tree bears flowers, referred to as vaazhaipoo. This goes into making yummy vaazhaipoo paruppu usili and the most popular of them all - the vaazhaipoo vadai!!  The stem of the tree known as vaazhai thandu in Thamizh, is used to make juices, raitha and even curry.  The vaazhai illai, or the banana leaves, are used to pack food, or used as an alternative for a plate especially at all traditional f...

 Abstract Art  from Thejaswini, Pinewood

#by Lipi Sachdeva, Pinewood Hey! What's your favorite series or reality show these days? I am glued to the idiot box at 9 pm sharp nowadays, because it is Masterchef season -7 time!! I am not a big fan of T.V as such,  but when it comes to cooking shows, I wouldn't miss any for the world, and then every new dish has to be tried out by me! Every single time! So this time when Chef Anahita Dhondy came to challenge the participants with her five star style luxurious potato roulade, I decided to try it out for myself, and to my surprise it turned out really well!! So friends and followers, here I am sharing the vegetarian version of the ‘potato roulade’. If you want you can replace the cheese filling with chicken of your choice. Traditionally found in various European cuisines, the term roulade basically comes from the French word “ rouler” which means ‘to roll’.  So anything which is rolled and filled can be called a ‘roulade’. A very simple example of the roulade is the ‘swiss r...

#By Parvathi, Birchwood    I believe traveling is a unique life experience as it is the best way to unplug the pulls and pushes of daily life. Me along with my bunch of friends travel every year to some place and call it as our ‘Mom’cation, Mumma’s vacation. A year of planning goes into selecting the destination and executing the vacation. This year we all chose to go to a city called Siam Reap which is located in North-Western Cambodia. It was a 4-day trip to Siam Reap with 8 women onboard and the fun was endless. We boarded our flight to Siam Reap and we arrived there at midday. We didn’t plan anything on that day and relaxed at the hotel. Our guide had planned a sunrise tour to Angkor complex which turned out to be an extremely wonderful experience for all of us. We were all picked up around 5 am in a fascinating little tuktuk and reached the spot by 5.30 am. Trust me, Sunrise is well worth the effort. It was a magical experience seeing the first rays of sun, up the temple ...

#by Het Kumar, Bridgewood HET’s TRIP TO MYSORE Our journey to Mysore began at about 9 pm at night. We took the Mysore express train at 9:30 pm on January 27th. It was a 6 to 7-day trip, and around 150 students were on the trip. It was a pleasant journey. The next morning, we went to the hotel and had breakfast. There were classes for 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th grades. I was in the last batch, and our class (9th) was the senior most. Then we started the trip and visited Chamundi Hills first. The view was beautiful, and it was the temple of Sri Chamundeshwari, a famous temple in South India. We also saw the Tibetan Temple. We visited the Summer Palace of Tipu Sultan, which our teacher told us was used by him during the summer season, and hence, it was known as the summer palace. I visited Raja Seat, Vishnu Temple, and Mysore Zoo where there were all kinds of animals. One of my favorite and famous places was the Mysore Palace. I visited the palace, and it looked amazing from its side and beau...

     Oil in Oil Pastels - Hansika Vepokomma      Simidh Livingstone, Seawood        Sherya Bhagga, Bridgewood     Sherya Bhagga, Bridgewood  

#By Dhaya I Truman, A trip to Big Sur, California Big sur is located in the most scenic highway CA 1,  approximately 200 kms from Fremont, CA where we reside then.  It was a planned day trip for leisure and good food. Big sur is sparsely populated and have good places for hiking and camping. Started early morning on a Saturday, travelled along with 3 friends. Our first stop was at River Inn restaurant Big sur. The restaurant is famous for its Adirondack chairs in the river. The landscaping was beautifully maintained leading to the river. Crystal clear water The water is crystal clear, and the stream flow is gentle, smooth, and chill. The water was only ankle deep, we were wading in the water for more than an hour. Siting in the chair in a river was a magnificent experience, which was surrounded by lush green forest. Adirondack chairs in the river Had the opportunity to enjoy the lunch sitting in the Adirondack chairs with the flow of water caressing the legs.  It’s an unf...

By ArunKumar, Bridgewood Wreathed Hornbill, Namdapha National Park The second largest National Park in india is unique in many ways and a ecosystem of its own. The Rain forests start from low altitudes reaching up to very high altitudes. The lush green forest and snow capped mountains decorate the landscape which hosts a wide range of flora and fauna. We camped at Deban eco camp for 4 days birding for about 15 kms uphill every day and the road back to the plains. Every turn  was holding some surprises and there never was a dearth for adrenaline rush. Sometimes the majestic Hornbills or the  raptors occupying the top most perch of the forest canopy or the  beautiful and colorful terrestrial birds that kept us on our heels. Every call was music to our ears as our guide walking slowly catching up on the faintest of the calls and leading us to the bird . It was a challenge to sight the bird in the dense shrubs,  many so shy that all they gave us were a few seconds to cli...

