Miiraas-The Heritage Club

Visit to the National Rail Museum On November 26, Members of the Heritage and Photography Clu bs of our School went to the National Rail Museum for a Heritage Photo Walk. The Museum focuses  on the rail heritage of  India and accomodates  a fascinating and exotic collection of over 100 real size exhibits of Indian Railways. We discovered a wide range of static and working models, signaling equipments, historical photographs and related literature which are displayed inside the museum. The array of old coaches includes the  Prince of Wales Saloon ,  Fairy Queen  which is considered to be one of the best preserved steam locomotive engines of her age and the  Maharaja of Mysore's Saloon  with its brocade covered chairs and antique furnitures, to be named a few. We were fortunate enough to have a chance of exploring the royal interiors of these magnificent carriages! Having gathered a lot of technical know-hows about engine meachanisms...

Dussehra is a Hindu festival celebrated all throughout the Indian subcontinent in one way or the other. It is celebrated every year and the date is determined by the Hindu calendar .  Dussehra is also called Vijay Dashmi ; that is the tenth day of Victory since Lord Ram fought a battle of 10 days with Ravana and it is on the tenth day that he emerged victorious. It symbolizes the victory of ‘Good’ over ‘Evil’. While celebration of Dussehra is universal throughout India, the forms of celebration in different parts of the country may vary ; to the extent that in places like Vidisha, Mandsuar, Ratlam and Indore districts, Ravana is not seen as a negative figure and is instead worshiped. * Ravana is worshipped in Vidisha district as he is personified as a symbol of prosperity and regarded as a saviour by Kanyakubja Brahmins, a Brahmin sub-sect to which Ravana is believed to belong. *In Mandsaur district bordering with Rajasthan, Ravana is hailed as son-in-law by N...

Unique, uncommon; Ananya would be an appealing choice for a name; so appealing, that with the advent of the 21 st century (post 1994), the name became progressively popular in Indian households. In fact most could agree to having known an Ananya personally. Having Sanskrit origins, the name, ironically, means  unique or  having no equivalent . It is as straightforward as this: अन (not) + अन्या (common) Found to be especially popular among the people of Bengal, Ananya presents itself as an extremely versatile choice. Not only is it categorised as a unisex name, it is also often used as a surname in many parts of India. Astrologically, Ananya corresponds to the cardinal Zodiac (Rashi) Aries (Mesha) and its ruling planet, Mars ( Mangal) , which grants it its dynamic nature. It is also represented by the equally extraordinary constellation (Nakshatra) Pleiades (Krithika or Kartika) . According to the Science of Numerology, Ananya equates to the number ...

गुरुर्ब्रह्मा   गुरुर्विष्णुर्गुरुर्देवो   महेश्वरः  । गुरुरेव   परं   ब्रह्म   तस्मै   श्रीगुरवे   नमः  ॥१॥ गुरु। यह शब्द जीवन में सबसे अधिक मान्यता और अहेमियत रखता है। हर इंसान को गुरु की अवीयशक्ता होती है। गुरु हमारी अध्यापिका और अध्यापक होते हैं। माता - पिता भी गुरु कहे जातें हैं। सदियों से गुरु-शिष्या परम्परा चली आ रही है। गुरु अपने शिष्या को ज्ञान देते हैं और शिष्या का ओडेश्या इस ज्ञान को अवशोषित करना है बिलकुल वैस जिस तरह बारिश की बूँदें एक छोटे पैड को जीवन देती हैं। एक मनुष्य के लिए सदा सर्वप्रथम अपने गुरु हैं और संसार में गुरु के कहे गए मार्ग पर चलकर, अपने कर्तव्य को निष्पादन करने से बड़ा कोई धर्म नहीं। हम सभी को यह कहानी पता है जब महादेव ने एक व्यक्ति को शार्प दिया था क्योंकि उसने अपने गुरु को प्रणाम नहीं किया जब कि वह बेचारा तो शिव की भक्ति में ही लीन था! अब जब स्वयं भगवान ने गुरु को सबसे ऊँच पदवी दी है, तो हम मान सकते हैं कि गुरु भगवान का ही tरूप हैं। - आर्यमन कुमार ११-जी

How would you feel, if you found out that your name is actually a name for a guy? I was bored, and procrastinating when I decided to 'Google' my name. I found out some new things. So, the classical name Kavya means a sonnet or poem in Sanskrit which is the meaning I've been telling people my whole life. Apparently, Kavya also means intelligence, wise, happiness and it is a Sanskrit literary composition. Kavya (or Kāvya; Sanskrit: काव्य, IAST: kāvyá) also refers to the Sanskrit literary style used by Indian court poets flourishing from the first half of the seventh century AD. This literary style is characterised by abundant usage of figures of speech, metaphors, similes, and hyperbole to create its emotional effects. The result is a short lyrical work, court epic, narrative or dramatic work. "Kavya" can refer to the style or the completed body of literature. Asvaghosa (c. 80-150 AD), a philosopher and poet considered the father of Sanskrit drama, is at...

