Thursday, 22 August 2024

My Name Is Cinnamon - Vikas Prakash Joshi


Meet the author on Sunday the 25th of August 2024

Both a captivating chronicle and an endeavour of remarkable depth and ambition, My Name Is Cinnamon provides a richly textured narrative of a boy trying to find his roots and place in the world. On each part of his journey, he encounters new people, new cuisines, and new adventures as he learns a lot about himself and the world around him.

While being a light-hearted and heart-warming read, the book also covers some difficult themes that are rarely explored in ­children’s and young adult literature. It is a deeply moving testament to the unceasing desire to know oneself, the unrelenting pull of familial bonds, and the power of hope, sacrifice, and love.

With his perceptive observations, vivid descriptions, and an authentic voice, the author, Vikas Prakash Joshi, weaves an immersive plot with fully realised environments and characters that are sure to stay with you for a long time. Above all, My Name Is Cinnamon is about finding your own people and accepting who you are.

‘In 
My Name Is Cinnamon, Vikas Joshi brings to life the lively tale of Cinnamon, a young boy living with his adoptive parents, who sets out to meet his birth parents in an impoverished tribal area. This emotionally sensitive topic is explored with felicity and humour, reminding us of the immense joys and painful travails of childhood. It’s a moving and uplifting book, and I wish Vikas Prakash Joshi all the best for his future writing success.’
―Dr Shashi Tharoor, Politician, writer, and former international diplomat

Kindle and Paperback editions available.

Vikas Prakash Joshi is an-award winning writer, editor, translator, podcaster, public speaker, novelist, amateur cook and occasional journalist in Pune, India. His first book for children, My Name Is Cinnamon (Hay House India), was published in November 2022 , and it has been lauded all over the world, in over 30+ countries, endorsed by many top Indian writers, and received 7 publishing offers. Story Ink, a Mumbai-based production company, has also acquired the book for screen adaptation. It was illustrated by the well known and award winning illustrator for children's books Niloufer Wadia. It has received 5 recognitions already: A3F Literary Award for Fiction 2023, Asian Literary Society Award for Best Debut Fiction,Asian Literary Society Certificate of Excellence in Fiction, Skipping Stones Magazine Honour List for International Books 2023, Longlisted and Shortlisted for Valley of Words Awards for Young Adult Fiction 2023. It was also chosen among 60 selected books by Indian authors for kids and YA by Hyderabad-based Beyond the Box organization, an organisation working in the field of literature.

We will read aloud from next week; please get your copy and join us at My Good School.





Tuesday, 20 August 2024

The Guru Nanak Documentaries Episode 8- Advika

Reflecting on the screening of Allegory: A Tapestry of Guru Nanak's Travels on Sunday the 18th of August 2024.

Today's episode of "The Guru Nanak Documentaries" taught us what our rituals were about. They were merely not for external use or washing in a holy river; they meant cleansing yourself of your sins, wrongdoings, and bad karma. 

This session was deep and spiritual and raised awareness of how our thoughts and ideologies have changed over the years. People bathe in the Ganges, thinking it will detox them. They shall attain salvation, but in reality, as Guru Nanak Ji said, our self-reflection, acting upon our sins, and rectifying what we did wrong and who we hurt is true detoxing and will lead you to salvation, not some mere external activities that are futile in the end. 

The reality is that people nowadays travel miles to go to Varanasi and other spiritual places to reach God, purify their souls, come back to their homes, and repeat the same toxic life. What is the point of even going to these places when we do nothing to act upon ourselves? 

True devotion never lies in just bathing in rivers. It lies within the soul. Purity, correcting what we do, and making ourselves better people, while helping others. Love God, love yourself, and make yourself into a better person.

This is true devotion. 

Advika Khanna 
Gyanshree School

Reflection on Superstition - Sunbeam Suncity

A wonderful Reflection by the students of Sunbeam Suncity Varanasi # Joy of Learning


Sunbeam Suncity Varanasi

Sunday, 18 August 2024

Relections for the week - Sunday 18th August 2024

- From The Guru Nanak Docuseries-  
1. What did you learn from the episode today?
2. How aware are we about our own religion and cultures?
3. Does true devotion lie in bathing in "holy rivers" or is it something deeper?
4. Why do you think the chapter is named "Adhikaar"?
5. What is religion and its true meaning?
6. What makes one "pure"?


More food for thought, notes shared by Akshar Bhasin from JMPS:

1. Questioning the futility of religious rituals and practices which are often performed blindly and without looking into the depth and intent behind them.

2. ⁠Aiming at the purification and cleansing of the inner soul and being rather than simply bathing the physical self in the Ganges and considering one pure.

3. Questioning the society’s olden practice of keeping a women confined and labelling her as impure during mensurational cycle.

4. ⁠Pondering about how a  man is often bestowed with the title of ‘pandit’ (wise one) just because of his ability to recite holy texts and mantras without actually realising depth and intent behind them and acting according to the righteous way of life.

5. ⁠Understanding and embracing the truth of religion and it’s teachings rather than blindly worshiping deities and praising their teachings. 

6. ⁠Understanding how enlightenment can be attained not by cremating someone at a holy site like Varanasi  but by following the correct path and embracing wisdom.

7. ⁠Can one, instead of embracing a religion professed by others, find his own path and way in life ?


- From The Hidden Life Of Trees – 
1. What is your takeaway from today's session?
2. Why is there a battle for every light of sunshine in the forest?

3. How do forest species adapt in their need for sun and resouces to grow from the environment?


Check out the GSI Journal and listen to the latest podsact from Sunbeam School Timeless Tales. You will find the podcos on the right column and are most welcome to visit the Good Schools India Journal webiste: https://www.gsi.in/.


These are some suggestions you can choose from. Looking forward to seeing your wonderful and thoughtful reflections! 

      

You can email your reflections at -      

mk@learningforward.org.in

Saturday, 17 August 2024

Sunbeam Varuna #JoyOfLearning

 We love ❤️ Sunday School


We are reading
Jataka Tales by Francis & Thomas
The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben

Friday, 16 August 2024

My India - Yashraj Sharma

 Independence Day Celebrations

Yashraj Sharma is the Head Boy High School at Gyanshree School Noida. He has been with us at My Good School for three years and helped set up the Astronomy Program as the Slooh Intern for GSA.