THYAGARAJA PANCHARATNA A Spiritual Journey from Ananda to Brahmmananda By R. Ganesan (302, Amalfi) THYAGARAJA PANCHARATNA A Spiritual Journey from Ananda to Brahmmananda By R. Ganesan (302, Amalfi) The group-singing of the Ghana Raga Pancharatna kritis of Saint Tyagaraja is the highlight of the Aradhana offerings before his Samadhi at Thiruvayyaru every year. Elsewhere, in several parts of the world, the Aradhana is conducted on similar lines on the same day or later. Some organisations are conducting it monthly throughout the year on the Bahula Panchami Day. What a unique and marvelous way of remembering the great bard of Thiruvayyaru, the outstanding practitioner and votary of Nama Siddhanta through the medium of music! Chorus singing ensures participation by many people, which is the foundation of the Bhajana Sampradaya, and is essentially socialistic in character. It will be very useful always to remember that Thyagaraja was first and used to sing the Todaya Mangalam songs of the T...

 Click here to listen to the top voices of March'23  

Stigma Dreams dissipating like mist of dawn Vaporised in ego's searing heat Perpetual darkness engulfing verve Lights of joy blown out in wrath Little salty streams meandering my countenance Bearing with them sediments of ache Like a fish out of water gasping for breath Unspoken words suffocate my chest Love scorned like traces of plague Sullied vamps he sought every day Scars showered like kisses of passion I bore them all like gold medallion Bleeding blisters bejeweling this frame Concealed in garb of grace, like a phantom of mirth Cacophony of convictions handed like compliments drugging my veins numbing my faculty Decisions I willingly took, if that was all he would give Forlorn was I, in the grips of despair Mere pup at master's feet, dutifully I stayed, Love, just a bone of contention amidst us Devil incarnate was he, broiling me in seclusion Assaulting my esteem, chipping away trust Distorting my priorities, trampling mine zeal plundering all morality, eroding my worth A...

 

 Top Performance from Children of HoH (March'23)

By Shalini, Seawood# Everyday we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognise: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black curious eyes of a child - our own two eyes. All is a miracle.                                   -Thich Nhat Hanh Early risers walk down the nature infused umbrella cover every morning where fresh morning dew, cool wisps of air, chirping birds, and a soft fragrance of a myriad trees beckon you. As you walk the 250 mts stretch you can almost hear your heart beat ever so gently speaking a language of sweet music. It's like nature is your best friend, only you don't notice it always. The sudden sound of a passing vehicle breaks the reverie but only momentarily. A gentle smile or a slight wave of hand or a subtle nod is exchanged among walkers, each one careful not to break the peaceful flow. ...

Sabita Menon, Pinewood Do we want to leave a legacy? This thought-provoking question could spark new insights into our own lives and experiences. Do I wish to leave a legacy behind? YES, I DO! It’s not what I leave for my family, friends, and others. It is what I leave IN them while I’m still here to participate and live through the experience. I sense time fleeting and seem more focused on the present by paying attention to the impact of my words, actions, emotions, and outlook on life. It's become more meaningful to connect with something bigger than myself. My family, friends, and society have long influenced my beliefs, values, and behaviour, laying the groundwork for my legacy. However, as my emotional maturity grows with age, I can see the consequences of a decision far into the future. I remind myself of the possibilities that exist both within and beyond what has been given to me, and what I can create and pass on. A life of fame, accomplishments, and failures d...

Madumitha Selvaraj, Bridgewood# Human beings have been sharing space since time immemorial. The concept of co-existence is a part of our lives and has multiple aspects and challenges to it. In a gated community like ours, I often wonder how we practice co-existence in a way that does not lead to friction or misunderstandings with others around us. There is an interesting idea in psychology called “Both/and Thinking”. It talks about how two seemingly contradictory thoughts can co-exist. Many times, we follow a rigid way of thinking when it comes to expressing our ideas or emotions. We go by the “either-or”, ”Black or white” or “all or nothing” formula. This means that between two ideas or points of view, one cannot exist while the other does. It’s a surprise that our minds sometimes look at every scenario dichotomously. We forget or realise too late, that, seemingly opposing ideas can and do co-exist.  For example, we feel conflicted about taking up a challenging project...

Sheena Singh# Looking at the mirror I pondered at the reflection:  the time line of my life  flashed before my eyes… I spent my entire life  believing in being right fighting against all odds, the dark and the mighty.. standing up for justice.  I was being someone   who's just upright.. I was being someone who’s just ME.. Most call it a gift                 being brave to fight against all odds.. I see it a rift; In my plans to have  all besides me I lost the love of those who mattered the most.. I sang and I preached with all my heart,  it was the only part   of who I was meant to be. The day I would know   I can never let go   my rage for perfection,  I know,to God I'm near...   I just wanted love,    this gift of obsession   for everything that’s sane   seemed a curse from ab...