The name “ Anika” has more than one root as it is of Sanskrit, Hebrew, Japanese and Latin origins. It is a common name in Dutch, Finnish, Hindi and Swedish speaking countries. Anika is one of the 108 names of Goddess Durga. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word Anik ( अनीक ) meaning “splendour”. Anika ( अनिका ) in Sanskrit means graceful, brilliance or sweet faced. Its Hebrew and Latin meanings are similar, both meaning favor and grace. In Japanese the name describes an apricot from Nara, a tree which blossoms in springtime in Japan. Anika is a name with very old origins which has, over time, acquired different meanings in different languages and cultures . 

As much as each of you have heard, the need of the preservation of this monument is as prevalent in these times, as is your need to brush. It may seem a bit too extreme. But in order to know our present we must understand our past. We all know that colours are beautiful and absolutely necessary. But not on the Taj Mahal. For it is beautiful despite its lack of color. And it is important for it to remain so. Not only does it showcase a crucial part of history, but it also gives India recognition in the world. Millions of tourist visit the Taj Mahal every year, in an attempt to understand the heritage of India. And if they see garbage, tobacco stains and unkempt surroundings, that's exactly what they'll perceive India comprises of, which is highly undesirable. Therefore, it is important that all of us, take care of Taj Mahal. Image source: DeviantArt (by Sarita37 )

F R A G M E N T S                                     'Fragments'...  as simplified in the most basic sense, the terminology refers to 'an isolated or broken part of something', bringing in light the central theme and salient features of this heterogeneous 'Piece of Art' consisting of 14 dissimilar 'Pieces'.  The Collection of Works, dated December 2015, exhibits a unique blend of 'Mix-Media' and Acrylics on Canvas. Inspired from the Creative Productions of various Mater-Artists such as M.F   Hussain, S.H Raza, Ram Kumar, F.N Souza & Sohan Qadri, each Oeuvre is exquisitely painted, deriving certain elements and styles of painting from the Masterpieces of Artistry. Being absolutely distinct from one another, each of them is embellished with two kinds of Mix-Media(i.e. buttons and pins),in order to amalgamate the entire set into one 'Piece of Art'. The inc...

The name "Aryaman" is usually associated with the ones who are destined to "achieve greatness". The name also means an individual who is noble-minded. "Aryaman" is usually a person who is considered to be individualistic, goal-oriented and loyal. The name is unique as the bearer of the above mentioned lives up to the highest of expectations and promises to be a change maker. Well, at least I hope so. - Aryaman Kumar XI-G

In our busy life , we often don't notice the simplest and smallest things are the most beautiful . The raindrops hit the ground every rain, and we are so busy enjoying the rain fall, that we miss the small mesmerising events . This picture teaches me that it's not about the whole scene but about how small things make up the big picture . It tells me to enjoy every moment bit my bit . You never know what you are missing until it's to late. The sunset in its self is yet another beautiful phenomenon of God . As the sun sets , the solders  at war rest and give ode to them whom they lost , and get hope from the beauty to fight yet another  terrorizing  day. The white colour that we see everywhere in the picture gives us inner peace and calmness . The White also signifies justice and peace. The butterfly signifies our hope and the big wooden log is our problems . Even though the log is a massive chunk agains the small  butterfly , with its beauty and kind...

'The beauty of the Taj Mahal is not its marble, nor is it in its architecture; the beauty is in the idea of constructing an eternal tomb to make immortal one's dead love, in the story that's passed on to every generation, in the feeling of infinity experienced when inside the monument, in the history that runs through every brick of this Wonder of the World, the beauty is in the combination of the Taj Mahal and you.' - Ananya Sen   XI-G

11 th grade history is a big jump from the level in 10 th grade. Answers suddenly take up two pages (despite my tiny handwriting); chapters are now up to 40 pages long. Here are a couple of tips I’ve picked up to help with the increase in coursework.  Highlighting and underlining may have worked in 10th grade, but I’ve found I end up doing for pretty much the entire textbook in 11th grade. Underlining key words instead helps to identify the points your answers must contain.  Interesting page markers help to remember specific points, and to remember why they’re important in the first place. It may seem superficial, but it does make a difference.  Flowcharts condense long or complicated processes into a simple image. They’re especially useful for 8-markers that deal with political, social, military or economic institutions or processes.  Given the detail and length of the text, copying down the entire chapter in the form of notes is a futile exercise, esp...

