What makes us Human - Rishona Chopra

 What really makes humans human?

To me, it's the power to choose that makes us human.

Animals have a fixed way of living. They have a limited variety of foods, have the same schedule every day, and live the simplest of lives. Humans, on the other hand, have many options, different paths to choose and choices to make. A question then arises, is the power to choose a good one? 

Animals live simple yet organised lives. Humans on the other hand have made a mess of their lives. So many things to do and lack simplicity. But, the power to choose is a great one if used correctly. In life, we have two paths, one of spirituality and goodness and one of wrong choices. We all get distracted between these paths because everyone is not on one path. There are many on the path of wrongdoings and it's okay because once we realize what the right choice is, we make it. 

The power to choose shows us all the ways life can turn out and allows us to live it to the fullest. The one challenge is choosing the right path. 

The confusing thing about these paths is that both give us happiness but one gives us pleasure only for a short while whereas the other ensures long-term happiness and success. 

There is no "right" way to identify and choose the correct path because inside all of us, we know the right choice, and as life unfolds itself, so do our decisions. Life is like a book, every page turned, directs towards a new beginning and different ending. 

Rishona Chopra 

Grade VIII

Gyanshree School

All Lives Have Equal Value -Tenzin Jambey

Inspired by reading the book at our Sunday School.

Shouldn't we treat all living beings equally? Don't you agree that animals, plants and insects deserve respect?

If you think that they should not, then tell me the reason for that. We, humans, are exploiting wildlife, hunting and poaching animals and trading their body and their body illegally for the sake of earthly things called "money". What harm have they done to us? For what reason are we hurting them? Shouldn't we care for the cow which gives us milk? Shouldn't we care and protect the forest that provides us with a source of living?

Plants, flowers, trees and grasses all have equal value in life. If we pluck or take them, they will die like us. We pluck their leaves, and they will get hurt like we get. If we love and care for them, they will grow like healthy human beings. 

We don't like plants and animals. And we feel like they shouldn't exist in this world. For example- Mosquitoes and weeds. Similarly, now place yourself in an animal or a plant like a goat and Sundari tree and ask yourself- 'Would you let a human live who is exploiting you for their means and for earning money? Ask this yourself twice, thrice and thousands of times. And you'll get the answer by yourself. Next time, before killing an insect or before harming a plant, you will think thrice.

At last, life is tough for everyone, whether rich or poor, animal or human. Sometimes we feel like becoming a bird or sometimes a butterfly. But they have their life challenges. 

If poor people think rich men live a luxurious life, he is wrong. It's the rich man's hard work day and night that the poor man didn't do, but we cannot blame the poor people for being poor. As I have told you before, life is tough for everyone. There can be many causes that led him to poverty.

Tenzin Jambey

Pestalozzi Children's Village, India.

Stop It! - Reveda Bhatt

Do you know what the most vulnerable thing in this world is?

Well, that's trust.

Something we should have loyalty towards-but what most of us end up breaking!

Trust the root of all trouble and hurt, the fruit of all trust.

Look, that doesn't mean Stop Trusting but follow your gut because this energy within us knows of everything. 

It knows what's wrong-well; technically, there's nothing right or wrong, but in the way of saying, we just know.

Then, the question arises, "Why is "wrong" being done by people then?"

Well, that's because we do not nurture that energy in the way of guiding us and just go by simple means to suppress it. Ideally, trust should never be broken because one should see the feeling behind it: love and attachment. Once one knows that, their gut instinct should get in the way of breaking one's trust.

Right?

Yeah, but open your eyes to the world of reality! Snap out of this logic because that's not what happens here!

Keeping aside feeling like "obstacles pulling us back," people look for gain everywhere, and then, what's better than gaining out of the vulnerable person close to us!?

That's how every person on this planet finds a way to survive here! Some hurt to get better, while some get broken to become worse mentally and emotionally!

Alright, alright.

But then, what's a way to avoid this?

Stop trusting others and start trusting yourself-

give way to your instinct,

that will show you-

what's light even when there's dark,

what's right even when it is wrong,

what's life even when there's hurt,

what's trust even when there's rust in everyone's heart!

AND THEN, BE STRONG because who knows what's to come?

Reveda Bhatt

Grade X
The Aryan School

Ce que l'indépendance signifie pour moi - Rishona Chopra

 

Language: French 

L'indépendance n'est pas le droit de faire ce que l'on veut mais le droit de faire ce qui est juste. L'indépendance est l'essence de la liberté, le sentiment que nous ne sommes gouvernés par personne d'autre mais que nous avons la possibilité, tout comme les autres, d'explorer et d'apprendre. L'indépendance est un droit qui est beru fondamental et notre besoin mais de nos jours ce besoin est devenu un désir. Beaucoup de gens n'ont pas l'indépendance nécessaire pour prendre leurs décisions dans la vie, faire ce qu'ils veulent, étudier et ne pas vivre sous la domination de quelqu'un. Alors ne prenons pas notre indépendance pour acquise car c'est quelque chose de spécial.

Translation:

Independence is not the right to do as we wish but the right to do what is right. Independence is the essence of freedom, the feeling that we are not ruled by anyone but have the opportunity, just like others, to explore and learn. Independence is a fundamental right and our need, but nowadays, this need has become a want. Many people don't have the independence to make their decisions in life, do what they want, study and not live under the rule of somebody. So let's not take our independence for granted because it is unique.

Rishona Chopra 
Grade VI 
Gyanshree School

Don't know what to write - Rishona Chopra

I simply can't understand what to write,
But I want to write as it gives me delight.
It's six in the morning,
And all plants are flowering,
And sitting in nature, I want to write,
Something or the other, something right.
Writing just means to write whatever comes to your mind,
That feeling you just have to find!
So, here I am writing about something that came to my mind.
Still thinking of a topic I should be assigned.
And now that I wrote this,
I know what to write, and that's bliss.
I got another topic in my mind,
That I won't tell now, maybe another time.

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Brighten Their Day! - Reveda Bhatt

Here I come, from far away,

I think of something; but not the right way,

Oh, Lord! Tell me what to say,

Not to hurt anyone but to brighten their day!

Saying something terrible when you are not in your senses

Is the worst when seen through life’s feeling lenses

Just like cursing someone seems not to be the worst,

But, from the other perspective, it can make the victim’s feelings burst!

That is why, before saying anything-

I ask my Lord about what to say,

Not to hurt anyone,

But to brighten their day!

Reveda Bhatt
Grade 9
The Aryan School

Freedom - Pavni Gupta

Freedom, it is a pretty common word everyone has heard of. If you ask people, the meaning may differ for everyone.  

For someone, it may mean the freedom of going anywhere they want, whereas, for some, it may mean the liberty of speaking anything, it may also indicate the freedom of saying anything, and for some, it may be no restrictions. After all, everyone has their own perspectives. 

According to some books and dictionaries, it even means independence. The real value of anything is understood only by the people who have earned it or have sacrificed to achieve it. For example – the ladies who raised the voice of the right to vote.

Pavni Gupta
Class 8B 
Ahlcon Public School