The Sunday School 8th January 2023 - Elizabeth Philip

While reading A Wedding to Remember from Sudha Murty's book Wise and Otherwise, we found a reference to her novel Mahashweta.

What is a novel?

A novel is a long-written story about imaginary people and events.

(Collins dictionary)

a long printed story about fictional characters and events

(Cambridge dictionary)

an invented prose narrative that is usually long and complex and deals mainly with human experience through a usually connected sequence of events

(Merriam Webster dictionary)

a story long enough to fill a complete book, in which the characters and events are generally imaginary

(Oxford dictionary)

The novel is a genre, or kind, of literature. It is fiction, which means the writer invented the story.

https://kids.britannica.com

One thing leads to another. Now, we need to know what genre and literature mean. 

Let's start with literature.

Literature is writing that is usually considered to be a work of art. It differs from written works such as cookbooks, travel guides, or how-to books. Those are meant only to provide information. In general, literature communicates ideas of lasting interest. A writer of literature takes special care in choosing and arranging words. Some common types of literature include novels, poetry, and dramas.

Read more…

https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/novel/390589#

Let's move on to genre.

A genre is a specific type of music, film, or writing.

https://www.vocabulary.com/

Here's the link to help you determine how genre is pronounced.

https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/genre

A genre (from Latin: genus) is a style or type of music, literature, movies, or other media. Some genres (styles) are used in more than one form of art or communication. For example, fantasy and science fiction are used in literature, movies, and television.

https://kids.kiddle.co/Genre

Now that you know what literature and genre mean, would you like to read more about some of the genres in children's literature?

Go ahead…

https://www.harpercollins.com/blogs/harperkids/childrens-book-genres

This is enough for today! You know that a novel is longer than a short story.

How long is long, and how short is short?

You'll be getting more information about short stories and novels…soon!

- Elizabeth Philip
More about her work: 
http://champions.prathambooks.org/2013/09/pratham-books-champion-elizabeth-philip.html

Alone But Not Lonely - Reveda Bhatt

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller.
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over 'cause you're gone."
-That was Kelly Clarkson.

Finding me alone somewhere makes you think that I'm lonely.
See, you got me all wrong there.
That was my "me-time"-not thinking about the past, not living in the present and not
worrying about the future; just letting time leave me behind for a while.
Drop it.

Coming back, I think once you discover the way to your inner self, it automatically comes to
you and then, you have a true friend and a true mate who truly exists but is truly invisible or
maybe just too timid to come out. May call it timid because your inner self is afraid that it
may lose its trueness in this superficial world on coming out. So, the deeper it is, the better
it is.

These six lines each carry a meaning distinct from the other.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
-Indeed, an incident made me.

Stand a little taller.
-Well, now, I do because even death couldn’t put me down.

Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone.
-There is me I carry in myself.

What doesn't kill you makes a fighter.
-My injuries made me that.

Footsteps are even lighter.
-Knowing I have to leave behind what, once, I cherished.

Doesn't mean I'm over 'cause you're gone.
-You, being there, are just a superficial part of my superficial existence, as in I’m happy, really happy when you’re around, as I’m a social animal and the thought of you leaving hurts for a while, but then I just don’t feel it anymore again maybe because I’m a social animal. 
So, maybe I’m like so interestingly self-sufficient that I just don’t need anyone else to be the reason for my smile because that place is already reserved by me and those in my heart.

Conclusion-
Never think I'm lonely when I'm alone,
I was on the turn on the road where the streetlights shone,
Now, I am moving on into the endless darkness,
Not Lonely, but alone.

Reveda Bhatt

Grade IX

The Aryan School, Dehradun

Inspiration: Stronger - Kelly Clarkson https://youtu.be/Xn676-fLq7I

Ignorance, Evolution and the Avatar - Anvesha Rana

It is uncanny that we sometimes just need a short story or a mishappening to make us realize our position in this circle of life. We all are human, yet we stand at different steps of the same staircase. Our mindset defines the place we idealize, but there are many positions to choose from: 

Realization of Ignorance is the first stage of development. It is the state where we think we are superior to our fellow beings, but in reality, we are just the same. Ignorance makes us turn a blind eye to the tiny creatures; it fills us with a sense of pride and destroys the humility within us. When the worms discovered the ray of light, they felt that it was meant for them to find and that they were special, but if the worms had been a little wiser, they would have decided to share this finding with the entire the worm population for everyone's wellbeing. Ignorance makes us immature, and after some time, it will cause us to rot. There is no development in ignorance; when we blindfold new learning opportunities and avert our eyes from new people when we disregard new things, that would stop our learning. Ignorance stops us, but observance adds a boost to our life. 

The second stage of development would be Evolution. Evolution is simply letting go of all sad things, destructive grudges, negative emotions and guilty practices; it transforms yourself and then rises above others. Evolution is perhaps the final and supreme stage of development for all humans; it is exploring and experiencing such a level of spiritual consciousness that no pleasure can be more significant. It is simply breaking free of all the chains that hold you back and then unfurling your wings to fly in a free and limitless sky, only to discover the real deception of life. We can live genuinely only when we have evolved, grown, learnt and understood, for Evolution is the true joy. 

The third stage of development would be The Avatar. The Avatar is the truest, pure, divine form one can pursue. It is a reconciliation with the almighty to develop the utmost level of emotional, mental, spiritual and physical being. The Avatar is definitely hard to reach and even more challenging to maintain. The Avatar is not god, but it can be us if we attain the final enlightenment possible. Buddha and Mahavir were ordinary people, but the course of their actions was so holy that they acquired the form of The Avatar. The path is not hard, but it is filled with thorns and pricks until the rose. 

The development that I hope for is Evolution. Some day I do expect that I can be the worm who could spread its wings, cross the horizons and truly realize life.

Anvesha Rana, 

Grade 10-B, 

Gyanshree School

Friendship - Rishona Chopra & Aanya Kumar

Rishona Chopra and Aanya Kumar share their life experiences and the true meaning of friendship.

Rishona Chopra & Aanya Kumar
Grade V
Gyanshree School

Happiness - Akshita Rathore

Happiness is the most expensive thing in the world. If we are happy, then we can make others happy. Happiness is a medicine that makes people physically fit and strong. I get happiness by talking to my father and taking care of him. A happy person does his work happily and enjoyment, but if the person is sad, he can’t focus on work. People get happiness from various things: By making others happy, talking with friends, listening to music, I experience happiness when my dream comes true. In the world, no one is happy. Everybody is busy with their work, and everyone has tension. In every situation, just be happy, and your problem will be solved.

So be happy always.

Akshita Rathore

Class X A

The Fabindia School