I want to tell you a story, and express my love for my home; a home where streetlights dance, where the buildings sway, but you have to give me a chance! I mean, come on, it's not easy, describing my home; it's a hub of diversity, a metropolitan city, and it's called New Delhi. Inderprastha, Shahjahanabad और Mehrauli, थे इसके कुछ नाम,  ये दिल्ली है, ये दिल्ली है, ये दिल्ली है, मेरे यार! It attracted all the kings and queens, and all the other dynasties. People fought to rule, along came the Mughals; the strategic location was a tool. I'm not saying it's perfect, every place has it's flaws; Population, crime rate at an all time high, oh and let's not forget, the pollution, the smog, which makes me want to cry. Siri, Tughlakabad और Rai Pithora, थे इसके कुछ नाम,  ये दिल्ली है, ये दिल्ली है, ये दिल्ली है, मेरे यार! We've got the tomb of Humanyu, the monument of perfect symmetry; We've got Sarojini nagar, INA, Dilli Haat and Janpath, covered wi...

" साक्षी " An awfully familiar name, isn't it? I guess Bollywood made sure of that. We've all come across the famous dialogue " Agni ko sakshi maan kar ", now, haven't we? The name Sakshi is of Indian origin and generally means witness . It could also be used to refer to a person who gives a testimony or produces evidence in a court of law. Surprisingly, its relevance can also be traced back to ancient Italian culture and to the women of the Sabine Tribe.  Although simple and to a great extent self-explanatory, the name has quite an astrological relevance.  The name belongs to the Kumbh (Aquarius) raashi with dominant planet  Shani (Saturn) and Nakshatra (stars). Blue, Violet and Black are regarded as auspicious colours, whereas Amethyst is considered to be the lucky stone.  The name stands for uniqueness and originality, much like the zodiac sign it belongs to.  And that's all!  - Sakshi 11G 

GAME OF THRONES HISTORY : ROBERT'S REBELLION THE BACKGROUND  BEFORE THE EVENTS OF ROBERT'S REBELLION , WESTEROS HAD BEEN RULED FOR ALMOST 300 YEARS BY THE TARGARYENS. THEY WERE DESCENDED FROM THE EXTINCT EMPIRE OF VALYRIA. THEY HAD LEARNED FROM THEIR ANCESTORS THE SKILL TO TRAIN DRAGONS, WHICH PLAYED A DECISIVE PART IN AEGON THE CONQUERORS CONQUEST OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS.DURING THE TIME OF ROBERT'S REBELLION THE THRONE BELONGED TO AERYS TARGARYEN KNOWN AS THE MAD KING AND BY NOW, THE DRAGONS WERE EXTINCT IN WESTEROS. HE HAD EARNED HIS TITLE BY BURNING HIS ENEMIES WITH WILDFIRE AND EVEN SETTING WHOLE VILLAGES ABLAZE AND LAUGHING WHILE THEY BURNED WITH THEIR INHABITANTS IN THEM.THE OTHER GREAT HOUSES DID NOT REBEL BECAUSE THERE STILL WAS SOME GOODWILL FOR THE CROWN PRINCE, RHAEGAR TARGARYEN. IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE TARGARYENS RULE CAME TO AN END.                                ...

Behind the name “Chitralekha” Wow, now that's a name you won’t find on coke bottles. But then so are most other Indian names. The intriguing part of peculiar names, especially Indian ones, is the mythological backgrounds that they generally come from. Mine for instance comes from the story of Usha and Aniruddha. Who’s that? Read your Amar Chitra Katha-s PLEASE. But that's okay, I’ll tell you the story. Let’s start a fresh paragraph. The Story of Usha and Aniruddha. Here goes. Once upon a time there was this really pretty girl, like Angelina Jolie level. This girl is NOT Chitralekha. Her name was Usha, daughter of Banasura, an asura. And one fine day, she had a dream about this gorgeous man whose name she didn't even know. But of course, we know him, he was Aniruddha. Yeah she just dreamt about him without ever meeting him. Yeah, that's 100 % possible. Anyway, the point is she dreamt about him, and like any teenage girl, she got obsessed with him. She was di...